Heavy is when the camera weights more than it needs to, weighs more than a lighter camera that does a similar job.
Heavy is when the camera weights more than it needs to, weighs more than a lighter camera that does a similar job.
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ejwoodbury.blogspot.com
"Heavy is when the camera weighs more than it needs to, weighs more than a lighter camera that does a similar job."
This only holds if one defines the word "similar" as being true in more than just a quantitative sense. A cameras specifications may say little or nothing about its level of sturdiness/smoothness/convenience/intuitiveness - factors which help to define the cameras actual level of overall usefulness. Again, something to think about.
There is also a factor of how willing the user is to make adjustments to their technique for the sake of being able to carry a lighter camera. My 4x5" Gowland is a little trickier to use than my Technika, and the Technika is trickier to use (as a view camera, as opposed to a handheld press camera) than my Sinar P, but I've learned a few tricks, so I can use the little Gowland successfully and efficiently in situations where it would be impractical to bring the Technika or the Sinar. If you go in with the attitude that "this camera is flimsy and I can't make any good photographs with it," then you won't.
Personally I think we all have a limit to what we'll carry. You can spilt it up any way you want. But a camera that weighs 2lbs more means 2lbs less of something else. A heavy camera means something else needs to go. We all make our choices.
when I was recently selling a view camera on ebay I constantly got asked the weight of the camera, and nothing of movement. I also got asked how long it took to set up, like I was in a race or something. I don't mind weight as long as the camera is fairly substantial, I prefer strength over something light and flimsy. Large format photography is heavy, hence the term 'large' , if you want optimum quality you've got to make the sacrifice.
I have two cameras, a Toho at 3Lb and a Sinar at 7.5 Lb. The Toho is for hiking with, the Sinar is for within 1000 ft. of my car.
My interest is in ULF photography. Weight is not so much an issue since the equipment is going to be heavy by definition. In fact, I think weight is an advantage when dealing with wind and vibration. I would think that would also hold true for smaller formats. I've heard it said that Ansel Adams defined the perfect tripod as a cubic yard of concrete with a bolt attached.
Many of us might be less inclined to compromise our choice of field equipment if we gained strength and lost weight. Let's take that 13 lb. 5X7 Linhof and 150mm Super Symmar XL up the trail and leave 20 lbs. of body fat at home.
Heavy takes concentration, effort, sweat and a bit of worry to move the camera from one place to another. My 11x14 is heavy. It worries me. And no, it doesn't leave the studio. 5x7 or even 8x10 are light. I can balance them and tripod on my shoulder. Doing so with 11x14 would cripple me.
Horses for courses!
Heavy is a relative term. How much camera weight I'm willing to carry depends on where I'm going, when I'm going, how long I'll be staying and how much other stuff I'm carrying.
If I'm just shooting near the car or going out for a reasonable day hike of six or eight miles round trip, I'll take John Layton's advice and carry a camera that has all the convenience features that make it a joy to use and fast and efficient to operate. For me, these days, that's an ARCA-SWISS F-Line classic. It's in the same 7 lb. range JJ mentioned for his prototype.
If I going on a late season week long backpacking trip in the Cascades, I'll ltake my little 2 lb. 12 oz. Toho everytime. When nasty weather is a possibility, I'd rather have an extra 4 lbs. of clothing, food and fuel than a camera that's more convenient to operate.
Exactly where the trade-off between convenienve and ease-of-use reverses in favor of lighter weight is different for everybody. We all have out own personal limits as to how far we can hike in a day and how much weight we can carry. I agree with Bruce that if I'm exhausted from carrying too much weight, my photography will suffer. So, I pick the camera that matches the situation. Toho for backpacking or exceptionally strenous day hikes, ARCA-SWISS for everything else.
if you want optimum quality you've got to make the sacrifice
I disagree with this statement. In my experience, quality does not have to suffer to "go light". The biggest sacrifice is convenience. The quality of images I get with my Toho are no less than those I get with my ARCA. The difference is when I need to do the extra work. The Toho isn't as convenient when taking pictures. So, I need to do a little extra work setting up each shot. The ARCA is heavier. So, it requires a little extra work every step of the way getting to where I want to be. There is no free lunch. You can do the extra work getting where you're going, or once you get there. That's where the trade-off comes in. FWIW, the little Toho is more rigid than many cameras I've used that weigh 3 - 4 lbs. more. No sacrifce in quality, just convenience, needed to save those 3 - 4 lbs.
JJ you asked your question but made no mention of how and where you plan to use this 7 lb. camera of yours. As a result, there is a nearly limitless number of "correct" response to your question (as evidence by the responses so far). You also didn't mention the format. While 7 lbs. is a bit on the heavy side for a 4x5 field camera, it would be considered light weight for an 8x10.
Personally, I'd love to have a 7 lb. 7x17, but don't see it happening. The one I'm buldling will likely be in the 12 lb. range, but will have features like self-arresting gear driven front axis tilt and rise. I won't likely be backpacking with this camera, and am willing to accept a little added weight in exchange for convenience and practicality (ever try to loupe the ground glass while applying front standard movements on a ULF camera with the bellows racked out - now, where did I put that third arm). The camera will be re-configurable. So, I can swap out the geared front standard with a non-geared version and if I'm willing to leave the longest lens behind, I can carry a shorter rail and get the weight down in the 10 lb. range. That's tolerable for dayhiking (including holders - almost 2 lbs. each, lenses, tripod, etc.) and maybe even a short one or two nighter. Again, it's all relative. If your 7 lb. camera has all the features YOU desire and isn't too heavy to limit YOUR photography, the heck with what everyone else thinks is heavy. It's irrelevant.
Kerry
After a brief affair with a Calumet C-1 8x10 a few years ago, any camera by comparison is light as a feather.
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