Equipment Options for Italy trip

[Frontman]

On my trip I took a X-pro, two M bodies and lenses, and a Rolleiflex. I used the X-Pro for the majority my shooting, the Rolleiflex also saw a lot of use. The Ms spent most of their time in my bag.

After getting the film done, I regreted not shooting more with the Rollei. The X-pro performed marvelously.

 

[Zonan]

Tri-X @1250 in Diafine should give nice results and allow more flexibility in terms of available light. Of course if you need to send to Precision that's probably not an option.

 

[raid]

Raid, you are not on assignment, so the goal should be to enjoy the experience. Choose the set you feel more comfortable with. Every photographer has its personal tradeoff regarding weight, capabilities, travel plan and photo opportunities covered.

Photographically speaking: in my limited experience of Italy, a wide angle is essential. I'd guess that at least for the old city of Siena which would probably be one of your main subjects.

The SWC is close to ideal IMHO, regarding capabilities, if you can cope with the weight and size. The M9 with 21 or 28mm would also be an excellent choice. I do not really see the point of taking the M8 except as backup of the M9.

If you need 120 film it is much cheaper in the U.S.; consider taking along some ISO 400 film, for the interiors; grain is not that critical in 6x6 size, and HP5+ or TriX can be pushed to 800 without much degradation.

I assume your SWC can handle additional film backs?

Personally I'd go with a single camera, either the Hassy or M9, because I'd hate switching eye and mind from one type to another and taking care of too much gear. If I lose the main camera, my B-plan is usually to get a cheap P&S, or borrow my wife's.

I have one 120 back and one 220 back for the SWC.
I may have enough 120 film in the freezer for this trip.
Thanks, Julio.

 

[raid]

Not quite related, but I took an SWC and my Contaflex TLR to Vienna a few years back. Would never do anything like that again -- way too much crap to carry around, and my neck and shoulders definitely paid for it.

Now here's a thought -- why not just take the SWC and leave the M9 at home? Have a wide angled look at Italy!

This is very tempting, Vince. I like it ... a wide angled look at Italy!

 

[raid]

Sorry. I meant SWC! Option 1 looks good to me, Raid: SWC + M9. I might be tempted to slip a pocket 35 film camera in my bag too.

I've decided to take an E-PL1 and Pany 14/2.5 lens with me to Portugal later this month, along with an M4-2 and a 50 and 35 lenses (two camera bodies three lenses five focal lengths or equivalents). But I may slip an Oly XA in at the last moment.

I once traveled in Italy with a Rolleiflex TLR and the tiny Minox GT. It was just great overall.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Maybe I'm just getting old, or it's from carrying a very full load when I'm working, but I'm personally heading in a more minimalist direction when I travel for fun/relaxation. My wife and I are (hopefully) headed to Turkey in the fall, and I'm planning on taking the Monochrom with a 21, 50 and 75, or I may leave the 75 at home and just have the 21 and 50. And if my wife wants to take her small happy-snap digital, that's up to her.

I read about guys who list 3 and 4 cameras w/lenses and a tripod that they take with them on vacation -- they're made of stronger stuff than me, that's for sure!

 

[besk]

IMHO the only reason for taking medium equipment along on a trip like that would
be if you want to make large enlargements for display at home.

I will be spending 2 or so weeks in Belarus and Ukraine this summer. I plan to take
a miniature Crown Graphic with a roll film back and two small lenses only. I expect to have my wife's little digital P&S for snapshots.

 

[raid]

Maybe I'm just getting old, or it's from carrying a very full load when I'm working, but I'm personally heading in a more minimalist direction when I travel for fun/relaxation. My wife and I are (hopefully) headed to Turkey in the fall, and I'm planning on taking the Monochrom with a 21, 50 and 75, or I may leave the 75 at home and just have the 21 and 50. And if my wife wants to take her small happy-snap digital, that's up to her.

