Shooting landscapes with a monorail?

[Horatio]

Anyone do this on a regular basis? If so, how does one pack and carry? Backpack? Rolling case? I bought a Busch Pressman to use as a field camera, but it has limited movements. My Omegaview has all the movements, but it seems awkward for use in the field.

 

[DonW]

I used a Cambo monorail for years while backpacking. Just broke it down and it packed nice and flat. Not a speedy operation but doable. I found for most landscape movements aren't used all that much. Unless you are in some canyon etc.

 

[juan]

I used an Omega View in the field and beat the hell out of it. All of the knobs and other parts sticking out were victims of banging into limbs and rocks and things. I carried it on the tripod over my shoulder. I got lots of great photos, but abused the camera. I now sometimes use a Graphic View in the field. It’s a more compact but more substantial camera.

 

[BrianShaw]

Cambo monorail, Cambo storage case and a rolling luggage trolley. I think these went out of style decades ago when wheels were routinely included on suitcases. It is awkward but great pictures can result. Not for going too far from the car. Furthest I toyed this was 1 mile on dirt roads. It is do-able.

For press cameras, a large shoulder bag.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Anyone do this on a regular basis? If so, how does one pack and carry? Backpack? Rolling case? I bought a Busch Pressman to use as a field camera, but it has limited movements. My Omega view has all the movements, but it seems awkward for use in the field.

monorails are awkward in the field.they are made for studio work. a metal field camera will do a better job and luckily take the same lenses.

 

[Horatio]

monorails are awkward in the field.they are made for studio work. a metal field camera will do a better job and luckily take the same lenses.

I keep hoping Kumar will post one I can afford!

 

[AnselMortensen]

When I was a younger man, I used to schlep around my Calumet CC-400 in an Army surplus rucksack. Tripod in one hand, cooler with loaded film holders in the other hand.

 

[Pioneer]

The front and rear standards on the Cambo SC monoral slide off the rail and pack pretty flat and the monorail is just a stick. The rest of it, darkcloth, lenses, tripod, film holders, are the same whether you use a monorail or a field camera. I take 30 minutes on average to set up, take a picture, and take down my little 4x5 Intrepid which is a very small and light field camera. The Cambo takes me 5 minutes longer but it does weigh just a little bit more.

I pack an 11x14 field camera into the field on an old Kelty pack board from time to time. Admittedly it happens less frequently, and I do not go as far, as I have gotten older. But once you have packed one of those monsters around, a tiny little 4x5 monorail is actually pretty simple. The camera itself is really not the majority of the weight you will be packing.

 

[Vaughn]

I backpacked and traveled cross-country and overseas extensively with a 4x5 monorail...tho I tend to go with a non-folding 5x7 field camera now. Granted, the 4x5 weighs about a kilogram, a touch more than one kg with the 150/5.6 lens on it. The rail split into 6" sections and everything can be stored flat. But it is light enough to carry on a tripod/head without straining anything. Gowland PocketView. Only swing and tilt on the back, and full front movements on mine. Of course to shed weight, it had none of the perks of the heavier rail cameras -- indents, more than 12 inches of bellows, capable of larger lensboards and lens, the solidity of weight. Use too light of a tripod (<3lbs) and everything moves to easily if bumped. Loved it.

I found a good-enough pack for the 11x14 (canoe portage pack). Might be perfect if it was built for tall people. The 11x14 camera weighs about what my 8x10 does, it's the 11x14 holders that add up quickly in weight and space required in my pack!

If time is the most important factor, the camera (up to 5x7) is on the pod and over the shoulder -- can be set up and used without setting anything on the ground. I even carry the pod with the legs almost fully extended...set up is pretty dang quick! Then take a half hour or more fine-tuning the composition, waiting for the light, fumbling around, etc. before getting the image onto the film and the camera ready to move on again.

Costa Rica, Gum Print
Gowland 4x5, 150mm/5.6 lens

 

[Alan9940]

I've used an Arca-Swiss F-Line 4x5 in the field for years. The telescoping rail system makes it a simple task to have both standards on one 30cm rail. The camera, 4 lenses, and dark cloth fit nicely in an F-Stop ICU which slides right into my Kelty P2 backpack.

 

[mdarragh]

It seems to be a rather common misconception you can’t pack a monorail out into the field. I’ve been using them for wilderness photography for 20 years and regularly take mine on walking trips of 7-10 days.

Like Allan, my main cameras are Arca-Swiss and the ease of use and versatility more than outweigh any supposed disadvantages. They are also faster to set up than any folding camera I have used.

New Arca-Swiss cameras are expensive but there are plenty of possibilities for affordable relatively light, portable monorails. The older Arca-Swiss “Oschwald” era cameras, Sinar Normas and Alpinas are a few examples that regularly come up on the second-hand market.

 

[Besk]

I have been able to make my Sinar more compact for travel by using a 6" rail. In your case the shortest I am aware of is the 250mm (10") rail.
Acquiring one would be my first step in rigging up a system of carrying the camera in the field.

 

[Rick A]

I spent quite a few years lugging a Calumet cc-401 perched on a Marchioni Bros. Tiltall tripod over my shoulder plus a knapsack full of gear to some remote spots.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I've got a Graphic View that I've hauled up in the Blue Ridge on one trip (along with a heavy aluminum surveying tripod with a heavy cast metal tilt-swivel head). I spent a lot of the hike wishing I had a case with backpack straps for it. The camera plus tripod probably only weigh around twenty-five pounds, but even with the shoulder strap supplied with the tripod, that's a good bit to carry. Hint: don't try to carry the tripod with the camera still mounted. Not that the camera's likely to come loose (at least not with the head I have), but it's really awkward and seems to gain fifteen pounds when carried that way. I can only presume Matt Marrash (who does this all the time with his wood 8x10 field camera, at least in his videos) either spends a lot more gym time than he looks like he does, or has MUCH lighter gear than I do...

