Shenhao TZ45-II
Shanghai Shenhao has made three different models of the TZ45-II folding 4x5-inch field camera. Like most ShenHao cameras, they are made from black walnut wood, with aluminium metal parts.
The TZ45-IIA and TZ45-IIB were shown at the ShenHao site until 2017.[1] After this, the B model was replaced with the TZ4-IIC.[2]
In the TZ45-IIA, the front standard is mounted as far forward as it can be, at the front of its wooden rails, and is braced by two curved aluminium braces from behind. This allows the camera up to 360mm of bellows extension.
In the TZ4-IIB the standard is set back from the front, and has straight metal braces, pivoting from in front of it. The maximum bellows extension is just 20mm less. The rear standard can also be moved forward 80mm, on rails on the sides of the base board, allowing a much shorter minimum extension than the model A (this rear movement is also on the HZX45-IIA). Thus it is to be preferred if a very wide lens is to be used. The front standard of the B model is mounted on a different, narrower yoke than the A, and this gives a different range of movements (see the table below: more of some movements and less of others)
The C model is simply a redesign of the B; it also has the facility to move the rear standard forward for short bellows extension. The redesign is at the expense of considerably more weight.
Notes
- ↑ 4x5-inch folding cameras at the archive copy of the ShenHao website copied at Internet Archive in May 2017, showing the TZ45-IIA and B.
- ↑ 4x5-inch folding cameras at the current ShenHao site.
