120 film camera that survives harsh conditions

[John Koehrer]

Something like this?
http://www.shoebuy.com/aquapac-slr-camera-case/475355/1006955?cm_mmc=googleproductads_pla-_-none-_-none-_-{keyword}

There are less expensive flexible bags with a protective lens for your lens.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Your biggest problem will be dust and clay particles. A Pentax 6x7 is plenty rugged, but handholdable only at moderately high shutter speeds with normal or wide-angle lenses. But the curtain shutter plus mirror will get any dust pretty well dispersed inside the camera. The same would be true to an equal degree for most med format cameras. So you need to take extra precautions when either changing lenses or film, to prevent dust from getting inside. You'll want a soft dishcloth sized microfiber cloth and mist bottle to wipe your camera down before opening it, preferable a distance from all the ruckus, mabye inside a disposable plastic trashcan liner, or at least upon a clean elevated surface. Hard to do under such circumstances - but if you're happen to especially enjoy spotting images afterwards, this event should be heaven. Sand and grit can obviously mechanically affect your lens too. Might want a clear filter over the lens unless it's a clunker you don't
really care about. But I'd disagree about Bill's comment about larger formats and dust - the more film area, the more electrostatic surface
you have to attract dust, esp if you pull a darkslide.... such things need to be coated with antistatic sprays prior to the trip; and in desert
conditions I've sometimes even taken along a length of speaker wire with a tiny alligator clip at one end and a nail at the other, in order to
ground metal cameras (it actually helps when working from a tripod)... motor winders are about the worst thing I can think of for shooting film in the desert per static attraction to film .... so even when manually advancing film, don't do it too rapidly. And with a big rowdy crowd,
you have to consider not just physical damage to your equip but potential theft.... in other words, don't take your best gear if you have
another option.

 

[redrockcoulee]

If it was me going there I would take my Pentax 90WR. It is only 35mm but it is waterproof down to 15 feet. And it only cost me one loonie so if the dust destroys it , the heat gets to it or some one thinks they need it more than me, no real loss. Thrift shops have them or some thing similiar time to time.

 

[Drizzt321]

Interesting, hadn't considered electrostatic charge pulling in dust. The other problem with the dust is it's very abrasive, so a clear/UV filter is very, very recommended for your lens. Otherwise when you wipe it off it'll make lots of wonderful, tiny scratches.

I will say, for being so huge, you generally don't have to worry about a lot of theft at Burning Man. Yes, some does go on, but often it's someone 'borrowing' a bike or thinking it's their bike. Unfortunately there is sometimes worse, but it's not all that common.

 

[ROL]

Australians have been there and described is as "full scale debauchery".

That reminds me of the Woody Allen quote answering the question, did he think sex was dirty? Only if done correctly.


OP – as a 10 year burner who as part of his job is trained to solve all manner of other burner's problems (and tag cameras), I have seen all manner of photographic tool used succesfully, and artistically, from D to LF. Silver prints are processed on the playa and I have seen collodion done right on the Esplanade. A lot of people there, despite their outward appearance, have money to burn. I once saw a guy load his Mamiya 7II in a whiteout dust storm (). He didn't care. That's the crux of the issue, if you don't particularly care about the life of your tools you can use whatever floats your artistic boat. I suppose film cameras, cleaned afterwards, fare better than D, in that regard. Taping doesn't keep the wind driven loess out (well, more or less ). Sealed, underwater housings work well, if left unopened. But if/when you decide to reload, there WILL be dust in the air, and it WILL get into your camera, unless it has rained enough to wet the playa completely, and for but a few hours afterward. Waterproof D P&S also work well. If it were me, and it's not, since photography ain't my thing while I'm out there, I'd take take my GoPro, or find a cheap now out of date older model, which is about as non complicated a (sealed) P&S as you can get, shooting video and still. But, if I were jonesing for 120, as you apparently are, why not just use a Holga? Tape it and toss it. It's all be done before, anyway – including the debauchery. )º(

 

[ROL]

I will say, for being so huge, you generally don't have to worry about a lot of theft at Burning Man. Yes, some does go on, but often it's someone 'borrowing' a bike or thinking it's their bike.

Yes, that's what we keep telling people.

 

[Drizzt321]

He had a Mamiya 7II and loading it in a whiteout storm? Ouch! I'll admit, I can afford to burn some money, but I don't have that much money.

This year I'll stick to my very simple (and fairly cheap) Perkeo I, and if it gets trashed, well, maybe I'll turn it into a pinhole camera or try my hand at some wet-plate collodion with it. And you know what? With it's simplicity and limitations it'll probably help me actually be more of a participant than an observer like the past couple of years. And that's a good thing for me.

 

[ROL]

That's the spirit!

 

[Drizzt321]

Oh, and I need to get stickers to put on the back of all the peel-pack instant photos I'll be gifting. Time to hit Amazon and stock up!

 

[Bill Burk]

But I'd disagree about Bill's comment about larger formats and dust - the more film area, the more electrostatic surface
you have to attract dust, esp if you pull a darkslide.... such things need to be coated with antistatic sprays prior to the trip; and in desert
conditions I've sometimes even taken along a length of speaker wire with a tiny alligator clip at one end and a nail at the other, in order to
ground metal cameras (it actually helps when working from a tripod)...

