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- Jul 14, 2011
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But the weight of a Grafmatic tugs on the back of a lightweight field camera far more than a conventional holder, and potentially deflects the film plane, so not an ideal combination in that case. And tiny 90 Angulons, when employing movements, suffers resolution loss toward the corners, while the Super-Angulon or comparable SW's do not. And believe me, it's not just architectural projects which might need a large image circle. But there are in fact, a number of very small lightweight lenses to choose from which also have ample image circles and superb optical performance. I could mention the Fuji A series up to 360mm, the Nikon M series up to 300mm, and the Schneider G-Claron series up to 270mm - all in small shutters.
There are all kinds of ways to reduce overall backpacking weight. I use true external frame backpacking packs, well-built with large volume carry capacity - yet they're lighter than most official camera backpacks! You don't need a bunch or redundant heavy foam rubber padding. Just use lightweight ordinary bubble packing. Or in my case, up in the mountains, I simply wrap my camera and film boxes in my goosedown jacket, plus a big plastic trashcan bag to keep water entirely out of both if it rains or I slip in a stream. There are all kinds of ways to improvise, yet at the same time, make your gear secure, and still have space left over for your personal supplies and emergency weather clothing.
But hey, let's put all this in perspective. When people mention going '"ultralight" - and I hear it all the time from the younger set - I just have to snicker a little. I grew up among cowboys and Indians, literally, and even knew nearby Indians old enough to remember crossing high Sierra passes barefoot, long before official trails were built, with nothing more for warmth than a rabbit-skin blanket at most, and depending on overhanging rocks for emergency shelter, then carrying back handwoven basket packs full of heavy obsidian cobbles needed for making their arrow points and other utensils.
And some of the local cowboys, and even classmates of mine, would spend entire summers in the high country, sometimes rolling up in the horse saddle blanket at night, and resorting to a simple oilcloth suspended from a rope for weather protection. Me and a friend would simply disappear into the deeps canyons for days on end equipped with nothing more than denim jackets, knives, a box of matches, and either a rifle or fishing pole. And when a certain individual claimed he invented "trail running" way back in the 1960's, I reminded him how that claim more properly belongs to someone fleeing a cave bear or saber toothed cat back in the Ice Ages. So it's all relative, just like camera weight.
There are all kinds of ways to reduce overall backpacking weight. I use true external frame backpacking packs, well-built with large volume carry capacity - yet they're lighter than most official camera backpacks! You don't need a bunch or redundant heavy foam rubber padding. Just use lightweight ordinary bubble packing. Or in my case, up in the mountains, I simply wrap my camera and film boxes in my goosedown jacket, plus a big plastic trashcan bag to keep water entirely out of both if it rains or I slip in a stream. There are all kinds of ways to improvise, yet at the same time, make your gear secure, and still have space left over for your personal supplies and emergency weather clothing.
But hey, let's put all this in perspective. When people mention going '"ultralight" - and I hear it all the time from the younger set - I just have to snicker a little. I grew up among cowboys and Indians, literally, and even knew nearby Indians old enough to remember crossing high Sierra passes barefoot, long before official trails were built, with nothing more for warmth than a rabbit-skin blanket at most, and depending on overhanging rocks for emergency shelter, then carrying back handwoven basket packs full of heavy obsidian cobbles needed for making their arrow points and other utensils.
And some of the local cowboys, and even classmates of mine, would spend entire summers in the high country, sometimes rolling up in the horse saddle blanket at night, and resorting to a simple oilcloth suspended from a rope for weather protection. Me and a friend would simply disappear into the deeps canyons for days on end equipped with nothing more than denim jackets, knives, a box of matches, and either a rifle or fishing pole. And when a certain individual claimed he invented "trail running" way back in the 1960's, I reminded him how that claim more properly belongs to someone fleeing a cave bear or saber toothed cat back in the Ice Ages. So it's all relative, just like camera weight.
