Austerby
Well-known
I have booked myself a two-week fly-drive from San Franciso to Las Vegas in June, taking in Monterey, Sequoia NP, Yosemite and Death Valley en route.
It'll be my first time in the US, apart from a weekend in New York some years back, so all very novel and exciting for me.
Like many users of this forum I have a splendid choice of gear to take but can't bring everything.
Given the vareity of cities, small towns and grand landscapes I'll be enjoying, what would be the ideal lenses to take for a Leica-M based kit?
Some more information may help - I have lenses in most focal lengths from 15 to 135, and often more than one example of each length - Leitz, Voightlander and Zeiss, vintage and modern.
I normally use a mixture of Adox 50, FP4+ and HP5+, with Neopan 1600 for night times. I may bring some colour film (Velvia/Sensia) but will mainly rely on the non-analogue for those shots.
Many thanks.
It'll be my first time in the US, apart from a weekend in New York some years back, so all very novel and exciting for me.
Like many users of this forum I have a splendid choice of gear to take but can't bring everything.
Given the vareity of cities, small towns and grand landscapes I'll be enjoying, what would be the ideal lenses to take for a Leica-M based kit?
Some more information may help - I have lenses in most focal lengths from 15 to 135, and often more than one example of each length - Leitz, Voightlander and Zeiss, vintage and modern.
I normally use a mixture of Adox 50, FP4+ and HP5+, with Neopan 1600 for night times. I may bring some colour film (Velvia/Sensia) but will mainly rely on the non-analogue for those shots.
Many thanks.
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Don Parsons
Well-known
Hi Austerby,
Welcome to the States! You'll have a wonderful time. Do 17-Mile Drive in Monterey. Drive down to Carmel, the home of Weston and Adams and you'll know why they lived there. Death Valley, in my opinion, needs to be shot at sunup or sundown to get nice lighting and bring the colors out. Take plenty of water, they don't call it Death Valley for nothing. Water is more important than lenses out there.
Vegas begs to be shot at night with all the lights.
I found I shot with a 35 or 28 the most followed by a 50 or 90. I"d probably bring the 28-50-90. I haven't been to Sequoia so I'll leave that for someone who has.
Have fun and good shooting!
Welcome to the States! You'll have a wonderful time. Do 17-Mile Drive in Monterey. Drive down to Carmel, the home of Weston and Adams and you'll know why they lived there. Death Valley, in my opinion, needs to be shot at sunup or sundown to get nice lighting and bring the colors out. Take plenty of water, they don't call it Death Valley for nothing. Water is more important than lenses out there.
Vegas begs to be shot at night with all the lights.
I found I shot with a 35 or 28 the most followed by a 50 or 90. I"d probably bring the 28-50-90. I haven't been to Sequoia so I'll leave that for someone who has.
Have fun and good shooting!
enochRoot
a chymist of some repute
also check out hoover dam at night if at all possible. pretty cool. you'll have a blast...sounds like a great trip!
aizan
Veteran
i'd take a wide or superwide (for the forests), a normal or slight wide (for the towns and cities), and a short tele (for the freeways). that should cover any other purpose, too.
kxl
Social Documentary
Greetings from Southern California!
Bring 2 bodies (you never know when you might need a back up); As for lenses, a 15, 35/50 and 90 should cover all your needs.
Keith
Bring 2 bodies (you never know when you might need a back up); As for lenses, a 15, 35/50 and 90 should cover all your needs.
Keith
mknawabi
photographeur
Take a 15 and a 35. 50 would be nice.
lmd91343
There's my Proctor-Silex!
Austerby,
Welcome to the US! I am a California native and been to those places many times. I've been to Yosemite 16 times (my count may be off slightly). All the suggestions so far have been good. Bring water everywhere, especially Death Valley. Make sure you have your reservations ASAP.
You will want to get sunrise and sunset shots in Death Valley. Color film is very good there. The warm tones of the Panamints in the warm sunrise begs for color.
In Sequoia, make sure you hit the big trees. That is a must do! Your number two spot should be Morro rock (the Sequoia one, not the one south of Monterey). The view of the Western Divide is spectacular. Be careful of the altitude. It is easy to faint or get dizzy if you push yourself too hard. Number three, if you have the time is to take the walk to Half Moon Meadow. It was John Muir's favorite spot. Bring bug spray. If you have time visit the underground caverns.
