Backpacking/Hiking with MF gear.

[jwatts]

Backpacking or strenuous all day adventures with MF gear. How do you do it? whats your camera/pack set up?

 

[Bill Burk]

Plan for the gear as if it was an essential part of the expedition. Keep in mind your buddy is carrying half your camera gear. Count the ounces (or grams) of everything, including camera gear. Some things "just must" weigh a pound or more. Sometimes you can save weight on essential camera gear by being creative. Analog spotmeters weigh a pound, digital spotmeters weigh a half pound. A Sekonic Twinmate L-208 weighs two ounces...

Camera gear, and stove go in the pack where a sleeping bag typically goes. Tripod strapped outside. Sleeping bag is wrapped around the bear canister in the top compartment.

With the camera "away" during hiking, I only get pictures at breaks. That's tough on me because I risk the chance of missing wildlife or other fast-moving opportunities.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I lug along an RB67 Pro-S, two 120 ProSD backs, 65mmC, 90mmC, 180mmC, two extension tubes, pack of 77mm filters, Pentax Ditial Spotmeter, two rubber hoods, film, cable release, pen/marker, lenscloth and MC cleaner all in a Tamrac backpack plus a Ries J100 Tripod with double tilt head.

It's heavy but I'm still young and my girlfriend oftentimes helps carry the tripod.

 

[J.Marks]

Myself and my wife are MF photographers. We both backpack our gear into the backwoods and swamps of Florida. First a good back pack system is a necessity We use Lowepro Packs. I carry a 645 MF Camera, 4 lens, film, filters notepad, ext tubes , meters and other accessories Plus hand carry a tripod. My pack weighs about 30 lbs my wife's about 25 lbs and carries the same camera equipment and she hand carries a tripod also. We don't camp so no camping gear. We do carry food and water for a days trip.
Our treks have lasted for trips of 6 miles into the woods of Fla.
The biggest obstacle is to get the back pack to fit you well. It has to adjusted properly our it can be a nightmare on your back and shoulders if it doesn't fit.
By the way we are both over 60 years of age.

(Not associated with or paid by Lowepro)

 

[SMBooth]

I just pack normally and put camera gear on top. Separate lens have there own padded bag, camera (P67) goes in a lightly padded "lunchpack,cooler".
Filter and bit go into a pencil case to keep them together. Spot meter in its own case and tripod on side.
I got to say though Ive come to the conclusion that (for multiday walking) carrying to much kit is a waste of time, your either bushwalking or photographing, and unless I know theres a great photo to be made I'm sticking to a 35mm and len for next trips. You really end up rushing your shots or wishing for better light, and only end up making images around the camp area which may or may not be worth the effort. Pack light, enjoy the walk, you can always go back.

 

[jovo]

I've never back-packed with my P67 kit, but the photographer Mark Muench seems to have managed quite well doing so. What he seems to have done (back before I guess he went all digital) was to limit himself to a 45mm wide angle, and 300mm telephoto, color film and whatever metering instrument/s he relied on plus a tripod. It's amazing how well those two extremes work to capture a great many subjects, and leave one's back freer to tote camping gear.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Do it all the time, though I consider MF gear to be ultralite compared to my usual, and I ain't young anymore. First thing - stay in shape.
Carry your heavy load routinely. Get a good pack (I prefer classic external frame backpacks). Get good hiking boots. Use a down jacket or
bubble packing to protect your gear and insulate your film. No need for the redundant wt of a bunch of foam packing in an official camera pack, though those can be nice for simple day hiking. Don't carry more lenses than you really need. Carbon fiber tripods help, but don't go so skimpy that you don't get good support. That especially applies to tripod heads (I hate ballheads). All day is easy. Try two weeks at high altitude. Are we having fun yet? Yep. Sure beats running on a treadmill in a stinky gym.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I use a mule!

Jeff

 

[jovo]

I use a mule!

Jeff

So, you drag your ass??