I was taking for granted there will be dust... But won't small (1/1000th inch according to my measurement today of some dust on my gas can) particles of dust be less noticeable on an 8x10 contact print... than they would an 11x14 enlargement from 4x5?

Heck why stop there (although Drizzt321 is staying with 120 Perkeo)... Pick up an old junker process camera, mount it to the chassis of an old pickup truck (use the cab for the "Darkroom" side)... Get a dozen volunteers to drag it from location to location... And go out and make wet plates...

 

[Drizzt321]

I was taking for granted there will be dust... But won't small (1/1000th inch according to my measurement today of some dust on my gas can) particles of dust be less noticeable on an 8x10 contact print... than they would an 11x14 enlargement from 4x5?

Heck why stop there (although Drizzt321 is staying with 120 Perkeo)... Pick up an old junker process camera, mount it to the chassis of an old pickup truck (use the cab for the "Darkroom" side)... Get a dozen volunteers to drag it from location to location... And go out and make wet plates...

Why have volunteers drag it? Just gotta turn it into an art car and then I can drive it around! Of course, it won't be cheap. Not super expensive, but not a couple of hundred $$ Plus a lot more expertise with the film than what I have right now.

 

[chuck94022]

A pinhole exposure of the actual burning sounds like a cool idea. I wonder if its already been done. If it hasn't I declare immediate claim to copyright and will license at 100,000USD per similar exposure. ;-)

Um...

 

[chuck94022]

Regarding using a Nikonos: I would not. Last I checked, there is a very big difference between water and sand. Water is wet. Sand is abrasive. The Nikonos is designed to resist wet. It wasn't designed to resist abrasiveness.

 

[StoneNYC]

He had a Mamiya 7II and loading it in a whiteout storm? Ouch!

Agreed! Wow.

Ok I have a solution

Mamiya RB67's are super cheap right now, get a body and a lens and a 70mm back, that gives you 50-60 images to a roll, that should be enough, and you can get Kodak portra and B&W 70mm for a decent price. (Cheaper than 220).

The whole camera can be a throw away, it will be heavy but there's a light meter viewfinder attachment. The most expensive is the 70mm back but even those aren't too bad.

Plus you can also get 70mm IR400 film and burning man in infra red would be pretty cool. The sun is strong enough you might not even need a tripod during the day.

Or just use it as 400 B&W

Best of all its new and cheap from maco.

Anyway that's my idea, if the body gets destroyed, who cares.




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[clayne]

A throwaway RB67? That's just satanic talk.

Wrap any camera you have entirely in plastic and secure the plastic to a UV filter. Load the film when sheltered or calm. I don't think you'll have any issues.

 

[Drizzt321]

Agreed! Wow.

Ok I have a solution

Mamiya RB67's are super cheap right now, get a body and a lens and a 70mm back, that gives you 50-60 images to a roll, that should be enough, and you can get Kodak portra and B&W 70mm for a decent price. (Cheaper than 220).

The whole camera can be a throw away, it will be heavy but there's a light meter viewfinder attachment. The most expensive is the 70mm back but even those aren't too bad.

Plus you can also get 70mm IR400 film and burning man in infra red would be pretty cool. The sun is strong enough you might not even need a tripod during the day.

Or just use it as 400 B&W

Best of all its new and cheap from maco.

Anyway that's my idea, if the body gets destroyed, who cares.




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You do realize that the RB67 weighs like 8 pounds, and is not exactly a small & portable camera, right? It would be nice if I don't need to take 2 or 3 minutes to setup and check the shot before taking it, right?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Good heavens! An RB67!? Come on, you do need portability at that event, rather than a wagon to tow behind you in the blistering heat...

Discussed this with friends at lunch today. They've been twice (won't be going again as they had items stolen from their tent). Their digi cameras worked fine but battery life was their main problem with a lot of shooting. The cameras when not in use were stored in Sea to Summit roll-top hypalon bags and carried around like this until there was a good opportunity to use them. Personally I wouldn't take any of my own cameras to Burning Man; I have enough trouble keeping them dust-free in summer at ConFest and Burning Seed here in Australia, and it's nowhere near as severe as BM. Just take a few disposable 35mm cameras (no batteries to worry about) and be done with it.

 

[StoneNYC]

Clayne,

You've obviously never been to burning man, if you put it in 3 ziplock bags, playa dust would still get in the camera, a bag won't help.

You do realize that the RB67 weighs like 8 pounds, and is not exactly a small & portable camera, right? It would be nice if I don't need to take 2 or 3 minutes to setup and check the shot before taking it, right?

It's heavy but not that bad, and 2-3 minutes?

I use my RZ67 as a walk around camera all the time handheld...

You guys need to hit the gym

It's heavy with the viewfinder I'll give you that, I just use a WLF and have a light meter (spot) on my hip belt. Usually, but still, I do use it to walk around on trips. Hassleblad users do it all the time, it's the same thing just 1 more CM



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[Steve Smith]

I use my RZ67 as a walk around camera all the time handheld...

You guys need to hit the gym

Or get an RB67/RZ67.

I can happily carry one around with a left hand grip over many miles.


Steve.

 

[StoneNYC]

Or get an RB67/RZ67.

I can happily carry one around with a left hand grip over many miles.


Steve.

Thank you Steve


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