cyr_smith Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Ok, I''ve heard over and over how carrying all that 4x5 camera equipment out to the boondocks is not something most people would want to do. Well I thought about it and did a little comparison with my Canon EOS 1ds and 2 lenses and my 4x5 and 2 lenses and guess what? The 35mm equipment outweighed my 4x5 by 1.5 lbs. Yes-!! I used the same tripod for both, same backpack for both... actual film weight same as flash cards....etc. Canon EOS 1ds = 36 oz.Battery = 12.8 oz. (two each)Lens EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM = 51.84 oz.Lens EF 24mm F1.4 II USM = 23 oz.Total 123.64 oz. = 7.72 lbs Gandolfi Variant II = 70.4 oz.Lens Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm w/lens board = 17 oz.Lens Xenar 150mm w/lens board =6 oz.3 4x5 film holders = 8 oz.Total 101.4 oz. = 6.34 lbs So, I think I'll shoot with my 4x5 today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecahn Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I'm with you Cyr. Those little cameras have gotten very heavy. Did you include the weight of the darkcloth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwrtertbsratbs5 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Only three film holders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_wisniewski Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I don't get this "comparison". I have one 35mm lens (300mm f2.8) that outweighs my 4x5 (and it's a big 4x5, dual rail macro system) but that has nothing to do with going on the same "mission". Two batteries for the 1Ds? Even with its highly flawed power system, one battery is over 300 shots. How many 4x5 shots do you take in an outing? 70-200mm f2.8? The 150mm is a normal, like a 50mm f1.4. And we won't even get into the 24mm f1.4. "actual film weight same as flash cards" sure, if your packing for one single picture... So, if you felt like shooting the 4x5, that's all the justification you need: no apples to lugnuts comparisons... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw12dz Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 The problem lies with the backpack. One tends to fill it to capacity, no matter what format they are shooting. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_menesdorfer Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I'm not suprised at all. I mean my Mamiya universal (6x7and 6x9 back with a 50mm lens on it totaly analogue) weights as much as my 4x5 gear. And let me tell you one thing, it feels after a day carry it around in the city, its just that I use those for different purphose. Landscape and street photography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg_adams Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I tend to agree that it really depends on approach, personal style, and what one wishes to accomplish. I've backpacked with 35mm, 6x9, and 4x5 all over the Southwest, Pacific Caost, and the Sierra range. I really have to decide what kindof a trip I am intending. Light enjoyable walking, or photogrpahy oriented type of outing, and perhaps more important is number of days, and distance. Food is heavy ! But you eat it as you go, and cameras and gear have to be carried in and carried out. I have often just taken a 35mm with zoom and leave the tripod behind as it is ussually the one item that pushes the pack wieght over the top when leaving the trailhead. Packing 4x5 requires a bigger heavier more supportive tripod, period. Three film holders? Forget it. Ready loads and one holder for them enbales dust, trouble free shooting and less bulk and weight. But, and this is true with my 6x9 field kit I use most often, there is the off camera light meter, very heavy accessory esspecially if useing a spot meter, supplimental wide angle lens, and all the accessory filters a good outing requires, needed or not. Now, I believe it when one suggest these new digital SLR's are heavy, and battery power is a must, whereas I can shoot OK if my light meter were to go on the fritz with analog. A frindof mine described his digital kit when wanting to hike with me last year. Just for fun I asked him if he couldn't leave the battery pack in the car? I then proceeded to explain I intended to hike this last summer with my 3oz Holga and a very small pack ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oistrakh Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 The heaviest item in your 35mm pack is your 70-200mm f2.8. You aren't carrying anything equivalent in your 4x5 pack. Throw in a 300mm and a 450mm lens with Copal 3 shutters and your 4x5 is easily heavier than your 35mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvp Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 <I>The problem lies with the backpack. One tends to fill it to capacity...</I><P> I have a Lowe Super Trekker. When I first got it, I thought how wonderful that I could get all of that 35mm equipment into one bag. Of course, I couldn't picked the damn thing up after I got it loaded. It turns out that it holds a 4x5 field camera, 3 lenses (including a 10 inch in a #4 shutter,) a half-dozen film holders, meter and more miscellaneous items than I can remember I have with me, yet still be reasonable schlepable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_wisniewski Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 "Ready loads and one holder for them enbales dust, trouble free shooting and less bulk and weight." Pity they just discontinued them, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_gardner1 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Your 4x5 equipment list is suspect: how do you meter? Do you carry a meter, or do you estimate exposures? Do you carry filters, lens shades, dark cloth, cable release? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurentbaig Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Let's see, let's compare a 35mm system that might give close to 4x5 quality in a 16x20 print. 1dsMk3 + 16-35/2.8 + 24-105/4 + 70-200/4 + KirkL bracket = 3570g = 7.9 lbs 4x5+75/4.5+135/5.6+240/9+QLholder+20QLs+hood+meter+watch = 9.73 lbs I estimated 3.5 lbs for a Chamonix 4x5, 2 lbs for 20 QLs, 1 lb for meter, and 1/4 lb each for hood and watch. The rest of the weights are available on LF site. Tripod weight will be the same (don't tell me you'll put 4.5 lbs of camera&lens on a 1.5lb tripod) at 3-3.5 lbs (including head). Filter's will be heavier for the digital system as you'll need 82mm filters or larger. The 4x5 system will use minimum of 67mm filters. My conclusion is the weights for either system are pretty similar give or take a lb. Sometimes I carry a 400T which adds an extra 1.5 lbs to the 4x5 kit, but if I'm backpacking, the above list is exactly what I take. Not to mention, my 4x5 kit is a lot cheaper :-) If I want to go light, I'll carry my Olympus E-520 + 12-60mm lens ==> 2.5 lbs If I want to go lighter, I'll carry a Canon G9 ==> .8 lbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyr_smith Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 Chris Chen: "Throw in a 300mm and a 450mm lens with Copal 3 shutters and your 4x5 is easily heavier than your 35mm". Wrong mister Chen. My 300 Nikkor F9 in a #1 Copal is 0.64 lbs and I don't use a 450mm so it still ends up lighter. http://web.mac.com/cyrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris_lamba1 Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 This is so nerdy it's almost unbelievable :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profhlynnjones Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My favorite view camera for field use has been, for over 30 years, has been the Galvin 23 with 14" bellows. That camera in a small gadget bag carries camera, 2 lenses, 2 roll holders and weighs in about 3 lbs. My 35mm and 2/1/4 camera tripods work just fine. I do have 8x10, 4x5's, and my Galvins. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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