I read about guys who list 3 and 4 cameras w/lenses and a tripod that they take with them on vacation -- they're made of stronger stuff than me, that's for sure!

What you have said is important to my decision making. I want to haul equipment until I feel that I am too old for it.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Just weighed my camera bag that I normally carry on my shoulder when working -- 27 lbs. So you can understand why I prefer to go completely the other direction when on vacation!

 

[raid]

I can understand your logic, Vince. My job does not require any hauling of equipment.

 

[anjoca76]

Personally, traveling is all about photography. I can take snapshots at home. That's not to say bring more than you can manage, but we all go through such pains to get all this lovely gear, but if we're always leaving it home, why bother having it? If you have a beautiful MF camera and the film for it already, how can you go somewhere as wonderful as Tuscany and leave it home? The M9 can always be used for snapshots. Also, I not suggesting lugging around a MF camera all day, but if you have an apartment where you will be centrally located then you can pick and choose when to go shooting with it.

 

[Krosya]

As you may know I went to Italy last year. Had a MF folder - never used it. Most used kit - Epson RD1S with CV 15mm and CV 35/1.2 for digital and Hexar RF with the same lenses and Rollei 35S for film. Wife's Digital EOS with a 17-35 and 28-300 were very useful as well. You absolutely have to have a very wide lens in Italy - 15 or 21 are perfect and something for a very low lights - as many churches/museums, etc need a super fast lens. Having digital is great so you can switch ISO on a go - you may be outside in a very bright light one minute and going inside a very dark building - the next. My kit worked perfect for me - covers all my needs and small enough to not become a burden. I'm absolutely envious - I love Italy, wish I was going there too. Drink some Limoncello for me 😉

 

[Godfrey]

The lens has 4.5 max aperture, which requires a tripod for interior shots. I have used a Graflex XLSW with a 47/8 lens on a table tripod sucessfully in Syria. I will then take with me a table tripod.

Well. I saw your response to my prior comment about not carrying a tripod.

IMO, ultra wide lenses require a tripod every bit as much as long telephotos do, particularly the SWC. Not for reason of them being slow or working in poor light, or being indoors or out; but because, to me, the tremendous joy of the SWC in photographing anything is to exploit the astonishing detail resolution that the Biogon 38mm lens is capable of, right out to the very edges and corners of the frame. With an ultra wide lens, you're doing the opposite of what you do with a telephoto: you're packing a huge amount of detail down into a very small space by decreasing magnification. (With a telephoto, you're extracting a huge amount of detail from a very small space by increasing magnification.) Camera steadiness is key to obtaining good results in either situations.

Of course, for many types of photography, ultimate resolution is not a player in the "most important factors" game of what makes a photograph sing. For the loose, hip shooting style of some street photography, it's certainly not an issue. But when I carry the SWC, I want to be able to take advantage of its lens.

My tripod folds to 19" x 5", and weighs 4.2 lbs. It fits in my rollaway/carry-on bag. It comes with me. 🙂

G

 

[Vince Lupo]

Dunno about needing a tripod with an SWC outdoors -- I mean, it's a 38mm lens, and has a leaf shutter with no mirror slap to worry about. Tri-X on a sunny day would give you 1/250-1/500 @ f/16. How much more detail or depth of field would you need than that?

I do agree though that shooting indoors with that camera could be a bit of a trick. Hopefully you'll be able to find enough tables inside to set that tiny tripod on!

 

[raid]

Personally, traveling is all about photography. I can take snapshots at home. That's not to say bring more than you can manage, but we all go through such pains to get all this lovely gear, but if we're always leaving it home, why bother having it? If you have a beautiful MF camera and the film for it already, how can you go somewhere as wonderful as Tuscany and leave it home? The M9 can always be used for snapshots. Also, I not suggesting lugging around a MF camera all day, but if you have an apartment where you will be centrally located then you can pick and choose when to go shooting with it.

