Folding it away between shots??

[612tom]

I remove the lens from my folding camera and carry it folded on longer hikes or whilst flying. However once on location with it unfolded and set up with the lens attached, I'm tempted to just place it in a bag (albeit a large one), and carry short distances unfolded. I can rack the standards close to each other to compact the bellows and reduce the amount of bellows wobblying around or open to damage.

Anyone else do the same? Or am I just being lazy with the 2 minutes it takes to set up?!

Cheers

[SMBooth]

Depends on how far Im walking, if I know the next shot I was looking at was only 100m then its (4x5) stays on the tripod. If Im not sure whats next then it get folded up.

[dsphotog]

Leave it ready to shoot....
It's a sure bet that in 2 minutes "the amazing light" will disappear.

[ic-racer]

My Horseman FA 4x5 is small enough that it stays opened up with lens mounted and ready to go in the bag.

[RichardRitter]

How soon do you want to change the bellows? The folding and unfolding of the bellow wear the bellows out faster. Think of the bellows as a paper clip that you keep bending in the same spot until it beaks. The bellows material acts the same way just take longer for it to happen. And it will probably happen when you go to take that once in a life time photo a pin hole will developed .

[cjbroadbent]

An Ebony SW45 never folds and is always ready to shoot.

[Frank Petronio]

Oftentimes I will throw my little kid out of her booster seat and cradle the open camera in her seat instead.

[Richard Wasserman]

Oftentimes I will throw my little kid out of her booster seat and cradle the open camera in her seat instead.

Frank, do you at least put your daughter in a bag? A Crumpler would work well I think, they have a good amount of padding and come in many sizes...

[Michael Graves]

Oftentimes I will throw my little kid out of her booster seat and cradle the open camera in her seat instead.

That shows an amazing lack of long-term thinking on your part, Frank. Is that camera going to be able to take care of you in your old age? Make the wife ride in the luggage carrier instead.

[BetterSense]

How soon do you want to change the bellows? The folding and unfolding of the bellow wear the bellows out faster.

Using the shutter will wear it out faster. Sliding film holders in the back will wear the finish off the back. Adjusting your tripod head will wear the surfaces and risk stripping the threads.

It's preposterous to worry about wearing out a bellows IMO. The function of a bellows is to extend and compress. If you are worried about wearing out your bellows I think it's time for a new bellows.