How many cameras do you take on a long trip?

How many cameras do you take on a long trip?

  • 1 camera

    Votes: 93 14.4%
  • 2 cameras

    Votes: 313 48.4%
  • 3 cameras

    Votes: 173 26.7%
  • 4 cameras

    Votes: 39 6.0%
  • 5 cameras

    Votes: 13 2.0%
  • more

    Votes: 16 2.5%

  • Total voters
    647
Highly depends on the type of the trip and expectations.
Up until very recently I was a heavy SLR user equipped with EOS pro gear, so for general trips (be it family vacations of business) my heavy backpack loaded with Canon (single EOS3 body + booster, two large L zooms, flash, accessories) + heavy tripod in luggage. This is provided mixed in-cities waking/inter-cities rented car traveling. Made my back sore, but managed.
For dedicated nature trips - only my LF (4x5) goes with me - still take a lareg backpack but surprisingly not heavier that my previous Canon.
Now converting to RF (Leica M6 with current 50mm/2 'cron coming...) so here is how I can lay it down:
1. Business trips - Leica only (single body) with 1-3 lenses (for teh timebeing will only have single one - 50mm, so will me Leica with single lens).
2. Family trips (abroad vacations) - most certainly Leica only (single body with 1-3 lenses). If there is a large part of the trip that is nature - deicated (out of cities and any lareg population) and provided rent a car - my large backpack with 4x5 goes (+ 10 holders, a pack of 50-100 sheets, changing tent, meter, etc), Leica will also be the companion serving as main tool in general shooting.
3. Dedicated photo trips (so far did only few short ones) - used to go with LF only, now will probably take Leica as a backup.

As was mentioned - all depends on planning and expectations.
 
When I went to Moscow for a week I took an M6 and an M7 and a bunch of lenses. When I went to Japan I took an M6, M3 and a Fuji 645 (the older MF version of this is a great travel camera -- lightweight, w/internal lightmeter). If I am traveling by car, I tend to take more, by plane -- less. I haven't taken a long trip since the current travel restrictions went into effect. I'd hate to have to check a camera or anything delicate, although I have put a Bogen 3001 through checked baggage with no ill effects.

Ben Marks
 
These days I take one only...either my Nikon system or the G2...I used to take 2 but the backup cameras were the only ones that ever failed...or got damaged because I was swapping camreas in the heat of the moment... 🙂
Never had one of my primary cameras fail, go faulty or run out of batteries on a shoot...
 
On the run I'm currently on I have two - my Miniature Speed Graphic & the ZI Contessa. Perfect complements to each other 😀

William
 
DavidH said:
These days I take one only...either my Nikon system or the G2...I used to take 2 but the backup cameras were the only ones that ever failed...or got damaged because I was swapping camreas in the heat of the moment... 🙂
Never had one of my primary cameras fail, go faulty or run out of batteries on a shoot...
Funny that isn't it? I needed my backup M6TTL a few weeks ago when an M7 was in the shop being calibrated, and it failed...
 
In theory I should take two OM bodies, 2 zooms and the 50mm.

In practice last time I carried 5 cameras including a panoramic Horizon and 3 Kievs, which made my wife crazy in the wait for each pic.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
It really depends...since there is no universal type of camera. My set up is the following:
1) If I travel by car to rural area to shoot landscapes: I take my Contax 645 AF with 2 lenses: 80/2 and 45/2.8 and a couple of magazines (one with color slide film, one with BW film - in case I will have a chance to shoot portraits).
2) If I travel abroad on holidays: I will take Leica M7 + 50/1.4 and Hexar AF with 35/2
3) If I go on a business trip, or to the office in Moscow, my Hexar AF is always with me, just in case....
4) For taking pictures of my family - Leica M7 + 50/1.4
5) Portraits - Rolleiflex 2.8 GX Expression.
 
Just two. It's usually an Ebony SV810 for the 8x10 work and a film 35mm for the fun stuff.
I did shoot for Doctors Without Borders years ago and always worked with two M6's. A black one for B&W film and a crome for Kodachrome.... but that was a different time.
-Rob
 
I used to take 2, bronica etrsi - 75mm, fm2n -24mm, which was my travel kit for many years and was great until I discovered rangefinders! Shooting 35mm and 120 on vacation can sometimes be a hassle, so now I only take the xpan and get MF quality on easy to find 35mm film....best of both worlds.

Back up camera is my wife`s panasonic FX9 P&S!😱
 
If it is going to be along trip, always two F2 Nikons, with 24,50,135 & 300mm with 2x converter. Sometimes I`ll take my M4-P with 21,50 ,90mm & leave one of the Nikons behind. For day trips I only take one, the M4-P as above, but lately I`ve been takeing just one of my GSN Yashicas, a lot lighter less worries.
 
I like to travel light - one camera and lots of film. But to be fair, my wife will usually carry her digital p&s, so we carry two. But if I'm going on my own, just one and probably just one lens too (although I might bring a second lens).

Cheers,
Alex
 
I voted 4 cameras, but I think 3 is usually more realistic for me. I usually take my G2, Voigtlander R2 and my Leica D-Lux 3 for snap shots. Soon I'll be taking my M5 and M6 along.

Finally bought an M6 for a little over a $1,000, still waiting for it to arrive.
 
I take three: A Bessa with panoramic head and four lenses (including 12mm).
A real panoramic camera (Noblex 35mm). Pictures taken with this have a unique "look" which I favor for certain uses.
A Pentax 67 for landscapes and similar subjects where I want to be able to make big prints.

All three cameras, with some filters and film fit into one backpack camera bag which ends up weighing 15-20 lbs. I usually carry a smaller bag that I can put a single camera in if I'm going to be walking around in a city for an extended period of time. I make it fit into my suitcase and fill it with clothing so it really doesn't add more bulk.

When I was younger and more fearless I carried a 4x5 instead of the Pentax. I still carry a tripod which also fits in the suitcase.
 
RD-1 and lenses, usually 35 f1.4 pre asph summilux, 50 f2, and the VC 21 f4. Sometimes the 90 f2, but it is a bit large for traveling, and I don't find I use it that much.
 
It was insane but I took 5 cameras on my last trip to Beijing and Mongolia.
Contax T, Contax T2, Contax G2 and 28, 45, 90. XA and the lumix FZ5. I managed to shoot some stuff in Beijing, but I caught a nasty cold in Ulaanbaatar and it was -25 celsius every day so I mostly stayed indoors. I figured I needed the G2 and the T for film and the FZ5 is pretty small, and then what the heck how heavy is a T2 and an XA? All the cameras worked well in the fierce cold, but the G2 felt like a block of dry ice.
 
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