Guilt as well....

[Yoricko]

Well, I bought a Sinar F1 on impulse after attending a large format outing and I'm not sure if I made the right choice.

I normally shoot street, where the Leica truly excels at with its superb compact body built like a mighty tank.
I bought the camera with thoughts about becoming a mini-Ansel Adams and trying to be different amongst the rest of the photographic community.

Unfortunately, it was too much for me to handle. The sheer weight (~7kg) of the gear restricts my mobility and I'm low on cash and still lacking quite a bit of stuff (need a proper backpack and 1-2 more lenses).

The movements is surely great, the resolution is just insane, and looking at the slides on the lightbox is just awesome (though I like B&W more)!
Should I sell the camera at a considerable lost and use the money to get some Leica glass? Or should I keep it for future use (Studio, Landscape, Architecture, Macro)?

I only have a CV 50mm on my M4-2 and I need a 28mm, 135mm and maybe a M8 (or terribly expensive M9) before I can start shooting events for people (and earn the money to buy my large format stuff).
But I'm having my doubts, need your opinions guys!

P.S. : Using 2 shoulder bags to carry your LF gear makes your shoulders hurt like crap.

 

[Steve Karr]

Hi,
4x5 is great if that's the look you want. It is the polar opposite of RF shooting. If you won't shoot it now ... sell it. But don't take a bath. Wait to sell it to someone who has the same buying habits as you !!! I've had 45 & 810 Sinars all my life & love 'em. But they are not Leicas. Get a Linhof 45. Like a BIG Leica. I love mine ...

Steve

Steve

 

[Al Kaplan]

Get it out of your head that you NEED any of that stuff. You WANT it, and then you'll want something else...Keep the Sinar and learn to use it with the one lens, and explore the limits of what you can do wiith your M4-2 and the CV 50. Be strong! You can do it.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Don't chase gear, chase photos. This advice will be completely ignored, of course. 😉

Really, as Al said, you have all the gear you need now in both RF and LF. Now use it! Chasing gear is easier than shooting photos, of course.

 

[Yoricko]

Thanks guys, I've decided to keep my Sinar for Life!

Get it out of your head that you NEED any of that stuff. You WANT it, and then you'll want something else...Keep the Sinar and learn to use it with the one lens, and explore the limits of what you can do wiith your M4-2 and the CV 50. Be strong! You can do it.

Yes! I can do it! I don't need all those stuff, I only want them!
Thanks!

Don't chase gear, chase photos. This advice will be completely ignored, of course. 😉

Really, as Al said, you have all the gear you need now in both RF and LF. Now use it! Chasing gear is easier than shooting photos, of course.

I've always hated people engrossed into gear stuff, and never noticed me myself as one of them. Now I managed to see the holy light and become enlightened kudos to you!

Thanks mate!

Al and PW are right. If you can't do it with what you've got, no amount of gear will change that.

True true! Thanks!

 

[Andrew Howes]

When I go out with my 5x4 speed graphic, my bag is lighter than when I take a dslr.
one camera, one lens, a tripod, lightmeter and a handfull of filmholders.
funny how I dont feel limited or wish I had a wider lens etc, must be the frame of mind it puts me in.
I have never tried photographing action with it though.

 

[Turtle]

I would hang onto the 5x4 as it is a totally different beast, assuming to sell it would be to lose a lot of money. If you want more glass for the M, look at CV lenses and see if you can afford some more lenses in the less expensive bracket. Picking up a 35mm and 90 would cost about $700 all in (new) which would expand your kit considerably. If you need to raise this cash, consider selling your 5x4 lens/es or whatever you wont lose money on.

PS You were nuts to consider a large 5x4 studio camera for field work! One only needs simple movements in the field most of the time. sometimes only tilt!

 

[David William White]

Agree with the folks above. Don't dive out at a loss. Consider what you can do with a 4x5 rail camera and a single normal lens -- smashing macro work. Just not possible/practical with a rangefinder. And you don't need to go anywhere. Consider setting up a little 'still life' studio area at home. Great for bad weather days or when the arthritis flares up.

Maybe in-home traditional portraiture -- teeny cameras can't even come close.

That said, I do hike with my 4x5, but it's a carbon-fibre unit and it weighs less than my Mamiya TLR.