Backpacking 11x14

[David Hosten]

Anyone out there have a good way to carry an 11x14 in the field? I have a Korona 11x14 with 600mm Tessar and a couple holders, and want to get further than 100 yards/metres from the car. Thanks. David

[Mark Sampson]

There was an article on this exact subject in "View Camera" magazine about ten years ago. email them for back issue info. If you use 11x14, you must know Brett Weston's saying from his 11x14 days: "If it's more than fifty yards from the car, it's not photogenic".

[Kevin J. Kolosky]

you may have to go outside of the photographic world to find what you need. if you look at a cabelas fall catolog you will see carts that are used to pack out deer and elk after they have been shot by hunters. I am sure that you could make good use of one of these to haul around your 11 x 14, and especially so if you were going to stay on trails.

Kevin

[Michael Kadillak]

The cart option is a very viable one as long as you do not go into designated wilderness areas. It is illegal to have any "wheeled" mobility in these areas. The only two other options are backpack frames or horses. The horse option is not a bad one when you really want to get back in. I have a cross buck saddle and panniers that work like a champ and I just walk the horse in with all of my gear.

Cheers!

[Bill_1856]

You just attach it to your hair shirt.

[Natha Congdon]

I backpack 12X20 with a backpack frame intended for packing deer meat out of the woods. I can lash the camera, holders and a lens bag back there and carry the tripod. I wouldn't want to run the Boston Marathon that way, but it's quite viable for carrying the rig a few miles, especially as the pack frame has a good shoulder harness.

Nathan

[Michael Mutmansky]

Nathan's got the best answer, in my opinion. I think that a wheeled cart is an effective way to move around if you have a bad back, or if you are not able to carry the gear, but it is really a compromise. You can't go too far off pavement with a wheeled cart without it turning into a real hassle.

I use a panel loading backpack for my 7x17, and it enables me to go anywhere I want, and it is comfortable to permit long day hikes without trouble.

I am planning to put together a pack frame for my 12x20 to do the same thing. There's nothing complex to it, but I recommend that you figure out a way to protect the camera a bit, or else it will start looking beat up pretty quickly from being lashed to a frame.

I fabricated some filmholder 'pockets' and a camera 'pouch' out of some quilted nylon fabric that I found at the sewing store. That way, the gear can be lashed together without direct metal to wood contact. The fabric is two pieces of nylon, with some batting between, which is then quilted together with an approximately 1 inch square grid of stitching. Because it was finished on both sides, it made an easy assembly into pochets for filmholders. I made the pockets with a divider in the middle to hold two filmholders each.

In the case of the 7x17, I then found a pack that would fit the camera and four holders. The 12x20 is much too large, however, so I will go the pack frame route for that one.

---Michael

[Pete Chipman]

The Eureka Sovergien packs are huge! (7,000 cubic inches) with a nice wide opening on the top. I think I used a E.S. II, didn't use it with an 11X14, but did have a everything AND the kitchen sink in it.

Pete.

P.S. They're also very reasonable.

[John Z.]

I think the key is having a light camera and gear to begin with. I have the new Wisner P 11x14 camera, which is quite a bit lighter than some other cameras I have had--it weighs less than 20 pounds. Another consideration is lenses; many lenses in smaller shutters are out there; I have a 450 fuji, 600 Fuji, and old 300 Goerz, all in small shutters, and quite light for carrying around the back country. The 450 Fuji can still be bought new (Midwest photo) at a reasonable price.

[John Kasaian]

You're gear should easily fit into a large size ALICE pack you can get from an army surplus store for about $60. I've carted my 8x10 around in one but it gets old real fast, especially taking it off and stowing the kit after a shot. The Alice has a rigid frame so you've got something to lash the tripod to.

I've also had some success with a soft sided cooler/cart made by California Cooler(look for them at Walmart/Costco) but I doubt if your 11x14 would fit

I agree with Michael that having a bomb proof pack horse/mule/donkey is a really good way, in many cases, to get your "larger" large format gear far from the road.

[Frank Petronio]

What are you guys using for tripods and how do you backpack a Ries?

[Ralph Barker]

Backpack a Ries? Easy. Just lash it firmly and vertically to the back of the pack. That way, when you get tired, you can just lean back on it. ;-)

Seriously, with heavier tripods, or even light ones, I just shoulder it. Padded legs are nice, though.