Decisions, decisions...two questions

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like2fiddle

Curious
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It's been more than 10 years since I took my family on a "real" vacation, that is, one where we fly somewhere. Sure, we've done alot of camping, rented a house at a lake or at the ocean a few times, and occasionally ventured north to Quebec City or Montreal for long weekends, but those places are all really in our backyard so to speak. Well, since my oldest daughter is off to college in the fall, we've decided to take the plunge and have a little trip as a kind of send-off. We're going to St. John in a couple of weeks. 🙂

I shoot almost exclusively black and white, but since we're going to such a colorful place, I feel somewhat obligated to shoot in color for this trip. I haven't had the greatest success using locally available color film - fuji superia 400, kodak 800 - it's most likely just me and my technique as I tend to expose primarily indoors where lighting is a challenge (tungsten). I am looking for recommendations for color film that might give me the best chance of capturing the many colors of the island. I'm thinking along the lines of 100 or 200 speed film since there should be generally more light than we have here in Vermont. Any ideas?

My second question. I'm planning on taking the M6 and three or four lenses, probably a 25, 35 or 40, 50, and 90. I may have room for either the M2 or the Autocord - 120 negs from a place like that could make really nice prints😉. Should I try to pack in the TLR or be content with the 35mm? (I should also add that I will be pocketing a little digital P&S).

Which color film?
TLR or second M?

Thanks.
 
I'd definitely bring the TLR, pack some low speed Velvia or Ektachrome (don't use Kodakchrome, no one will develop it in 120 format anymore). You'll probably have a lot of light, slow speed films will give you beautiful colors and DOF control.

I'd leave colors to the TLR and the digital P&S.

I'd use M6 with B&W and lots of people/street pictures.

But that's if I were you, of course 🙂
 
different to me - I would use the M6 with color slide-film like Kodak Extracolor 100 or Fuji Velvia and would do b/w with the TLR;
but I surely would take both cameras into the holidays
 
Thanks for the suggestions Will. I need to do some homework on Velvia and Ektachrome, I know only the names. They are slide films are they not? It would probably be worth shopping for a good incident light meter in any case. I have a couple of old Weston meters and a Gossen Pilot 2 that all seem to be pretty accurate though a little slow in response.
 
Cron said:
different to me - I would use the M6 with color slide-film like Kodak Extracolor 100 or Fuji Velvia and would do b/w with the TLR;
but I surely would take both cameras into the holidays
Click to expand...

Another idea to consider, thank you. It's looking like the TLR should be on the trip.
 
I've always liked Fuji film. My personal opinion is that you'll want to be doing color for the outdoors more than the indoors, and with it being so sunny I wouldn't use anything faster than 100. A TLR is huge, but I agree that it would be nice to have 120 negs from this trip. Have you got time to pick up an old folder?🙂
 
iamzip said:
Have you got time to pick up an old folder?🙂
Click to expand...

Actually, I have an old Kodak #2 folding brownie or something like that, I don't remember exactly. It's been a few years, but as I recall, it has a light leak somewhere in the bellows even though they look like new🙁. I might just have to pull it out and run a roll through it now that you've put the idea into my head. The lens is nothing like the Autocord's though.

I haven't ever used Kodak 400UC. I've heard mixed reviews of the Porta NC for any landscape-related photos.
 
Hi Roger:

TLR: definitely 🙂
Color film: Reala 100 and Press 400, Reala for the TLR.

Cheers & enjoy,

Roland.
 
ferider said:
Hi Roger:

TLR: definitely 🙂
Color film: Reala 100 and Press 400, Reala for the TLR.

Cheers & enjoy,

Roland.
Click to expand...

Hi Roland, nice to see you. I remember reading on another thread a while back that you like the Reala 100; it's on my buy list. I've been thinking about the film choices all day, and even though I do believe the Velvia would be great to use, slide film might just have me concentrating a little too much on exposure.

It's looking like I definately have to make room for the TLR!
 
That's a lot of lenses to cart around. I'm not sure how you are traveling but there is something to be said about a simple kit. I love this photo where the photograher outlines the simple things he brought. It sets my mind dreaming.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raul/851900343/

Bring the 120. The photos are so lovely off medium format cameras...
 
Sirius is right. I did want to mention it before.

If you bring just one lens for the M6, you'll surely have the space for the TLR. 😀
 
sirius said:
That's a lot of lenses to cart around. I'm not sure how you are traveling but there is something to be said about a simple kit. I love this photo where the photograher outlines the simple things he brought. It sets my mind dreaming.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raul/851900343/

Bring the 120. The photos are so lovely off medium format cameras...
Click to expand...

That's a great link, sirius.
 
Roger,

I travel with family, often impatient of my stopping to take photos, with some frequency. After a number of years, I've pared down cameras and lenses to a kit somewhat like you're considering.

1) A P&S (mine is film) for indoor shots
2) In my case an Oly OM with 24, 50, and one of the following 85, 100, or 200 lenses, depending on the situation
3) A 120 folder or a pano

I agree with suggestions of 100 speed film for outside in daylight, and also the suggestion that four lenses might be a tad much.

What I would add is that I increasingly find air transport of a kit like that (multi format, muti lens, multi film) plus luggage a trial and that what happens to the cameras at destination often depends on my set-up. A kit like that might be fine if you have a place to store what you're not using and occasion to return to it when you need to switch, or traveling by car, less so if you're walking about with everything all day.

Even with that, I experience a problem choosing what to take out for the day and lately I've been experimenting with just two lenses -- say 35 and 85 -- plus the P&S. Fewer decisions, more photos.

My 2¢

pagpow
 
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