Shenhao TFC617
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| TFC617-A image by KW Wong (Image rights) |
Shanghai Shenhao makes three similar non-folding field cameras for the 6x17cm panoramic format (there is also one folding camera, the PTB617, not covered on this page). They have wooden front and rear standards and base, with aluminium alloy metal parts. The two walnut-wood cameras have been made since at least 2008.[1]
The non-folding TFC617[2] cameras resemble the non-panoramic TFC69-A (and the wider TFC624-A and -B cameras); the front and rear standards are each mounted on their own pair of wooden rails, and rack separately out of the base board. Thus when the camera is racked all the way in, its depth front-to-rear is only about a third of the maximum bellows draw, instead of a half. This arrangement also allows the camera to be focused by racking either the front or rear.
There is a shoe for an optical finder on the top, and a leather handle.
Models
- In the TFC617-A, the front standard is mounted a little back from the front edge of its rails, allowing it to be brought close in to the rear standard. This wins just 5mm shorter minimum bellows draw than the TFC617B, which is at the cost of shorter maximum draw, and the camera being deeper when not extended. The wooden parts are made from black walnut.
- In the TFC617B, the front standard is placed as far forward as possible. This gives 10mm more maximum bellows extension, and makes the camera 15mm less deep when racked all the way in, but restricts the minimum draw. That is, this model might be preferred unless a very wide lens is to be used. Again, this camera is made from black-walnut wood.
- The TFC617-BE is functionally identical to the 'B', but with wooden parts made from ebony. Shen Hao's listing states that this makes it 400g heavier![3]
Specifications
From ShenHao's site:[3]
| Camera | Bellows Draw | Front | Rear | Dimension, mm | Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min., mm | Max., mm | Rise, mm | Fall, mm | Shift, mm | Swing, deg. | Tilt, deg. | Rise, mm | Swing, deg. | Tilt, deg. | Width | Height | Depth | kg | |
| TFC617‑A | 65 | 310 | 56 | 22 | ±36 | ±45 | ±20 | 58 | ±10 | ±11 | 260 | 200 | 140 | 2.2 |
| TFC617‑B | 70 | 320 | 125 | |||||||||||
| TFC617‑BE | 2.6 | |||||||||||||
Accessories
ShenHao offers the Shenhao NSH617 'Art Panorama' roll-film back for the cameras. The ground-glass screen is hinged at the bottom, to allow the film back to be attached. It allows four exposures on 120 film. A red window is used for advance, positioned to expose at frame numbers 3, 6, 9 and 12.[4] A flight case is also available.
Notes
- ↑ See ShenHao's site, as archived in September 2008 at Archive.org; before this date, the archive only has a Flash animation that doesn't complete. The camera does not appear in the site as archived up to December 2004.
- ↑ Presumably Technical Field Camera.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The three TFC617 cameras listed, with main specifications, at ShenHao's site: click through for individual models (not much more detail, but photos of them).
- ↑ NSH617 roll-film back at ShenHao.
Links
- Photos at Flickr taken with (or of) a TFC617 camera.
