And while opening/closing
procedure is a pain, it was expected.

Opening and closing the Tachihara is pretty simple, it uses the same basic
system followed by many other manufacturers of wood field cameras including
Deardorff and Ebony. I say it's simple, not to imply that there's something
wrong with you if you think it's a pain but because your statement makes me
wonder whether you're doing it correctly. Just open the back and put it in
the vertical position, with the front stadnard laying flat in the base grasp
the two knobs that control front rise and fall, use them to pull the front
standard upright to its vertical position, use the same knobs to raise the
front all the way up as far as it will go then drop it down into the center
position, tighten the rise and fall knobs and the tilt knobs and you're
ready to go (this is from memory since I no longer have a Tachihara, if I'm
wrong someone will correct me I'm sure). It takes maybe 15 seconds maximum.
If this is what you're doing already then my apologies for telling you
something you already know. If that's the case it might just be a matter of
getting used to the camera.

I don't know of a way to lreduce the depth of the base board. Perhaps
someone here who is more mechanically inclined than I am can tell you how to
do it. FWIW, I've owned cameras that allowed some of my lenses to be left on
the camera but I stopped doing that because it seemed like half the time I
needed whichever lens wasn't already on the camera so I was just creating
more work for myself. But I know many people do like to do that and if it's
really important you might investigate smaller lenses. Since yours are both
F5.6 I'd guess there are smaller versions in the same focal lengths but with
slightly smaller maximum apertures that might fit if all you're lacking is a
third of an inch.

You can use normal lenses as long as 300mm if you're willing to give up a
few feet of close focus and telephotos as long as 400mm. I tested a 65mm
lens and it could be used though with limited if any movements. That's a
pretty nice range of lenses to be able to use with one bellows.

Congratulations on your purchase, the Tachihara is a very nice camera. I've
owned several more expensive cameras since I owned mine but I don't take any
better photographs with them than I did with the Tachihara.

"Collin Brendemuehl" wrote in message
om...
Well, I parted with the Busch 'D'. While it had many things going for it
(simple rotating back, tilt/shift, sturdy) it was just too heavy to
carry around. I don't do a lot of that, but when I do the weight is
a challenge.

This used one has chrome hardware. The brass would have been nicer,
this will do and does look good. Got it from Vogan in Omaha via eBay.

The Tachihara is certainly not the workhorse that the old Busch was.
I'll always have to remember to be careful because it's wood, not metal.
The advantage is a longer bellows and bigger throat for a wider variety
of lenses. Right now I have a Fujinon W 125/5.6 and a Schneider Symmar
150/5.6, neither of which is a problem for either body. But the Busch
would never tolerate much beyond 180mm. A 210mm lens really pushes it.
So my Tachy new body wins in both bellows draw and lens availability.

Lens boards are easy to build for it. A lot easier than for the Busch.
I use hobby plywood. It's stiff and easy to paint. And readily
available.

Where does it lose out? I can't close it up with either lens still in
place!
That's really my only frustration with it. And while opening/closing
procedure is a pain, it was expected.

Just One Question:
Is there a replacement bottm for it that would give me that extra 1/3" or
so
to allow a lens to be in place when collapsed?

Collin