Throw out the laptop and put in the LF gear

[philldresser]

As I have a 5x4 Cambo monorail I have not done much field work which is a pity as this is where my main interests lie. Next week, which is school hols in UK I am off to the Derbyshire Dales, which should open up a few oppurtunities, and would dearly love to take the metal beast with me.
On the few excursions I have done I carry the camera hanging unceremoniously upside down by the monorail and the heavy tripod (Manfrotto 075) in the other hand. Needless to say I haven't ventured far from the car.
So today I was psuedo-packing when I looked across at the works laptop bag and thought "mmmmm.....I wonder if the LF Gear would fit in there". SO without much further thought I dumped the laptop, power paraphinalia and numerous drives etc onto the table and inserted my dismantled 5x4 in. Fits like a glove is the expresion I would use. Camera, lens (I only have one at the moment, spot meter and dark cloth all fit perfectly, and its relatively protected by the padding etc and has straps to stop it bouncing around.
It's not the best solution I know but its a damn sight more mobil than the previous setup.
Now all I need is a chiropractor for next weekend to massage my left shoulder!

Phill

PS I really should look for a wooden field though

 

[Thilo Schmid]

Phill,
I've done that with the same camera. I store (hang) my cambo in a (huge) metal case and used to carry it on a barrow over the fields. It didn't took long until I bought a field camera and a nice backpack . Carrying a monorail is not fun, but fun is an important aspect for me.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I use a computer knapsack for my 8x10" Gowland. It's perfect. I can carry the camera, darkcloth 6 lenses, 5 holders, meter, filters and all the usual things. The tripod goes on a strap and hangs from my shoulder.

 

[philldresser]

David

I can't believe it took me that long to think of it. I regulary trek 200 miles to York with the same case for work but it never crossed my mind.

I look forward to trialling it next week

Phill

PS 6 lenses? Thats obscene. Now if you feel the need to relieve yourself from the guilt of having 6 lenses I'll send you my address
Ole... are you listening too?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

They're a motley bunch, but it's nice to have a range.

120mm f:14 Berthiot Perigraphe
168mm f:6.8 Ser. III Dagor
8 1/4" f:6.8 Gold Dot Dagor
10" f:6.3 Wide Field Ektar
12" f:6.8 Gold Dot Dagor
19" f:11 Apo-Artar

The last two are in barrel, and I use them on the Ektar's Ilex #5 shutter.

The small ones all fit on Technika boards so they take up less space and I use them with an adapter for the Gowland (uses Sinar boards).

The big 360/4.5 Heliar and the bigger 14-1/2" f:4 Verito stay at home most of the time.

 

[Deckled Edge]

They're a motley bunch

This is the FIRST time I have ever read "motley" and Wide Field Ektar, Gold Dot Dagor and Apo-Artar in the same paragraph.
In my dreams I'm that motley. ;-))

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Heh. Well, I love my classic lenses, but to some they're just old.

 

[Flotsam]

This is how I deal with my monorail:

Dead Link Removed

The accessories? Like you, I dumped my laptop and junk out of my Lowe Alpine shoulder bag and filled it with holders, darkcloth, changing bag etc.

 

[Ole]

Hmm - I see someone asked for me?

I pack my Linhof Color monorail in a Lowepro S&F Trekker Lite, with up to six lenses, ten holders, lightmeter, dark cloth, changing bag, and extra film...

My "field" lenses are usually:

90mm Angulon
120mm angulon
135mm Planar
150mm Apo-Lanthar
210mm Xenar
360mm Tele-Xenar

Unless I know I'm getting into a "tight" spot, in which case I'll swap the 90m Angulon for a 90mm Super-Angulon - and possibly a 121mm Super-Angulon as well. I may also include a 150mm Symmar, good for closeups and converted use (265mm). But I won't leave the Lanthar just to bring the Symmar! In the same way I bring both 120mm, 135mm and 150mm, just because the 135mm is a f3.5 of incredible sharpness and near-zero DOF at full aperture.

The big 300mm/f:4.5 Xenar stays home unless I also bring the 5x7" Technika - it won't fit on smaller lensboards.

 

[dr bob]

This is how I deal with my monorail:

Dead Link Removed

The accessories? Like you, I dumped my laptop and junk out of my Lowe Alpine shoulder bag and filled it with holders, darkcloth, changing bag etc.

Strangely coincidentally, I bought a very high quality laptop "bag" at a neighborhood yard sale and found it quite handy for field trips. Makes one wonder what happened to the laptop?

 

[Flotsam]

Makes one wonder what happened to the laptop?

Average useful life of a Laptop computer before it is rendered obsolete by newer technology - 6 Months.

Average useful life of a large format camera before it is rendered obsolete by newer technology - Probably Never.

The difference between a computer and a LF camera is that the LF camera will actually outlast it's case.

 

[FrankB]

...and Lowepro do rather good laptop bags!

 

[lee]

Laptop bags make a good carry device for 8x10 holders. Will handle about 6 holders.


lee\c

 

[lee]

111

 

[Deckled Edge]

There is a guy on e-bay who sells recycled VCR holders as film holder bags. I bought one (~ $60.00) and am very satisfied. It holds 7 8x10 Graflex film holders, is padded, has a dust-excluding inside top flap, two pockets insided for static brush and note pad, and a nice shoulder strap. Extra film holders go here, and the ones I'll use for the shoot go into the Tenba 8x10 backpack. Only drawback is the need to deal with Feebay and you are bidding, as opposed to an outright sale price.