I will be able to have the SWC and M9 with me without much trouble. I need to use the SWC to see what I manage to produce with it.

 

[raid]

I don't think of a mini tripod as a "tripod", Godfrey.
I understand what you mean by making the most from the Biogon, but I also have to manage having a family with me.

We have rented a small car, and this also may limit how much stuff you can haul with you.

Well. I saw your response to my prior comment about not carrying a tripod.

IMO, ultra wide lenses require a tripod every bit as much as long telephotos do, particularly the SWC. Not for reason of them being slow or working in poor light, or being indoors or out; but because, to me, the tremendous joy of the SWC in photographing anything is to exploit the astonishing detail resolution that the Biogon 38mm lens is capable of, right out to the very edges and corners of the frame. With an ultra wide lens, you're doing the opposite of what you do with a telephoto: you're packing a huge amount of detail down into a very small space by decreasing magnification. (With a telephoto, you're extracting a huge amount of detail from a very small space by increasing magnification.) Camera steadiness is key to obtaining good results in either situations.

Of course, for many types of photography, ultimate resolution is not a player in the "most important factors" game of what makes a photograph sing. For the loose, hip shooting style of some street photography, it's certainly not an issue. But when I carry the SWC, I want to be able to take advantage of its lens.

My tripod folds to 19" x 5", and weighs 4.2 lbs. It fits in my rollaway/carry-on bag. It comes with me. 🙂

G

 

[raid]

Dunno about needing a tripod with an SWC outdoors -- I mean, it's a 38mm lens, and has a leaf shutter with no mirror slap to worry about. Tri-X on a sunny day would give you 1/250-1/500 @ f/16. How much more detail or depth of field would you need than that?

I do agree though that shooting indoors with that camera could be a bit of a trick. Hopefully you'll be able to find enough tables inside to set that tiny tripod on!

Italy should have sunshine in May and in June, Vince.
Still, I have always favored ISO100 film, so I may be shooting mostly at f 8.

 

[raid]

This is my fourth trip to Italy, and I like this country a lot. I will have to check out at home which wide angle lenses will fit my M9. I may have made a mistake not to get a CV 21mm lens or similar in M mount. I have a Canon 19/3.5 FL lens that may work with the M9 when using Canon Adapter B plus ltm-M adapter. It is a great lens.

The Nikkor 21/4 will not fit the M9, and the Rokkor 21/4 has a protruding rear element that may hit the M9 sensor.

The CV 25/4 should be OK though. I have a 28/2.8 Rokkor M too.

As you may know I went to Italy last year. Had a MF folder - never used it. Most used kit - Epson RD1S with CV 15mm and CV 35/1.2 for digital and Hexar RF with the same lenses and Rollei 35S for film. Wife's Digital EOS with a 17-35 and 28-300 were very useful as well. You absolutely have to have a very wide lens in Italy - 15 or 21 are perfect and something for a very low lights - as many churches/museums, etc need a super fast lens. Having digital is great so you can switch ISO on a go - you may be outside in a very bright light one minute and going inside a very dark building - the next. My kit worked perfect for me - covers all my needs and small enough to not become a burden. I'm absolutely envious - I love Italy, wish I was going there too. Drink some Limoncello for me 😉

 

[semrich]

Raid I voted for the M9 and SWC. You've seen from the various SWC threads some of the images I've posted, so if you have an idea of capturing some of the architecture both interior and exterior it is a stellar performer. For interiors I shoot Delta 3200 at 1600 down to 1/15th by leaning against a wall or using a mini tripod and cable release.

With Delta 3200 at 1600 down to 1/15th you can even hand hold at night. Here is a link to a full res. recent shot from Lisbon:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79288469@N05/8361787484/sizes/o/in/photostream/

With the M9 you always have color and can convert to B&W.

 

[raid]

Hi Richard,
I would be reluctant to carry with me ISO3200 film on the plane due to XRaY INSPECTIONS.