Jon Bosak
Hurrah for #folderweek, I got an article out of it!
https://www.35mmc.com/04/12/2025/horseman-980-a-seasonal-essay/
Horseman 980 - A Seasonal Essay

So I couldn't resist checking this out by buying a Horseman 980, which is a lot like a less expensive Linhof Technika

35mmc
Dec 4 at 2:40pmWeb
Show threadAnders Conbere1d ago

@bosak nice article! I sometimes look at those nice 2x3 technical cameras longingly. I like 6x9, I feel like the expansive cropping options are worth the lost frame over 6x7.

But… I already regularly use a Mamiya Universal. Shoots nice big 6x9 negatives, and a wide range of lenses all of which are quite good. It trades movements for rangefinder coupled lenses without any shenanigans. Earlier models had rear movements for perspective correction. But I feel like as soon as I’m pulling out movements it’s a good reminder to pull out the 4x5 🤣

The horseman is a beautiful little camera though.

Show threadJon Bosak1d ago
@anders The Mamiya can be used handheld and RF focused. The Horseman can theoretically do those things, but only in hands quite a bit stronger than mine. So two different animals. For me, the Horseman is a hack that gives me some view camera movements while staying in a scanner workflow used mostly for 35mm and 6x6. Something like 80-90% of the shots I take with it use the rising front, and that number may rise even further now that I've got a Rollei for the ones that don't require its use.
Show threadAnders Conbere1d ago

@bosak Rise would be nice! I’m slowly getting smarter about perspective but it’s a journey. Often the Mamiya is used like a simple technical camera though. Popped on a tripod, focused via range finder, stopped down and the shot taken by the time I would have gotten my view camera set up.

I did spend some time hand holding it this year and got some nice shots. Will be doing more of that this year.

I have a super nice Busch Pressman Model C, a 2x3 press camera from the 50s. It’s more the sibling to the horseman. It’s got all the front movements but swing. But with that one I really struggle with the tradeoff against the 4x5 view camera.

Show threadChrisR1d ago

@bosak Excellent article, Jon. That Horseman's not a camera I'll want to try, but I can see it suits your purpose and gives you excellent results.

BTW your fellow upstate NY photographer Mike Johnston of TOP uses a finder a bit like that glued to the back of his B&W-modded Sigma! He doesn't have to take his finder off to make the photo though, ;-)