[ WISNER 5X7 TECHNICAL FIELD CAMERA ]
WISNER CAMERAS [x]
The worst large format camera I ever owned was a Wisner 5×7 Technical Field. I bought it from a well-known used camera reseller who, unfortunately, provided poor photos—and I would soon find out why.
When it arrived, the camera seemed fine—no obvious damage, nothing glaring. But after a more careful inspection, I noticed staining drips on the wood finish. That gave me pause. At the time, Wisner cameras were highly regarded among large-format photographers, so I found myself wondering what kind of manufacturer would let something like that pass through quality control.
It didn’t take long to realize Wisner’s quality control was seriously lacking. The real issue showed itself when the front standard fell off the rail—not once, but twice. The second time happened in the middle of a shoot, and I couldn’t get it back on. When I returned home, my mechanically-minded husband managed to fix it and strongly suggested I return the camera. I agreed. Unfortunately, I had just sold my Calumet 4×5, and now I was without a suitable camera for commercial work. All I had left in the 4×5 format was a beautiful, collectible Crown Graphic, which wasn’t what I wanted to rely on for travel or professional shoots.
Thankfully, the on-location product images I made with the Crown Graphic came out just fine while I waited for my Ebony SV45 to arrive. Still, the whole situation was expensive, frustrating, and frankly, not something a less experienced large format photographer should ever have to deal with. Someone new to 4×5 might’ve walked away thinking the format itself was the problem, when in reality, it was a poorly made camera.
After that experience, I stuck with Arca-Swiss, Ebony, Linhof, and Sinar 4×5 systems for decades and never looked back.
Based on this experience, I can’t recommend Wisner cameras. If you’re drawn to their yacht-style woodworking and shiny brass fixtures, be cautious—some models have sloppy finishing and critical design oversights, like missing rail stops. Wisner eventually went out of business, and honestly, I’m not surprised.
It’s also worth noting that Wisner built some of the Zone VI field cameras. If you’re attracted to the look of a Wisner, consider exploring the Zone VI versions instead—they may offer better reliability.