How long did it take you to pare down your large format kit?

[grat]

Pare down-- that means to get rid of the "kind of works" stuff, and replace it with better, more effective stuff, right? So pulling out a stack of 4x5 holders, and replacing them with two grafmatics, for instance, is that "paring down"...?

No?

Oops.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Another vote for the "What is this 'paring down' of which you speak? I know it not". There has been a lot of refinement, and acquisition of things that allow me to use pieces of kit across multiple platforms (lens board adapters, for example, so I don't have to have a plethora of lens boards in every size that all my cameras use, and/or multiple copies of each lens that will work on multiple formats). But I have been narrowing down in my head what particular lens/format combinations work well for me so I'm not hauling a Mercedes Sprinter worth of gear with me every time I want to photograph something at the end of my block. And I've used enough different tools to know when I want something to look a particular way, what is the best tool to achieve that.

 

[qqphot]

I spent years shooting only 8x10" but honestly I can't be bothered anymore. I started because I couldn't get large prints with the level of extreme detail I wanted any other way.

Over time I've found that a) I'm lazy, b) nobody but me cares, c) what I can get with a 61 MP sony mirrorless is definitely good enough, and d) the number of images I never got because of the mechanics and logistics of 8x10 probably outweighed the gain in image quality from those I did get.

There was just too much of "This would be amazing, but I can't get the tripod that low" or "If I extend the bellows far enough for that I'll need a 2 minute exposure and it's starting to rain."

I still haven't brought myself to sell the gear and I don't imagine there's much market for expensive lenses that cover 8x10 these days anyway. Also I realize I sound like I'm 80 while i'm still in my 40s. So be it!

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

...in most cases I actually bought what I didn't have a need for, and forgot to sell what I didn't use....
...and this is still ongoing now for the last 10 years .....

 

[jtk]

I pared my 8X10 kit down to zero when I discoved I was doing better photography with my metered SLR and Kodachrome ...which I was using to meter the 8X10.

Later I pared my very nice Toyo 4X5 kit down to zero when I moved to a city that didn't have a good E6 lab.

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

Several years ago while at the beginning of my peak in civil war re-enactment photography.....I decided to haul my Gigantic Anthony Climax Imperial 8x10 View Camera AND it’s huge crank studio stand (4 leg). Holy Cow what a mistake! Impossible to easily move it to change quarter plate tihalf plate distances....missed a few Great opportunities for location shots.....Last Time Out! From then on, the half plate dag Camera was all that went out.

 

[Ian Grant]

Another vote for the "What is this 'paring down' of which you speak? I know it not". There has been a lot of refinement, and acquisition of things that allow me to use pieces of kit across multiple platforms (lens board adapters, for example, so I don't have to have a plethora of lens boards in every size that all my cameras use, and/or multiple copies of each lens that will work on multiple formats). But I have been narrowing down in my head what particular lens/format combinations work well for me so I'm not hauling a Mercedes Sprinter worth of gear with me every time I want to photograph something at the end of my block. And I've used enough different tools to know when I want something to look a particular way, what is the best tool to achieve that.

Living abroad in Turkey and retaining my house in the UK I duplicated my LF kit. Around 2006/7 anything Large Format was incredibly cheap especially in the US (compared to the UK/Europe).

We need to pass on our excess to newer, younger, users. I keep hesitating, but it has to be done . . . . . . .

Ian

 

[Jorn B]

We need to pass on our excess to newer, younger, users. I keep hesitating, but it has to be done . . . . . . .

Ian

I can't figure how to send a message in Photrio, so I hope you'll excuse me interrupting this thread.
Ian, someone mentioned you might hjelp me out finding a filmholder/-back solution for my Certo Certoruf (9x12) from the 1920's.

Thread 'Back/holder for Certo Certoruf'

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/back-holder-for-certo-certoruf.193345/

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can't figure how to send a message in Photrio, so I hope you'll excuse me interrupting this thread.
Ian, someone mentioned you might hjelp me out finding a filmholder/-back solution for my Certo Certoruf (9x12) from the 1920's.

Thread 'Back/holder for Certo Certoruf'

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/back-holder-for-certo-certoruf.193345/

I asked the moderators to see if there is a better location for your post. Usually they respond quickly.

Also take a look at https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/

 

[Besk]

Echoing TheFlyingCamera:

I've almost completed my paring down of Large Format to two cameras

- Busch Pressman 4x5 with rangefinder and an original Toyo Field with a 4x5 back and adapted 5x7 & 6x9 backs. Also pared down to a range of lenses from 65mm to 300mm with almost no duplicates. All used with adapters on both cameras except for a couple which won't work with the Pressman because of its lensboard size limitations. All lenses have adapters for 67mm filters and hoods.

Also have a lightweight 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 miniature Crown Graphic rangefinder which use the shorter lenses with an adapter.

Tripods - down to two. One carbon fiber Gitzo G-1228 and another Gitzo 3 series aluminum tripod where carrying weight is not so important. One tripod ball head at this time.

Now, that is the easy part - now there is a bunch of stuff that I need to go!

 

[MattKing]

I can't figure how to send a message in Photrio, so I hope you'll excuse me interrupting this thread.
Ian, someone mentioned you might hjelp me out finding a filmholder/-back solution for my Certo Certoruf (9x12) from the 1920's.

Thread 'Back/holder for Certo Certoruf'

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/back-holder-for-certo-certoruf.193345/

I asked the moderators to see if there is a better location for your post. Usually they respond quickly.

Also take a look at https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/

Sirius,
You could have messaged Ian Grant for Jorn B.
One of the ways of contacting someone outside of the messaging system is is to Alert them by including @theirPhotrioname in a post.
So I'm going to do that for Jorn B. in his thread.
Interruption over - you can now go back to your Marie Kondo/Large Format discussion

 

[Sirius Glass]

Sirius,
You could have messaged Ian Grant for Jorn B.
One of the ways of contacting someone outside of the messaging system is is to Alert them by including @theirPhotrioname in a post.
So I'm going to do that for Jorn B. in his thread.
Interruption over - you can now go back to your Marie Kondo/Large Format discussion

Great way to communicate that I did not know. I was not sure that Ian Grant was the correct person. Thank you for getting on this quickly.

 

[GKC]

My gear can roughly be categorized into several groups.
1) Stuff I use
2) Stuff that doesn't work, but I intend on restoring (if I can't get around to it in a reasonable amount of time, it gets pared down)
3) Stuff I thought I'd use but don't (this stuff needs to find a new home)
4) Stuff I have a potential use for (ok, I'll find room for it)
5) Stuff that is so cool I like having it, but I have no realistic use for (this drives me nuts)
6) Stuff that is useful but duplicates what I already have (such items are either held 'just in case' or
found new, more appreciative homes.)
7) Stuff I forgot I had, and found (fun discoveries I need to place in groups 1-6 and deal with it)

 

[Sirius Glass]

My gear can roughly be categorized into several groups.
1) Stuff I use
2) Stuff that doesn't work, but I intend on restoring (if I can't get around to it in a reasonable amount of time, it gets pared down)
3) Stuff I thought I'd use but don't (this stuff needs to find a new home)
4) Stuff I have a potential use for (ok, I'll find room for it)
5) Stuff that is so cool I like having it, but I have no realistic use for (this drives me nuts)
6) Stuff that is useful but duplicates what I already have (such items are either held 'just in case' or
found new, more appreciative homes.)
7) Stuff I forgot I had, and found (fun discoveries I need to place in groups 1-6 and deal with it)

Add to the list:
Stuff that I had to buy knowing that I would never use it
Stuff that I will not get rid of but cannot figure out why

 

[MattKing]

And of course, in furtherance of my Marie Kondo reference, all of the categories listed above relate to whether the items "bring you joy".
Large Format photographers can be such a joyful lot .

 

[Jay Schrotenboer]

And of course, in furtherance of my Marie Kondo reference, all of the categories listed above relate to whether the items "bring you joy".
Large Format photographers can be such a joyful lot .

I must admit I am quite joyful, especially when I look at the next must have lens/back/camera! Good thing I have no money to buy more stuff otherwise I might need to “pare down”

 

[Alan Gales]

Well, if you shoot 8x10 you soon find out that it is expensive. I bought my used 8x10 Wehman and soon after a 14" Commercial Ektar. I found a Fujifiim 250mm for a good price. It took me months to find a 19" Artar at a decent price. I stopped at that point. I do have a 4x5 reduction back and some 4x5 lenses though. It's a lot easier to buy too much with 4x5.