Cheap and easy to carry 4x5 monorail.

waynecrider · Nov 9, 2005

What are the options available for a tough, cheaper and relatively easy to carry monorail? Uses would include downtown architecture to 6 mile hikes in Arizona wilderness. Lenses, a short 90mm to as long as I can reasonably get without becoming unwieldy. I don't mind setups, but if the camera can be carried collapsed around the city it would be nice.

John Kasaian · Nov 9, 2005

Gowland!

rbarker · Nov 9, 2005

The inexpensive monorails (e.g. the old Calumets, B&Js, etc.) are often that way because of simplicity of construction. The standards are fixed, and not easily removed from the rail. The more expensive designs (Sinar, etc.) tend to have more options for breaking the camera down for travel. Newer, moderately-priced cameras like the Toyo and Toho allow some break-down, but less conveniently.

When I started with LF in the early '70s, I had an early (fixed standards) Calumet, and just packed everything into the fiberboard case. I then slid that into a large backpack. While heavy, I was young enough to haul it around the mountains of Yosemite. Now, the monorails are used only a few feet from the vehicle. ;-)

Frank Petronio · Nov 9, 2005

Calumet - Orbit - Kodak "coat hanger" monorails works nicely and are cheap - they are often used as student cameras - it is hard to break them. Older Toyos are more plastic but also decent. The bellows are durable but heavy - hard to use a wide angle lens.

A nicer camera is the older Arca-Swiss A, B, or C cameras (pre 1980). These can be found used for $400 or so. Finding a bag bellows for wide angle work can as much as the camera though.

A real steal is an older Linhof monorail. I bought a Linhof Super Color ST that uses technika lensboards (nice and small boards) and it wasn't very heavy - only $230 on eBay. Much higher quality than anything mentioned above - the Linhof back and components are identical to their top of the line cameras. It handled a 90mm with movements because of the quality bellows.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 9, 2005

The Gowland is the inexpensive/superlight option.

Sinar F/F1 is also cheap these days, and easier to carry than most people think.

Dave Parker · Nov 9, 2005

I like the Calumet Cadet, nice pretty light and smaller than alot of the models on the market...

Dave

mark · Nov 9, 2005

My SInar F1 was cheap and weighs less than my field camera.

Christopher Nisperos · Nov 9, 2005

Frank Petronio said:
" A nicer camera is the older Arca-Swiss A, B, or C cameras (pre 1980). These can be found used for $400 or so. Finding a bag bellows for wide angle work can as much as the camera though."

..don't forget the Arca-Swiss Misura! Fits in and comes with it's own hard leather or aluminum case and carry strap,designed to be carried under your arm. The thing is so small, it looks like a 6x9. I don't know how they do it.
I hear they also have an 8x10 version out which weighs less than 4 kg.

As for "cheap", well they've only been out for a few years, but perhaps you could find one second-hand?

Alexz · Nov 9, 2005

What is your field camera ? Does your F1 collapses as tight for carriage as your field folder ?

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 9, 2005

An F1 is pretty compact and sturdy if you remove the rail or pack it on a 6" rail. Other alternatives are to turn both standards parallel to the rail, so it packs flat, or you can fold down one standard with the bellows, then raise the other standard and fold it over the first standard, so it's about as compact as a folding field camera. In any case you leave the tripod mount on the tripod. The neutral detentes make it quick to set up.

mark · Nov 9, 2005

Alexz said:
What is your field camera ? Does your F1 collapses as tight for carriage as your field folder ?

My Field Camera is a Prinzdorff. Package wise no it is not as uniformly packed. It fits in the same space in my camera back pack as the field camera does but not in the shoulder bag I sometimes use.

jd callow · Nov 9, 2005

The Sinar F series are light and can be folded, as David mentions, into a fairly compact package. The only problem is that it is an odd shaped package.

When buying a sinar keep an eye out for the newer spring back (the one with chrome levers) and if possible get the F2 which has the levers (or at least every example I have seen does) and a better front standard. The F2 front standard has geared focus and a sturdier rail clamp. It adds, maybe, 1lb to the weight of the camera.

I have walked all over with my sinar attached to the tripod and with the tripod resting on my shoulder. It isn't very heavy (probably in the region of 5-7lbs). If you fold it or disassemble it and fit it into a camera bag reassembly and setup takes about 2 or 3 minutes.

They are lovely cameras, easy to adjust, use, find accessories and parts.

