How many holders and film do you bring when shooting away from home ?

[mdm]

Usually 6 5x7 holders are enough for me, and since I have only 2 11x14 holders thats all I take, but dont feel the need for more. I never mix formats, its one or the other.

[Leigh]

These comments may not be generally relevant because:
1) I never load/unload in the field, only in the darkroom.
2) Due to mobility issues I'm never far from the van when shooting, usually less than 50 yards/meters, so no back-packing.
3) I experiment a lot, frequently with filters, and often make extra exposures to compare different developers or as safeties.
4) For me, "away from home" means driving a few hours max and returning the same day. I don't do multi-day excursions.

So anyhow for 4x5, I have 18 locking Riteways always loaded with Acros, plus 18 Toyos always loaded with Velvia.

Another group of 18 locking Riteways are loaded with "specials", like infra-red or other films I'm playing with, or FP4+.

- Leigh

[John Flavell]

I make one long trip a year that entails flying there, and then driving back. I order film and have it shipped there and this year I'll take 10 of the 23 4x5 holders I have. I load and reload with a bag I keep with the camera. The camera gets carried on with me in a backpack and wrapped in two HUGE lens wraps for padding. I shipped the tripods last year, but I'll probably check it this year.

[evan clarke]

I carry a full arsenal with me at all times, 4x5 up to 11x14. I always have around 80 4x5 holders, 20 5x7 holders, 10 8x10 holders and all my 11x14 holders..

[Peter Gomena]

I own about 30 or so 4x5 holders. For an extended trip I will load them all, usually 5 with Portra 160 and the rest with black-and-white. If in doubt, pack along a good changing tent.

Peter Gomena

[Dan Henderson]

My first long shooting trip after moving up to large format I took all 20 holders that I owned at the time, loaded with the same film. I always shoot both sides of a holder on a subject that interests me enough to set up the camera and compose a shot, so after several days I needed to reload holders in the field (a campground in that case.) I found reloading holders to be a nuisance, and keeping track of what exposures were what for developing when I got home to be a major pain. So now whenever I get a chance I pick up more holders. Where holders are concerned my motto is "too much is never enough."

Conversely, if I want to shoot a subject close to home and I have at least 2 holders loaded up, no problem. One holder to make the exposure, one for backup in case I really mess up.

[biedron]

FWIW I finally tried some of the Toyo film holders after 29 years of using everything else. If you can find and afford them, they are the best.

Frank,

I am curious what makes them better than other film holders? I've seen others make similar comments about the Toyos, but have never seen one myself.

Bob

[Roger Cole]

Road trip, I carry all of my holders, loaded. Day excursion from home, I carry as many as I think I might need, maybe 6 holders plus Polaroid back.

Loading up my new-to-me Grafmatic with E100SW for my next trip. Been keeping that 50 sheet box of film in my freezer, might as well use it.

[Tim Meisburger]

Interesting thread. I have about thirty holders, but seldom take more than six, unless I am going somewhere special. Instead, I take a dark bag and a box of film. I seldom shoot more than twelve sheets a day, and normally reload in the evening. On holidays, sometimes I'll shoot more, and either take twelve holders, or carry the bag and load on the fly.

[austin granger]

Twenty, forty, EIGHTY holders? Man, you guys have some serious arsenals indeed! Fully loaded for me is eight holders and if I shot that in a day, I'd be very happy. If I'm traveling I bring my extra film and a box for exposed sheets, along with a changing bag, and reload when I get back to the hotel, or tent if that's the case.