 

[Dr Croubie]

Haven't got it yet, but once the Travelwide gets here, that'll be all the LF hiking gear I'll need (plus a few film holders and my Digisix)

Just went for a walk the other day, just a day hike within a few km of the car.
Mamiya 645AF with 35mm and Velvia, mounted on my Kirk SS over my right shoulder/neck.
Over my left shoulder/neck I had my Lowepro Zoom 55AW, with the divider splitting it down the middle. 1L Sigg bottle of water down one side, down the other side was my 45mm and an extra film back with PanF50. In the front pocket, a few spare rolls of film, my Digisix (even though the 645AF has ttl, sometimes I don't trust it), car keys, mobile phone, and a spare muesli bar.

 

[ROL]

I use a mule!

I am a mule, but also unreluctantly willing to share with the OP arguably more helpful, somewhat experienced advice.

I carry my entire MF kit (camera, 2 – 3 lenses, filters, spot meter, notebook, spare battery, and assundry necessary items), except film, in a large LowePro fanny pack, loaded in either the top (usually) or the zippered bottom sleeping bag compartment of a 60 to 80 liter size internal frame pack with all camping gear, for quick and easy access. My 4 section tripod is carried easily on the backpack's side, feet in water bottle pocket, using the pack's convenient quick release straps normally designed for skis, trekking poles, what have you. The whole camera fanny pack weighs in around 12 lbs. Carrying everything as one extractable unit allows me to go off shooting from camp and/or backpack, and prevents accidents and loss of gear so easily when loaded separately in a pack. I've outfitted the tripod (I never shoot off of it) with a carry strap, so that I can go off with the camera pack hands free on any terrain. A detachable backpack lid, allows the lid to function as a fanny/belly pack, so I can carry lunch, water, windbreaker. etc. on any extended untethered shooting sojourns. Unexposed film is carried in a ziplock bag, buried in a polypro shirt within the pack to insulate it (sometimes in a bear canister). Exposed film is placed in old sheet film dark bags (a 5x7 holds 10 or more 120 rolls), thence into a ziplock. The only problematic issue becomes not accidentally littering the glued paper band coming off new rolls (I used to see these on the ground at popular shooting locations all the time). If only using the camera and one lens (never have), I'd probably just carry it plopped into the top of the backpack, wrapped in a shirt. For day trips I generally carry a daypack with the camera fanny pack swung around to the front – which is the position I work out of when shooting anyway. By working out of the pack so rotated, always attached (while shooting), everything is accounted for and protected, with a modicum of care. LF gear is another entire kettle of fish.


...he haw!, he haw!

 

[Pioneer]

Haven't got it yet, but once the Travelwide gets here, that'll be all the LF hiking gear I'll need (plus a few film holders and my Digisix)

+1 on the Travelwide. I am ready and waiting.

Right now I hike with my Fuji GF670. Modern lens, on-board metering, 6x7 or 6x6 format, relatively light and batteries last a long time. A tripod capable of holding this camera can be quite light.

Before the Fuji came along I hiked with my Ansco Super Speedex. Sharp Solinar lens, light VC Meter, 6x6 format, very light and batteries needed only for the meter. Again, a very light duty tripod handles this camera quite well.

 

[ntenny]

So, you drag your ass??

I actually own a white donkey. This means that I can, for instance, invite people to "kiss my hairy white ass" and have some of them actually do it! He's an excellent little trail packer and has occasionally carried some camera gear for me.

Here, I think I'll post a picture of my ass. He's at work in this one, though he's not carrying the camera because I'm using it to take his picture. (Rolleicord.)

-NT

 

[Jeff Kubach]

So, you drag your ass??

Yes I do!

