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  #1  
Old 28th February 2009, 09:01 PM
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seoirse seoirse is offline
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Default HDH 45 - any good?

This camera is a 5x4 point & shoot with a certain amount of front rise.

Anybody know if it is worth the money?

Being sold in the UK by Foto-Arte for £399 excl vat and lens.



Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 28th February 2009, 09:24 PM
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Default oh...and here's the url

http://www.foto-arte.co.uk/HDH_45_Shift.html

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  #3  
Old 28th February 2009, 10:39 PM
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Or ... build your own ...

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Old 1st March 2009, 07:37 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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If you need a hand holdable 5x4 that can accept a very wide angle lens, and it does what you want it to do, then the price does not seem unrealistic.
If, on the other hand you are looking for a 5x4 camera as an introduction to the format then I suggest that this model may be unsuitable, but without knowledge of your requirements I can not venture an opinion.
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Old 1st March 2009, 08:40 AM
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I've no personal experience of this camera but on paper it would seem good value for money. Of course you will need to add the cost of a decent lens. Also I would check that the helical focusing system is 'universal' and will in fact take lenses in the 58 to 90mm range and how convienient it is to alllow lens changing.
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  #6  
Old 1st March 2009, 10:43 AM
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Thank you for your replies gentlemen.

Sandeha, that's a cool looking P&S you built there! (I notice you have also built other cameras too!). What lens range can one achieve with that set-up do you mind me asking? Also, do you miss the ability to tilt the front axis at all?

Dave - I used a lovely Sinar F2 up until a few months ago. I sold it to a younger man as I was struggling a bit with it's bulk and it was also catching a lot of wind where I was shooting (mainly on the West coast of Ireland on a windswept moonscape called The Burren). So I thought I would declutter and sold off a lot of my gear and have just held on to a 'Blad and a couple of lenses. However, I miss 5x4 though....and thought that if I could get an easy to carry all-metal point and shoot that could have a bit of rise that it might allow me to rejoin the LF human race again!

Trevor - I understand what you are saying about the helical system. I will probably have to give them a call to see will the same helical ring fits all lenses within the range and if so, would it be a major hassle to change say between 65mm and 90mm.

Thanks again for your comments,

S.
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Old 1st March 2009, 11:15 AM
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Seoirse, the Neretta is purely a point and shoot, and reliant on depth of field for focusing. Mine uses a 90mm - anything longer would make for an unwieldy box, but it could just as easily be built for a wider lens.

With a 4x5 Grafmatic pack I can fire off six shots handheld without even fretting over the framing too much. But that's all it is. For any movements I now use a whole plate/5x7.
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Old 1st March 2009, 01:04 PM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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I've spent quite a few happy hours on The Burren; it's something every photographer should do at least once in their life.

Are you are familiar with the Speed Graphic type of folding field camera? They are compact, and rugged when folded. They will take a 90mm lens and in spite of being designed as hand-held press cameras, they have limited movements, and come with a fold-up light screen for the ground glass. They also have a viewfinder, and some a coupled rangefinder.

They also frequent eBay occasionally.
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  #9  
Old 2nd March 2009, 07:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seoirse View Post
This camera is a 5x4 point & shoot with a certain amount of front rise.

Anybody know if it is worth the money?

Being sold in the UK by Foto-Arte for £399 excl vat and lens.



Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Please keep us updated if you buy it.
I did order a Shen Hao at Foto-Arte but got a mail that they do not accept Visa. I was asked to make a money transfer to an account in Belgium. It belongs to a firm HDH PHOTO EUROPE and googling that name leaded to this

http://www.phepan.cn/en/contact.htm

Kind regards
Soeren
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  #10  
Old 2nd March 2009, 09:08 AM
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Thumbs up Thank you for the heads up....

Hi Soeren,

Thanks for letting me know this.

It's a bit strange that they don't have the facility to accept Visa?

However, I have read of another photographer who ordered from them (and seemed to receive a Shen Hao TCF45) so I will email him to see if this company is legitimate.

Other than that I would have to call them direct and ask what the story is.

I will let you know how I get on.

Seoirse.
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