Some may remember that I bought a Kodak 2d last month and had some issues with major light leaks. A couple of forum members quickly put me on track to fix them. Thanks! Since then I've been taking a couple of shots a week, learning as I go. I started out using a 300mm Nikon M, then added a c.1910 Dagor 240mm, and now have a Fuji 210mm f5.6 (inside lettering.) Mostly I'm using the 300M. I've stayed with FP4+ since I know that film well, and process in HC-1110 in my SP-810. This is all working well for me. On deck I have a Lund 8x10 silver tank and all the supplies I need to do wet plate and am in the final stage of making my portable dark box. Should be done this week.:)
After the rocky start I'm finally getting pretty close to what I wanted. I use this strictly as a field camera and it's compact & light enough for this. One surprise is I find I tend to want longer lenses, not shorter. With my Chamonix 045n I tend to shoot, in order, 90mm, 135mm, 75mm, 180mm, 300mm. I'm thinking of a 500mm for the 2D. I'm starting to wonder how useful the Fuji 210mm is going to be since it really isn't big enough for any movements on my 2D and I don't feel any need for it on my 4x5. It didn't cost much so I guess it's better to have than not have. Mostly I'm still reaching for the Dagor 240mm (in Compound) when I want wider than 300mm. For wet plate I have a solid assortment of 19th C. lenses plus a 300mm Velostigmat in Betax 5.
The camera is heavier than anything else I have but I've not had much trouble with it. It fits into a backpack I bought at Walmart. I might go with a backpack cooler at some point, not sure. My Gitzo 1325 tripod would probably hold it OK but I have an AcraTech ballhead on it. I'm thinking a ballhead would be tough to use on something this heavy, even though it's strong enough. I've been using my Berlebach tripod which is plenty solid. It has a rising column and swivel bowl that's becoming a pain to level the camera with. I'm looking for a used Ries J-250 head now. Other than that I think I'm moving forward on schedule. For now I scan the negs with an Epson v700 but my plan is to learn how to contact print this year. So far, so good.
Kent in SD