And a $10 watch from the corner store will keep better time than a $500K vintage Rolex... and so begins the cycle of this entire thread again...
an 8x10 camera with tripod and half dozen film holders would break your back though. 😜
An 8x10 can be a bit cumbersome (although wood field cameras like the Deardorffs are surprisingly light) which is why we carried 5x7 in the field- a happy compromise. My Linhof 5x7 monorail with my heaviest lens on an aluminum (not carbon fiber- you want it bottom heavy) Gitzo 4 series with geared column and head weighed in at around 45lbs, but balanced perfectly on the shoulder when carrying. Bag of 8 or so 5x7 film holder and 2 lenses, meter, etc in a bag on the other shoulder balanced you out with a other 20+ lbs. I could trek with that rig in rough terrain for about 2 miles with breaks to rest but the end results were always worth the effort- and if I needed to bring more (lighting, more holders & lenses etc) I always recruit help. Always had my Jeep or a Park vehicle available so rarely did I need to be farther than a mile or two from the bulk of my equipment.
That said, I just had a spinal fusion of my L5-S1 due to a long slow creep of pain over time- so I guess it literally broke my back.
Yeep, te Deardorff 8x10 they are pretty light actually, if we compare with 8x10 monorails, especially early Linhof Kardans , these are really pieces of artillery, and their tripods they looked like rockets. I think the Sinar Norma 8x10 was probably the best monorail made, practical and versatile. 8x10 seems cumbersome , but with some particular cameras are just easy use just like a 4x5. The Phillips 8x10 were unbelievable light and easy to fold , I owned one of the Compact Series , very easy to carry around .
Now- now, let’s not get into the Sinar/Linhof debate...like Coke & Pepsi 😉