In Yosemite, stop at Inspiration Point on the way in. You have probably seen 100 pictures from there. Go for walks in the valley. It is awe inspiring to be standing next to the one mile tall vertical cliffs that form the valley walls. The valley floor is one mile high. Take it easy at first. Go to Glacier point. Walk to Vernal falls. Go to Yosemite falls. The water should be good in June. If the Ansel Adams gallery is open, spend a little time there. On your last day, so as to adjust to the altitude, drive to Toulemne meadows and Lake Tenaya. DRIVE don't walk there. Bring plenty of water. It's almost at two miles of elevation (9,000ft?) See how many places seem familiar from AA's images.
I see Carmel and the 17 mile drive as a one day event.
Las Vegas is OK. Check out the lights and night on the "strip" and on the downtown outdoor overhead display at night. The view and tour of Hoover Dam is good use of time.
The big sequoia trees of Sequoia and Yosemite are old and large beyond description and unique to that one plot of land. The extreme vertical, glacial carved scenery of Yosemite is very special. I have not found a place in the States like it. The scenery of Death Valley is grand. Carmel is a nice ocean shore place. Las Vegas has shows and nice outdoor lights. Hoover Dam is impressive.
For camera stuff. Bring two bodies. You'll be in places where there are no camera shops. Bring the very wide lenses. You will need them in Yosemite. You will need the normal complement of moderate wides, normal, and short teles. A fast lens would be good for night and in the Sequoia caverns and Las Vegas. Bring an auto-up for shots in Toulomne. As for film selection, the time spent in the trees will be in open shade with no sun. You will need a slight faster than normal film if you like to keep fast shutter seeds and narrow apertures. Use color film for some early and late shots in Death Valley. If you take pictures in the Sequoia caverns, it is low level tungsten light. For filters in addition to the normal B&W colors, bring an "extreme" UV filter for Toulemne, Morro rock, Glacier point, and Inspration point. It will eliminate the high altitude haze that will show up on your film, but you can't see with your eyes. A polarizer also helps at altitude, but is tought to use with an RF.
Sounds wonderful. I'll be passing through Carmel and Monterey in early June. I am picking up my son from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Maybe we can wave as we pass each other on the road in Carmel or Monterey!
Welcome to the US! I am a California native and been to those places many times. I've been to Yosemite 16 times (my count may be off slightly). All the suggestions so far have been good. Bring water everywhere, especially Death Valley. Make sure you have your reservations ASAP.
You will want to get sunrise and sunset shots in Death Valley. Color film is very good there. The warm tones of the Panamints in the warm sunrise begs for color.
In Sequoia, make sure you hit the big trees. That is a must do! Your number two spot should be Morro rock (the Sequoia one, not the one south of Monterey). The view of the Western Divide is spectacular. Be careful of the altitude. It is easy to faint or get dizzy if you push yourself too hard. Number three, if you have the time is to take the walk to Half Moon Meadow. It was John Muir's favorite spot. Bring bug spray. If you have time visit the underground caverns.
In Yosemite, stop at Inspiration Point on the way in. You have probably seen 100 pictures from there. Go for walks in the valley. It is awe inspiring to be standing next to the one mile tall vertical cliffs that form the valley walls. The valley floor is one mile high. Take it easy at first. Go to Glacier point. Walk to Vernal falls. Go to Yosemite falls. The water should be good in June. If the Ansel Adams gallery is open, spend a little time there. On your last day, so as to adjust to the altitude, drive to Toulemne meadows and Lake Tenaya. DRIVE don't walk there. Bring plenty of water. It's almost at two miles of elevation (9,000ft?) See how many places seem familiar from AA's images.
I see Carmel and the 17 mile drive as a one day event.
Las Vegas is OK. Check out the lights and night on the "strip" and on the downtown outdoor overhead display at night. The view and tour of Hoover Dam is good use of time.
The big sequoia trees of Sequoia and Yosemite are old and large beyond description and unique to that one plot of land. The extreme vertical, glacial carved scenery of Yosemite is very special. I have not found a place in the States like it. The scenery of Death Valley is grand. Carmel is a nice ocean shore place. Las Vegas has shows and nice outdoor lights. Hoover Dam is impressive.
For camera stuff. Bring two bodies. You'll be in places where there are no camera shops. Bring the very wide lenses. You will need them in Yosemite. You will need the normal complement of moderate wides, normal, and short teles. A fast lens would be good for night and in the Sequoia caverns and Las Vegas. Bring an auto-up for shots in Toulomne. As for film selection, the time spent in the trees will be in open shade with no sun. You will need a slight faster than normal film if you like to keep fast shutter seeds and narrow apertures. Use color film for some early and late shots in Death Valley. If you take pictures in the Sequoia caverns, it is low level tungsten light. For filters in addition to the normal B&W colors, bring an "extreme" UV filter for Toulemne, Morro rock, Glacier point, and Inspration point. It will eliminate the high altitude haze that will show up on your film, but you can't see with your eyes. A polarizer also helps at altitude, but is tought to use with an RF.
Sounds wonderful. I'll be passing through Carmel and Monterey in early June. I am picking up my son from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Maybe we can wave as we pass each other on the road in Carmel or Monterey!
Bingley
Veteran
I think this is good advice. A wide is handy to have in the Yosemite Valley as well as in San Francisco. Check out ferider's Yosemite shots w/ a 28, and RayPA's SF street shots w/ the same focal length. FWIW, I take 28-50-100, w/ the option of adding a 35 or 40 (depending on how light I want to travel). A couple of bodies is handy, too, if you want to shoot both color and b&w.
Enjoy the trip!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Odd. I always got my best shots with teles in Yosemite. Never, never wides. This may be why Leica called the 105/6.3 the 'Mountain Elmar'.
I lived in CA for 5 years (met my wife in LA) and I never found much need to carry water, either. Even in Death Valley. A bottle in the back of the car in case you break down, maybe.
Carmel seemed tacky and over-touristed to me; PCH (the Pacific Coast Highway) has many areas I prefer. I think if I were driving PCH again, with film, I'd take 21-35-75-135. I found very little use for a 21, though, especially among the big trees.
Note that it is illegal to overtake in CA even if you don't cross the central 'no overtaking' line. Moving there from the UK I never realized this.
The Gold Country towns in the North are well worth exploring.
Tashi delek,
Roger
I lived in CA for 5 years (met my wife in LA) and I never found much need to carry water, either. Even in Death Valley. A bottle in the back of the car in case you break down, maybe.
Carmel seemed tacky and over-touristed to me; PCH (the Pacific Coast Highway) has many areas I prefer. I think if I were driving PCH again, with film, I'd take 21-35-75-135. I found very little use for a 21, though, especially among the big trees.
Note that it is illegal to overtake in CA even if you don't cross the central 'no overtaking' line. Moving there from the UK I never realized this.
The Gold Country towns in the North are well worth exploring.
Tashi delek,
Roger
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ferider
Veteran
Hi Roger,
while there is lots of water in Yosemite, it's not recommended to drink it (possible bacteria infection - a real problem now).
And, lane sharing is allowed now Important when you take #1 on the bike.
Austerby, I recommend to take as little as possible (a fast lens for the evenings, and a sharp one for landscapes) and rent a bike. And say hello when you are in the SF area, there are lots of RFF members here.
Cheers,
Roland.
while there is lots of water in Yosemite, it's not recommended to drink it (possible bacteria infection - a real problem now).
And, lane sharing is allowed now
Important when you take #1 on the bike.Austerby, I recommend to take as little as possible (a fast lens for the evenings, and a sharp one for landscapes) and rent a bike. And say hello when you are in the SF area, there are lots of RFF members here.
Cheers,
Roland.
Bingley
Veteran
"Note that it is illegal to overtake in CA even if you don't cross the central 'no overtaking' line. Moving there from the UK I never realized this."
Roger -- You're just referring to those roads w/ a solid, double yellow line down the middle, right? Passing is ok on roads divided by a broken line.
Roger -- You're just referring to those roads w/ a solid, double yellow line down the middle, right? Passing is ok on roads divided by a broken line.
pagpow
Well-known
A lot of good advice, here--
I find I do more shooting while traveling if I take less gear -- moderate wide and moderate tele cover a lot of situations.
