Multiformaters what do you do

Soeren · Mar 9, 2005

mark said:
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.

I keep my beloved on a "need to know" basis. I often see her in some "new" chlothes which she claim she have kept in the closet for "years". Sometime she sees my handling a lens I have had for "looong"
But maybe that wont work with LF gear
Søren

Soeren · Mar 9, 2005

Donald Miller said:
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.

I think you are partly right in the way that one should perhaps at least on trips restrict the choice of equipment. on my last trips I used 35mm and MF and on one both B&W and Color slides. Can one get more confused than by doing that. But whats is the best way to say what you want isn't always up to you. My photoclub don't have a MF slideprojector so I have to do the slides for that in 35mm
OH BTW the slide from my Zenzei came out great. A little thin but I was shooting into the sun and wanted details in shadows so thats to expect.
Regards Søren

gchpaco · Mar 9, 2005

When I was away from home for a while, I took my Bronica outfit and about half my Nikon gear and left them at the place I was staying; I would bring one or the other depending on whether I was photographing people. In other words, I don't really bring multiple formats with me, unless you count the P&S in my pocket. I used to pack my 35mm gear and my TLR and my 645 rangefinder, but gave that up a while back.

Since you like chromes, I would just leave the Nikon at home and shoot chromes and B&W in the 6x6.

As for gear, I have a number of bags, and my favorite for working out of remains a small shoulder bag (I have a LowePro Nova 4 that is just about the right size) and my favorite for carrying is a backpack (I have a LowePro PhotoTrekker which now houses my 4x5, and it's fine but big, and a little Tamrac that's okay but too small). The advice I was given was "go to the store with your gear, stick it in bags until you find one you're happy with, buy that one".

eagleowl · Mar 9, 2005

Definitely decide before you go.
I recently hade a thoroughly enjoyable trip to Chile,and I wanted my camera gear to be carry on luggage-so it HAD to be small and light.
Looking at my photos,it looks like I made the right decision,although there is one lens I wish I could have taken with me.
Even if I'm shooting locally,I still have to decide what I want to shoot-my 35mm gear is heavy enough,add to that a Mamiya C33 body...ouch!!!!!

rbarker · Mar 9, 2005

Soeren said:
I keep my beloved on a "need to know" basis. I often see her in some "new" chlothes which she claim she have kept in the closet for "years". Sometime she sees my handling a lens I have had for "looong"
But maybe that wont work with LF gear
Søren

It just takes some creativity. "Of course, I've had this LF camera for years, dear. Doesn't it look like an antique?"

Seriously, the approach I use is to try to decide ahead of time what I'm going to be shooting, and what the appropriate format will be. Car-based trips can be a little more flexible and gear-intensive - as long as you're comfortable leaving some gear in the car. (A large, well-trained watch python comes in handy for that.)

The cart rig I posted earlier is OK for level-ground hikes away from the car, but doesn't work well on inclines or rough trails. It does, however, allow me to take both the 8x10 and the 4x5, along with an array of lenses and accessories. The backpack on the cart is a LowePro Classic Trekker, which is pretty much filled by the 8x10 and one lens. A small auxiliary shoulder bag holds a 35mm rangefinder and 3 or 4 lenses. I use the 35mm to capture supportive shots for the treks that otherwise are LF-oriented - stuff that I might not want to "waste" LF film on.

mark · Mar 9, 2005

Soeren said:
I keep my beloved on a "need to know" basis. I often see her in some "new" chlothes which she claim she have kept in the closet for "years". Sometime she sees my handling a lens I have had for "looong"
But maybe that wont work with LF gear
Søren

Nah. She knows me too well, and she is one of those people who never buys things unless she needs them, and even then she agonizes over it. It is hard to justify another camera when you already have seven more than necessary. We definately have two different views of need.

BWGirl · Mar 9, 2005

rbarker said:
...
The cart rig I posted earlier is OK for level-ground hikes away from the car, but doesn't work well on inclines or rough trails. It does, however, allow me to take both the 8x10 and the 4x5, along with an array of lenses and accessories. ...

Hm...you need some serious off-road tires for that rig, Ralph!

Soeren, you gotta find something that works for you! When I was in Maui, I stuffed the Hassy & the Canon in a bag meant for just one camera. It worked well for me, and I did not have to 'lug' the huge-o backpack. I think if I'd have taken that pack, I'd still be stuck at the inspection counters!

