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VDS 8x10

The VDS field camera is a hand-crafted, wooden field camera made by Sándor Vadász in Hungary. While they can be made from a variety of woods, they often feature black walnut, along with anodized aluminum braces and knobs. The cameras are light, compact, and relatively inexpensive. The camera can be folded up and stored in a large backpack or carried easily with one hand, like a briefcase.

The VDS 8x10 weighs about 5.5 pounds (2300 grams) without the lens. It has a minimum bellows compression of 30mm and a maximum extension of 700mm. The camera features a front rise of +/- 50mm, a front swing of 23 degrees, central-axis front tilt with no effective limit, and a 40mm front shift. The camera only has a 23 degree rear tilt and no other movements on the back standard. It uses a square 140mm by 140mm lens board.

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VDS 8x10

Say hello to the VDS Mark II 8x10 camera. When this lovely, wooden field camera took up residence in our large format window, it was the first time we had ever had a VDS camera in the shop.⁠

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VDS cameras are the work of Sándor Vadász, who builds hand-crafted, wood large format cameras in 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, and the occasional ULF size (like 16x20). The VDS 8x10 has two nice things going for it: it's light and it is also fairly inexpensive (for an 8x10, that is). In regard to that first point, the camera, without a lens, only weighs about 5.5 pounds. We did not need two staff members to hold this camera up, one of them could have easily done it one-handed. As to the second point, this camera will cost you less than a Sinar, Linhof or Deardorff quite easily. It is still almost three times the price of an Intrepid 8x10 but, based on the limited time we have had with both the VDS and Intrepid, the former feels like a much better built and sturdy camera. The Intrepid is great for large format photographers on a shoestring budget, the VDS is the next step up from that.⁠

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Our first reactions on the VDS? It's pretty. All large format field cameras crafted from wood tend to be pretty beautiful. Sándor builds his cameras from a variety of woods, this particular model is black walnut. The camera is a bit wobbly; you can tell that it is hand-made. It does not have the extreme polish to its design that you get with Deardorff or Sinar, but at the same time, for a hand-made 8x10 camera, it is very well put together. We wouldn't ding it too much for the play in its standards, as this tends to be an issue with most wood field cameras. If absolute rigidity is important, get a metal camera. For such a lightweight camera, we can accept some degree of play to the standards. ⁠

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In short, this camera has delivered a nice first impression. Beautiful, affordable (relatively speaking), fairly versatile in its movements, bellows draw and lens board size, and it's lightweight. We could see ourselves doing some fine landscape work with this camera, indeed.

za/sd

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Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc

sales@bluemooncamera.com
(503) 978-0333
(503) 978-0370
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203

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VDS 8x10

VDS 8x10

Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc