Long trek ; equipment choice

[fw1]

I am in the early stages of planning a long trek in Nepal and Tibet, which will probably entail trekking at various altitudes for between 30 - 45 days. I was thinking of reducing my 4x5 outfit down to ;

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Toyo field camera

90mm f/8 lense

300mm f/9 lense

Spotmeter

Manfrotto Tripod

Quickload holder, plus approx 100 - 140 sheets of Quickload film.

Loupe

Three or four filters

Notebook and pen

Tape measure (for macro)

Darkcloth

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Even this would be fairly heavy and bulky. Another option, slightly heavier, would be to replace the 300mm lense with a Fuji617 with 300mm lense, which is much more bulky and delicate, but could help in terms of film bulk and quantity (say 50 rolls of 220 replacing 2 boxes of Quickload), and the lense would have the same filter size as the 90mm lense. Do others find it easier to carry a number of film holders and change film en route? This would help in terms of film choice.

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However both of these options preclude carrying much else other than camera equipment, and I would like to hear from others who have done this kind of thing before what equipment choices and compromises they have made.

[abiggs]

This may be a situation where LF isn't the right decision. I mean,

you do *have* to carry food and additional clothing, don't you? I

currently have a Canham DLC 45, and it comes in under 5 pounds.

Light, yes. Bulky, yes. It may not come down to weight. Just the bulk

of the entire outfit. I would consider a MF outfit, personally.

Something like a Mamiya 7II and a couple of lenses. Cram about 30

rolls of 200 film in there. Voila!

 

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As much as I love LF, I am not sure it is well suited for trekking

like you want to do. May I suggest a trekking partner? That way, you

can distribute the load between 2 or more people. Definitely more

doable.

[dan_smith]

If you like how 4x5 works for you, don't change it. Arrange to have

some extra film waiting along your route and send out what you may

have by FedEx or courier. If it were me I would carry Mido cut film

holders & a few extra 50 sheet boxes of film, but I am apparently one

of the few who likes these holders. If you look at them, try them

first to see if you can work with them.

Lois Connor travels through China with a 7x17 inch view camera.

Others manage LF in various ways. If your vision 'works' with the

4x5, don't change but push yourself to get the finest images possible

with a camera & format you are comfortable with. That way you won't

come back saying... 'if only'.

[wilhelm]

Consider taking a thoroughly CLA Speed Graphic; you'll have the focal

plane shutter for backup just in case the btl shutter fails. Leave

the tripod at home, which probably weighs more than the camera

anyhow, and shoot hand-held. WOW and Good Luck.

[chris_patti1]

I don't believe that sending film ahead or shipping it out via Fed Ex

or courier is practical on a trek through Nepal or Tibet. Presumably,

you will be going to areas that are inaccessible except on foot (or by

pack animal), and they don't have Fed Ex drop boxes there.

 

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I, too, would reconsider the idea of treking with LF gear. While it

may be possible, it will be extremely limiting, both because you will

not be able to take as much film as you will want on such a long trip

(you're talking about 3-4 shots per day) and because using LF you will

be limited to static tripod-mounted shots. You will find that the

most interesting thing about these areas is not the landscape but the

people and their culture. When I went in 1998, I took a Mamiya 6,

three lenses, a spot meter, and about 10lb of film. The Mamiya 6 was

the perfect tool for the job (I suspect a Mamiya 7 or perhaps the new

Bronica MF RF would be almost as good, but the 6 is a bit more compact

than either). I could use it like a Leica doing "street" photography

(which ultimately comprised many of my best images of the trip) or

like a LF camera on a tripod for landscape or other static shots. The

quality, at reasonable enlargements, is excellent.

 

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While I might be inclined, when I go back, to bring LF gear as well, I

would not try to bring it on a lengthy trek.

[artie_kapell]

I've done extended traveling in Asia, including a couple of months of

hiking in Nepal. Although I'd love to have some pictures on 4X5, I am

very glad that I have carried both 35mm and medium format cameras -

there are lots of people shots that would have been too hard to

get with a 4X5. And I am very happy to be able to work with roll

film because of the weight - I'd rather be able to have a lot of

bracketed shots. However, one option for hiking in Nepal which

allows you to negate weight is to hire a porter to carry some of your

stuff - there are lots and lots of people doing the popular hikes in

Nepal and many people hire someone to help. I would not

definitely not rely on sending myself anything by mail in Nepal in

terms of sending film - I had a major crisis trying with a plane

ticket mailed to me not getting to Nepal. And don't forget that

there'll be a shift in color at much higher altitudes. Best of luck.

[qtluong]

I agree with the previous reply, and would take a 35mm camera

instead of a meter. You can hire a porter for a few

dollars per day. I would think that 3 boxes of 50 sheets

of film, a couple of holders, and a changing bag would be lighter

and much less bulky than 140 quickloads. Compare your Manfrotto to

the Gitzo 1127 and see how much weight that would save you.

The Toyo field is not by far a light camera.

[trevor_crone1]

I would forget the 45 film but take one 6x9cm roll back and top-up with 120/220 film of choice. Reloading sheet film in the field is a pain one runs the risk of an increase with dust problems. Sods law states that dust will always settle on a nice even tone area like the sky! Unless you're planning to produce really big prints a 6x9 neg./tran. will yeald superb quality.

All the best,

[geoffrey_chen]

FW,

 

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I'd suggest you to add a mid range lens (150 - 210 mm), and a light 35

mm camera for your "grab shots" on the move. Use a BITS Darkcloth and

forget about those horse blankets. It's quite windy there. You

probably need to double the sheets of film, assuming you make 10 shots

a day. Now let's get serious. You do not have a lot of gears, and

they do not weigh very much at sea level. However, once you are in

Nepal/Tibet area, you will feel they weigh at least five times heavier

because you are standing at 4000+ meters above sea level. So as Artie

suggested that you need to hire a local, and he will be your porter,

security guard, weather man, translator, PR man, and tour guide.

It's not expensive at all (thanks to the strong dollar!). You can

find such persons at local tourism offices or get referrals from

returning trekkers at the base camp. He should also be able to help

you determining how much food to carry on each trip and where the next

food supply stop is. All you need to do is "Here's cash". You also

need to bring medicines you think you will need. Good luck and

cheers,

[david_f._stein]

Great answers. It's not a photo - it's an adventure! If anything, I'd lighten that camera as much as possible; strengthen the tripod more so.

[eric_pederson]

I would elaborate some on Artie Kapell's response:

 

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Probably the most important factor is the nature of the trek. Is this

an organized group? If so, will they be comfortable with you using LF

equipment? (Day 8: "Let's just leave him behind", etc....) If not an

organized trip, then I would hope that you already have enough

experience trekking in Nepal to know the answer to your question.

 

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I would certainly consider any trek with LF gear to be a photo

expedition, not a trek with travel as the principle goal. In which

case do what any sensible Nepali with your obvious relative wealth

and with LF photography goals would do: hire an assistant! Someone

you trust to help carry gear, manage crowds, hold your reflector on a

macro shot, deter theft, translate to the excessively curious police,

explain to the Maoists that you are not counter-revolutionary, etc.

If you want quiet mountain solitude, don't go to the Himaalayas...

 

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What little I have seen of the Nepal portion of the Himaalayas is

indeed quite photogenic -- although much of it calls for quick

handheld work (bring a little camera too).

 

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Have a safe and stunning trip!

[neil_poulsen1]

How about a lightweight 6x9 view, such as the Arca-Swiss or the

Linhof. I know this is expensive, but with the money you're spending

on this trip, maybe it's worth it. Everything's smaller and lighter

with 6x9, the lenses, the camera takes up less room, you don't need as

hefty a tripod, film is more convenient and more easily changed, etc.

And, you can still come away with some great photos.

[ellis_vener_photography]

While I would also recommend the Canham DLC, but the Toyo, if

it works easily with the 90mm and the 300mm, will also be

suitable. I also second the recommendation of a 6x9cm

<I>and</I> a 6x12cm back instead of 4x5 holders. Roll film has

many advantages: More exposures per weight, less problems

with dust and probably easier times in the airport and you'll still

make very high quality images. The downside of using 6x9

instead of 4x5 is that you'll need a 65mm to equal the horizontal

coverage of the 90mm on 4x5. bringing along a 6x12cm back will

negate that but of course you'll lose the vertical coverage.<P>

I also strongly advise you replace the Manfrotto with a Gitzo 1325

or 1349 tripod. <P>

For some portraits of various peaks, you'll be using the 300mm

on 6x9cm (roughly equivalent to a 500mm or 600mm on 4x5)

quite a lot. Hey here's an idea! Swap the 300mm lens for a Nikon

360mm T-Nikkor. Since this lens is a telephoto design, you'll

need less bellows draw and if you use roll film the smaller

image circle won't matter. If you don't have much experience with

the 6x17cm format I'm not sure I'd recommended it. Composing

effectively in that format is very different from more square

rectangular formats.<P>I haven't been to Nepal but I just finished

editing and organizing a photo library for a photographer who

has been to Nepal 18 times over the past 24 years and have a

couple of very good friends who are Sherpa.