[LargeFormat] Luggage

[philip lambert]

On the subject of carry-on bags, how much hardware do you actually use out
of everything you bought?
Maybe with some imaginative selection you could manage a 5x4 expedition with
just three lenses, none of them very big or valuable.
Possibilities are a
180mm f4.5 Xenar or 203mm f7.7 Ektar,
a 120mm f6.8 Angulon or 135mm Symmar
and for interiors a 75mm f8 Super Angulon (smaller than the 90mm).
The early battered versions are be avoided as the later editions are
typically more contrasty and sharp and don't cost much. You could fit these
in a carry-on bag with some 5x4 cameras.
For technical cameras using rollfilm backs the lens choice is better as many
suitable largeformat lenses from 47mm upwards including Polaroid Rodenstocks
or Tominars are available, usually compact and  cheap.  You soon find out
which  give bright and sharp results, which don't allow much rising front
and which give difficult screen viewing in poor light. (The f8 47mm Super
Angulon is notably worse than the f5.6.)  I could carry five such on a
flight and they wouldn't weigh a lot; if they were all stolen it would be
easy to replace them over a couple of months.
Losing an outfit isn't a tragedy if it's insured and not unique. Leave your
Dagors at home.
Philip