Ole · Nov 9, 2005

My backpacking 4x5" is a Linhof Color. It's slightly too limited for some architecture, so the Color Kardan might be a better choise for you. But that is a little heavier...

jovo · Nov 9, 2005

The ubiquitous Toyo-Omega D or E monorail meets your criteria for cheap and not too difficult to carry depending on what kind of terrain you plan to hike six miles in. It's made of metal and polycarbonate and has been rugged enough for lots of field use despite the reputation of polycarbonate to not be the most durable and strong material. (but I haven't had to clobber a bear with it either.) It has a revolving back too, btw, which costs a bunch extra on the Toyo field camera. I schlepp mine on its tripod over my shoulder on which I first put my folded darkcloth. I also have pipe insulation foam on the upper legs of the tripod to make it a bit easier as well. Still....six miles each way is a haul unless you take some breaks.

Paul Sorensen · Nov 9, 2005

I had a Calumet-Gowland, and don't recommend it. I suspect a real Gowland might be better, but personally I would be leery of it as well. I found it really hard to set up and manage. All of the fittings are friction and very hard to use, and it was very sloppy and hard to tighten down. I decided for my needs, I would be better off with a field camera that has decent movements, which I got. If you are looking for super light, the Toyo 45CF field camera is very light, but I haven't used it so I can comment on what kinds of movements it has or how sturdy it is. For a new camera it is also quite inexpensive, about $650 or so at Badger.

roteague · Nov 9, 2005

waynecrider said:
What are the options available for a tough, cheaper and relatively easy to carry monorail? Uses would include downtown architecture to 6 mile hikes in Arizona wilderness. Lenses, a short 90mm to as long as I can reasonably get without becoming unwieldy. I don't mind setups, but if the camera can be carried collapsed around the city it would be nice.

I have an old Omega 45D, which I don't use the camera much; I keep it in one of these cheap plastic bins, with the snap on lid, that you can buy at any WalMart. Just get a luggage cart and you can pull it everywhere.

My primary camera is a Toyo 45AII, which I carry in a backpack. It folds quite nicely; in fact, I just took it to Australia and New Zealand last month.

roteague · Nov 9, 2005

Paul Sorensen said:
If you are looking for super light, the Toyo 45CF field camera is very light, but I haven't used it so I can comment on what kinds of movements it has or how sturdy it is.

You basically lose all the back movements with the 45CF.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 9, 2005

Paul Sorensen said:
I had a Calumet-Gowland, and don't recommend it. I suspect a real Gowland might be better, but personally I would be leery of it as well. I found it really hard to set up and manage. All of the fittings are friction and very hard to use, and it was very sloppy and hard to tighten down.

The Gowland is definitely not for everyone. I've got a 4x5" Gowland Front Moves PocketView and an 8x10" Pocket View. If you like precision geared movements, get another camera. If you can sacrifice a certain degree of precision in the camera for light weight and can adjust your approach to what the camera can do, then a Gowland is a handy option.

waynecrider · Nov 9, 2005

Can anyone tell me the difference between the Sinar F and F1.

Dave Wooten · Nov 9, 2005

monorails like the Orbit,,,with a solid metal single rail...you can close the camera so its shortest length, then cut the rail at that point, have it drilled and threaded...very easy to pack...

tingm · Nov 10, 2005

another vote for Sinar F1.. you can get them pretty cheap in ebay these days. it folds to 30cm x 18cm x 17cm, fits in the same bag I use for 35mm equipment.

sattler123 · Nov 10, 2005

Why not a hybrid - like the Canham DLC45 - best of both worlds! You get the movements of a mono rail (almost) and the compactness of a folder. It is not cheap, but I have seen them on the auction site coming up more frequently. I started out with a Sinar F1 - really loved the camera and its capability, but didn't like the set-up and the packing. I tried folding field cameras and didn't like the movements they offered or the way you had to adjust for the movements (like the Technikas) and finally ended up with the Canham. Great camera, light weight and very compact.

mark · Nov 10, 2005

Sattler,

You must have missed the "cheap" part of the post. Canham ain't cheap.

waynecrider · Nov 10, 2005

Dave Wooten said:
monorails like the Orbit,,,with a solid metal single rail...you can close the camera so its shortest length, then cut the rail at that point, have it drilled and threaded...very easy to pack...

That's actually pretty smart. What kind of weight are you talking about for the camera and rail?

Flotsam · Nov 10, 2005

This is my method for moving about with a monorail. Dead Link Removed . I never intended to cover much distance with it but it amazing how easy it is to use under all but the most long or arduous treks. It's like pulling a wagon. When you stop, everything is assembled and ready to shoot. I used it just today for at least a mile of fairly moderate terrain and it was a pleasure.

Cheap and easy to carry 4x5 monorail.

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Cheap and easy to carry 4x5 monorail.

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