Jeff

 

[jp498]

My Rolleiflex Automat weights less than my DSLR. Toss in the L208 meter, a couple rolls of film, and a filter, and I'm good to go. If I take a tripod, I can strap it to my backpack.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

The last day 8km hike in the mountains I took:
-Hasselblad 501CM
-80mm lens
-PME finder
-2 backs
-5 rolls film
-shutter release cable
-extra light meter.
-carbon fiber tripod
-water
-small lunch
-sweater
-windbreaker
-bear spray
-small cheap daypack

 

[q_x]

I hike 100-400 km at a time, without using hostels/hotels/shelters, doing some photography as I go. The backpack is somewhere between 11 and 20 kg, I can't carry more even on a flat terrain.

I've decided to use either a Ricoh XR-1s or a Zorki S with whatever lenses I have, but those are not MF cameras. I have Moskva 5, I got rid of Pentacon Six (not really a backpacking camera, and it was in need of a repair before shooting). Moskva is quite heavy for a 6x9 folder, and not really decent in any way, but the choice shows the way I'm thinking: I need 4 pieces of glass in a lens, shutter with low times, multiexposure prevention and a timer. You'll find some decent folders on your market - the exact model depends on your budget and features you need. From an old Bessa to a Texan Leica, choices are plenty, just make sure it eats 120 film and that it lets you actually compose an image - Moskva has crappiest viewfinder I've seen in my life.

Tripod or monopod, it's your choice as well. I'm fed up with cumbersome tripods, on a last trip I've broken a leg, so it became a 2kg monopod. Strap it to your backpack, fall from 2m, and you have your neck shattered with it. I hate long exposure trick shots with blurred water and grass, you know... Tripod is the heaviest part, so it needs to be taken care of more, than one would think, but if one thinks of "generic" or "general" landscape work, carefully composed, taken care of, a monopod is of little use.

Filters - I use a polarizer, and often polarizer only. It takes out two stops, so it's not a best choice with handheld shots. If I can carry a bit more, I'm taking Cokin holder and some filters (ND Gradual, orange-brown one called "sunset" and a polarizer), however I'd trade it all for three screw-in filters (polar, ND grad, green or yellow) and I'd use yellow or green instead of a polar if I had one, as I do b&w stuff anyways. All the lenses I use outdoors have the same filter diameter btw.

With small lightmeters - it has to be trustworthy; from what I read, Twinmate is not, but it's definitely worth a try - either this or any other will be better, than sunny 16.
Raincover - a plastic grocery bag. I mount the tripod through the bottom of it and roll the top when needed, so that I have my camera protected in a dry bag when carrying it.

I carry a huge microfiber towel for wiping my stuff. It's enough to wipe my whole body dry, something like 40x70cm, but the small napkin-sized cloths are getting dirty in no time. Same with a brush - 15 extra grams that makes life easier. Also a bag, that makes your equipment handy - waist/belt "pocket" may be sufficient.

GTG, cheers!

 

[Regular Rod]

Backpacking or strenuous all day adventures with MF gear. How do you do it? whats your camera/pack set up?

For 8x10 I bought the RPT P3 Backpack from Bruce Laughton at Dead Link Removed. It has the Granite Gear Air Current Suspension system. It reduces fatigue by a very big margin. The extra mile is not the nightmare it once was when I used the Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW. The method for storing camera and equipment is brilliant. You get padded boxes that "Velcro" to the back panel of the pack. These you choose to suit your equipment. Even after taxes and duty to bring it into the UK it still worked out less expensive that the Lowepro. Have a look at this video for his sheet film storage and you can see the backpack under his tripod. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEuBKTvdnik&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL MF will be a piece of cake with this backpack.


RR

 

[paul_c5x4]

LF gear is another entire kettle of fish.

Indeed it is

I sometimes go off up in the hills hiking/camping with a 5x4 and go to extremes to reduce the weight. Titanium spork, pot, and mug. Toothbrush with half the handle cut off. Lightweight down sleeping bag with a bivy bag & tarp/flysheet. Minimal change of clothes and just three socks... Then ruin all the weight savings by throwing in a changing tent, six film holders, lenses, film, filters, tripod, and camera !

