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

grat · Jul 18, 2022

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 · Jul 18, 2022

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 · Jul 20, 2022

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) · Jul 22, 2022

...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 · Jul 22, 2022

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 · Jul 24, 2022

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 · Jul 24, 2022

TheFlyingCamera said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

Ian Grant said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

Jorn B said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

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 · Jul 29, 2022

Jorn B said:
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 said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

MattKing said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

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 · Jul 29, 2022

GKC said:
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 · Jul 29, 2022

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 · Jul 29, 2022

MattKing said:
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 · Aug 7, 2022

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.

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

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