F.64 Extra Large Backpack for 4x5 (not 8x10) ?

[Tim Meisburger]

Well, I just won this new backpack on ebay for $105. I only bid $107 and didn't really expect to win, but I did. This is advertised as perfect for 8x10, but I wonder if anyone uses it for 4x5, specifically an Ebony 45s? If its not practical I guess I can resell it, but I had them ship it to my mother's house in Tucson and will not get to try it out till I get there on the 21st. What do you think?

[pierre506]

F64 is quite good for 8x10,even for 4x5, 5x7...
It's perfect if you wanna bring whole 4x5 system, including the camera, lenses, filters, holders, meter, shutter releases, focusing viewer, photo record...You can also hung up your tripod on it.

[Leigh]

I assume you mean the BPX ???
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91694-REG/f_64_BPXB_BPX_Extra_Large_Backpack.html

I have two of them. One carries the 8x10 Tachihara with two reducing backs and three lenses.
The camera is in the main section, the reducing backs in the front pouch, and the lenses up top.

The other carries a 4x5 Zone VI in the front pouch, about a dozen lenses and that many filters in the main section, and a whole bunch of incidentals in the top section.

117910 117911 117912

The pack ships with two detachable pouches, each of which can hold six 4x5 film holders.
They're available separately: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91702-REG/f_64_FH4X5_FH4X5_4x5_Film_Holder.html
There's room to mount four pouches, two on each side.

Both the pack and the pouches are available in either black or gray.

- Leigh

[Tim Meisburger]

Thanks Leigh and Pierre. I think I would carry the Ebony inside the main compartment. I only carry three lenses and one is mounted on the camera, so I should have room for everything in the main compartment. Do you strap the tripod on the side or top?

[Leigh]

I carry my tripod over my shoulder, since the Majestic is way too heavy to let the pack carry it.

I suppose you could strap a small one on the side. The top is curved (although it could be coerced flat).

- Leigh

[Jim Noel]

The only problem with that pack is so much can be carried in it it gets to be a burden.

[Leigh]

The only problem with that pack is so much can be carried in it it gets to be a burden.
"Burden" is very much a personal assessment.

If it's too heavy, use a lighter kit.

- Leigh

[Jim Becia]

I use my f64 for my 8x10 and really like it. It carries my Ebony 8x10, a 150, 210, 300, 450, and 600 (most of these lenses are fairly big) along with 4 holders, light meter, and other odds and ends. I find it comfortable, if there is such a thing. I can pretty much go all day hauling this. I do wish they had put a few more lash points on the pack. For 4x5, I would think this should easily handle your needs.

[Leigh]

The only problem with that pack is so much can be carried in it it gets to be a burden.
Don't blame the pack...

Blame the person who loaded it with too much stuff.

Universal mindset in 21st Century USA... blame the object rather than the person.

- Leigh

[mat4226]

This should work great for a 4x5 setup and then some. I haul around an 8x10 Tachihara with 150, 250, 360, and 480mm lenses, cables, filters, meter, loupe, and 8x10 holders just fine. When using the F64XL bag for 4x5, those accessory pockets perfectly fit 4x5 film holders, a real bonus!

[Tim Meisburger]

Yes, I'm sure its big enough. My worry is that it is too big!

[Leigh]

Yes, I'm sure its big enough. My worry is that it is too big!
Well, given that...

1) you won it, so you already own it, and ...

2) you're not obliged to fill it to the brim like I do, and ...

3) it's a very comfortable pack regardless of how heavily it's loaded ...

it would seem that you're going to use it.

It does have inside dividers that will hold 8 (IIRC) 4x5 film holders if you put the camera in the front pouch.

- Leigh

[Tim Meisburger]

Well, I guess nobody uses it for 4x5. I'll try it out, put my kit in the bottom and use the top like a day pack for a jacket and lunch!

[Leigh]

Well, I guess nobody uses it for 4x5.
Huh ???

Back in post #3 I gave a description and photos of my 4x5 kit in that pack.

- Leigh

[trad.dig.experience]

I use it for my chamonix 4x5. It's GREAT. Roomy for everything I need without being packed too tight. And it's very comfortable on the back and shoulders. Give it try - fill it to your hearts content. Scott

[Tim Meisburger]

Thanks Scott. Sounds like it will work well. How do you carry your tripod?

[Erik Larsen]

Thanks Scott. Sounds like it will work well. How do you carry your tripod?

Tim, if your pack came with the film pouches on the side, you can use one pouch to stick a leg or two of your tripod in the pouch and strap it vertically to your pack. This works best with 3 section tripods as taller tripods stick up too tall making it awkward. Not the most elegant solution but it works fine.

[Tim Meisburger]

Thanks Erik. That sounds like a pretty good plan. I do have a short tripod, so thats not a problem, and I have been trying to think of some sort of sheath or tube arrangement that would eliminate straps. This way I would only have one.

[Gregg Obst]

I got a F.64 BPX for use with my 4x5 and 5x7 about two months ago. It was a great deal used on Amazon and looked brand new. It's a very well built bag, that having been said, there are some problems that I have with it. These are probably nit picky and won't be seen as issues by many.

Since I keep each of my 4x5 holders in its own zip lock bag (I hate dust) that limits the side holder pouches to five holders each instead of the six. If they made a holder pouch that held ten holders, at least I could get eight in there and that would be perfect. The rounded top. Why do manufacturers of dedicated camera bags still do this ? Who makes ANY gear shaped like a slice of pie that will fit into those corner sections ? Why not just make a squared off top instead ? I ended up removing the foam inserts from the top section and have four lenses each in their own Domke wraps stored up there. I wish the larger of the foam inserts found in the main compartment was a little more beefy with thicker velcro strips to help it sustain the weight of items like film holders stored above them. If you normally store the camera in the very bottom of the pack but remove it once on location and walk around with it on the tripod, this leaves the items stored on the padded dividers at the top to sag and eventually that divider collapses down to the bottom while walking around with the bag on. If they were a little thicker with better supporting velcro strips, this would not happen. Yes, you can re-arrange things to put the items down where the camera used to be but you shouldn't have to do that if the dividers were designed better. I may explore some third party dividers for solving this issue.

Some have noted that you can carry the camera in the front section and while that's certainly true, do yourself a favor and get some padding or if you have a thicker focusing cloth, wrap the camera in that first. There is no padding on that outside flap to protect the camera should you drop the bag or fall backwards on a hike.

If you do any hiking at all, I think you will appreciate the well padded waist belt, which is also removable if it gets in the way on non-hiking trips. The rain cover that folds out from the bottom is pretty nice too. The side 4x5 holder pouches also come with a detachable shoulder belt which is nice for keeping holders in while you walk around a shooting location without the bag. All in all, I think you'll like the bag but may find it a bit large for all of your 4x5 work. Some trips you may find you'll want a smaller, lighter bag for when you travel with a more scaled down kit.

[Drew Bedo]

Greg:

Your remarks about rounded storage areas are spot-on for many here I am sure.

I am transitioning my 4x5 gear into the semi-rigid protective boxes by PhotoBackpacker. This is a system designed to hold LF lenses and cameras.

Check it out at:

www.photobackpacker.com

[trad.dig.experience]

Tim-
Erik carries his tripod on the side of the pack the way I do. My bag is older with the more oblong, deeper zippered pockets on each side. My gitzo 1228 fits in nicely(vertically) and I can zipper it tight. For 4x5 holders I use a Renaissance Photo Trek accordion-like carry bag. It collapses quit narrow and I can keep it in the large compartment or the zippered compartment on the back flap. There are many ways to make the pieces work. Good luck.