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Thread: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

  1. #1

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    Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    I'll be traveling to Yosemite in about 2 months (yes, winter) for the first time and due to some space restrictions, I can't take my 4x5 or 8x10 kits much less my Reis tripod so the question is.... what do I do?

    1) Rent a Hassy digital system (50mp or 80mp are options)

    2) Rent a Hassy film camera, lenses, etc.

    3) Shoot my Nikon (24mp) and consider it a scouting trip.

    I thought about getting a smaller film wide format camera (rent) but there aren't many options.

    Any clever ideas? I'm not 100% fond of digital and sold a full Hassy digital system a few years ago because I just didn't use it.

    Brian

  2. #2
    Foamer
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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Buy a used Nikon D800e. Great camera with big sensor that's going cheap.


    Kent in SD
    In contento ed allegria
    Notte e di vogliam passar!

  3. #3

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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Shoot what you are most comfortable with on rollfilm...

    Shoot to make it count...

    Steve K

  4. #4

    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Take your 4x5. You would miss the tilt-shift otherwise.

  5. #5
    Marc! munz6869's Avatar
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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Can you streamline your 4x5 kit? Take just one lens, that sort of thing? I had a similar issue travelling to New Zealand some years ago, and remembered I had a 4x5" Travelwide = perfect (although I did miss tilts and shifts).

    Marc!
    Marc Morel
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  6. #6

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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Was in a similar situation a few months ago. Decided to go with a Nikon D850. As for lenses: 24mm PC-E, 85mm PC-E, and my 14-24mm AF-S Nikkors. It all fit in a small backpack. Initially wanted to include a 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor, but it would have meant switching to a larger backpack. As for a tripod: Oben CT-3535 Folding CF (travel) Tripod with a ball head.

  7. #7
    Alan Klein's Avatar
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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    I took my heavy Mamiya RB67 system to Yosemite years ago. I bought a 4x5 system two years ago. But when I travel, I leave all the heavy stuff at home and just take Sony RX100iv pocketable camera for still and 4k short video clips. Yeah, I know. Digital. But it lets me spend more time with my wife, less fighting with her, and I get a nice set of pictures I put in a video show to play on my 4K tv. I spend more time just relaxing on the trip rather than schlepping heavy bags around. I do all the heavy shooting at home when I'm not rushed because my wife is hungry or whatever.

    Here is one shot though from that Yosemite trip.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alankl...7625476289859/

  8. #8

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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by bmikiten View Post

    3) Shoot my Nikon (24mp) and consider it a scouting trip.
    Or just take your phone with a director's finder app. There are both Android and iOS versions. I really like the iOS app Artist's Viewfinder, which is discussed in What Scouting/Planning Apps Are You Using in 2021?.

    No gear to carry, and would free up time to just enjoy Yosemite.

  9. #9

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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Just go to the Yosemite Visitor Center and buy a bunch of the 35mm slides that they sell.

    Then actually enjoy the experience of the Park!!!

    When you get home, scan the slides and tell everyone you took them.

    K-I-S-S

  10. #10

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    Re: Going to Yosemite but can't take my 4x5 or 8x10. What to do?

    Where my 8x10 won't fit, I'll press a handheld Speed Graphic, TLR Rolleiflex or Nikon F2 into service.
    Sadly, I wore out my Olympus Stylus, which was an excellent little point and shoot for travellng.

    Right now, Yosemite is covered in snow and exceptionally magical. By March the falls should start cooking really good.
    The snow likely gone from the lower elevations and Tioga and Glacier Point roads still closed.
    That leaves the Valley, but it will be before the crowds invade and the traffic snarls ensue.
    Mariposa Grove should be open.
    It should be an excellent time!

    If you're entering the park via the Southern Yosemite Highway (41) Horn's in N.Fresno is a very decent photo store you might want to check out for pro camera rentals, and South Gate in Oakhurst has really good pub food. The Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp makes a memorable Bloody Mary if you want to innoculate yourself against snake bites
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

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