What does your pack weigh?

[BrianShaw]

Sorry Andy, but this is a case where bigger isn't better. Mine appears to be on the heavy end of things, because I didn't include the tripod. Me-thinks my legs aren't like they were in my twenties and it's time to think about shaving some weight.

Murray

My thoughts EXACTLY. Here are my two weight-saving suggestions:

1. 4x5.

2. Plan a trip with Hoskinson and let him schlepp the pack.

Since I don't have an 8x10/10x8 and I'm more than half/fifty-percent of Tom's age, I'll be testing these suggestions as soon as Tom sez "Okey-dokey." But I doubt I'll ever hear him talk like that!

 

[raucousimages]

I still like the idea of a sherpa.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

I still like the idea of a sherpa.

I'd go for a Yak myself. They don't mind the Monsoon rains (a big plus here on BC's north coast), they're mountain hardy, you can ferment the milk, and they would be oh so warm and cuddly on those looong winter nights The mind races with the ways one could use such a hiking companion...

Murray

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

My thoughts EXACTLY. Here are my two weight-saving suggestions:

1. 4x5.

2. Plan a trip with Hoskinson and let him schlepp the pack.

Since I don't have an 8x10/10x8 and I'm more than half/fifty-percent of Tom's age, I'll be testing these suggestions as soon as Tom sez "Okey-dokey." But I doubt I'll ever hear him talk like that!

Plan a trip with Hoskinson and let him schlepp the pack.

Hoskinson only schlepps his own pack, Brian!

 

[Vaughn]

Zone VI 8x10, 6 or 7 film holders, a few lenses (only one in a shutter), plus all the other needed assesories -- about 45 pounds plus another 15 or so for the hand-carried tripod (Ries w/ their double-tilt head). If I am walking a long way without taking photos (such as heading back to the car after the light dies) I put the head in the pack to reduce the weight in my hand.

I throw in a couple food bars if I'm out all day and don't worry about water unless I am in the desert. It would be nice to be in my thirties again, instead of the fifties.

Vaughn

 

[Nicole]

Always too much and never enough. These days for work I use a Pelican hard case with wheels, which is much easier on me and the cameras... and I can stand on it! For smaller jobs or private stuff I prefer the smallest bag I can find. I usually like to travel light and stick to the one camera and one prime lens... and the tripod mostly stays home supporting a flower pot.

 

[noseoil]

Back from Per's JT workshop. Last I weighted the pack and tripod, it was at 40# before carrying water (tripod is 17#, no wind problems with 4x5). Depends on how much water, but 40-45# is a good guess. tim

 

[climbabout]

pack weight

I was hoping that knowing the actual weight would not make it seem heavier than it is - here goes - I use an osprey waypoint 80 pack with an old lightware medium format case liner that I had from my wedding days - it fits the inside of the pack perfectly - here's what I typically carry -

8x10 Deardorff/4 lenses– 159mm wolly/240 fujinon/14in artar/450 fujinon/3 filters and step up rings/pentax meter/darkcloth/3 loaded holders/loupe/pad/pen/extra tripod nut/mp3 recorder/gitzo large tripod=46lbs.

Anyway - it doesn't hurt to get a little exercise while taking pictures.
Climbabout

 

[Kilgallb]

My old 4x5 Calumet (24" Monorail), a Pentax spotmeter, 5 film packs, Manfrotto Tripod, two lenses and a 6x7 roll film adaptor, roll film notebooks and of course survial gear in case I got lost come to 37 pounds.

I use a Mountain Equpment Co-op Brio 70 pack. It has an internal frame so it seems to work for me.

 

[naturephoto1]

Hi Murray,

The following is a breakdown of most of my Camera gear:

Toho Shimo FC-45X & QR 44 oz
BTZS Dark Cloth 8 oz
Congo WA f6.3 90mm MC/Bd/filt 7.6 oz
Rdnstck 150mm Apo Sir S/Bd 11 oz
Rdnstck 240mm Apo Ron/B 15 oz
Rdnstck 300mm Apo Ron/Bd 13.4 oz
Rodenstock/Linos Wrench 1 oz
Kodak Readyload Holder & Pouch 12.4 oz
Zone VI Mod.Digitl Soligor Metr/Cs 15 oz
3 Linhof Cable Releases 3 oz
Markins Q3 Emille Ball Head 13.6 oz
Gitzo 1257LVL Tripod/short column 53.8 oz
Think Tank Bazooka Tripod Bag 17.2 oz
Kinesis Gear V092 camera bag + 2 extra dvdrs 17.2 oz
Horizon 4X Lupe 3.6 oz

This totals 235.8 oz = 14.74 lbs. Lens weights include lens boards, filters, retaining ring, and caps.

The total does not include my Cokin P holder, adapter rings, Singh-Ray and Lee filters, backpack, food, water, tarp type tent or tent, hiking poles, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, extra clothing, cooking gear, compass, map, etc.

Rich

 

[Curt]

I can't tell what my C1 and Gitzo Pro Studex with heavy column and 3 way head weighs because I can't carry it to the bathroom scales. And I think I am going to take it into the wilderness? Where do these ideas come from? I can use it if the view is next to the vehicle.

This is why I use my wooden Kodak 2D 5x7 on a Berlbach tripod. I can even carry it around. My other choice is a Mamiya 645 on a Slik with a ball head. These two don't weigh that much although I don't know the weight.

I think in the future I will use the 8x10 a lot less, use the 5x7 a lot, and use the 645 some. To trim down I would think that instead of carrying several lenses, using just one convertible could be a solution. I have four convertible lenses. Dedicated 4x, 5x, 8x formats that give triple for three and double for one. I think the newer norm for older persons is going to be lightweight 5x7 cameras. Based on my experiences and the film poll it seems to be true.