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.

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.

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.

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.

Metall body. Easy set-up. Light weight.

None.

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.

Customer Service

DIY :-)

Similar Products Used:

Cambo wide, Shen Hao, Linhof T.

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

hard to find, rangefinder by kalart hard to adjust.

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

Customer Service

none this is an antique camera

Similar Products Used:

Speed Graphic

All aluminum body with rotating back. Camera is built like a brick. Very light, rugged, and reliable, and uses standard 4X4 flat lensboards.

None

Excellent, light weight, rugged, and reliable 4 X 5 Press/Field camera that uses standard flat 4X4 lensboards.

Similar Products Used:

Speed Graphic, Crown Graphic, Busch Pressman, and Linhoff.

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.

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.

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

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

MPP Micro-Technical cameras

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

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

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

Customer Service

?

Similar Products Used:

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