One Camera One Lens - you tell me what

[Bill_1856]

Something we all think about doing: Landscapes with One Camera, One Lens, One Box of Polaroid Film.
A dream come true, or a nightmare? Two weeks roadtrip in the Southeastern US – North Florida, Georgia, Western North Carolina, and East Tennessee, including several days in the mountains. (Occasionally visiting and mooching off friends and relatives). My last 20 sheet box of 4x5 Polaroid type 52.
Okay, what to take? There is certainly going to be a dependence between the lens that I choose and the camera to use.
The 4x5 lenses available to me: 90mm, 120mm, 127mm, 135mm, 6", 162mm, 180mm, 190mm, 203mm, 8.25", 240mm, 10", 270mm, 360mm, 15". There's also a Staeble Polyplast Casket set of105/135/165/195/225mm. It's a large range of choice if there were an elephant to carry them, but since there is only going to be ONE lens then obviously some, which are patently unsuitable, can be eliminated immediately.
4x5 Cameras to choose from are: Nagaoka, TRF Crown Graphic, Technika IV, Busch Pressman, Super-D Graflex, or Super Graphic.
Tripod is a 7# Slik Pro700DX with QR pan/tilt head., or 6# Leitz Tiltall.
You tell me what you'd pick, and why. I'll give it two days and let you know what I chose (and why I eliminated some).

[BrianShaw]

I'd line them all up in a row, spin around in a circle until dizzy, then point at one of them. Whichever you are pointing at should be the one you use.

[BrianShaw]

If I didn't like the answer, I'd nullify the process and pack the Super Graphic and a 135 or 6" lens.

[BrianShaw]

But, honestly, there is so much beauty in the SE US that waht I did last time I was there was bring a TLR and a big bag of 120 film.

[Two23]

No way I'd be happy with just one lens. I'd take 90mm, 135mm, 240mm. Depends on what lenses they are, of course. As for the camera, the Nagaoka (a field camera IIRC.) Anyway, there's no way I'd head out with only one lens.


Kent in SD

[Vaughn]

Nagaoka, 6", any pod. Simple but with movements. Versatile and ready for anything.

[Frank Petronio]

If you don't have a clear preference after accumulating all that gear then something is the matter with the widget under the darkcloth and behind the ground glass ;-p

[sanchi heuser]

I'd choose a 90mm lens for the landscapes.
If you want to photograph your friends and relatives, you can portrait them
in their environment or make group portraits. No single portraits.

I'didn't photograph with any of the mentioned cameras and tripods, so I'd generally choose the one that is solid, easy to transport and fast to handle.
Same for tripod.

Andi

[anglophone1]

Busch, 127 or 120, lightest pod
I did the same thing in Scotland last week, Razzle,135, carbon pod Pola 55

[Leonard Metcalf]

Linhof Technica IV and the 135mm lens... I might be tempted with the 165mm... Me I would put on a 150mm.... folds itself up into a small box and enough movements to keep me happy... and you just can't go past a standard lens.

Me I have just spent two years with a standard lens... the best investment in my photography.. quite a challenge at first to let go of that tempting spread of lenses... but well worth it...

Why a standard... well you can make it look tele, wide angle and can do portraits... can do anything... just need two legs to zoom, and careful placement and some lovely swings and tilts and it looks wide angle... there was a good reason they were the one lens that came with slrs...

Just my 2 cents worth