If you are reading this review, you are interested in what is, for the money, probably the best, most elegant, lightweight field camera I know of. There are better field cameras. They usually cost a ton more. The price for a brand new Tachihara is about $600 at this writing.

The camera uses the popular wista lensboard. It comes with a decently bright fresnel viewing screen. The bellows are sheepskin, not the papery stuff. Focus movement is geared. All other movements are by hand, with friction locks. The camera is reasonably rigid when everything is locked. The bellows have a maximum and minimum draw of 330mm and 65mm respectively. Portrait and landscape orientation are selected by how the back is attached. Changing this takes only a few seconds. Movements are front swing, rise and fall, and tilt, back swing and tilt.

It features plenty of movements for most any landscape or still life application. It is somewhat limited when you get into architecture, or similarly demanding situations. It is small, folding compactly to easily fit in a back pack. It is also light weight, and is an excellent choice as a large format camera to hike with. You will only need a decent medium duty tripod to hold it rock steady.

It is finished in a very pretty cherry wood, with brass colored hardware. If you are around people, it will usually draw an onlooker or two.

J Brunner