And the posts bring up what seems to be a fact of life -- some of us see wide and some long.
In open spaces, i find myself longing more for a longer tele, than a wider wide. In european alleys/lanes only have i felt the need for a 21.
So 28/35, 85/100, and a third one to suit you. Second body for insurance or for color/b&w. This is already verging on too much and it hasn't resolved your need for speed. I'm finding my shooting more and more tolerant of 2.8 max aperture, especially with a mini-tripod like Leica table top. YMMV.
Enjoy the trip.
I find I do more shooting while traveling if I take less gear -- moderate wide and moderate tele cover a lot of situations.
And the posts bring up what seems to be a fact of life -- some of us see wide and some long.
In open spaces, i find myself longing more for a longer tele, than a wider wide. In european alleys/lanes only have i felt the need for a 21.
So 28/35, 85/100, and a third one to suit you. Second body for insurance or for color/b&w. This is already verging on too much and it hasn't resolved your need for speed. I'm finding my shooting more and more tolerant of 2.8 max aperture, especially with a mini-tripod like Leica table top. YMMV.
Enjoy the trip.
michalski
Member
I live near Monterey and visit the coast often. Rather than do the 17 mile drive, I'd recommend that you visit nearby Point Lobos State park instead. It's just south of Carmel and has many more scenic views in a small area than 17 mile drive does. Edward Weston took a bunch of photos at Point Lobos. Right next to Monterey is the very quaint town of Pacific Grove which has many dramatic lookouts over the ocean and rock pools that you can visit during low tide. Pacific Grove also has a very famous aquarium. I'm not certain, but I think the aquarium permits tripods during the week but not on the weekends.
Have fun,
Rob
Have fun,
Rob
Bob Michaels
nobody special
The entire state of California is just like New York City in that it is too easy to spend days skimming around the perimeter and never learn what it is really all about. Get out of the auto and get into the guts of the real people. Bring comfortable shoes and a sense of adventurous confidence.
I believe "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Kirkendall & Spring is the definitive tour guide for the coastal regions. Never mind that you are not actually riding a bicycle (though I did, many times), it shows the best scenic route with all those little tid-bits of information for those who do not want to just experience California by looking out the window at 65 MPH. It is paperback, compact, & cheap. Buy it!
You only know about places like Guadalupe CA from a bicycling tour book. It is a not to miss place for culture. Ask Roger Hicks.
Lenses, film? Just take what you like most.
I believe "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Kirkendall & Spring is the definitive tour guide for the coastal regions. Never mind that you are not actually riding a bicycle (though I did, many times), it shows the best scenic route with all those little tid-bits of information for those who do not want to just experience California by looking out the window at 65 MPH. It is paperback, compact, & cheap. Buy it!
You only know about places like Guadalupe CA from a bicycling tour book. It is a not to miss place for culture. Ask Roger Hicks.
Lenses, film? Just take what you like most.
Vics
Veteran
My wife & I took a couple of Brits on a very similar trip a few years back. I have a few suggestions. For that kind of trip I'd use John Shaw's maxim, start with a 24 and go up in rough doubles. 24, 50, 90 in M terms, maybe using a 40 instead of 50 if you have one. I found the 24 to be the one I used the most. I'd use one film, but that's me. Take a tripod. You'll be glad you did, for those big prints! Enjoy our beautiful West! I'd go straight to Yosemite from San Francisco, then out the back to Mono Lake and then down 395 along the spine of the Sierra. It's an awe-inspiring drive! I'd skip Monterey/Big Sur/Carmel in favor of the southern Utah parks, Zion, Bryce and the slot canyons of the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona, then swing down to the south Rim of the Grand canyon thence on to Sequoia/King's Canyon. Have fun whatever you do!
Vic
Vic
charjohncarter
Veteran
When I'm on a trip, I do not like it when I take a camera new to me. Take one that you are hardwired to. Also, in the same vein, take old shoes that you are hardwired to.
Don Parsons
Well-known
I can vouch for Arches, it's spectacular!
lmd91343
There's my Proctor-Silex!
