Digital or Mamiya for loong trip

[Jabash]

An unanswerable question, I guess, but here it is.

I have been going back to film recently, but I am about to go on a year long trip. I was going to get a D200 and take my Konica Hexar along. But I am lusting for a Mamiya 7ii with a 43mm lens. I thought of just taking the Mamiya and just a digital p/s also. The Mamiya 43mm is pricey, though, and getting the film processed on the road will be complicated.

Any thoughts...

I will be going through Canada, would it be better to buy there?

Also, advice on a lab that might process, scan small jpegs and ftp them and also store my film while I am away?

 

[sf]

that's a very tall order. . . . the Mamiya would be a great camera to have along - perhaps a bit excessive for a long trip (though over a year, you'll streamline a good process for it).

Forget the D200 - it's fast and easy, but if you want to capture top quality images, the Mamiya is the best choice - and not that much larger.

from a money/efficiency standpoint, however, the D200 is fantastic.

 

[samm]

I am about to go on a 2 year round the world trip, and ive bought the mamiya 6 esp for the trip.
If you want top quality go the mamiya. Digital is boring. The mamiya will cost you more, but I think you would regret taking it if you didnt.

I am also taking my canon DSLR, but I have my partner to carry that for me! =)

 

[sf]

curious, where are you going?

I want to find some way of doing just that. Be anywhere but here for a year.

 

[tomw]

I have the 43 and it's great, but you might consider the 50mm since I gather you can do without the external finder and just use the full frame of the viewfinder window to compose (any 50mm user care to confirm/deny that?). Might simplify your life a little.

I agree with the others that for long term satisfaction, the Mamiya will make you happier with the results. You'll be able to get bigger prints, at least. As for processing, you should be able to find places to do that along your route.

 

[clarence]

curious, where are you going?

I want to find some way of doing just that. Be anywhere but here for a year.

I'm planning to stay in Japan for a month next year. I know it's nothing compared to backpacking for 2 years.

Maybe it's just a pipe dream, but it would be great if I could find some photography-related work there at the same time, maybe as an assistant, or just working in a shop. In the meantime I'm trying to improve my Japanese and my portfolio.

Samm, you mentioned that you would be selling some stock photographs in London. Is this a ready and easy way to earn some pocket money?

Would really appreciate the advice from some fellow students / travellers / photographers.

Clarence

 

[matti]

If I had a Mamiya RF I would bring it everywhare!

/matti

 

[Jabash]

Thanks for the replies. For the curious, I am taking a year off- from everything. I will leave NYC for Alaska and then travel south for Argentina. Did I mention I am traveling by motorcycle. I used to be a photo nut (Nikon)but as life intruded it disappeared from my life. Oddly enough, digital got me interested again but a professional photog who I took lessons from got me interested in film (he is now a member here). There is just something different about film. For a trip like this there are practicalities that make digital appealing. I have a lab in NY that is willing to do contact sheets and jpeg scans and then ftp the jpegs to my website. The negatives would then be sent to my family in NYC. Processing locally on the way doesn't really do anything for me because I will have to carry more and will not be able to post anything on my website.


* BTW, I do not own either camera now so if anyone is looking to sell I'll be watching 😉

 

[RObert Budding]

Take the Mamiya - you don't want to charge batteries for a D200 while you're traveling. As for processing - buy mailers and have someone back home check your shots to be sure you don't have an exposure issue crop up during the trip.

have fun!

 

[samm]

I'm planning to stay in Japan for a month next year. I know it's nothing compared to backpacking for 2 years.

Maybe it's just a pipe dream, but it would be great if I could find some photography-related work there at the same time, maybe as an assistant, or just working in a shop. In the meantime I'm trying to improve my Japanese and my portfolio.

Samm, you mentioned that you would be selling some stock photographs in London. Is this a ready and easy way to earn some pocket money?

Would really appreciate the advice from some fellow students / travellers / photographers.

Clarence

Hey Clarence,

I was approached by a major photo stock library last year who wanted to buy some of my images for a specific project they were working on, as I got talking to the guy, I mentioned I was going travelling and would have a lot of images once I got to London, he said they would very interested and to give him a call once I arrive in the UK. Thats all I know.

So yes I guess it is way to earn some extra pocket money but it would be a time consuming thing.

Ive decided I am not going to try to take photographs on my trip that I think will make me money, i am now only going to shoot stuff that makes my heart beat. I am worried if I start preparing for all these "money" shots, I will come back very unhappy because my photos will probably be boring. I might be a bit richer though 😕


Ive spent a few months in Japan going to school about 10 years ago. If you need any advise about things in Japan, ask away.

Cheers
Samm

 

[sf]

You'll be sorry if you take a digicam on a trip like that. Mamiya. Without question.

Would you take a disposable camera on a trip like that? Probably not. You want to have the best tool for the job. . . .more accurately, you want to capture what deserves capturing - and you want to capture it well. As well as possible.

I thank the camera gods daily for killing my Nikon D70 three days before my trip to Europe. I might have taken that instead of the Bronica RF645. It would have been tragic.

 

[Kin Lau]

On a bike for a year? Whatever camera it is, make sure it can handle the rigors of the trip, especially the vibrations. I seem to remember some RF's being prone to go out of alignment. There's a few RFF'rs with motorcycle interests like FrankS, Honuhugger etc who can probably give some good suggestions. Just start a new thread, and make sure to mention that it's a bike trip in the title.

If you end up getting a new camera, make sure you have it several months before you takeoff. Trying to learn a new camera on a trip like that might make life _too_ interesting 🙂