Am I nuts?

[George Stewart]

Last year I took my 8x10 out to the American SW and made 200 images in temperatures as high as 117 F (Death Valley). This summer I will also visit the American SW again, and have pondered the the 8x10/4x5 question. Since I won't be backpacking or going on very long hikes, I'll be taking the 8x10 again.

[Nick_3536]

Whats wrong with being nuts?

[Mike Davis]

Just got my Wehman today. I would definitely find a way to take it. It only weights 2lbs more than my Shen Hoa. And not terribly more than my RB67. I could fit it and a couple of holders into the hardcase for the RB if I needed to.

Now I just need to get boards for my 14" Ektar (Ilex 5) and 240-w Germinar (copal 1) lenses.


Mike Davis

[PBrooks]

wow, those were quick responses! Thanks for putting me at ease, as far as tripods go- I was thinking of getting a feisol ct-3371 expressly for this trip, as my current aluminum bogen weighs 18 lbs. Also, I have been thinking of the modified kelty from photobackpacker.com. Does anyone have any experience traveling with either of these items?

Your not nuts or if you are then so am I. I will be taking my 8x10 to Taiwan in a week. Yes I have experience with the 8x10 system by photobackpacker, a must buy! Have a great time!
Phillip

[Howard Berg]

I had the same hesitation when first considering taking my 8x10 on air trips. There is no reason not to have that baby with you. I have dealt with a number of issues in plannning on taking my 8x10 for the three trips so far (Hawaii, China, and soon Switzerland):
1) tripod: I pack this in my suitcase, wrapped in clothes. My Benro carbon fiber is light and 24 inches long, just fitting diagonally in the suitcase. I also wrap the empty filmholders in clothing and they go in the suitcase as well.
2) film: rather than worry about finding film at my destination, I bring all that I plan to use, and bring it back undeveloped. I carry the film boxes on my carryon briefcase and let them be xrayed. I keep the exposed sheets in the same box as the unexposed, underneath the bag of unexposed film. I can only get color film in 10 sheet boxes, so I pool the 10-sheet foil pouches together in empty 50 sheet boxes, which I can find at my local photo lab.
3) camera: be sure to neveer check in this or the lens. I have a Phillips Compact II and three lens and the folks at photobackpacker tried to get these engineered into a modified Kelty--just doesn't fit so that it passes the carryon criteria. Therefore I pack the empty Kelty in my suitcase, for backpacking my camera at the destination. I just bought an Osprey Sojourn 22 inch rolling backpack at the local REI store as it fits my camera/lens and is carryon copliant. It actually fits pretty comfortably as a backpack when properly adjusted, so will help when traveling from home to destination.
4) bring a film changing tent so that you know you will have a place to load film.
5) insure your stuff--with only one lens and camera, you should be able to get a low priced rider for your gear.

Have a great time, especially knowing that when you get back home those images will take you back to your trip better than any thing else.

Howard

[Brian Vuillemenot]

Definately go for it! You may want to look at this article on the LF homepage:

http://www.largeformatphotography.in.../lftravel.html

[cyrus]

Don't rely on anyone's assurance that a package won't be x-rayed.

There is no one sitting at Fedex or any other shipper whose job is to separate the "Do Not X-Ray" packages from the rest. Trust me. And even if there, do you really want to risk it? Even 100 8x10 negs is just the size of a small notebook - something you can easily take on the airplane with yourself.

[Vaughn]

Nuts if you do, nuts if you don't, so you might as well do.

Brian's link above is great, BTW.

If (when) I were to go back to Aussieland, it will be an intersting question for me...since it is more than likely I would have my 3 kids with me. They are ten years old now, so all I would have to do is divide a lot my gear up into carry-ons between them...hmmmm. But when reality sets in, I'd probably end up just taking my 4x5 since it would be a family adventure, and time to photograph would be very limited.

But if I was on my own, I'd just use my underwear, socks, t-shirts and an extra pair of short pants to pad the 8x10 equipment, have a baggie with my toothbrush and toothpaste in with my other photo assesories, and off I'd go!

have fun!

Vaughn

[eddie]

go for it. we are all nuts!

i would say if you pack the camera well ina hard suit case it would be fine to check. carry the lenses and film with you. a brief case will work fine. let them x ray the carry on it may just be easier that way. (they handchecked my 4x5 film the other day, but it was un opened. most of teh USA checking is done with a wipe that is analyzed by a machine so they usually do not bother opening anything) who knows what the aussies will do!

you should beable to pack the tripod. most international flights give you alot for checked bag weight. (i travel to thailand alot, i am in thailand now, and we get like 35-40KG per bag and we get two bags!)

eddie

[Paul Ewins]

1. Buy your film in the US. 8x10 is extremely hard to get here and you don't want to arrive and find that your favourite film is unavailable. I've just started in 8x10 and have ended up buying from Badger. 4x5 is a lot easier to get in both monochrome and colour.

2. Get a "carry on" size back pack and put your camera, lens and film in it. Everything else can go in your checked luggage.

3. Unless you are making multiple flights your film is probably going to get a fairly low dose of x-rays from the scanners. 100 speed films should be fine and 400 should be Ok if it only gets 2 or 3 doses. If you are travelling by car once you get here then the cumulative dose will be small, but if you fly interstate that will be another x-ray check each time.

4. Not sure about asking for hand inspection, but it is always worth trying provided you are polite and not in a hurry. It may be worth taking an exposed neg with you to show people so they understand what you are asking. Film will mean 35mm to most people.

5. I don't know if there are any commecrial labs in Brisbane that can handle 8x10. Google will be your friend there.