I'm looking into getting into the 8x10 format. My subject matter is people and environments, much like Alec Soth's "Sleeping by the Mississippi project: link (look at a number of his photos). Think portraits, up to full face shots in people's homes or an environment of their choosing, and environments.
My limited LF experience is with a 4x5 Horseman studio monorail, which was very nice. So I was looking into a Deardorff 8x10, Canham or similar (I've opened Deardorff's up, that's all). Even a used Arca, if someone has experience setting these up in the field. Image me talking to someone, getting them to agree to have their picture made, me setting camera up. Maybe a monorail camera takes way too long and is too hard to pack. I am not hiking up Mount Everest. I am on a beach, I am near a river, I am fairly near my car (1 mile). I am 34.
Whatever I buy, I then wonder how one goes about switching from horizontal to vertical. With the Horseman, I'd flip the standards (I'm assuming the same on the Arca). Can you rotate the backs on field cameras (allowing me to use an Arca B1 head) or must you rotate the camera, with something like a Ries rotating head?
I called Badger Graphics with these very green questions, but the 'guy who knows everything' is on vacation until next week. I tried to search for these answers, but most responses, like cookbooks, assume quite a bit of unspoken knowledge.
Best,
Dave Carson
web: davidcarson.com
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