Monorail cameras question?

[Alan Gales]

I will be in studio. But not in my studio - I love my Globica but camera with stand is huge... So I need something that I could put in case and carry in hands (I am traveling by train).

Sinar used to make a gray hard plastic suitcase for the F series cameras. Carrying a Sinar F2 in one of these cases would work great on a train. It would also really protect your gear.

[Leszek Vogt]

Allow me to chime in....I just saw this thread. I saw a Sinar F2 on sale just few days ago for $299 .... when I was getting my lens fluid at Galzer's...that is if you are interested. PM me and I could check the size of the rail and try to address whatever questions you may have.

Les

[Darren H]

As others mention there are many possible monorails you could consider. There are many inexpensive choices, some heavier than others. A buddy got a Cambo for maybe $150 but it weighs almost 20 pounds. It can be carried by car easy but is not going on a hike.

I have an Arca-Swiss Discovery. Awesome camera. Great movements and with a few accessories packable on a hike. Very modular but pricey.

See more about it in both words and pictures on my blog linked in my signature line.

[Jim Andrada]

I bought a 5 x 7 Linhof Kardan Bi in around 1971 and rigged up a carrier that would fit a rigid pack frame - I once actually cross-country skied with it on my back and I carried it up and down a lot of hills at one time or another -not terribly light, but not all that much heavier than the Technika's of the period. Have to admit that the skiing was a bit tense as I wanted to make sure that if I fell the camera would fall on top of me and not the other way around.

These days I work closer to the car, but it isn't because the camera got heavier - more because I got heavier.

If I recall correctly the Bi was the first Linhof to offer both base and center tilt - it used to be that if you liked base tilt you went with Sinar and if you liked center tilt you went with Linhof. I think it was also the first Linhof that used light alloys.

It is a beautiful camera to work with (as is the Sinar) - very precise. In fact more precise than you really need for field work (with the possible exception of architectural photography.) I don't think they were ever as common in the US as in Europe.

[Ari]

Since travel is part of the OP's m.o., I'd suggest a Linhof Technikardan, if price is not a big factor.
It's very solid, as a monorail should be, but also folds into a space only slightly larger than that needed for an average-size folder.
Also very well-made, like all Linhofs, and lightweight.