Storing my Camera

[carsten]

I have a couple of questions for you.
They are all about storing my 4x5.
Is it better to store my Kardan with its bellow folded or is it better to extend it?
What is better for my bellow?
I also need a case, but I do not want to spend lots of money to buy a new one, some suggestions how to store my camera? A box? A bag? A case?
If I have to build it, some other suggestions?
Thank you
C

 

[Kevin Roach]

Got an army surplus store near you? I made a case by foam padding a steel ammo box. It's not pretty but you could drive a Humvee over it.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If you look around, used trunk-style monorail cases are cheap and not too hard to find. They provide good protection, but people tend to prefer cases that are easier to carry around nowadays. They are generally designed to store the camera with the bellows compressed.

Is this your only LF camera? If it is, you might just keep it on a tripod with a lens on it, a meter and a few loaded filmholders nearby, ready to shoot, for any impromptu photo opportunities that come up around the house or whenever the inspiration strikes, and then you can pack it up whenever you need to go out into the field. If you're concerned about dust, then throw a cloth over it, or better yet--use it often and clean it off when needed.

 

[carsten]

Thank you.
It is not my only 4x5, but is my only monorail.
When I have to take pictures outside I use my Techinka.
I need something to protect it because I will have some plumbers and carpenters around for 3/4 weeks, and I would like to keep my cameras clean, dustfree and safe.
The kardan is the only one without protection and it usually stands on my tripod and I just put a cloth over it, but now it is not enough anymore. So, bellow compressed is fine?
PS I saw monorails standing in cases upside down, is it allright?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Usually a hard case has supports so that you can compress the standards in the middle and hang the camera upside down from the rail.

If your camera has a removable bellows, another option that works with some monorails is to unclip the bellows at one end, turn the standards parallel to the rail, and pack it flat in a case like a briefcase.

 

[carsten]

David, I cannot do that. I know that Horseman 45 does (removable bellow).
I would like to get one of those hard cases you are talking about, but it is not easy to find one that fits my camera.
Thank you