It's been a few months now since I started to look into different large formats (4x5, 5x7, 8x10 and ULF) and various cameras to find the set-up that works best for me. I have done that by experimenting with the gear I have (had...but we get to that in a second ), carrying my 4x5 set-up around in a big backpack, reading books and scanning the internet, writing lists and "weighted comparisons" about the features that are most important to me and finally deciding and going for it...all in ...well mostly all
My final list said that for my style of photography I needed the following:
- the camera should be reasonably light
- it should definitely be possible to carry it for longer walks in my Kelty backpack
- it needed to have the possibility to use lenses >305mm (my Kodak portrait lens) and enough bellows (or exchangeable bellows) and extension to allow close-ups with "normal lenses"
- it needed as much tilt and swing as possible and being able to make minimal adjustments easily
and if possible should have some flexibility with regards to using different formats and maybe my digital back.
When I looked at that list I thought it would be impossible to find the camera but I think I did.
The only downside was the price...so I had to sell a large part of my camera/lens collection (even some Hasselblad equipment but don't worry there is still enough left). I was a bit shocked how much gear I've had collected over the last few years which I hardly ever used or had only used once ;-)
And then I ordered an ARCA Swiss F-metric 4x5 with orbix tilt...a dream which I hope will be delivered mid/end of February.
So seriously...do you think I am crazy and all hope is lost?
Oh, and I could even upgrade the 4x5 to a 5x7 or 8x10 without getting a completely new camera...though financially that might have to wait a while...a long while...a very long while
My final list said that for my style of photography I needed the following:
- the camera should be reasonably light
- it should definitely be possible to carry it for longer walks in my Kelty backpack
- it needed to have the possibility to use lenses >305mm (my Kodak portrait lens) and enough bellows (or exchangeable bellows) and extension to allow close-ups with "normal lenses"
- it needed as much tilt and swing as possible and being able to make minimal adjustments easily
and if possible should have some flexibility with regards to using different formats and maybe my digital back.
When I looked at that list I thought it would be impossible to find the camera but I think I did.
The only downside was the price...so I had to sell a large part of my camera/lens collection (even some Hasselblad equipment but don't worry there is still enough left). I was a bit shocked how much gear I've had collected over the last few years which I hardly ever used or had only used once ;-)
And then I ordered an ARCA Swiss F-metric 4x5 with orbix tilt...a dream which I hope will be delivered mid/end of February.
So seriously...do you think I am crazy and all hope is lost?
Oh, and I could even upgrade the 4x5 to a 5x7 or 8x10 without getting a completely new camera...though financially that might have to wait a while...a long while...a very long while