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Burke & James 4 X 5 Press Large Format

3.83/5 (6 Reviews)

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Reviews 1 - 5 (6 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by Laurel Photo a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: March 3, 2010

Strengths:    The kalart range finder is an tool. It is an aid for better focusing than just guessing, and faster than using the ground glass.
The Meridian 45, Busch Pressman, and Burke & James all have the advantage of the rotating back. All have drop beds, and allow more movements than a Graflex.
The Meridian also has the back movements of an Linhof or MPP.

Weaknesses:    The Kalart mirror deteriates with age, and the lenses discolor, get coated with film and nicotine.
The Burke & James has infinity stops that clamp to the rail. Graflex and Busch infinity stops fold down out of the way, and additional stops may be installed for different lenses. The Meridian 45 uses a slide with a notch for the lens selected. This may be disengaged, or may be modified for other length lenses.

Bottom Line:   
I reciently acquired a B & J 4 x 5 press.
As for adjusting the Kalart rangefinders, the procedure on the Graflex.org site works quite well. With any camera of this vintage, the lens should be checked as to the focal lenget, as it may not be the origional one the rangefinder is adjusted to.
Following the kalart adjustment procedure, using a loupe to focus on the ground glass, check the focus scale, and adjust either the scale or the infinity stops to obtain agreement.
The next step is to focus at 15 feet, using ground glass and loupe. check the focus scale, if it is for the lens. check the two scales inside the kalart and check the Kalart adjustent procedure to set for the lens focal lenth.
The final step should be at 4 feet, if the camera has that capability. If not use the cameras minimum focus distance.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Similar Products Used:   I have also used Speed Graflex, Busch Pressman, Meridian 45B, B & J Saturn 75 with both 4 x 5 and 5 x 7 backs, and B & J Tailboard 4 x 5 view cameras.
The B & J Watson was my first press camera in the mid 50's. However film packs vave become impossible to fine since then.

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Morten Oen a Professional from Norge

Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003

Strengths:    Metall body. Easy set-up. Light weight.

Weaknesses:    None.

Bottom Line:   
A camera that is very easy to set up. Sturdy all-metal body. Can take a lot of abuse. Bought mine with a four element Wollensak-lens not coated.
The softness and bokeh of this lens blew me away. Perfect for artistic use. A perfect camera for the beginner and for artists on the move. Unbeatable price/ performance ratio.

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $100.00

Purchased At:   www.qxl.no

Similar Products Used:   Cambo wide, Shen Hao, Linhof T.

Type of photography:   Fine Art

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by John McAdam a Intermediate from New York

Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001

Strengths:    Rugged, endured much abuse (before I got it). Is a really inexpensive way to get into large format. Use as a field camera with ground glass focusing

Weaknesses:    Kalart rangefinder not usable. I'm told it not worth having fixed.

Bottom Line:   
I received it as a gift from my aunt a year ago. She thought it wasn't usable. I've great shots with incredible detail. I'm now devoted to large format photograghy

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Purchased At:   Gift

Similar Products Used:   Toyo Field Camera Not really that much better for my purposes, and a lot more expensive.

Type of photography:   Sports

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Samuel Tang a Professional from Sydney, Australia

Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001

Strengths:    A very simple camera but flexible enough for most works likely to be handled by a 4"X5" photographer. The use of 4"X4" lensboards a great plus point.

Weaknesses:    The front standard which clamps on the outer focussing rail can get a little loose, likely to make the front a bit unsteady. The outer rail is not connected to the inner rail, making focussing with WA lenses a little hard.

Bottom Line:   
If it is not excessively worn and everything tightens up properly, a fine camera to use. Likely to be quite inexpensive.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Similar Products Used:   MPP Micro-Technical cameras

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Joseph Watson a Intermediate from Oklahoma , OK United States

Date Reviewed: February 16, 2000

Strengths:    rugged, rotating back, large image area. pretty adjustable movements

Weaknesses:    hard to find, rangefinder by kalart hard to adjust.

Bottom Line:   
great beginner 4x5 to get a start a great press camera for you to take jouurnalism photos with.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

Similar Products Used:   Speed Graphic

Type of photography:   Landscapes


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