Is there a bag for an open 4x5?

[Drew Bedo]

I have never don this, so I only speak from caution and not from experience. I would be concerned that keeping the camera open, with the lens mounted and traveling in the trunk would lead to vibration problems...things shaking loose, screws backing out and joints loosening.

Ansell Adams (pause while we all genuflect) said that he practiced setting up his gear until he could do it in two minutes. That played a major role in being able to capture that one image of the moon rising over that church-yard.

What I have done at times is to leave the camera mounted on the tripod a, but folded down. When you see an opportunity, you will have to make a lens and filter choice. As you work through that you can set up the tripod, open up the camera, and then mount your choice in glass. Does that work for anyone else?

[venchka]

I have never don this, so I only speak from caution and not from experience. I would be concerned that keeping the camera open, with the lens mounted and traveling in the trunk would lead to vibration problems...things shaking loose, screws backing out and joints loosening.

Ansell Adams (pause while we all genuflect) said that he practiced setting up his gear until he could do it in two minutes. That played a major role in being able to capture that one image of the moon rising over that church-yard.

What I have done at times is to leave the camera mounted on the tripod a, but folded down. When you see an opportunity, you will have to make a lens and filter choice. As you work through that you can set up the tripod, open up the camera, and then mount your choice in glass. Does that work for anyone else?

A good variation on carrying the camera/tripod on the back seat.

[Francesco Gallarotti]

Well thank you all for your many replies! Went to the city today and wasn't expecting to come back to so many replies :-)
Yes, you are right, my bad English tricked me again: by "entire US" i mean length-wise. The trip is from San Francisco, through Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, South Utah, Rocky Mountains (the million dollars Hwy) and from there, all the way to Washington on route 50 and then up to New York, where I live.

I actually wanted to go the other way around, initially, starting from here and driving all the way to San Francisco, but found out that renting there a one way car to NYC cost half price than renting in NYC a one way car to SF (mysteries of rental cars).

As you can imagine I won't have too much time to stop and setup the camera every time, and unfortunately I haven't had much time to play with it since I bought it, so at some point I was even thinking of leaving it at home and concentrate on my 2 Canon 5D bodies.

But then I thought that if the camera was already mounted in a protective case (I do like the cooler idea because it is something cheap I can buy easily in SF before starting and don't have to carry in my luggage all the way there -- I will have a couple of days to get ready in San Francisco before leaving, while visiting some relatives of my wife).

I haven't used LF film on the camera yet (only MF rolls) and I am not at the point I can say I am comfortable handling the loading / unloading myself during such an intense trip. Looking at the trip plan, some nights I will barely have time to eat a quick dinner, download all my files and back them up on an external hard drive, put all the batteries in charge and jump into the sack, ready for an early morning rise. If I have to add to that also loading and unloading of films I might go sleepless LOL...

So I am thinking of just using 6x9 on 120 color rolls or maybe Fuji quickloads... expensive but VERY convenient for a trip like this, I think.

Suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks again for all your great ideas (don't worry, won't use the back seat and leave the camera on its tripod. I have a quick release system and I use the tripod also for my other cameras, so I need it ready).

[Francesco Gallarotti]

Buy a cheap cooler. They come in many sizes. Get a fairly large one and put all your camera gear in it. Its really hot in most of the U.S. in the summertime so keep the cooler on the back seat if possible. That's how I carry camera gear on long car trips and it works great. I have many Pelican cases of all sizes but a cooler looks like nothing to steal compared to special equipment cases.

Because you brought up the heat thing, and because I will be driving through places like the Death Valley all day long, do you suggest to actually have cooling packs inside the cooler as well? I know condensation can be a problem for digital cameras so i wasn't thinking of actually cooling neither the digital camera bag, nor the "cooler". But I am open to suggestions. I am sure that in this forum many people have handled trips of this kind to destinations like the ones we have chosen with LF cameras even bigger than mine, so I am very curious to hear any kind of suggestions you might have.

[Francesco Gallarotti]

I do this with my Zone VI on a Gitzo 3530 with one section of the legs extended in my Volvo S70. I use the seatbelts to secure everything. Darkcloth folded between camera and seats to guard sharp corners. Works for me.

That's how my Canon 5D will travel :-)

[Francesco Gallarotti]

You're either going to have to go more miles or pick a smaller country.

Hehehe... you are totally right :-) see my post few mins ago describing the actual trip in a little more details

[Francesco Gallarotti]

I just use a plastic milk/file box and set the darkcloth in the box, then put the camera on top and wrap the camera with the dark cloth. Works great and costs about $5.

Sounds like an adventurous summer is ahead. Have fun!

Thanks! I hope the car AC doesn't break in the middle of the Death Valley! Hehehe..
I like the file box idea, but I like even more the idea of a large cheap Walmart cooler to seat in the trunk. Not a bad idea to insulate the camera as much as possible from the heat of the desert, when not in action (i envision using the large format mostly at dusk or sunset when the light is a little more interesting than midday in the desert)

[Oren Grad]

I have an old Tamrac shoulder bag with configurable dividers that was intended for 35 or medium format, but I've used it many times to carry an unfolded Horseman VH/VH-R or Nagaoka 4x5 with lens mounted so I can set up very quickly. Right now I have my VH-R field kit in it. I make a large central compartment for the camera, and smaller compartments on either side - I can put a couple of extra lenses on one side and rollholders or 4x5 film holders on the other. There are also side and front pockets that can hold roll film or other small accessories.

[Henry Ambrose]

No ice packs. If its in the back seat it should be fine.

[mpirie]

Tenba do a bag that's like a cooler bag and opens at the top with side handles (but no doubt is much more expensive). Personally I use a large Tenba that I bought for my medium format kit. It has removable pockets and cells inside so can hold a ready to shoot 5x4 like my Toyo as well as a couple of lenses and has pockets for all the rest of the junk we drag with us!

Mike