first travel with a leica

-vin-

-vin-

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Maybe this won't be an interesting thread for many, but I'd like to thank everyone here for the enthusiasm you put in describing your cameras.

I'm just coming back from the first travel together with my leica and 50 elmar. The other camera was a digireflex with 3 lenses.
Well, I left the digi to my girlfriend and shot most of the time with the rangefinder: it was a lot of fun and never felt the need for other equipment. The camera is nice to handhold and to carry also for long periods, people isn't really scared by it (and many asked me what that strange old thing was...) and I really liked the freedom of being with only one lens, a little camera without automations and one film.

I'm enthusiast! Tonight I'll develop the first rolls and see the results.
 
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It sounds like you understand what all the talk is about 🙂 Please post some of your photos here too! Welcome to our obsession!
 
thank you, sirius, magus and mark, for showing interest in my little experience.

@sirius: I'll try to post something, even if the results won't be good because I haven't a dedicated scanner. I'll probably won't wait till tonight to develop and at the end of this message I'll be in my darkroom.
@magus: I have an M2, and I didn't really feel limited: well, I didn't do much night shooting, and probably a summicron would have been better in some situations, but I like the fact that, when your neck hurts, you can keep camera and lens, together, in your pocket. I walked for many hours, some days, and it was really a panacea in those situations.
@mark: yes, now the digital is "the other camera". 🙂 and it will probably be sitting in the bag for a while... I used an M mount 3.5 elmar. From the previous rolls it seems the results are very good, but I can't understand it fully because I'm not able to print: here in Italy the temperatures are of 30-33 °C... but apart from the results, I feel this as a new philosophy to me: I always carried a lot of equipment in heavy bags. Now I know you can travel light, have fun and (hopefully, I'll see it soon) take good pictures.
 
Nice to read of your experience vin! 🙂 As a person who just came back from a long vacation with a lot of RF gear I can appreciate the one camera one lens approach. 😉 I have found a grip very useful in combination with a wrist strap for when your neck gets sore. The grip makes it much easier to carry round a camera in your hand without fatigue.
 
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vin, you did fly, right ? any problems with film at airports, or you used only low ISO ?

because of this "issue", I usually prefer travelling with digital.
 
Another convert! Welcome vin!

I too find the weight & compactness of the M's a real joy when out and about, spent a while today with a 1 camera/1 lens combo (M5 & ZM25) and just had a great time.

Shall we see the 'other' camera in the classifieds soon?
 
jarski said:
vin, you did fly, right ? any problems with film at airports, or you used only low ISO ?

because of this "issue", I usually prefer travelling with digital.
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hi, jarski. yes, i flew, but it wasn't an intercontinental flight. i put all my rolls (100 iso) in the baggage, taking the cameras with me in the hand-baggage. I haven't had problems (i only developed 2 rolls up to now), but i don't know if it's important the fact that i used only bw film.
 
payasam said:
Congratulations, -vin-. The temperature here in India is often in the 40s (C) but we print all right.
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well, someone does in italy too. but you need expensive and specialistic equipments, i think. which methods do you use?
 
peter_n said:
Nice to read of your experience vin! 🙂 As a person who just came back from a long vacation with a lot of RF gear I can appreciate the one camera one lens approach. 😉 I have found a grip very useful in combination with a wrist strap for when your neck gets sore. The grip makes it much easier to carry round a camera in your hand without fatigue.
Click to expand...

I'll probably buy a wrist strap in the future, peter.even if i don't know if i could feel safe. never thought about the grip: is it heavy?

thank you!
 
sepiareverb said:
Another convert! Welcome vin!

I too find the weight & compactness of the M's a real joy when out and about, spent a while today with a 1 camera/1 lens combo (M5 & ZM25) and just had a great time.

Shall we see the 'other' camera in the classifieds soon?
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hi, sepia! I don't know if I'll sell the camera, because it lost most of the value (digital...🙄) my girlfriend will probably use it, provided that she won't be converted too!😀
 
Don't put your film in checked baggage. If it does get scanned it will be fogged. Scanners for hand baggage should be no problem, trips to and from New Zealand with up to 8 scans have had no ill effect on film up to 400 for me.
 
-vin- said:
hi, jarski. yes, i flew, but it wasn't an intercontinental flight. i put all my rolls (100 iso) in the baggage, taking the cameras with me in the hand-baggage. I haven't had problems (i only developed 2 rolls up to now), but i don't know if it's important the fact that i used only bw film.
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😱 😱 😱 You are lucky my friend! Please don't do that again!! As others have said above, always bring your film in your hand-luggage with your camera(s).

-vin- said:
I'll probably buy a wrist strap in the future, peter.even if i don't know if i could feel safe. never thought about the grip: is it heavy?

thank you!
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As Magus points out the M lugs are not quite as industrial strength as those on the older cameras. My use of the wrist strap is during the week when I have just one camera in my briefcase and it is an insurance policy in case I drop the camera. I never actually hang the camera from the strap and use a regular strap at the weekends when I am much more likely to have the camera around my neck.

I actually bought my grip for a 0.85 mag M7 to use with two very heavy lenses and it is marvellous for that. But I also share Magus' enthusiasm for it on a carry-round camera, as he points out it is great for helping you pre-focus the lens as well as hanging on to the camera more securely. 🙂 There are a number of makers of these grips, I have one made by Tom Abrahamsson and highly recommend it. Here's a link to a very brief review of grips: http://nemeng.com/leica/022b.shtml
 
One of the reasons for me to bring the M4-2 cycling to France was the lower weight than the M2 (another 50 grams orso) but that equals out adding the metal grip. Great using the M with a grip.
My M2 has a selftimer which is blocked by the grip. The M4-2 has no selftimer but has the hotshoe which I didn't use.
Very glad you like the M2, Vin!
 
im going to honeymoon in thailand. bring my M6 and 35mm summicron.

im debating wether to bring my rebel xt and leneses or just stay with film the whole time.

any suggestions?
 
-vin- said:
Maybe this won't be an interesting thread for many, but I'd like to thank everyone here for the enthusiasm you put in describing your cameras.

I'm just coming back from the first travel together with my leica and 50 elmar. The other camera was a digireflex with 3 lenses.
Well, I left the digi to my girlfriend and shot most of the time with the rangefinder: it was a lot of fun and never felt the need for other equipment. The camera is nice to handhold and to carry also for long periods, people isn't really scared by it (and many asked me what that strange old thing was...) and I really liked the freedom of being with only one lens, a little camera without automations and one film.

I'm enthusiast! Tonight I'll develop the first rolls and see the results.
Click to expand...


Good for you!

I'm just beginning to work with a couple of old RF's that my father-in-law owned from the 1950's. I'm learning how to think again with these cameras after doing two years with digital alone. I've messed up most of one roll, but with help from my Sekonic light meter (don't leave home without it) I'll get better.

And although digital has the "convenience" and no airport x-ray concerns, I too enjoy the freedom of not being dependent on batteries and multiple lenses.

All the best on your first rolls!
 
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