Struggling with 4x5, looking for advice

[Tim k]

First a little background;
I've been fiddling with film for years, until them new-fangled electric cameras came out, then I chased after them till the last few months. For some reason I am being drawn back to film. After a lil bit of buying and selling, I ended up with a Toyo/Omega 4x5 view. For the last few months I've been putting my stuff together, getting ready for a couple month trip of R&R and playing with my new toys. Inspiration comes hard for me. I'm not the type that can stop anywhere and find something interesting. Something interesting needs to yell, "here I am bozo take a picture". So some of my best stuff tends to be more of a happy accident, rather than a planned event.

Here's my problem;
I'm halfway through the trip, and every time we go somewhere I tend to grab a little camera, and those seem to be the best of my images. I have, on several occasions went out taking only the 4x5, and while the time seems more relaxing (enjoyable) but I never seem to be at the right place at the right time with the big rig. I think one mistake I may have made is to get a large Pelican case that everything fits into. Its HEAVY. So it tends to be a bit of a project, to pack it up and go. And I'm a bit on the lazy side. I'm not ready to give up on 4x5, but perhaps I need to change my ways.

Here's some of my thoughts;
Get something that folds, that will fit in a back pack.
Cut a couple feet off the monorail, and get a smaller case.
Try medium format.
Leave the little stuff at home? (Thats going to be hard.)
Suck it up, and try harder.

I hope this all makes sense.
I really would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks, TimK

[BarryS]

I started out a long time ago with a heavy monorail camera setup and it completely dampened my interest in large format, because it was such a pain to take anywhere. Fast forward to the past year when I got a good quality lightweight field camera (Chamonix 45N-1) and some lightweight lenses and accessories. I keep a complete kit in a small backpack, so it's easy to grab and go when I want to go shooting. For me, good tools make the job a pleasure.

[Ash]

Look at really lightweight cameras.

I had the same issue when I got a half-plate "land camera"... it was so heavy I left it in a cupboard. I received a wonderful Korona 4x5 that was so light I could carry it by the handle, with a bag of bits on my back, and tripod in the other hand; the heaviest thing to carry was the tripod!


I've since moved onto the equally weighted Razzle, as it alleviates the need for a tripod in most cases.

Hang in there, look at lightweight field cameras or maybe crown/speed graphic handhelds. Razzles have a long waiting list and are very specialist.

[Gem Singer]

P.M. sent.

[Walter Calahan]

Only use a camera that matches your photographic vision.

LF is not right for all situations or stylistic approaches.

Don't beat yourself up if you happen to have the wrong system for the situation. Just go with the flow. The more you use LF, the easier it will be as you find your work flow.

[photographs42]

Those of us who use large format do so for any number of reasons. For me, it’s the joy of seeing the ground glass image and knowing the resulting negative will perform in the darkroom the way I want it to. I started with a 35mm and a tripod and after about a year, I decided that the images I wanted to make were best made with a view camera. My first one was crude but I immediately saw that the LF route was for me. Except for water or clouds, I rarely photograph things that are moving. I don’t make lots of negatives. I savor the process and often spend an hour or more working with a subject and then walk away without making a negative, but I have enjoyed the process.

I think you need to evaluate your goals. If you are selling your work, then you need to “Hang’em on the wall” so to speak. If a relaxing hobby is your thing, do what feels good.

The “happy accident” is far less probable with LF. LF is a more contemplative medium and you will make far fewer negatives. For example, if I’m in an area with lots of possibilities, I will probably make 8 or 10 negatives a day or fewer. Usually fewer. My percentage of keepers, however, is far greater.

Jerome

[Ole Tjugen]

The usual way to use a LF camera is to take it out, sit down, look around, set it up, then wait for the lighting to be perfect.

I've never managed that. But I can get a LF camera unpacked, set up, mount the lens I want (they seem to always be on the wrong type of lens board), frame, focus, shoot, and pack everything and be ready to move on in less than five minutes...

[E. von Hoegh]

Large format isn't for every shot.

My last trip to Europe, I took a NikonF with 35/50/105 lenses and a Nagaoka 4x5/6" Dagor with 4 filmholders and a lightweight tripod. Gossen Lunasix for both.

I shot 8 negs with the 4x5, and about 8 36exp. rolls with the 35.


When I went out with the 4x5, i usually had a list of scenes I wanted.

You need to think about which type of camera best suits the photographs you wish to make, then choose the camera and plan your day accordingly. (Or let your day's plans choose the camera)

For instance, we took a boat trip up the Rhine on a perfect day. I shot the castles and other landmarks as we passed. Now, I COULD have made every shot with a medium format camera, or for that matter my 4x5 Linhof in handheld configuration with a 270mm lens. However, the day's outing was part of a family reunion; messing about with fussy time eating gear would have been inappropriate. Not to mention that I'd have needed at least 25 4x5 filmholders...

TimK, take your time. As you gain experience you will learn which camera siuts the work you wish to do at that time. They all have their uses.

[Gene McCluney]

My suggestion is to get an off-road worthy vehicle such as a Jeep product, or Land Rover or similar 4-wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance, then drive close to where you think you might want to shoot, and work out of the back of the vehicle. This works very well for me, but I don't have any problem finding the subject material I like, and my only worry is "will I have enough film with me"? Last outing, I shot 70 sheets of 5x7. I don't pack everything away between shots either, I put stuff in the back of my Land Rover Discovery under a cloth, and I leave the tripod legs extended, also, and I have a quick release for my 5x7 to go onto the tripod fairly quickly.

[Jim Graves]

Over the last 3 years I've migrated to a 4x5 and a 6cmx9cm combination that works well for the various ways I shoot.

If I'm just walking around, traveling light, or just don't want to fool with the 4x5, I carry a Super Ikonta folder. Upsides are portability, speed and volume and you still get very nice sized, sharp negatives that will enlarge very well up to 16x20. I get 8 shots per roll of 120 film ... 12 if I use the 6x6 insert. I've found that I often will find something of interest, shoot it in 6x9 and then go back on another date with my 4x5.

My entire 4x5 backpacking kit weighs slightly less than 9 lbs. It is a Gowland Pocket View, 90mm Angulon , 203mm Kodak Ektar, Feisol CT3441 tripod with CB-30 ball head, Loupe, Cable Release, Kodak Readyload holder, and a 20 pack of Fuji QuickLoads. I use my jacket as my dark cloth. The Gowland is a little fidgety, no 0 detents, etc. but once you learn to use it, it becomes second nature ... and it has all movements.

If I'm going out and about by myself in the car ... I set up the 4x5 on the Feisol tripod so it's ready to go and I use my bigger, newer lenses. But I also take the Super Ikonta 6x9. Then, I'm pretty much ready for anything.

Since I hit on this combination, I take far more (and better) pictures simply because of the improved portability of the 4x5 and the 6x9 option and because I now actually enjoy myself more. But, as the earlier posters said ... you need to figure out what works best for the way you shoot. Good luck ... don't give up on 4x5, (you live in Arizona for God's sake!) ... and find a way you can really enjoy being out there shooting.