>>3192123>>3191997I prefer using a View Camera/Field Camera with 8x10 plates. You get to talk more to your subjects that way, but only if you approach them. Everyone sees you as someone far more important than some gearfag with medium format equipment and flushed face. It doesn't matter where you are or what is going on, if you come out with a large format camera, no one, I mean no one confronts you or feels the least bit wary of you or what you are doing. They see it as the toppest tier of professionalism, especially if the View Camera is a wooden frame model and wooden tripod. You can't just use a metal/carbon fiber tripod, that doesn't look right.
The only people who will actually come up to you to chat will be other photographers who are interested in your massive camera.
I normally carry around a big load of extra plates, because if the crowd is right I can get people to model for me and buy prints. Which means I get all their contact info too, if there's a hotty.