Southern Germany, the Alps, and Lakes in Northern Italy

You won't regret taking the Graflex. There is so much to shoot and so many opportunities where a big neg is the best option, especially around the Lakes and the Alps. I even think in the streets.
If you are heading through Switzerland from Germany to Lake Como, definitely stop at Lake Lugano. I will buy a place there one day. Is beautiful and has the style of Italy with the efficiency of the Swiss.
 
You are going to be having a good time with the family. I took a recent trip & left the Leica home, took the G1 w/28/45/90. I used the 28 the most & did not have to think about the light or any settings. Every photo was great, I got some shots I would have missed with the Leica & MF lens. I had time to enjoy the trip & not think about if I got that shot. The G1 as you know is a great system, it was my best chioce for the trip. Even my wife can use it. You said 2 bodys, one with Ektar 100 the other with Neoppan 400. That would be my choice. Have a nice trip.
 
I have only one lens with the EP-2, so for quick sharp photos, the 17/2.8 will not be sufficient. I have to count on manual focus lenses, whether using a Leica M6 or a Graflex MF camera with distance guess focusing. I am quite good with the M6, so that would not be a problem for me.

I could use the M6+35/1.4 as my street camera most of the time, with the Graflex XLSW as my scenic views camera.
 
Last edited:
Don't forget the "minor" lakes, like Lago Maggiore and the tiny and charming Lago D'Orta. They still get crowded in the summer, but feel more intimate. Great places for you L and the 19mm.

Personally, I would not know how to begin to go on vacation without the G's 28. Zeiss and color film...mmmm.
 
hausen said:
...Lake Lugano. I will buy a place there one day. Is beautiful and has the style of Italy with the efficiency of the Swiss.
Click to expand...

Great comment! I'm living near the border not far from Lugano and I like it. Unfortunately too expensive for me !
robert
 
The Porsche/Mercedes/BMW/Audi Syndrome .... you look in the rear view mirror, and the left lane is clear of cars; a few seconds later, you see an angry Porsche driver staring at you in the mirror. I use the left lane only here and there when I want to drive fast for a while and have to pass a few cars.
 
robert blu said:
Great comment! I'm living near the border not far from Lugano and I like it. Unfortunately too expensive for me !
robert
Click to expand...

You are a fortunate person to be living close to Lake Lugano. I was there as a teenager. Got lots of Toblerone chocolate then. They had a "climbing train" that went up a steep hill, overlooking the lake.
 
froyd said:
Don't forget the "minor" lakes, like Lago Maggiore and the tiny and charming Lago D'Orta. They still get crowded in the summer, but feel more intimate. Great places for you L and the 19mm.

Personally, I would not know how to begin to go on vacation without the G's 28. Zeiss and color film...mmmm.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder. I will do what can be done when traveling with a family. I will use color.
 
If I were you, I'd think it over thoroughly. August is the top of the holiday season here, and driving can be problematic. You want to cover too many places in a limited time. There are frequently traffic jams because of accidents or weekend movement on the highways, with queues reaching even 12 hours. A small car for a family can feel cramped if you are bottled on the Milan Venice highway under 40 deg C sun, for several hours, and when the sun sets, the mosquitos come, so you need to have efficient air conditioning, and never travel with less than half tank full. I would skip Venice altogether, as it is more crowded in that period than Times square on New Year's eve. As to cameras and lenses, in my opinion 2 bodies, 28 and 50mm are optimal, You do not need to shoot the postcards the second time over, these you can buy, just shoot interesting photos as if you were at home.
 
mfogiel said:
If I were you, I'd think it over thoroughly. August is the top of the holiday season here, and driving can be problematic. You want to cover too many places in a limited time. There are frequently traffic jams because of accidents or weekend movement on the highways, with queues reaching even 12 hours. A small car for a family can feel cramped if you are bottled on the Milan Venice highway under 40 deg C sun, for several hours, and when the sun sets, the mosquitos come, so you need to have efficient air conditioning, and never travel with less than half tank full. I would skip Venice altogether, as it is more crowded in that period than Times square on New Year's eve. As to cameras and lenses, in my opinion 2 bodies, 28 and 50mm are optimal, You do not need to shoot the postcards the second time over, these you can buy, just shoot interesting photos as if you were at home.
Click to expand...

These are good tips. I may switch to a larger car, and I already had the Venice trip cancelled, but somehow, we went back an added one night there.
Your description of a nightmare drive in northern Italy makes me sweat! I have already made a change to the itinerary, subject to approval by my wife, of course. Forget about a visit to Venice this summer, and spend an extra night in Salzburg, Austria. I will try to avoid the highway that links to Milan.
 
