Multiformaters what do you do

Soeren · Mar 8, 2005

Hi again
Since you didn't even try to talk me out of the Bronica SQ-Ai
I bought it with the 80mm and the 150mm. I used to carry my Yashica 124G with my Nikon outfit since it didn't ad much to the bulk. things have changed so I ask you all: what and how much do you take along on your trips ? both 35mm and MF ? I'd like to take both so I can shoot slides with my nikon an B&W with my Zenzei. I carry the lot in a Lowe Pro Rover AW which is not at all satisfactory.
Should I choose what to shoot before each trip or could you recommend another solution ? Lowe Pro or Tamrac

Regards Søren

PS I am getting the first chromes back today. I couldn't resist but had to try a couple of slidefilms in it.

Ole · Mar 8, 2005

I have so much camera gear now that I have to choose...

If I travel by car, I'm likely to take 5x7" and 18x24cm cameras, and throw in a MF folder for good measure. Unless I'm planning to shoot for enlarging; in which case I'll take 4x5" and 5x7". And an MF...

If I don't take the car, the Bronica will get an airing - ETRS with 40, 75 and 150mm lenses. And since it's so heavy already I throw in the 35mm Bess-L too, and a "backup" MF - likely the Zeiss-Ikon Ikonta 621.

If I bring my wife, she brings the 35mm outfit: Pentax Mz-5n with a couple of lenses. And since there's someone to help me carry (I hope), I might bring another size LF too...

rbarker · Mar 8, 2005

Soeren said:
. . . Lowe Pro or Tamrac

Yes.

Soeren · Mar 8, 2005

rbarker said:
Yes.

lol
I want one
Søren

Sino · Mar 8, 2005

Jesus Christ, Ralph, that's scary! =)

-Sino.

NikoSperi · Mar 8, 2005

I'm with Ole: way too much gear. Choosing is the hardest part. Once you're out there, it's alot easier to make the gear (whichever part of it you brought) work for you. Most of the time, I bring along a bunch of stuff that I never use.

The format is typically exclusive: if it's 4x5", I have enough stuff to schlep that bringing another camera (and films) is not going to happen. If it's MF, ditto. I will on occasion throw in a rangefinder...

But if I had that golf cart... I could carry it ALL!!!

Ole · Mar 8, 2005

NikoSperi said:
...But if I had that golf cart... I could carry it ALL!!!

I couldn't...

Christopher Colley · Mar 8, 2005

I used to carry the gear I wasnt using (that part is important) in a camera bag and lug it around with me.. Lenses I'd never put on, filters I'd never use, more film than I could ever plan to shoot, an extra camera (or three) etc.etc... while leaving my main 35mm camera strapped on my neck. Well, as you could guess I rarely used the stuff in the bag. and I no longer bring a bag with me unless I am traveling more than 100 or so miles.

I carry my 35mm and medium format on my person with the one lens on each camera and a few rolls of film in my pockets of varrying types, some lens cleaner, 1 or 2 filters and if needed a tripod. I find this so liberating! To walk around and not have to carry a big bag and feel 'free' only carrying 2 cameras strapped onto me. For my shooting style, mostly urban, going minimal has worked out very well and I've never thought "I wish I would have brought......"

I thought "I wish i wouldNT have brought...." a lot of times while carrying all that gear I'd never use!

Nige · Mar 8, 2005

I once lugged a 4x5 monorail in Aluminium case, my Mamiya 645 outfit in a shoulder bag and a 35mm Nikon (bung in the case) plus my tripod up a bush track to a waterfall. It was about 500meters... it nearly killed me! I now decide what I'm going to use and only take that!

Soeren · Mar 8, 2005

Most of my shooting is "nature" so what to leave at home is very difficult.
What I use and is left unused in the camera bag is unfortunately not the same from trip to trip. Sometimes it all comes into service like last sunday where both cameras, all my lenses + TC201 and PK13 saw the light of the day. Would I have missed some of it had it been left home ? Hmm propably not but there's this feeling "..... what if......."
Søren

BWGirl · Mar 8, 2005

What sort of problems are you having with your current pack? You said it's not acceptable...is it a size issue or a function issue? I have a Tamrac Expedition 8 that I can easily fit more things in than I can possibly carry! I love the thing! I can take the Hassy, both Canons (AE-1 & Elan7), film, filters, lenses, tripod, raingear, trail mix, maps, hair brush... the list is endless!

But there are times when unstrapping a backpack and putting it back on is a real PITA! I have a smaller Tamrac shoulder bag that holds the Hassy & my Elan7. I can't fit any other lenses in it, and I must strap the filter packs on the outside of the bag. No tripod holder.

I keep looking for the perfect bag too. So I hope you find one!

rogueish · Mar 8, 2005

When I picked up my secound camera, I needed a case to carry them. After looking at the $$! of a pelican, I went a got a aluminun one from the local hardware. It fit my Nikon SLR and a Yashica TLR, light meter, film filters and lens cleaner with some room to spare in the foam.
Now I've gone and bought a Mamiya RB67. It won't fit in the case with the others I have so now I need to choose. New case for the RB or get rid of the TLR and redo the foam? Then I thought, I'm going to get a couple more film backs, more lenses, new tripod.
hmm guess a new case is in order.

I now understand the look I got from the Mrs when I said I'd like to try a LF workshop...

Soeren · Mar 8, 2005

Jeanette
In short yes and yes Well it's just barely big enough but it is very impractical and the upper comp where the Bronica sits is not padded. To get to the other gear you have to "part" it in the middle (sorry bad english) and on this last trip I saw lots of snow finding its way into the compartment. The tripod is fastene to the bag so you can't get to the photocompartment, grr. The bag is very soft and sits uncomfortable at least on my bag and it is unstable too.
Please tell me more about the Tamrac Expedition 8
Regards Søren

Donald Miller · Mar 8, 2005

Like many here I have way too much equipment. I don't use anything other then large format any longer. My Bronica system sits gathering dust as does my medium format enlarger. My 35 mm hasn't seen daylight in years. I sold my 12X20 since it was not my thing.

My suggestion is choose one format and become absolutely familiar with it. When it no longer says what you want to say then get rid of it and use what will say what you want to say.

My experience with all of the excess camera stuff started out as a learning process, tranformed into an ego thing, and ultimately became a burden. Perhaps your experience will differ.

NikoSperi · Mar 8, 2005

I now understand the look I got from the Mrs when I said I'd like to try a LF workshop...

Only time I actually "asked" my SO if I could get another camera, she said, "Yes, but you have to get rid of one too." Sold my Fuji GS690 III rangefinder, picked up Sinar F2, three lens boards, two lenses, three bellows, rail extensions, reflex viewer, 12 film holders, Polaroid back...

Boy did I ever have to pay for that one... :rolleyes:

Ole · Mar 8, 2005

NikoSperi said:
Only time I actually "asked" my SO if I could get another camera, she said, "Yes, but you have to get rid of one too."

I preempted that by telling her I would be selling one. Then gradually let slip that that was because I was buying another one. I still haven't told her about the new lenses I'll be getting because the new lensboard is smaller than the other one, or of the nice old brass lenses I stumbled across when I was looking for a 305 G-Claron without shutter, or the 9x12 plate camera which just happened to catch my eye (oh well, I'll have the whole Voigtländer series then...), or....

juan · Mar 8, 2005

I find myself choosing the extremes of my equipment. I went shooting on Cumberland Island, Georgia this past weekend and took the 8x10 to shoot the landscapes and the 35mm to shoot the wild horses. I seldom shoot with any of my 4x5s or any of the roll film cameras. I do sometimes use my 2 1/4x3 1/4 Speed Graphic as a view camera.

I'm with Don. Sometimes all of these cameras are a burden. And we won't mention the typewriters.
juan

Graeme Hird · Mar 8, 2005

On my last two road trips I took my two Nikons and their associated lenses and my 5x4 kit with its lenses. I did not take a single photo with either Nikon, even though they travelled 9000km to be with me.

It seems I'm addicted to using the best quality equipment I have at hand. Why shoot on 35mm? If it's worth capturing, it's worth doing it properly. The Nikons are staying at home next time.

My advice? Shoot with the biggest film you can carry. Life's too short to regret shooting on tiny film.

Cheers,

jd callow · Mar 8, 2005

I travel with the Mamiya 6, 3 lenses (50,75, 150) a handful of filters, light meter, cable release, and film for the day's shooting. The tripod is added at night. I will travel with about 50-75 rolls of film per week, but generally only have 10-15 rolls on me at any time. The gear is carried in a modified sling bag. I have often brought my 4x5, grafmatics, light meter and 2 lenses (58 and 75), but I have yet to work out an efficient way to carry this gear.

I recently aquired a Pacemaker Speed press camera. If I can work out some details (appropriately wide lens with rangefinder coupling being the main issue) it will come with me on future trips.

I may retire the Mamiya 6 for a 7 and the 43mm or possibly augment it with a panoramic 120 (or even the Xpan). For me rangefinders are the way to travel, but I am ambivalent about some of the sacrifices (not in the way they operate, but lens selection and price).

Well I'm in the weeds now so I will stop.

