Author Topic: Review: Horseman 985 Medium Format folding Field Camera (Read 26074 times)

LT · « **on:** April 10, 2011, 07:20:49 PM »

Hi all - I've knocked up a video review of the Horseman 985. It's a bit long, but it's worth watching all the way through to see a special guest popping up about 2/3rds in.

hope you enjoy

Horseman 985 review

L.

ps - photos to come.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:34:23 PM »

Brilliant, Leon!

Such a versatile camera, much to want!

Mojave · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:37:44 PM »

Lead donkey? LOL!

Awesome!!! I sure wish I'd found an excellent how to video like this when I got my Graflex.

LT · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2011, 07:45:15 PM »

thanks guys.

Erin - that was my reason for making it. The 985 users manual doesn't even explain how it works, more like what accessories you can get. and there isn't really any other resource that I could find that explains it.

Mojave · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:37:33 PM »

You covered everything a new user would want to know about the cameras operation. Its a great how to video. Congratulations!

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2011, 12:26:06 AM »

Top stuff, Leon. Now watch the prices on those suckers shoot up and up after everyone starts feeling the itch

Do I get royalties for my cameo?

And I also noticed that the first time you say, "Shen Hao", it looks like you give the 5x4 a little stroke. Very touching

Francois · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2011, 12:27:30 AM »

I feel lucky!
my keyboard didn't short out from all that drooling

It's a really nice toy... and now I want one!

gothamtomato · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:01:24 AM »

Great review. And nice touch to put on one of those wacky British accents that work so well for comedy

mijonju · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:30:13 AM »

now i wanna get a horseman 985

Nigel · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:55:23 AM »

Great video Leon. What a well made and amazingly versatile piece of kit, it's a veritable box of tricks.

So many people put videos up with no commentary, it's as though they're pretending not to be there. If that lawyering business doesn't work out you could get a job on QVC!

Skorj · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2011, 01:48:59 PM »

Such a machine! Enjoy... Skj.

Jon Butler · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2011, 06:53:08 PM »

Great video Leon thanks for posting it.
Always fantasied over getting dedicated roll back camera rather than using a 5x4 camera with a roll film back.
I'll keep my eyes open for one but doubt I'll find one in as good nick as yours, enjoy it.
J.

Randy B · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2011, 06:06:20 AM »

Thanks for making the video. I've been itching to get a view camera for a while now but 4x5 scares me off because of the expense of the film and various pains of avoiding dust and the inability to develop with a daylight tank easily. For my purposes I think medium format is about as big as I'd care to go and this camera looks fantastic with all the movements and ability to really get the perfect focus and composition. Well done.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:18:45 AM »

thanks for sharing leon! I haven't had the chance to fondle a LF camera myself so this helps a lot in putting together an understanding to how things like how changing focal lengths and tilt n swivel work.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:18:36 AM »

Oh wow. And in the other thread I said that the camera would be too big for me, didn't I? And now I want one, too

Urban

LT · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2011, 09:18:56 AM »

'tis a nice thing for sure.

some preliminary results:

Just experimenting with lens sharpness and some movements - nothing groundbreaking here, but I'm having lots of fun. Cant wait to do some 'serious' pics with it.

First - 105mm without movements and 67 back:

second - 105mm with small rise and 69 back:

Third - 65mm with back tilt & front swing and 69 back:

Fourth - 105mm with quite a lot of movements (the top right hand is darkened from lens coverage not being enough for the amount of movements used - so I compensated with a burn to the bottom and top left)

calbisu · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2011, 10:10:25 AM »

GReat video Leon. Must say video quality was very good. And I was on the verge of asking for some shots from the camera and.. voila! Specially like the 2nd one. I do not know if that is what you were looking for on that shot but it´s like the poles are going towards or over us... mmhh, I do not know if I make myself clear

gothamtomato · « **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2011, 12:03:02 PM »

Quote from: leon taylor on April 12, 2011, 09:18:56 AM

some preliminary results:

Just experimenting with lens sharpness and some movements - nothing groundbreaking here, but I'm having lots of fun. Cant wait to do some 'serious' pics with it.

Wow, I am already in love with this camera. I'd never heard of it before and now I feel like I'm missing the boat by not having one!

Does it have a macro lens? I'd love to see a macro shot.

LT · « **Reply #18 on:** April 12, 2011, 12:36:56 PM »

Deborah - it doen't need a dedicated macro lens as like all cameras of it's type, the bellows extend enough for close-up focusing.

MattB · « **Reply #19 on:** June 05, 2011, 01:04:12 PM »

Great in-depth review! great photos also

LT · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2012, 05:27:41 PM »

I got tired of the bulkiness that the rangefinder unit adds to the Horseman 985 camera. I never used it, and it added more than an inch to the height of the thing, not to mention the funny eye pieces on the back. So i took it off. It was really easy, just 4 screws sitting under the leatherette covering to lift off the housing, and four more to detach the base for the RF mechanism. Then to finish off, I cut some card to fill the remaining recess and attached a strip of thin leather on top. It is now virtually a miniature Horseman 45FA. and takes up much less room.

I've kept the top parts to refit should I wish to sell the camera in the future, and it will be easy to return it to original condition with no signs of the mod:

from

and

to:

Sandeha Lynch · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2012, 07:35:50 PM »

Much better, I'm sure.

sapata · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:07:27 PM »

I does look much better Leon...

I've never used a 4x5 with a rangerfinder before and I've always thought it was good to have one... just like those viewfinder for the Bronicas, Hassy and Mamyias.

Should I disconsider the idea of getting one for my Toyo? ( not even sure it's possible to get one for my Toyo though...)

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:09:56 PM »

Nice work, Leon.

LT · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:26:10 AM »

Quote from: Sandeha Lynch on February 07, 2012, 07:35:50 PM

Much better, I'm sure.

not so much 'better', but definitely 'smaller'

byron · « **Reply #25 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:16:43 PM »

I wanted to thank you for your video on Vimeo; it was one of the reasons I chose to buy a Horseman VH a week ago. I'm very excited to work with it!

LT · « **Reply #26 on:** March 10, 2012, 08:24:22 AM »

THanks Byron - glad you found it useful. Enjoy your VH!