LF G.A.S.: Full Up!

The G.A.S. has bloated my bag!

 

Pic #1, Left to Right:

Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm f/6.8

Nagaoka Seisakusho 4x5 as "Calumet Woodfield"

Rodenstock Sironar S 210mm f/5.6

Rodenstock Sironar N 150mm f/5.6

 

 

Pic #2:

Rodenstock Sironar N 135mm f/5.6

Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6

Nikon 300mm M f/9

Rodenstock Grandagon N 65mm f/4.5

 

 

Pic #3

Gitzo carbon fiber G1228LVL

 

 

The $800 Gitzo was found at Goodwill for $4.99. Three of the Rodenstocks (including the "S") came to me New In Box for $300 (net of sell-offs) from a guy who couldn't get anyone to take his collection off his hands.

 

I may be done. One never knows.

 

Today, I went out packed heavy and took 3 shots, each with different lenses as the framing required. I had the lens for each; 65mm, 90mm, 135mm.

 

But, I think this is the end of Acquisition. I may need to spend more energy learning how to be a better photographer now....

 

I can't think of anything more I want. But maybe some esoteric Sironar S will appear before my eyes some day for a steal of a price. Until then, I think ... I may ... be full up!

P.S. - It's all Bill Bowes' fault!

There are times when I'm tempted to get back into LF, and this would be one of them... Great working kit, and the minuscule outlay was quite ridiculous. Thanks for showing!

There are times when I'm tempted to get back into LF, and this would be one of them... Great working kit, and the minuscule outlay was quite ridiculous. Thanks for showing!

 

I did pay real market prices for the cameras and a couple lenses. But the overall outlay for redundant 4x5 was < $2K.

You've duplicated my lens collection pretty much ( a 135 instead of a 115 Grandagon aka Caltar) for a lot less money. I bought mine in the 1980's and 90's, and I paid retail since that was what I could get and I needed them for my business. My camera is a 4x5 Toyo monorail instead of the wooden Calumet that you have, but I think you probably won't need any more lenses for a while.

I haven't measured the volume, but my 'portable' (for a packhorse) LF outfit doesn't appear to take up any more space than my miniature mirrorless gear.

 

The folding MPP Mk7, along with some DDSes, a lightmeter and a darkcloth, fit into a squarish video-style gadget bag. While 6 lenses and boards are packed into two foam-lined plastic boxes that used to hold glass plates. However, I rarely take all 6 lenses, and a 75mm Super-Angulon or 90mm Grandagon, 150mm Nikkor-W or 210mm Sironar, plus 300mm Tele-Xenar cover most eventualities. So 1 smallish gadget bag and a 6" square plastic box are about it. Errrr, not forgetting the tripod, which is definitely the most cumbersome item.

 

Yeah, when I bought the Sony MILC, I thought the gear would get lighter and smaller, but a modest kit of 2 f/2.8 zooms and a couple of primes (only covering 17mm to 105mm focal lengths) occupy a large gadget bag that weighs more than the LF gear!

I haven't measured the volume, but my 'portable' (for a packhorse) LF outfit doesn't appear to take up any more space than my miniature mirrorless gear.

 

The folding MPP Mk7, along with some DDSes, a lightmeter and a darkcloth, fit into a squarish video-style gadget bag. While 6 lenses and boards are packed into two foam-lined plastic boxes that used to hold glass plates. However, I rarely take all 6 lenses, and a 75mm Super-Angulon or 90mm Grandagon, 150mm Nikkor-W or 210mm Sironar, plus 300mm Tele-Xenar cover most eventualities. So 1 smallish gadget bag and a 6" square plastic box are about it. Errrr, not forgetting the tripod, which is definitely the most cumbersome item.

 

Yeah, when I bought the Sony MILC, I thought the gear would get lighter and smaller, but a modest kit of 2 f/2.8 zooms and a couple of primes (only covering 17mm to 105mm focal lengths) occupy a large gadget bag that weighs more than the LF gear!

Except that film and holders weigh a lot more than a couple of SD cards...

Let’s see I have had a Toyo 45 field for sometime and break it out occasionally. About 1 1/2 years ago during a weak moment I purchased a beautiful Wisner 45 technical field. Problem is the Toyo, for me is a better user. That metal chassis and mechanisms are so smooth to use and the weight is actually similar so in the end I gained nothing but a showpiece that stays folded in a drawer. I keep telling myself to shoot more LF but I have been ignoring the advice. BTW for someone looking to get into LF I would highly recommend considering a Toyo 45.

I keep telling myself that if I can ever retire I want to shoot some film again. It recently hit me that if I do shoot film it will be LF and MF. I can't see any good reason to shoot 35mm, so I sold off almost all of my decent 35mm gear, things I said I'd never sell. After a short period of loss and grief, I decided that the new digital gear I got in trade, plus keeping my MF and LF film cameras, was the right decision. I did keep a few classics like a Retina IIIc and a couple Argus, so if my remaining stock of ancient bulk film is still good, I'm not completely stuck. Still have my darkroom set up but haven't mixed chemistry in about two decades.

 

(3 Graphics, 1 large, 2 small, a Toyo, a Mamiya C330 and a couple Yashica TLRs)

Pic #2: Forgot to mention the Crown Graphic. I've stripped everything off of it so it's just a light tight 4x5.

The G.A.S. has bloated my bag!

 

Pic #1, Left to Right:

Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm f/6.8

Nagaoka Seisakusho 4x5 as "Calumet Woodfield"

Rodenstock Sironar S 210mm f/5.6

Rodenstock Sironar N 150mm f/5.6

 

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Pic #2:

Rodenstock Sironar N 135mm f/5.6

Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6

Nikon 300mm M f/9

Rodenstock Grandagon N 65mm f/4.5

 

[ATTACH=full]1409782[/ATTACH]

 

Pic #3

Gitzo carbon fiber G1228LVL

 

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The $800 Gitzo was found at Goodwill for $4.99. Three of the Rodenstocks (including the "S") came to me New In Box for $300 (net of sell-offs) from a guy who couldn't get anyone to take his collection off his hands.

 

I may be done. One never knows.

 

Today, I went out packed heavy and took 3 shots, each with different lenses as the framing required. I had the lens for each; 65mm, 90mm, 135mm.

 

But, I think this is the end of Acquisition. I may need to spend more energy learning how to be a better photographer now....

 

I can't think of anything more I want. But maybe some esoteric Sironar S will appear before my eyes some day for a steal of a price. Until then, I think ... I may ... be full up!

A $5 Gitzo CF? Damn.

I still miss a 5x7 kit I sold as a young man in need of cash. So long ago I can't recall the brand. Camera, three lenses, half a dozen film holders and dark cloth all in an old fashioned hard case. If I thought there was a chance I'd use it, I'd try and replace it with similar. I rarely enough even use my 35mm cameras, easy by comparison. Looks like wonderful gear.

Except that film and holders weigh a lot more than a couple of SD cards...

A box of sheet film and a changing bag aren't so heavy, but obviously bulkier than memory cards.

 

I flirted with a couple of Grafmatic holders for a while, until I discovered that their register was nowhere near standard. That, and they have a tendency to warp and make the register even more random.