Anyone have experience with the Arca-Swiss Discovery?

Geared drives on Sinar P and X cameras, and similar studio camera clones, are ideal in this respect. Unfortunately, these heavily-featured kinds of monorails are indeed heavy overall, and not very practical in the field. Sand and grit can get inside those gears too. Lately I've been out daypacking with the earlier 4x5 Sinar Norma design, which has detents which are not only cooperative, but fully adjustable over time if needed. It's just about a pound heavier than an equivalent Sinar F series camera, but still much lighter and more compact than a P. There are lots of potential good choices in monorails; and some of the newer wood-composite folders are wonderful too, but, like I already hinted, not quite as versatile or convenient to operate as a monorail. My 8x10 is the original composite design epoxy-wood-fiberglass laminate Phillips folder. It has survived wind and weather exceptionally well.

DREW WILEY said:

Geared drives on Sinar P and X cameras, and similar studio camera clones, are ideal in this respect. Unfortunately, these heavily-featured kinds of monorails are indeed heavy overall, and not very practical in the field. Sand and grit can get inside those gears too. Lately I've been out daypacking with the earlier 4x5 Sinar Norma design, which has detents which are not only cooperative, but fully adjustable over time if needed. It's just about a pound heavier than an equivalent Sinar F series camera, but still much lighter and more compact than a P. There are lots of potential good choices in monorails; and some of the newer wood-composite folders are wonderful too, but, like I already hinted, not quite as versatile or convenient to operate as a monorail. My 8x10 is the original composite design epoxy-wood-fiberglass laminate Phillips folder. It has survived wind and weather exceptionally well.

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I really enjoy reading your posts and getting your insight into large format backpacking!

Thanks. Now being in my 70's, I mainly use a little Ebony 4x5 folder for long strenuous backpacking trips, but still prefer a Sinar Norma 4x5 and my 8x10 Phillips folder for day hiking use. This past summer was the first time in over 40 years I was unable to take a mountain backpacking trip due to our extreme forest fires sending smoke over almost the entire West for nearly three months straight. I did get in some high altitude day hiking, however, when the wind shifted enough to allow certain areas to briefly clear out. I've been drymounting prints of a few of those shots these past few days.

In addition to the cameras mentioned above, the Toyo 45D can be carried in a backpack.
See the second photo here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fs-toyo-45d-4x5-monorail-camera.170828/

And of course, the Toyo VX125.

Kumar

I know this doesn't help the OP but, I modified my Cambo by cutting the rail down and shortening the standard 'posts'. Works a treat and fits into one of my larger photo rucksacks, along with the 3-way tripod head, filters and all the other paraphenalia that we all seem to carry around I still keep a decent amount of rise / fall and keep all the tilts, shifts and swings that I'll need for my photography.

vickersdc said:

I know this doesn't help the OP but, I modified my Cambo by cutting the rail down and shortening the standard 'posts'. Works a treat and fits into one of my larger photo rucksacks, along with the 3-way tripod head, filters and all the other paraphenalia that we all seem to carry around I still keep a decent amount of rise / fall and keep all the tilts, shifts and swings that I'll need for my photography.
View attachment 262590

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This is impressive!!

I thought a lot about modifying my Cambo as you did. I didn't think to chop the standards down but I was toying with a way to cut the rail length down and then once in the field add rail length to either side. It's actually a worthy project.

I have however decided to go with a used Arca-Swiss F-Line (171). I just need to pay for it now...ugggg.

Adam D'Agosto said:

I thought a lot about modifying my Cambo as you did. I didn't think to chop the standards down but I was toying with a way to cut the rail length down and then once in the field add rail length to either side. It's actually a worthy project.

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There's no need to shorten a Cambo rail. Instead, buy a piece of 80/20 brand 1" x 1" t-slotted extrusion the desired length or get one longer than needed and cut to suit. 80/20's surplus group offers it on amazon.com for very reasonable prices.

Adam D'Agosto said:

This is impressive!!

I thought a lot about modifying my Cambo as you did. I didn't think to chop the standards down but I was toying with a way to cut the rail length down and then once in the field add rail length to either side. It's actually a worthy project.

I have however decided to go with a used Arca-Swiss F-Line (171). I just need to pay for it now...ugggg.

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That was the beauty of the Cambo - I bought it with the intent of modifying it for landscape photography. I just cut the original rail into two unequal halves (i.e. one length is longer than the other after cutting). The image I posted is with the shorter length, which can still focus a 150mm lens and that's fitted to a recessed board. The longer length? I don't know what that would focus as I never take it with me! It meets my needs anyway.

I used to have the Arca-Swiss Wolf, which I lugged around the Alps on the French-Italian border. Your f-line will be a truly amazing piece of engineering and I hope that you really enjoying using such a quality piece of kit.

Best wishes,
Dee.

Thank you. I'm looking forward to it. I might get it tomorrow!!

In any event, I still find interest in "modind" the Cambo. Not so much for a back up, not hardly! But more to see it through to a new capability. Just to do it....

Thanks for the ideas!

Do make sure that you post some images of the F-line in action! I'd love to see it in use, out in the field.

I was out with the Cambo this morning to capture the light across the fields during sunrise. It was, quite literally, absolutely freezing!

All the best,
Dee.

Yeah that's hardcore!!! I don't have the bones for that action. I live in Arizona, USA....we got down to 38°f, 3°c last night. It's 40 something now. I'm not going out until it hits 50!!

That's why you got the shot and I'm reading about it!!!!

Adam D'Agosto said:

Yeah that's hardcore!!! I don't have the bones for that action. I live in Arizona, USA....we got down to 38°f, 3°c last night. It's 40 something now. I'm not going out until it hits 50!!

That's why you got the shot and I'm reading about it!!!!

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To be fair, that location is about 2 to 3 miles away from where I live, so by the time I'd tramped across the fields and along the lanes, I'd warmed up nicely!

I'm just hoping that I got the shot too, as I've yet to process the film!

Adam D'Agosto said:

Hi all,
I'm looking at a large format upgrade and I'm mostly leaning towards the Chominix F2. But, I'd also consider the Arca-Swiss Discovery.

Thing is, I probably won't do a lot of distance packing with a LF camera. I expect short distances will be the norm. Something like 100 yards from my car....

So long as I can get the Discovery into a backpack, it could be a good alternative.

Anyone have experience with the Discovery (or something very similar)?

Thoughts??

Thanks!
Adam

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I was in the same situation. I'm not a hiker and shoot near the car like you. I decided the H-1 was a better selection than the F2. While it takes a little more room in the camera case, there's no assembly or disassembly and I can leave the lens on the camera in the case, two things you can't do with the F2. Since you can keep one lens on, it takes up even less space than its actual size since you need less room for one lens.
I use an F64 backpack which is big enough for the H1 and fours lens, plus a P&S camera, meter, filters, logbook, cleaners, loupes, reflect viewfinder, etc. Not the best backpack but then again I don't hike. Good for a few hundred yards. The backpack comes with two film holder cases that fit Chamonix film holders, five per case. They attach to the backpack or you can remove them and carry them with a strap.
H-1 https://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/cameras/45h1

There's a lot of appeal to a monorail camera. I've been shooting a Chamonix F2 and love it, but feel the tractor beam pull of a monorail - especially geared adjustments. Think that probably make me a nerd. Folks take beautiful pictures even with a solar pinhole camera made from a soup can. So why do I feel the tractor beam to the geared? Good question. I think it's to have better fine motor control over the focus adjustments.

