most compact 4x5 kit?

darinwc said:

OK, heres a challenge:
Put together the most compact 4x5 kit you can think of.
This should include the camera, meter, 3 lenses, film holders, tripod, and any other acessories you think are neccesary. This does not have to be the lightest kit available, but instead the most compact.

Click to expand...

I'm generally interested in saving weight more than saving size, but the two go somewhat hand-in-hand. Here's some items to consider:

Camera: Anba-Ikeda/Nagaoka or original Gowland Pocket View. The original Gowland Pocket View (not the current model), at under 2 lbs. is the lightest commercially available 4x5 camera ever made. It's also one of the most compact. However, it requires assembly/disassembly to achive this compact status. It is also slow to change from vertical to horizontal, lacks zero detends on the movements and shares knobs for multiple functions (the knobs of the sides of the front standards control both front rise/fall and axis tilt AND also hold teh lensboards in place). If is was me, I'd prefer and Anba-Ikeda or Nagaoka. It's faster to set-up and easier to use than the Gowland and very nearly as compact when folded. Depening on which exact model you get, the weight will be between 2.5 and 2.75 lbs. These cameras fold up incedibly small - much smaller than other lightweight wooden field cameras.

3 Lenses: In a three lens set, I like to carry 90mm, 150mm and 240mm focal lengths. The absolutely most compact set would be:

90mm f6.3 WA Congo
150mm f6.3 Fujinon W
9½" Red Dot Artar

The Congo is available new and recent samples are multicoated. In the 150mm, there are other choices such as the 150mm f9 G Claron and my personal favorite, the 150mm f9 Germinar-W. Of the three, the Germinar-W is the only one that is multicoated and has the most coverage, but the Fuji and G Claron are ever-so-slightly more compact. If you can find a late model 9½" Red Dot Artar in a Compur shutter, it is a very compact lens, much smaller than the 240mm Fujinon A I usually recommend in this focal length.

Film Holders: For the most compact solution, I'd recommend a couple Grafmatics and a 50 sheet box of film. I usuaully carry a Quick/Readyload holders and packet films for weight savings and convenience, but a couple Grafmatics and a box, or two, of film will be much more compact than a equivalent number of Quick/Readyload packets. If you're staying in a hotel you can reload the Grafmatics at night in the bathroom and not even need to bring a changing tent.

Lightmeter: Gossen DigiSix - very tiny and lightweight. Does both direct and incident readings, also has built-in alarm clock, thermometer and timer functions.

Tripod: I prefer the three-sections Gitzo carbon fiber models for the best combination of lightweight and rigidity. However, they aren't the most compact. You may want to look at one of the four-section Gitzo carbon fiber models are the Linhof model Ted Harris recommends. Gitzo also has some SIX section carbon fiber models out now that are incredibly compact, both with all those locking collars to loosen/tighten and the spindly little bottom leg section they take forever to set-up/tear-down and aren't nearly as rigid as the three and four section models.

Kerry