Going to Cuba; camera advice please!

[literiter]

So we booked a one week holiday to Cuba. We will be near the Cuban city of Trinidad. I suspect there will be plenty of photographic opportunities.

I have three camera systems I can take only one. May I have some comments?

1)-Leica M2, M4-P. 15mm Heliar, 35 and 50mm Summicrons monopod. Light meter.

2)-Hassy 501cm w/ 80mm, SWC, 3 backs, small tripod, meter.

3)-Nikon F3HP, Nikon F2, 50mm, 24mm, 50-135mm zoom. Monopod.

 

[wafflecakee]

either 1 or 2. I can't decide. Likely 1.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

I'd definitely go for the Leica outfit. I'd want to be light and unobstrusive, get into the crowds and have fun taking a lot of pictures. BTW, your travel is a dream for many of us, I think.. Lucky you! 🙂

 

[literiter]

either 1 or 2. I can't decide. Likely 1.

I'm kinda thinking that way myself.
Most of the time will be spent walking so weight will be an issue so I think...Leica!

But then that Hassy stuff has such a nice negative......

So I'm beating my head over the decision. It was easier in the old days when I just had one camera.

 

[I Love Film]

Buy six or seven digital point and shoot cameras, and plenty of cheap memory cards. One camera to use, the others for barter.

Leave all the rest of the heavy film garbage home. You either want to be an overloaded, eccentric Luddite with something to prove or a photographer.

You either want to have a good time, take lots of photos, and not worry about your equipment, or be a nut lugging a ton of overweight, easy-to-steal deadweights and troublesome film.

Save the experiments with the antiques for when you're home.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I'd opt for Door Number One, unless you are really set on square negs/images.

It's really not a big deal to carry a slightly larger kit there, it's a very safe country and people are just lovely. I went a few years back and I actually brought a 4x5 field camera and tripod...no problem.

 

[literiter]

Buy six or seven digital point and shoot cameras, and plenty of cheap memory cards. One camera to use, the others for barter.

Leave all the rest of the heavy film garbage home. You either want to be an overloaded, eccentric Luddite with something to prove or a photographer.

You either want to have a good time, take lots of photos, and not worry about your equipment, or be a nut lugging a ton of overweight, easy-to-steal deadweights and troublesome film.

Save the experiments with the antiques for when you're home.

You are right! I never thought of this. Excellent idea!
Seven point and shoots? What kinds would you suggest?

😀

 

[segedi]

#2 with Ektar 100.

 

[_goodtimez]

Kit 1 is the way to go, I think.
Why buy 7 P&S if you love to shoot with the Leicas ?
Part of the fun is also to use your favorite equipment.
It's like, if you had the choice to drive the car of your dreams everyday to work instead of a peanut, what would you do, all financial matters appart ?
Why save, you just live once !

 

[literiter]

Kit 1 is the way to go, I think.
Why buy 7 P&S if you love to shoot with the Leicas ?
Part of the fun is also to use your favorite equipment.
It's like, if you had the choice to drive the car of your dreams everyday to work instead of a peanut, what would you do, all financial matters appart ?
Why save, you just live once !

I think anyone who would have a name like "I Love Film" may be pulling our leg about the 7 point and shoots. (This is what I hope anyway) There is no way I'm taking any digital thingamabobby to take pics of Cuba.

 

[easyrider]

Buy six or seven digital point and shoot cameras, and plenty of cheap memory cards. One camera to use, the others for barter.

Leave all the rest of the heavy film garbage home. You either want to be an overloaded, eccentric Luddite with something to prove or a photographer.

You either want to have a good time, take lots of photos, and not worry about your equipment, or be a nut lugging a ton of overweight, easy-to-steal deadweights and troublesome film.

Save the experiments with the antiques for when you're home.

Get out on the wrong side of the bed this morning? 😀

 

[Godfrey]

I did a trip like this once:

- Hassy SWC, two backs, meter, monopod
- Leica CL, 40 and 90

Whole kit plus film fit nicely in a Domke F6 with the monopod strapped on the bottom, and wasn't overly heavy. For you, the M4-P and the two lenses plus the SWC would be the way I'd go. Even if you drop it down to just one back for the SWC to save space and weight ... there's no way a Heliar 15 can compete with the SWC for wide work.

If I were going to take the Nikon, I'd take the F3+24+50 and add an 85/1.8 (don't like zooms), and leave the other cameras home.


---


Or dash it all—take the M4-P, 50mm lens, light meter, or the same with the SWC instead of the Leica, and just concentrate on making photographs. We spend way too much of our creative energy fussing about equipment. Minimize distractions and make the photos that either camera can see so beautifully. You'll do fine. 🙂

On travel, the less you carry the better off you are.

 

[literiter]

On travel, the less you carry the better off you are.

I hear you!

Since I have the 15mm Heliar I may elect to take that instead of the SWC. Then the two Leica bodies, the 35 and 50 as well as the monopod.

Now I need a decent bag!

(Life is so difficult!)

 

[Riverman]

I would take the nikon f3 with 24 and 50 lenses. I went in 99 with a minolta and 2 lenses. You'll have great fun whatever camera you take.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbk21/sets/72157627409522303/

 

[jasonrutter]

What do you hope to do with the images you make on this trip once you return? It would also depend a lot in my mind as to what the main purpose of the photographs is. If it people and culture I would lean one way, but if its building and landscape its another.

If I was heading off on this trip I would bring my Hasselblad 501 with the 80mm and one back to save on weight. I would also sneak my M2 with both summicrons (35&50) into the same bag. I have carried my Hasselblad up mountains and across great distances and it has always been worth it. However only taking a blad has caused me to not have many snap shots of the trip.

Also assuming since you used the word "we" to describe your travel plans - a significant other always looks good with a Leica around their neck. Thats where mine tends to live when I'm carrying heavier gear on longer trips.

 

[mph]

Buy a Fuji X10 or a Canon S100, and take the M4 with the 35 and enjoy your holidays!

 

[Andy Kibber]

My advice is take the camera you know best. Same goes for film.

 

[DerekF]

My vote would be kit #1. I might even suggest leaving the monopod behind if only because there should be ample sunlight in Cuba this time of year and you really want to travel as light as possible, especially if it's your first time there. (Disclaimer: I'm not much of a mono/tripod person myself.) I brought my MP and 35 Summicron ASPH as well as a CV 21/4 the last time I went to Cuba several years ago. After a day or so, the 35 was left on the camera for the remainder of the trip (aside from a few interior shots, most of my shots were of people/interesting things outdoors).

Whatever happens, enjoy the trip! Cuba is packed with photographic possibilities and Cubans are generally very warm, welcoming people.

 

[bigeye]

First trip, I'd go light. I'd take your (1) favorite Leica M, all the leica lenses and the SWC. The SWC is doubles as your backup.

Unless you have something specific that you are shooting ("on a mission"), I'd leave the 500 home. The nikons are clunky and big and the 24mm isn't as great as the CV15 or SWC.

- Charlie

 

[Schlapp]

Leica with one lens only. I went, took 4 cameras and got so fed up with carrying them around I nearly gave them all away - and I didn't get much in the way of images. A lesson well learnt!