Roger,
Yeah, super wides don't work in the forest or in most panoramas in Yosemite. Even with the widest lens you'll never get an entire sequoia. But you can get some interesting shots with super wides up close to Yosemite falls and in some tight places like some of the spots I remember in Happy Isles.
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35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
Welcome to California!
I grew up in S.F and L.A.
In S.F you want to see Twin Peaks -- the highest spot in the city -- and overlooks everything. The north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is pretty cool. You can walk to the top of the hills behind the bridge and get a bird's eye view and also see the WWII gun emplacements. Around the corner is Sausalito; a high class Berkeley, a place of rich ($) poets and writers. Nice place the eat too.
Back in S.F., Nob Hill is a neat place too. Catch the cable car there or just trek over the hill to Chinatown and North Beach (nighclub) district. Columbus Street is where you'll find tony eateries, sip a wine, watch the people go by.
Monterey is fun. Lived there for about 5 years. About 15 miles north of Monterey is a seaport called Moss Landing. They have the best seafood anywhere and very inexpensive. David Packard (of Hewllet Packard Corp) used to hang out there. (The restaurant is located 75 meters north of the Monterey Bay Institute beach offices at Moss Landing -- ask for a Chopino, $15 (US)). Monterey restaurants are very good too, but on the pricey side.
In Carmel -- go see the Weston Gallery downtown. Park the car, walk around, go down to the white sand beach. Enjoy.
In Sequioia -- must see the General Sherman Tree. Its seriously humongous. Its branches are the size of huge trees. You'll need a 15mm to capture it.
On your way to Las Vegas, Joshua Tree Nat Park is too far from the route you'll be taking. Instead of Joshua Tree, I would suggest you take Highway 1 costal route from Monterey to L.A.. Take your time driving. Its absolutely beautiful place --Ed Weston used to photog there all the time.
Between L.A. and Vegas its all desert so I wouldn't go too far out of my way to see "Death Valley." Midway is a place called Thermal, sometimes it hits 120 fahrenheit. about as hot as I need.
Vegas is fun. Take some walking shoes, alot to see. In Vegas you're either on the Strip or you're downtown. They've turned downtown into a giant casino mall. Its different.
Enjoy your vacation. Regards -- Paul
I grew up in S.F and L.A.
In S.F you want to see Twin Peaks -- the highest spot in the city -- and overlooks everything. The north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is pretty cool. You can walk to the top of the hills behind the bridge and get a bird's eye view and also see the WWII gun emplacements. Around the corner is Sausalito; a high class Berkeley, a place of rich ($) poets and writers. Nice place the eat too.
Back in S.F., Nob Hill is a neat place too. Catch the cable car there or just trek over the hill to Chinatown and North Beach (nighclub) district. Columbus Street is where you'll find tony eateries, sip a wine, watch the people go by.
Monterey is fun. Lived there for about 5 years. About 15 miles north of Monterey is a seaport called Moss Landing. They have the best seafood anywhere and very inexpensive. David Packard (of Hewllet Packard Corp) used to hang out there. (The restaurant is located 75 meters north of the Monterey Bay Institute beach offices at Moss Landing -- ask for a Chopino, $15 (US)). Monterey restaurants are very good too, but on the pricey side.
In Carmel -- go see the Weston Gallery downtown. Park the car, walk around, go down to the white sand beach. Enjoy.
In Sequioia -- must see the General Sherman Tree. Its seriously humongous. Its branches are the size of huge trees. You'll need a 15mm to capture it.
On your way to Las Vegas, Joshua Tree Nat Park is too far from the route you'll be taking. Instead of Joshua Tree, I would suggest you take Highway 1 costal route from Monterey to L.A.. Take your time driving. Its absolutely beautiful place --Ed Weston used to photog there all the time.
Between L.A. and Vegas its all desert so I wouldn't go too far out of my way to see "Death Valley." Midway is a place called Thermal, sometimes it hits 120 fahrenheit. about as hot as I need.
Vegas is fun. Take some walking shoes, alot to see. In Vegas you're either on the Strip or you're downtown. They've turned downtown into a giant casino mall. Its different.
Enjoy your vacation. Regards -- Paul
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aizan
Veteran
i've seen some excellent photos of forests taken with a superwide (21mm or wider, i'd say). looked like the gathering of the ents.