So it's all a matter of need. I'll tell you one thing that I find absolutely irreplacable is my photographer's vest. I feel like Inspector Gadget in the thing, but WOW...you can load that thing up with film, filters, more film...and do with a much smaller bag for gear!

bon-jip · Mar 9, 2005

Hej Søren,

It seems I missed your thread about buying the Bronica, but I wouldnt have talked you out of it! When I first bought my SQA I did the two-format thing for awhile, but found the 35mm was only being used for a light meter. I even tried to wean myself of the format by including a 35mm rangefinder in my pack, now I have even stopped pretending. I am more than satisfied with my results and am even looking for more weight to add to the pack.
I have never really liked the harness systems of photopacks (though they may have improved, I havent tried one for a couple of years) and have always used a non-photo pack with a good support system, that I then modified. For me accessibility while Im taking the photo is more important and I second Jeanettes post POCKETS!
As for the 35mm format itself have you considered a 35mm back for the Bronica? This way you only have to carry one camera.

Jason

Claire Senft · Mar 9, 2005

What I do with my medium format

I own a 35mm system and a Mamiya RZ67 with 4 lenses. What I do is to leave my RZ in the closet at all times. I enjoy working in 35mm. This is not the first time that I have had two camera systems and use one of them exclusively...I am a slow learner.

Soeren · Mar 10, 2005

bon-jip said:
Hej Søren,

It seems I missed your thread about buying the Bronica, but I wouldnt have talked you out of it! When I first bought my SQA I did the two-format thing for awhile, but found the 35mm was only being used for a light meter. I even tried to wean myself of the format by including a 35mm rangefinder in my pack, now I have even stopped pretending. I am more than satisfied with my results and am even looking for more weight to add to the pack.
I have never really liked the harness systems of photopacks (though they may have improved, I havent tried one for a couple of years) and have always used a non-photo pack with a good support system, that I then modified. For me accessibility while Im taking the photo is more important and I second Jeanettes post POCKETS!
As for the 35mm format itself have you considered a 35mm back for the Bronica? This way you only have to carry one camera.
Jason

Hej Jason
En Dansker mere på APUG ?
Well no I didn' consider the 35mm back for my Zenzei I though it was some kind of panorama back. I just got the thing so another 120 back and a 40mm is what Im looking for now. That is when the account has recovered
As mentioned earlier (I think) I mainly shoot slides with my 35mm gear the MF was originally meant for B&W. I may just as well learn the thing and start choosing. Hmm ælle bælle mig............... Nope won't work
Sometimes when I really want to travel light I use a very small Lowe Pro bag
with just enough room for 3 lenses. With that and the Nikon over my shoulders and some film in my pockets I can keep on and on and on and....
It also works with the Zenzei and my arsenal of, in all, two lenses
Regards Søren

bon-jip · Mar 10, 2005

Hi Søren,

No sorry Im not a Dane, just an Australian that got side-tracked on his way home (please dont mention Mary :rolleyes: ). The 35mm backs for the SQ series come in both a wide and a normal. The normal- N types are more common on Ebay and slightly cheaper 800-1000DKr with the wide-W backs going for 1200-1500 usually. I guess it depends on how heavily you rely on your Nikon lens zoom and wide-angle for example. As you said, start shooting and see if you style of photography is compromised, Ive always preferred fixed focus lens myself so the change wasnt that great, though I am also on the look out for a 40mm.

Have fun.

Jason.

Soeren · Mar 10, 2005

Mary who ?
I use fixed focal lenghts only and in 35mm in the range from 20mm to 180mm + 2X TC.
with "just" the 80mm and 150mm in MF there is some shoot im unable to make with the Bronica so I have to rely heavily on my Nikon.
BTW Have anyone tried stacking the 80mm reversed on the 150mm that should give about 2:1 magnification on film ?
I just reread the SQ-AM thread and found the SQ-Ai manual. So I should be up to date on my camera now (if anything else fails, read the manual)
You may have found that Bronica aint to common here in DK
How do you like our winter ? I don't
Regards Søren

bon-jip · Mar 10, 2005

The winter doesn't bother me too much (although I did have a month in Australia in November) it is the wind that gets to me!
You're right about Bronica in DK, the few good deals I have seen I have always just missed. Oh well...

Multiformaters what do you do

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