Last edited:
Dear Raid,

You must be about to depart. Have fun!

Stick with your resolution NOT to carry MF (too much weight, too much choice) but do consider the possibility of a long (135mm) lens for the mountains. They are't too big & don't eat much.

Watch out for Italian drivers. On a LONG tour a while back I saw no serious accidents in France, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, but I saw 5 serious accidents (= long hold-ups) in Italy. In fact I've never been to Italy without being held up by an accident. Grown men drive like teenage boys and teenage boys drive like toddlers in a dodgem car. The women are mostly much better but the first person who drove into me in Italy (rear ended, 45 minutes into my first trip, waiting at traffic lights at road works) was a woman in her 20s.

Cheers,

R.
 
I have no experience in traveling with children, but thinking about the mfogiel post I suggest you to be sure to have bottles of water in your car and some snack to eat, just in case.
robert
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Raid,

You must be about to depart. Have fun!

Stick with your resolution NOT to carry MF (too much weight, too much choice) but do consider the possibility of a long (135mm) lens for the mountains. They are't too big & don't eat much.

Watch out for Italian drivers. On a LONG tour a while back I saw no serious accidents in France, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, but I saw 5 serious accidents (= long hold-ups) in Italy. In fact I've never been to Italy without being held up by an accident. Grown men drive like teenage boys and teenage boys drive like toddlers in a dodgem car. The women are mostly much better but the first person who drove into me in Italy (rear ended, 45 minutes into my first trip, waiting at traffic lights at road works) was a woman in her 20s.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

Hi Roger,
This is my third driving trip in Italy, and I asked for full insurance coverage for the rental car. Today, I extended the stay on day at Lake Garda and I canceled the Venice one day trip. Less driving and more relaxing ...

I am going to take the M6 + 35/1.4 plus CV 25/4 as the main equipment. The EP-2 is there for telephoto shots and snapshots.
 
robert blu said:
I have no experience in traveling with children, but thinking about the mfogiel post I suggest you to be sure to have bottles of water in your car and some snack to eat, just in case.
robert
Click to expand...

I will load up some travel snacks when we leave Germany to Italy.
 
25-35-50-100 M6 , Bessa R, and the EP-2 for AF snapshots of the kids.

speed: 35/1.4
wide angle:CV 25/4
resolution: Heliar 50/3.5
tele: Canon 100/3.5



All lenses chosen are very small for their focal lengths.
The MF camera felt too heavy in the camera bag. It had to go.
 
raid said:
25-35-50-100 M6 , Bessa R, and the EP-2 for AF snapshots of the kids.

speed: 35/1.4
wide angle:CV 25/4
resolution: Heliar 50/3.5
tele: Canon 100/3.5



All lenses chosen are very small for their focal lengths.
The MF camera felt too heavy in the camera bag. It had to go.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a good set-up. I just returned from three weeks in Scandinavia and England, w/ an M2, Bessa T, CV 25/4 and 50/2.5, and a Canon 35/1.8. This proved to be an excellent kit. I left the E-PL1 at home, although I'd originally planned to take it, because the Bessa T and 25/4 were lighter. The only change I'd make to your selection would be to drop the Canon 100/3.5, good as it is. Put the Heliar on the E-P2 and you've got 100mm focal covered.
 
I did a similar trip 8 years ago with an M7, 35mm summi and a 90mm APO summi. I was all I needed. Digital was not as advanced in those days, so I stuck with film. You are a film guy, so stick with it, and a small digital if you want. Also you only want a small car when you get to Italy to go into the towns.
Have fun, Mike Flannery
 
Bingley said:
This sounds like a good set-up. I just returned from three weeks in Scandinavia and England, w/ an M2, Bessa T, CV 25/4 and 50/2.5, and a Canon 35/1.8. This proved to be an excellent kit. I left the E-PL1 at home, although I'd originally planned to take it, because the Bessa T and 25/4 were lighter. The only change I'd make to your selection would be to drop the Canon 100/3.5, good as it is. Put the Heliar on the E-P2 and you've got 100mm focal covered.
Click to expand...

I can do this. In fact, 5 minutes ago, I looked through the 100/3.5 at light,and I see some clouding again. I had it cleaned about 2 years ago. I replaced it with the Elmarit 90/2.8, but I will not miss it, just as you did not miss any lens beyond a 50mm lens.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom