N America Rail Trip - Just 4x5 or 4x5 and 35mm?

**Sanjay Sen** · 3-Jul-2007, 08:42

I would also suggest packing the 35mm along with the 4x5 simply because if you spot a scene that you want to photograph but don't have the time to setup the 4x5, the 35mm will come in handy. If you can live with a few missed opportunities, then I guess packing only the 4x5 system makes more sense as you can then concentrate on one system.

Good luck with your trip!

Best wishes,
Sanjay

**Ron Marshall** · 3-Jul-2007, 09:07

Compromise and take a medium format.

**Donald Qualls** · 3-Jul-2007, 12:10

I would never travel without a small, light "walk around" camera, one I can carry around my neck and use in a train car, point out a bus window, etc. I can carry my Ricoh Singlex II SLR, a single lens, and well over 100 exposures of film, and hardly notice the weight -- and the bag with the other three lenses, flashes, spare batteries, and more film, will easily fit under a seat and only weighs a few pounds; the whole setup weighs about what my Speed Graphic does before I even start adding film holders.

Now, I'd never expect the images from a 35 mm SLR to rival those from a 4x5 -- but an image I was able to record, because I had a camera I could carry around and use hand held, beats a better quality one I didn't get because the 4x5 was packed...

**Turner Reich** · 3-Jul-2007, 16:51

The last time I took the train I found that yes I can take photographs from a moving train and yes the do turn out great. Take the 35mm and take the 4x5 for off the train pictures. Better yet would be to take a medium format and a 4x5.

**eddie** · 8-Jul-2007, 08:00

Originally Posted by Andre_941

I like to pack light.

funny thing when we talk about 4x5 as they are seldom light:

))

i travel to SE Asia very frequently and spent many months there. i bring 35mm and medium format (this last trip i brought my 4x5 pinhole setup also.) i do not find working with multi formats too difficult.

my suggestion is to take your 4x5 and the 35mm. having a small quick camera is always good. maybe only one lens, but the 85mm are usually pretty small. i have several manual focus lenses i use just because they are so small.

eddie