Tachihara
Tachihara makes a very nice wooden 4x5 field camera that can occasionally be found for sale second hand. These make awesome cameras for beginners due to their relatively low price but, at the same time, don't heavily skimp on features and movements (sufficient tilt, swing, rise and fall). If you're looking for a light weight and attractive to carry in the field the Tachihara 4x5 camera is definitely worth looking into.
 Toko 4x5 - Toyo Wista Tachihara type field view camera - Large Format $300.20 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 59m |
 TACHIHARA 4X5 FIELD CAMERA, VERY NICE $940.10 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 9m Buy It Now for only: $940.10 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Osaka - Tachihara 4x5 to 5x7 Conversion Back - Excellent Condition $100.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 19h 11m |
 New Bellows For Tachihara 4x5 Large Format Field Camera $89.99 Time Remaining: 23d 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $89.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
Though some complain that it's not the most rigid 4x5 out there (it's not) it's still hard to argue with the fact that it's a solid, well featured camera, especially for the low price. The Tachihara weighs in at 3.8 pounds - some of the older models were even less at just under 3.5 pounds. This definitely puts in the super light weight class when it comes to 4x5 cameras. In addition (if this sort of thing matters to you) it is also quite a beautiful little camera. It is made in Japan from old Japanese cherry trees (400 year old cherry trees aged for 3 to 4 years... according to the manual). Another thing worth mentioning - the "ground glass" is actually plastic. This is not a bad thing though, it's actually makes for a sharper focusing surface than you get with a lot of glass focusing systems.
If you'd like to see other cameras along these lines, check out a Toyo.
Here are a few of the most recent tachihara 4x5 camera auctions:
