How many film holders do you use for ULF?

[ReallyBigCameras]

The magic number for me is six. Therefore I have six holders for 8x20, 11x14 and 12x20.

12 exposures for any one ULF format is plenty for a cycle of ULF photography. That said I have yet to utilize all of my holders in one day of shooting.However, I firmly believe in having the potential should the opportunity present itself.

The more you shoot the better you see and the more holders you need.

I'm with Michael and Sandy on this one. I also find six holders to be my magic number in ULF. I hate reloading in the field. So, even though I have yet to burn through all 12 sheets in a single day, it's nice to have some loaded holders ready to go the next morning.

Depending on how you process your film, 12 is also conveniently divisible by 2, 3, 4 and 6. So, if you process in trays, drums or hangers, 12 sheets of film seems to always divide evenly without an odd sheet or two left over waiting for the next batch of film to process. Of course, that's not always the case, but it seems to wok out nicely for me more often than not.

So, in 7x17, I have six walnut AWB holders. In 14x17, I have six Fidelity holders (and I don't even have the camera completed yet). In 7x17 I usually carry three holders with me if I'm hiking any distance from the vehicle and leave the other three in the car for later. Of course, if I'm working near the car, I just grab what I need when I need it.

In smaller formats, I have a lot more holders. I have more than fifty 4x5 holders. When I was shooting 4x5 in high volume, but hadn't yet switched to Quick/Readyloads, I liked to load up 100 sheets (two 50 sheet boxes) of Velvia before leaving for a week long trip. In 4x5, if the conditions were right, I usually averaged exposing about 20 sheets of film a day. Sometimes a little more, sometimes less. By starting the week with 100 loaded sheets, I had to reload only once mid-trip.

In 4x10, I have 15 holders. That also seems to work well for me.

In 8x10, I have 25 holders, but rarely seem to need them all. The only reason I have so many is that I got a really good deal on a case (twenty) of unused Fidelity 8x10 holders a couple years ago. I could get by with less, but when it comes to holders, I'd rather have too many than not enough.

Kerry

 

[Scott Squires]

4x10 - 12 holders - 6 AWB wood & 6 Canham.
8x10 - 24 Holders - Fidelity.
7x17 - 6 Holders - AWB, and saving for 6 more?

I like having enough holders to load a full box (-1).

I always take the 8x10 and one of the Pano cameras for a trip and hate to change film during the trip.

Scott

 

[micek]

11x14 -only two holders and they both leak...

 

[Robert Hall]

4x10 12
8x10 40+
12x20 6

 

[RobertP]

I want to meet the guy who backpacks a 12x20 with six holders and lenses. But not in a dark alley.

 

[Robert Hall]

I only do that when I have somone to carry the holders. lol

 

[photo8x10]

5X7 = 10 Fidelety Holders
8x10 = 12 Fidelety Holders
8X20 = 2 Lotus Holder(only for the moment, I'm planning to buy other 2)

Best
Stefano

 

[philsweeney]

I have 3 for 7 x 17. plenty for 8 x 10.

 

[eddie gunks]

I only do that when I have someone to carry the holders. lol

i seen him one day at the grand canyon.....but he only had 2 holders......

 

[Robert Hall]

Maybe, but we were both hanging off the same cliff!

 

[jp80874]

7x17 = 6 ; 8x10 = 10 -

I have used all 6 - 7 x 17 holders in one day for sure, but never more than one exposure of the same image. But I almost always take the 8 x 10 and 7 x 17 and will use both on photo outings.

Since we have added other than ULF, I have to agree with Scott and also Phil Kember or Death Valley Phil. I like the format combination of 8x10 and 7x17. The most organized I have been was at Bill Schwab's northern MI Gathering last June with an 8x10 on tripod and a 7x17 on tripod laid out in the back of the SUV with the Baby Jogger bungee corded onto a trailer hitch 2'x5' basket that most people use to carry a dead deer.

I have added two 7x17 holders since my earlier post.

7x17 = 12
8x10 = 18

John Powers

 

[Steve Sherman]

FIlm Holders

Two formats only,

5x7 to many to count
7x17 (6)

 

[barryjyoung]

12x20 = 3 Holders.
I am looking for a good way to keep them dust free.

Gary

a vacuum cleaner before loading, then after loading a poly bag sealed with a bag sealer until they are used.
Even in dusty environments they stay completely clean.

 

[Alan Barton]

I have 15 8x10s and 6 11x14 holders. As I always travel with the large Harrison tent and do not mind unoading/reloading every night as long as I have a days worth of loaded holders Im fine.

It comes down to how many images you can take in a day-I dont do "doubles" (unless exposure is particularly tricky or very long) so 10 max has been my limit in either format.

Alan

 

[bobherbst]

Robert,

He'll be easy to spot. He's the one limping from herniated or ruptured disks after a couple of years of humping it all around. Been there, done that, got the scar to prove it.

Bob

I want to meet the guy who backpacks a 12x20 with six holders and lenses. But not in a dark alley.

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I want to meet the guy who backpacks a 12x20 with six holders and lenses. But not in a dark alley.

Robert, come on now. I just found a backpack for the 8x20. Takes all of my stuff and I can get only 2 holders in. I'm only 5"6" and 135lbs. and I'll still put some miles on with that camera on my back. Haven't done it yet but when I was in Yosemite the end of last month I saw some great 8x20 compositions but I couldn't get the camera through the snow. By the way at 57 I can still haul 40 lbs on gear on my back. Got to stay in shape. The 8x20 pack by the way is 31lbs. actually a little lighter than my 8x10 set up. I forgot that I have 3 11x14 holders for the 11x14 I'm building.... need to find a way to haul this one too. Way to many backpacks!!

Jim

 

[Steve Sherman]

Robert, come on now. I just found a backpack for the 8x20. Takes all of my stuff and I can get only 2 holders in. Jim

Please share with us the name and model number of backpack

Thanks, Steve

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Please share with us the name and model number of backpack

Thanks, Steve

Steve, of course I will. I made a separate post for it but I guess no one saw it. I just got a REI Mars 85 backpack. It is the large one that comes in at 5300 ci. and weights 5 lbs. 11 oz per the spec's. The pack has a clamshell opening on the front and you can access it from there or the top. My 8x20 fits inside with two film holders, three lenses, Packard shutter, extension rail, stabilizer bars filters and other misc. stuff. I still have the side pockets and the top of the pack available for more stuff. Fully loaded it comes in at about 31 lbs. If anyone is interested I'll load it up and take some pics of it. It cost me less than $100.00. It lists for $199.00 and through the end of the month you can get 20% off. I took advantage of this and used my dividend to get it down to about 85.00. This pack weights in less than the 8x10 pack I carry now. I wish I would have had it at Yosemite a couple of weeks ago because I saw some great compositions of trail but my rolling pack was no good in the snow. If anyone needs the dimensions of my camera let me know and I can give them to you to see if your ULF will fit. This will be easy for a 7x17. 12x20 I don't know.


Jim

 

[Steve Sherman]

Thanks Jim

There is an REI a couple of towns away.

Steve

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Thanks Jim

There is an REI a couple of towns away.

Steve

Steve, you're welcome. The pack fits me really well and I can't wait to get it out in the field for a real test.

Jim