Folks like to say the Arca has portability in spades. I have an Arca Model B... and resale stinks. The note here about old cameras involve your buying someone else's problems... doesn't necessarily mean the camera's a mess... simply the sale represents someone else's decision to do something else. The Model B is a big honking piece of equipment. I went for a CHamonix to "backpack". Like Alan though, most of that's just to get the camera into and out of the car.

But FWIW, I've been catching up with Rod Klukas and may eventually pull the trigger. There's the F-Field which is the other end of the tractor beam, and then the confusing assortment of F-Universalis and MF cameras. With the cost of these things, seems to me one needs to really really really know what you're buying and why. Wouldn't it be great to be able to rent one of these? Better, it sounds like a trip to Phoenix to see the alternatives at Rod's place is a real way to go - if I get that serious. Good thing for my wallet is that with Covid, I'm not getting on a plane anytime soon, and I'm sure Rod's not wanting a lot of visitors either.

Congrats on your F. Not sure which one is the 171, but my favorite is the F-Field with the 6X9 small front and 4X5 back. The F-Universalis that Rod's talking about or the MF are also appealing and a bit lighter. The Universalis comes with the orbix as standard, but loses rear tilt... which is giving me some real pause. The MF has both... but adds some change to the equation. For me, this is mostly about film. While I wouldn't mind possibly throwing a Nikon Zx behind the rear standard someday when Nikon decides to add pixel shift, I'm not in a rush either. Listening to Rod discuss LF digital with Fuji or Hasselblad backs and looking at those prices and the price of some of the LF digital lenses (not all, but many) I'm pretty sure I'll be loving my 4X5 film for a long time.

The AS F-Line Classic (171/171) is working out great. I really like it and the geared MicroOrbix tilt is absolutely amazing. Getting the entire image focused correctly and cleanly is child's play now. There's no guesswork, just precision and super easy and consistent.

I've also found, with the standard bellows I can use a 90mm lens. The movements are somewhat restricted, but for landscape, a little rise or fall and some tilt is all I typically need and that does work. I think a 125mm might be nice.....

Anyway, the packability is also quite good. The setup time is literally under 1 minute!! That's from opening the tripod to focusing. 2 minutes....I'm just working slow.

Weight.....meh...it's not a tank, but nothing in the rhelm of a Chamonix F2. When you add the weight of all my other crap the weight difference between the F2 and my F-Line is not all that significant.

What I can say is backpack shopping is a real pain. I have a nice Phantom 4 drone pack and I use that, but I'd like a little more length and depth.

No complaints really. I'm getting some really nice shots out of it which is the most important thing right!! Maybe even more important than that...I'm using it!

I have an Arca-Swiss 4x5 F-Field C. I have taken mine backpacking before and it does pack down pretty small. Getting the model you want on the used market can be really challenging. A requirement for me was getting one with orbix which makes them even more difficult to find. Also, make sure you find one with all of the accessories you imagine you would want. Accessories are hard to find used as well.

I did get one!
It's an F-Line Classic 171/171 with MicroOrbix.

I'm very impressed with it. It's very precise, ridge and super easy to use. It's also very repeatable and produced consist results. The only real challenge now it getting the exposure right.

Adam D'Agosto said:

Interesting. People have said the Arca will backpack well, but I can't find a single photo of an Arca packed down and placed into a backpack.

I get the feeling they can be packed down, but not generally done.

If you have a photo you can post that shows it well, please post that.

I also think the Chominix makes more sense, for me, but the Arca would check an awful lot of boxes!

Thx!!

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“Backpack” for an AS 8x10... it can be done

Adam D'Agosto said:

Interesting. People have said the Arca will backpack well, but I can't find a single photo of an Arca packed down and placed into a backpack.

I get the feeling they can be packed down, but not generally done.

If you have a photo you can post that shows it well, please post that.

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Plenty of people do backpack with Arcas. Arca-Swiss Universalis 4x5 in an old RPT camera case. An F-Line Field replaces that if I can afford to carry the weight. The RPT case goes into the main compartment of One Planet pack