Winter Woes (Medium Format Thread)

[pompadork]

Evening!

Just wondering, how do most of you carry around your medium format cameras during the winter months? 35mm is one thing (I have an XA tucked into my jacket pocket) but hanging a TLR from my neck over my winter coat while it's snowing or holding onto a 6x6 SLR while my hands accept frostbite doesn't really seem practical. Aside from keeping it in my backpack and taking it out when necessary, I can't think of a solution, so what do you folks do to keep your bigger cameras at-the-ready in the cold?

 

[nikon_sam]

Down here in the Southern part of California you will see photographers with their gear just hanging off their shoulder, outside their heavy winter jackets...
Just kidding...I haven't taken my MF gear out in extreme cold weather but I have used my LF gear where it's been very cold, snow but not snowing but that's not what you want to hear...
If your 35mm gear is in your jacket pocket or in a bag it's not "at-the-ready" either...
I would just treat the MF gear as I would my normal 35mm smaller stuff...

 

[furcafe]

This thread is (a little bit) funny, because I'm just the opposite: I tend to use my medium format gear a lot more during the late fall/winter/early spring because I find it easier to carry around bigger & heavier things without getting overheated & the equipment itself is actually easier for me to handle w/gloves than my smaller cameras & lenses.

To answer your query, it doesn't really get very cold here in DC, so I carry a medium format camera the same way that I do my 35mm stuff: on a strap, "bandolier"-style diagonally across my chest from my left shoulder, w/any additional gear in a bike courier-type bag that's on my right shoulder. The only adjustment I make for cold weather is to lengthen the straps to accommodate bulkier clothing. Another advantage of winter clothing is that I can actually keep some smaller items (e.g., extra film) in my jacket pockets, so I often don't need a bag @ all.

As far as using a TLR w/the waist-level finder when there's significant precipitation, that I haven't figured out. I'm new to them, so right now I just switch to a prism finder (which is more intuitive for me, anyway).

 

[Mackinaw]

I carry my old Mamiya 6 folder. Can easily put the camera in one of my coat pockets and pull out when needed. Allows me to keep shooting medium format pretty much year around.

Jim B.

 

[VictorM.]

I carry a Rolleiflex around all winter. Meter in one pocket and film and maybe a filter or two in the other. To protect the taking lens from salty slush and precipitation, I might use a UV filter. The only problem has been slightly stiffer focusing in really cold weather. Thin gloves help with gripping the controls.

 

[oftheherd]

I don't like to do any photography in bad weather unless it happens to be the subject of the photos. But I used to not care one way or the other.

Then I most often used a TLR, a Yashica MAT 124 G, which had a rather easy to use case to protect the camera until needed. Later, with the Super Press 23, for the longest time I only had a 100mm and 65mm lens. Easy to carry the camera outside a coat and the lens in a pocket. Gloves would temporarily fit in a pocket also when needed. Ski type gloves often had a snap strap which can be useful to connect them to your coat.

I don't mind the bulk much more in winter as much as I dislike being cold. In rain, I try to keep my gear to a minimum so it is easier to protect in plastic bags. One easy solution I like is my old folders. I can't change lenses, but I still get to use MF and it is easy to carry and protect.

 

[chris000]

I'm using my Mamiya 7 kit this winter for landscape work. I carry it in my backpack between locations but once at at an interesting spot I hang it around my neck whilst moving around looking for the best angles, etc. - sometimes for an hour or so but not for any longer.

I have not had any problems with the camera because of the cold, but temperatures in this part of the UK have only been down to about -5 C

 

[branki]

I just come back from snapping a few shots with my Rolleicord in -20C, in the heart of Sweden.

I was carrying the camera around my shoulder, with a lightmeter on my pocket.

After 4 shots it almost fell as if the little 'cord was about to give up, the advancing mechanism started slipping and acting weird and that ended the "session".

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

My Bronica S2 fits perfectly in a Tamrac holster-style case made for an SLR with attached zoom. I can even carry an extra lens in the bottom. You'd never know I had a MF.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I always use a tripod for medium format work, so carrying isn't an issue. I carry my medium format setup in a bag, but when i get to the location, the camera goes on the tripod and i carry the bag on my shoulder to hold extra lenses, and i keep my meter on a strap around my neck so i can get to it easy. I carry the tripod in my hands, with gloves since i have an aluminum tripod and it gets COLD

 

[JeffGreene]

I always use a tripod for medium format work, so carrying isn't an issue. I carry my medium format setup in a bag, but when i get to the location, the camera goes on the tripod and i carry the bag on my shoulder to hold extra lenses, and i keep my meter on a strap around my neck so i can get to it easy. I carry the tripod in my hands, with gloves since i have an aluminum tripod and it gets COLD

I'm with you Chris! I use a tripod as well, but do carry my SL66 in a backpack with three lenses, handgrip and light meter. I keep my Mamiya 330F in the trunk for grab shots, but tend to be much more planful with SL66. So I don't mind the backpack.

How's your little guy enjoying his new computer? 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

I always use a tripod for medium format work, so carrying isn't an issue. I carry my medium format setup in a bag, but when i get to the location, the camera goes on the tripod and i carry the bag on my shoulder to hold extra lenses, and i keep my meter on a strap around my neck so i can get to it easy. I carry the tripod in my hands, with gloves since i have an aluminum tripod and it gets COLD

Chris,

Wrap the legs of your tripod with bicycle handle-bar tape...it's great for the cold times and also pads the legs if you happen to sling it across your shoulder while shooting...
Start wrapping from the top of the legs and instead of electrical tape try using wire shrink-wrap material to secure the ends...😎

(You'll have to dis-assemble your tripod legs to get the shrink wrap on BUT it looks cooler than tape when you're done)

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris,

Wrap the legs of your tripod with bicycle handle-bar tape...it's great for the cold times and also pads the legs if you happen to sling it across your shoulder while shooting...
Start wrapping from the top of the legs and instead of electrical tape try using wire shrink-wrap material to secure the ends...😎

(You'll have to dis-assemble your tripod legs to get the shrink wrap on BUT it looks cooler than tape when you're done)

That's a great idea! I have considered buying the "Leg Warmers" that Manfrotto makes for it, but I'm too stingy to spend the money.