Going to France, should I take my evil dslr..?

J

jpa66

Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
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Yet another "should I take..." thread.

Sorry about that, but I'm quite vexed about whether or not I should bring along my Nikon D70 with me on my trip. I'm committed to bringing my Bessa R4M and Rolleiflex tlr, so those are coming no matter what. I'm considering bringing my digital just because I do like to have the flexibility that comes with a dslr. The main problem is that the damn thing is so big and bulky. I'd much rather walk around with the Rollei or ( of course ) the Bessa all day then the weighty Nikon. However, I do recognize the benefits of having a dslr, as I've brought it on previous trips.

Having said all that, I'd just like to have some thoughts on whether or not I should bring it, just to help me make a better decision.

JP
 
I had similar question when I went to Paris last month (my case was between M and OM with possibility of small MF though). RFF members helped me a lot.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83229

Well, I guess it's really depending on your shooting style and preferences. My friend brought 6 (2 MF, 2 35mm, 1 Pola, and 1 DSLR for movie) to Tokyo and used them all. To me that's just crazy but that's how he rolls and he got great shots with all.

I ended up taking 2 M bodies, 2 50mm (compact slow lens, and large fast lens) and 1 35mm. (plus SX-70 for a project) to 1 week trip. This was my first trip to France so I wanted to see how I'd do while keeping some alternatives just in case so I won't regret.

Next time I go there, I'll take just one M, one small 50mm and bunch of films. (plus tiny IIIf as backup body)
 
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I just got back from 3+ months in Europe. Took my rangefinder, Rolleiflex and Nikon SLR. I wish I left the SLR at home! It slowed me down to have that much stuff.
 
jpa66 said:
Yet another "should I take..." thread.

Sorry about that, but I'm quite vexed about whether or not I should bring along my Nikon D70 with me on my trip. I'm committed to bringing my Bessa R4M and Rolleiflex tlr, so those are coming no matter what. I'm considering bringing my digital just because I do like to have the flexibility that comes with a dslr. The main problem is that the damn thing is so big and bulky. I'd much rather walk around with the Rollei or ( of course ) the Bessa all day then the weighty Nikon. However, I do recognize the benefits of having a dslr, as I've brought it on previous trips.

Having said all that, I'd just like to have some thoughts on whether or not I should bring it, just to help me make a better decision.

JP
Click to expand...
take your bessa +35mm

In paris you can spend your whole day walking

taking too much gear can be heavy to carry ;)
 
le vrai rdu said:
take your bessa +35mm

In paris you can spend your whole day walking

taking too much gear can be heavy to carry ;)
Click to expand...


I've been to Paris ( where I'll be going for part of the trip ) a few times, and that's one of the things that I've been thinking about: I spend much of the time walking about , and the Nikon has weighed heavily on me on past trips.

So what you have all said has just helped clarify the reasons that I've been thinking about leaving the Nikon. One of the main reasons that I got into rangefinders in general is the fact that they're small and lightweight. So I think I'll leave the bulky digital monster behind, with no worries. Thanks for helping me out, gentlemen.
 
I've often thought on this myself... I plan on doing a European trip at some point. The RFF gear is definitely in... TLR, maybe... it's the DSLR that's a hard choice for me. The one thing I REALLY miss with my RF gear is the ability to do macro or semi macro.... I've always thought I might bring a minimal DSLR kit with a macro and my 70-300IS as a walk around, it basically covers from where my RF leaves off.
 
jpa66 said:
I've been to Paris ( where I'll be going for part of the trip ) a few times, and that's one of the things that I've been thinking about: I spend much of the time walking about , and the Nikon has weighed heavily on me on past trips.

So what you have all said has just helped clarify the reasons that I've been thinking about leaving the Nikon. One of the main reasons that I got into rangefinders in general is the fact that they're small and lightweight. So I think I'll leave the bulky digital monster behind, with no worries. Thanks for helping me out, gentlemen.
Click to expand...
Looks like you answered your own question!
I'll just add that an "flexibility" of a DSLR is negated by its size and weight.
I took a Nikon SLR (no D) on my last big trip to South America. I used it for shooting macro and wildlife for part of the trip, then locked it up in a hotel safe and used my Leicas for the rest of the trip, which was trekking in the mountains and exploring towns.
Even before I shot rangefinders I would try and leave excess gear in a safe, secure place and just take the minimum.
 
I would upgrade that D70 to one of those new small inexpensive Nikons that have a wide usable ISO range. Being able to change ISO and get good photos is optimal.

Take the Bessa along for fun. It's so small you can easily stow it without any noticable added weight. That's what I did.
 
photogdave said:
Looks like you answered your own question!
I'll just add that an "flexibility" of a DSLR is negated by its size and weight.
I took a Nikon SLR (no D) on my last big trip to South America. I used it for shooting macro and wildlife for part of the trip, then locked it up in a hotel safe and used my Leicas for the rest of the trip, which was trekking in the mountains and exploring towns.
Even before I shot rangefinders I would try and leave excess gear in a safe, secure place and just take the minimum.
Click to expand...

I agree. It's funny - I haven't actually shot my dslr in almost a year - right about the time that I started getting back into film. Once I got a rangefinder and then a tlr, I seem to have lost much of the desire to shoot digitally.
 
When I travel to large cities (such as Paris) or small towns, where the majority of my photography will be street/ documentary, I bring my ZI and 2 lenses: a 21 and 35 (sometimes, I also bring a 50), as well as a digi p&s. No DSLR's.


When I travel to places that require teles or macros (Alaska, Hawaii, National Parks, etc..., then I bring the DSLR and a film p&s (or the ZI with one lens).
 
Hey JP I'm going too in April
I was in Paris last July - took the MP and 50 Cron
35 is great too, I don't have one yet
pm me , maybe we can do a Chicago meet up to discuss Paris :)
 
I find a better solution sometimes than a DSLR is a digital soapbar (point and shoot), like almost any of the newer canons. Quality is surprisingly good, can be used as a backup meter, ISO adjusts automatically, and some other advantages.

Main thing is, they are small and pocketable and can be used to just take photos to remember (rather than photos for pure pleasure): reference, directions, trivia, names, bottles of wine you want to buy later, longer texts on historical plaques you can read later (instead of standing about), metro maps, bus maps, street names, whatever. Having one of these and whatever film gear I feel like shooting is a nice and lighter combination than film plus DSLR, and frequently less than DSLR plus big honking zoom lens.
 
My favorite traveling set is my M with a 35, and my infrared only D70 with its 18-70mm lens. Back in the day, I would have packed along plenty of hie film, but they don't make that anymore. So it's digital IR for me anymore. The D70 is a nice camera in any case.
 
You get pictures by going to where the pictures are.

More places = more opportunities. More gear = fewer places.

If you're going to bring a lot of stuff, then say: to heck with it! I am NOT going to bring back the same photos as everyone else! I am going to bring the 8X10! :).
 
I took my DSLR to Disneyland Paris, on a family trip some years ago. It came out for the first day, and thereafter stayed in the hotel room: too big and cumbersome, for a fun day out and it felt like a 'chest cannon' or a target for people to walk into!
Best regards,
RoyM
 
Armoured said:
I find a better solution sometimes than a DSLR is a digital soapbar (point and shoot), like almost any of the newer canons. Quality is surprisingly good, can be used as a backup meter, ISO adjusts automatically, and some other advantages.

Main thing is, they are small and pocketable and can be used to just take photos to remember (rather than photos for pure pleasure): reference, directions, trivia, names, bottles of wine you want to buy later, longer texts on historical plaques you can read later (instead of standing about), metro maps, bus maps, street names, whatever. Having one of these and whatever film gear I feel like shooting is a nice and lighter combination than film plus DSLR, and frequently less than DSLR plus big honking zoom lens.
Click to expand...

I do have one of those - a Canon 800-something or other, which I use for just what you've said. The problem is that my wife has claimed it as hers, so I don't get to carry it in my pocket anymore, as it's always in hers!
 
Chris101 said:
My favorite traveling set is my M with a 35, and my infrared only D70 with its 18-70mm lens. Back in the day, I would have packed along plenty of hie film, but they don't make that anymore. So it's digital IR for me anymore. The D70 is a nice camera in any case.
Click to expand...

Chris,
The D70 is a nice camera - I've just grown tired of it's bulk, and I'd rather shoot film if I have to decide between one or the other ( which in this case, I do ).

And I also truly miss HIE. I have one roll left in the freezer ( used my second to last roll last year in Rome ). "Sniff..."
 
In my last visit to Paris I had a Canon P with Canon 50/1.2 plus a Minox GT. This set did I wanted it do do. Travel light and you enjoy the trip much more. The GT was my stealth camera while the 50/1.2 opened up many possibilities.
 
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