 

[Soeren]

I have a F-stop Tilopa BC 48L backpack. They also make the Sartori which is 68L.
Best regards

 

[polyglot]

I only do short day-hikes (8-15km) while travelling, none of that 200km carry-your-accomodation stupidity. I take an RZ67, three lenses (65, 110, 250), 2-3 backs (loaded with different film types depending on weather & expected scenery, e.g. BW, IR and C41), probably 20 rolls of film (I'll expose between 2 and 5; the quantity is there for variety plus film weighs nothing), a spotmeter, smartphone (backup meter) cable release, filters (red, CPL, R72), good CF tripod, food and water. Plus a DSLR for exact exposure-checks if I'm shooting chromes in difficult light.

Everything except the tripod fits in a Kata 3N1-30 that weighs about 10-15kg (aiiieee, water!); having a waist/hip strap is critical to save your shoulders. For most of the walk, I have the camera on the tripod and slung over my shoulder.

Edit: my LF kit is smaller & lighter (RZ lenses are really heavy!) but very constrained in the number of photos I can take. Only about 10 film holders fit in my bag, so we're talking max 20 shots instead of practically-unlimited.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Let's see ... for several decades I'd carry about 40kg of view camera, camera, and mountaineering gear over all kinds of steep high terrain.
Now that I'm distinctly entering geezerhood, it would ... (calculator needed) typically be around 30 to 35 kg. Being my own pack mule allows
me to go wonderful places even a real mule or llama wouldn't be able to get to. But I am getting more and more conscious of gear wt as I
continue to age. Since my stock of 4x5 Readload and Quickload sleeves is almost gone, I've resorted to a couple of Horseman 6x9 holders on
my 4x5 - not to save weight really, but space. Plus equivalent perspective lenses are smaller, and I sometimes prefer the stretched format.
I still use mostly 8x10 for dayhikes. With my Pentax 6x7, I can easily carry two bodies and two lenses in a bag hanging around my neck, for
simple day jaunts of up to six or eight miles. It's also a nice system for windy conditions when a view camera risks becoming a kite, or when
my wife is along and might get impatient with the slower operation of a view camera. The nice thing about view camera is that you can get
very lightweight lenses. You let the bellows do the work. Each lens doesn't need a heavy bulky barrel. Plus you get all the movement options,
and can use the same lenses on rollfilm holders or various full sheet sizes. Spontaneity is a different question. But ya can't carry em all at
the same time! I debating which system to take to the Islands in Dec. The weather forecast will probably be the determining factor. But in
the darkroom, the bigger the film the better. I'm a format schizophrenic anyway, so like switching things up from time to time, just for the
fun of it.

 

[StoneNYC]

Lots of time at the gym to prepare with squats and deadlifts

Hiked the Grand Canyon twice, first time with my 35mm gear (which was a lot heavier than my MF stuff by a long shot because it's canon L glass, including my 70-200mm 2.8 mark II lens... 50mm 2.5 with macro extender, 17-40mm L f/4 and 1V body, extra batteries, 40 rolls of K64... The only light thing I had was my manfroto carbon fiber tripod) the total pack weight was 72lbs...

The second time was "so much lighter" at 63lbs which included my mamiya 7 II, 150mm, 65mm, and 43mm, about 20 rolls of 120 (velvia/Provia/pan-f+/D3200) and my sekonic 7xxDR meter and various filters.

Keep in mind I had enough food the first time for 8 days in the canyon, the second was 5 days in the canyon.

If you want to pack lighter, go with the Mamiya 7 it's the lightest option for MF gear that gives you great quality! However if you don't care, take a holga120 instead hehe


Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[StoneNYC]

......

It's heavy but I'm still young and my girlfriend oftentimes helps carry the tripod.

Is that supposed to be a double entendre?


Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

Is that supposed to be a double entendre?


Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

...I only use wooden tripods...