[LargeFormat] Planning Advice
Drew Eschbacher
largeformat@f32.net
Tue Apr 3 21:54:33 2001
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Dave,
Congrats on joining the masses of people that use large format
equipment. Now you too can attract attention from every person that hasn't
seen a large camera before. Seriously though, I have a Wisner 4x5 Pocket
Expedition that works well for backpacking. Another choice is the Canham
DLC 4x5. The Canham will allow use of lenses from 58 to 600 mm, the Wisner
is limited to 58 to 480mm. Get a copy of View Camera Magazine and check
out Badger Graphics, Quality Camera and the View Camera Store (not
associated with the magazine) for prices.
To get the 4x5 equivalents for 35 mm lenses just multiply the 35 mm focal
length by three. So your most used lens choices become 75, 90, 300, and
900. I like my lenses to have lots of coverage and secondly be light
weight but coverage always comes first. My picks for the lenses are: the
Schnieder Super-Angulon 72XL f:5.6 ($1200 at Badger Graphics) - it will
cover 5x7; the Nikkor 90SW f:8.0 ($840 at B&H Photo) - also covers 5x7; the
Nikkor M 300 f:9.0 ($710 at B&H Photo) will cover 8 x10; and the closest
thing to a 900 mm lens is the Nikkor Telephoto 800mm f:12 ED ($3000 at B&H
Photo) which I don't recommend. You aren't going to be shooting wildlife
with this setup. Bring the 35mm camera along for that. Fuji does make a
450mm f:12.5 if you still want to reach out. Almost all shutters on new
lenses are Copal shutters. Other than the 800mm Nikkor which takes a Copal
#3 the other lenses mentioned take either a Copal 0 or 1 shutter which are
small.
You don't mention accessories but you should look at standardizing your
filter sizes to the biggest lens and get some step up adapters for the
other lenses. Your tripod and tripod head are sources of weight that most
people ignore until they have to carry it for a while. Check out the Gitzo
carbon fiber models. As for the tripod head, pick out the style that you
can use, then worry about the weight. Also, are you going to use film
holders or Quick loads. If you shoot B&W then you are stuck with holders
and a changing bag. If you shoot some color transparency films then give
the Fuji Quick loads and the new and improved Kodak Ready load systems a try.
I hope this helps,
Drew
Drew Eschbacher
Columbia, SC
dreweschbacher@sc.rr.com
At 08:44 AM 4/1/01, you wrote:
>I am looking for advice on a 'new' LF kit.
>
>To try LF I picked up a Calumet C400 & B&J Press Camera with some older lens
>(I primarily use a Wollensak 162 & Kodak 127) & shutters. Well I love it and
>have decided to upgrade my kit.
>
>I am interested primarily in landscape photography and I will be taking my
>gear backpacking (I have three week-long trips planned in the Canadian
>Rockies this summer). It is my expectation that I will end up with a normal
>rail camera as well as a field camera, but the field is a priority.
>
>I am looking for:
> - full range of movement
> - durability
> - light as a feather (my 7 & 9 year-old sons think of me as their
>porter)
>
>I am also looking for advice on lens & shutters. In 35mm I normally use a
>24, 28, 100 & 300mm.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Dave Hornford
>
> > "The real reason mountain climbers tie themselves together is to keep the
> > sensible ones from going home."
> > - Anon - Sign at Alpine Shoe Repair (Calgary)
> >
> >
>
>_______________________________________________
>LargeFormat mailing list
>LargeFormat@f32.net
>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/largeformat
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<font size=3D3>Dave,<br>
<br>
Congrats on joining the masses of people that use large format
equipment. Now you too can attract attention from every person that
hasn't seen a large camera before. Seriously though, I have a
Wisner 4x5 Pocket Expedition that works well for backpacking.
Another choice is the Canham DLC 4x5. The Canham will allow use of
lenses from 58 to 600 mm, the Wisner is limited to 58 to 480mm. Get
a copy of View Camera Magazine and check out Badger Graphics, Quality
Camera and the View Camera Store (not associated with the magazine) for
prices.<br>
<br>
To get the 4x5 equivalents for 35 mm lenses just multiply the 35 mm focal
length by three. So your most used lens choices become 75, 90, 300,
and 900. I like my lenses to have lots of coverage and secondly be
light weight but coverage always comes first. My picks for the
lenses are: the Schnieder Super-Angulon 72XL f:5.6 ($1200 at Badger
Graphics) - it will cover 5x7; the Nikkor 90SW f:8.0 ($840 at B&H
Photo) - also covers 5x7; the Nikkor M 300 f:9.0 ($710 at B&H Photo)
will cover 8 x10; and the closest thing to a 900 mm lens is the
Nikkor Telephoto 800mm f:12 ED ($3000 at B&H Photo) which I
don't recommend. You aren't going to be shooting wildlife with this
setup. Bring the 35mm camera along for that. Fuji does make a
450mm f:12.5 if you still want to reach out. Almost all shutters on
new lenses are Copal shutters. Other than the 800mm Nikkor which
takes a Copal #3 the other lenses mentioned take either a Copal 0 or 1
shutter which are small.<br>
<br>
You don't mention accessories but you should look at standardizing your
filter sizes to the biggest lens and get some step up adapters for the
other lenses. Your tripod and tripod head are sources of weight
that most people ignore until they have to carry it for a while.
Check out the Gitzo carbon fiber models. As for the tripod head,
pick out the style that you can use, then worry about the weight. Also,
are you going to use film holders or Quick loads. If you shoot
B&W then you are stuck with holders and a changing bag. If you
shoot some color transparency films then give the Fuji Quick loads and
the new and improved Kodak Ready load systems a try.<br>
<br>
I hope this helps,<br>
<br>
Drew<br>
<br>
Drew Eschbacher<br>
Columbia, SC<br>
dreweschbacher@sc.rr.com<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
At 08:44 AM 4/1/01, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=3Dcite class=3Dcite cite>I am looking for advice on a 'new'
LF kit.<br>
<br>
To try LF I picked up a Calumet C400 & B&J Press Camera with some
older lens<br>
(I primarily use a Wollensak 162 & Kodak 127) & shutters. Well I
love it and<br>
have decided to upgrade my kit.<br>
<br>
I am interested primarily in landscape photography and I will be taking
my<br>
gear backpacking (I have three week-long trips planned in the
Canadian<br>
Rockies this summer). It is my expectation that I will end up with a
normal<br>
rail camera as well as a field camera, but the field is a priority.<br>
<br>
I am looking for:<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>- full
range of movement<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>-
durability<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>- light as
a feather (my 7 & 9 year-old sons think of me as their<br>
porter)<br>
<br>
I am also looking for advice on lens & shutters. In 35mm I normally
use a<br>
24, 28, 100 & 300mm. <br>
<br>
Thanks in advance.<br>
<br>
Dave Hornford<br>
<br>
> "The real reason mountain climbers tie themselves together is
to keep the<br>
> sensible ones from going home."<br>
> - Anon - Sign at Alpine Shoe Repair
(Calgary)<br>
> <br>
> <br>
<br>
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LargeFormat mailing list<br>
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</font></blockquote></html>
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