Donald Qualls · Mar 8, 2005

What I carry depends on where I'm going, how long I'll be there, and what I anticipate photographing. My entire large format outfit goes in a shoulder bagk originally made (I think) for a laptop computer -- two 9x12 cm plate cameras, 13 plate holders, boxes of film, tubes for storing exposed film (in case of field reloads), changing bag, black t-shirt dark cloth, light meter, cable releases, tripod shims (tripod screw is too long and bottoms in the socket). I can hang the tripod from the bag flap if necessary, but it's awkward that way; the tripod has a strap, too, so I usually carry it separately..

Medium format is a bunch of loose stuff (folders and TLR); though I have a ballistic nylon "athletic bag" that will carry it all, I don't normally want to pack that much so I carry individual cameras. Maybe I should switch back to the big bag; it also holds format masks in a box, extra film, my lightweight tripod(s), etc.

For 35 mm, I have only one working SLR body; it and all the lenses I own that aren't duplicates will fit in a small semi-hard case. My half frame is down for repairs, and my pre-War 35 mm folder has a badly worn frame spacing system that needs attention.

And, of course, I can carry my Minolta 16 II and two or three spare film cassettes any time I have a pocket...

mark · Mar 8, 2005

The space in the car is how I choose, but I always have more than one format with me. If the wife and child are not going, all of my cameras go: 35mm-5x7. I throw the two tripods in the car and various sundries, a 12er of diet pepsi and have a hell of a good day. If the wife and child are going I tend to leave one or two cameras home, and one of the tripods. The LF stuff always goes. Diapers are added to the various sundries and less diet pepsi. My wife says I have a drinking problem. And still have a hell of a good day. What does not fit inside goes on the top. I hate choosing. I was only allowed to take one camera to Vancouver, the last time we went, and it was like choosing which child to leave behind.

I don't dare buy another camera, our couch was not meant to be slept on, and stray cats urinated in the dog house. The dogs won't even use it.

colrehogan · Mar 8, 2005

Ole said:
I have so much camera gear now that I have to choose...

If I travel by car, I'm likely to take 5x7" and 18x24cm cameras, and throw in a MF folder for good measure. Unless I'm planning to shoot for enlarging; in which case I'll take 4x5" and 5x7". And an MF...

I also have to choose. I have to travel by car to get to the places I shoot. I have been shooting mostly 8x10 lately. So, my 35 mm, 6x6, 6x7 and even the 4x5 are gathering dust inside their respective bags. The other camera that I've used lately is a no-no to be mentioned here.

It usually comes down to where I am going and how much walking is involved. My 8x10 outfit is heavy even with the small cart I use to move it around.

roteague · Mar 8, 2005

For me it depends upon where I am going. If I am going to stay on the island, the I carry either the 4x5 or the 35mm; rarely both. If off island, I carry both; the 4x5 camera, 3 LF lenses, meter, Nikon with lens on the airplane, and a 105mm lens for the Nikon in my check bags (inside of a tennis shoe).

BWGirl · Mar 8, 2005

Soeren said:
Jeanette
In short yes and yes Well it's just barely big enough but it is very impractical and the upper comp where the Bronica sits is not padded. To get to the other gear you have to "part" it in the middle (sorry bad english) and on this last trip I saw lots of snow finding its way into the compartment. The tripod is fastene to the bag so you can't get to the photocompartment, grr. The bag is very soft and sits uncomfortable at least on my bag and it is unstable too.
Please tell me more about the Tamrac Expedition 8
Regards Søren

The Tamrac Expedition 8 is almost like a real backpack that happens to hold camera gear. It has a hip belt and even adjustable "spleen" pads for your back. It is very comfortable to wear, and since you are reallyy not carrying the weight on your shoulders, but on your hips & through your legs (just like a true backpack), you can walk pretty much all day with the thing!
Here's a link: Dead Link Removed
I had no problem carrying 3 cameras, 4 lenses, 2 film backs, film, filters and assorted "stuff". It's got a place either in the back for a tripod, or on the side.
Check out the website! Hope this helps!!

Soeren · Mar 9, 2005

BWGirl said:
The Tamrac Expedition 8 is almost like a real backpack that happens to hold camera gear. It has a hip belt and even adjustable "spleen" pads for your back. It is very comfortable to wear, and since you are reallyy not carrying the weight on your shoulders, but on your hips & through your legs (just like a true backpack), you can walk pretty much all day with the thing!
Here's a link: Dead Link Removed
I had no problem carrying 3 cameras, 4 lenses, 2 film backs, film, filters and assorted "stuff". It's got a place either in the back for a tripod, or on the side.
Check out the website! Hope this helps!!

Thanks Jeanette. I have visited their website. it is very informative. what I was looking after was a users review. Some of my shoting budies are using the Lowe Pro pro- or supertrekker. It is really BIIG, maybe a bit on the "to large" side.
Regards Søren

Multiformaters what do you do

Soeren

Ole

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Soeren

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Ole

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Graeme Hird

jd callow

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Multiformaters what do you do

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