 

[juan]

My earlier point was about the Omega being a rather fragile monorail camera. Lots of exposed bits to get damaged. Other monorails are better suited for hauling around.

 

[removed account4]

Anyone do this on a regular basis? If so, how does one pack and carry? Backpack? Rolling case? I bought a Busch Pressman to use as a field camera, but it has limited movements. My Omegaview has all the movements, but it seems awkward for use in the field.

I used to have a graphic view II that I used in the field, not necessarily to shoot landscape work but on location to document bridges and buildings I had to sometimes hike off the road to. it came in a fiber box that had a compartment for lenses and places for film holders and a light meter and filters/darkcloth &c. the camera was inverted upside down in the center with the rail across the top. the box was rugged and I could stand on it &c. you might look for a fiber box for omega.. they have a handle and a strap too.

 

[Horatio]

My earlier point was about the Omega being a rather fragile monorail camera. Lots of exposed bits to get damaged.

Agreed. One of the rear standard pieces broke when the Omega was shipped to me last year! That's why I'd want to pack it. I know it's possible, but the question (for me) is how tedious will it be to remove the standards and bellows, then reassemble in the field. The Pressman would be easier to pack and set up, but would I miss the swing and lateral adjustments of the Omega? I suppose that would depend on the subject matter.

 

[Horatio]

I used to have a graphic view II that I used in the field, not necessarily to shoot landscape work but on location to document bridges and buildings I had to sometimes hike off the road to. it came in a fiber box that had a compartment for lenses and places for film holders and a light meter and filters/darkcloth &c. the camera was inverted upside down in the center with the rail across the top. the box was rugged and I could stand on it &c. you might look for a fiber box for omega.. they have a handle and a strap too.

It occurred to me that I could modify a large rolling cooler to accommodate the camera and accessories. I think this would be a good option for shooting "not far from the car". I'm really not much of a hiker, given my geographic location, but there are mountain trails within a few hours drive. Frankly, I'm not yet at the point where I want to make landscape images. It's just something that's been on the bucket list.

Thanks, all, for the replies thus far.

 

[removed account4]

It occurred to me that I could modify a large rolling cooler to accommodate the camera and accessories. I think this would be a good option for shooting "not far from the car". I'm really not much of a hiker, given my geographic location, but there are mountain trails within a few hours drive. Frankly, I'm not yet at the point where I want to make landscape images. It's just something that's been on the bucket list.

Thanks, all, for the replies thus far.

have fun!
incase you are interested
the case looked like this >>. https://www.ebay.com/itm/114425979827?hash=item1aa451e3b3:g:K~MAAOSwvrFfwXRE

 

[Horatio]

have fun!
incase you are interested
the case looked like this >>. https://www.ebay.com/itm/114425979827?hash=item1aa451e3b3:g:K~MAAOSwvrFfwXRE

That looks like something St. Ansel would use.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Probably the best option for using a monorail in the field is a Sinar F/F1/F2. They're cheap(ish) and have short rail sections that you can compress the camera down onto for transport, then just add the longer rail section(s) as needed. Better in some ways would be a Toyo VX125 but they're A: rare, B: expensive, and C: limited in versatility because of the compact folding rail system. I have a 4x5 F that I use for teaching and I can fit it on the 6" rail, a 12" rail, a couple of lenses and the other odds and ends you need in a large-ish Lowepro backpack. I much prefer my wood field cameras for travel, though.

 

[Bob S]

Probably the best option for using a monorail in the field is a Sinar F/F1/F2. They're cheap(ish) and have short rail sections that you can compress the camera down onto for transport, then just add the longer rail section(s) as needed. Better in some ways would be a Toyo VX125 but they're A: rare, B: expensive, and C: limited in versatility because of the compact folding rail system. I have a 4x5 F that I use for teaching and I can fit it on the 6" rail, a 12" rail, a couple of lenses and the other odds and ends you need in a large-ish Lowepro backpack. I much prefer my wood field cameras for travel, though.

Or, much better, the LInhof Technikardan folding monorail that folds flat to the size of a book and opens into a 30” monorail camera. Full movements, front and rear and takes lenses as short as the 35mm Apo Grandagon. Costs more though.

 

[bdial]

Some of those old Graflex fiber cases had shoulder strap mounts, but I can't quite imaging carrying one like that.

I've trekked around with a Graphic View II or Calument mounted on a tripod over my shoulder, with film holders and lenses in a shoulder bag. It's awkward and uncomfortable, but doable, especially if you're working out of a car that's perhaps close by.

These days with the the small price difference between fixed monorail cameras and the modular ones like Sinars, Toyos and the like, I'd look to one of those and leave the Calumets and Graphic Views at home.

 

[Nokton48]

For many years I carried my Norma 4x5 doing landscapes all over my state, mostly shorter distances but some long and very long.....

I used the small white Zone VI soft bag (Norma and stuff packed fully inside) and Zone Vi lightweight tripod over my other shoulder. I did put the Domke Postal shoulder pad on the Zone VI bag and never had any complaints.

Nearer the car I would sometimes use the original Norma fibre 4x5 case.

 

[Donald Qualls]

That looks like something St. Ansel would use.

Pretty sure St. Ansel didn't use anything as small as 4x5 for "serious" work by the time the Graphic View was out.

I did get one of those cases with the Graphic View II that came in yesterday's mail. I didn't even know it was included (lens, Graflok back, and five film holders I did know about); makes the camera an even better deal, even if the shutter's completely toasted.