Europe Trip Gas - What to get?

Lund said:
When I travel I usually try to be able to fit everything camera related in my pockets. A good point and shoot with 400 iso film and flash for most about everything and a 120 folder with slower film for the landscapes and or whenever I can.

Works for me.
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A great suggestion for someone who appreciates 120.

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My first trip to Europe (2007) I took a lot of gear, big heavy dslr, multiple lenses, film slr, compact digicam, newly bought RF, and a lots of film as someone suggested.

Last year (two weeks in Europe) I was going to take two RFs and film, but quickly changed my mind to a GF1, kit zoom and 20mm 1.7 lens which served me very well. I've taken that setup (plus other mft lenses) to 2 other trips since.

In the last month I've been on two trips and took a Nikon P7000 with a 16gb card. I also had a little digi backup just in case.

When I take a lot of stuff I find myself using one camera at a time and stowing the rest in the room. I think going very light is something you have to grow into. You might feel a little naked if not loaded for Bear initially. Take all you want now and then on other trips lighten up the load.

If you're using a dslr make sure to use a really wide angle (prime or zoom), the crop factor kills in tight quarters.

Most of all have fun, don't sweat the gear too much. Photos of European cities look great if taken on a iPhone!
 
If you want the most convenience then take the Canon Rebel, but if you want to shoot film then take the Nikon. Two cameras would be nice but would also weigh you down.

Pack fast primes or a prime and a zoom lens. Choice is nice. European streets are narrow in small historic towns, but in cities there is less concern.

Pack plenty of film/SD cards. Make sure those shots get home. Film is far cheaper in, say, the US, than places like London.

You might consider a flash too. Otherwise, have a great time!
 
As many others have said, I find traveling light is the way to go. When traveling, less is more. Your main camera should be the one you like best, know very well, tried-and-true, and doesn't get in the way. Have one reasonably small and light backup just in case.

Lots of gears take up room and weigh you down. You will have to drag them all over the continent.

Enjoy your trip!
 
Hi,

I'm with the travel light crowd. The trouble with really serious gear is that it's heavy and a tripod is needed to get the last drop of quality from it. Leave the tripod at home and you might as well be using less serious stuff.

So film or digital I'd push for something like a 28 ish for places and an 85 ish lens for people and little details. You can do that as a two lens RF or SLR outfit or as a serious little zoom. Zooms covering this range that are suitable for carrying around all the time generally have a depressing f/4.8 at maximum lens on them and go worse (f/11) at the tele end.

Also useful on travels is a camera that's very easy to do away with the flash (Olympus XA etc) or switch the flash off easily. Pop-up flashes that can be pushed down to switch off work fastest. The other problem with small cameras is that they don't have lens hoods and the flashes are usually the in your face variety. And, apart from the versions with spot or CW'd metering, a + 1or 2 EV button is very useful. Ditto a focus on infinity setting.

There's no easy answer. It's an area where getting 3 out of (say) 5 things right is quite an achievement.

Regards, David
 
Yup, the less equipment the better....you're on vacation, right?

A couple of years ago I went to Austria for a week and brought my Super Wide C, my Contaflex TLR camera kit (plus I picked up an additional lens at the Leicashop in Vienna), and a Nikon D70 for a magazine job. Some really exotic vintage stuff to be bringing on a trip to Europe, but also heavy as heck and overall not enjoyable.

Last year I was in France for two weeks, and just brought my m9 and 4 lenses (21, 35, 50, 90), and a couple of batteries. I probably could have done without the 90mm lens, but overall this kit was much easier to carry around, and it all fit nicely in a Domke F-803, with room for maps, a tourbook, and a spot to stow a hat. My wife had a little point and shoot, and she hardly used it.

We're planning on going to Turkey this year, and I think that three lenses will do it this time.
 
Travel light, you'll be walking a lot. Take familiar equipment with you, it's a time to pay attention to the sights and use equipment you do not have to think/worry about. Spend that $700 on good food, you will not regret it. ;-)
 
We wanted to go to Rome to see some of the sites, especially the Coliseum.

I am definitely going to travel light, which is why I like the XA. I also like the Yashica T4, but haven't checked them out too closely.

I really like 120, wish I could take the RB67, but it is just too impractical for any kind of travel. A 120 folder is interesting tho...I also just saw a Bessa L on the RFF classifieds which was really interesting, a wide angle camera could be fun, just set it to infinity and go =]

I have a couple of cameras I bought through RFF that I do not use enough, I was thinking of seeing if I could trade them for something different here on RFF, I will create an add in the trade forums and see if theres any interest...thanks again for all the great replies/ideas!!
 
It sounds like you are planning on the XA for sure. So what shots will you miss if you only have it with you? What sort of subjects do you want to photograph?
 
I am pretty set on the XA, its small enough to have it with me at al times and wont be a burden during any part of the trip, even with another camera. I think if I only had the XA I wouldnt miss shots, but I would miss the big negatives of MF or the convience of digital. I like my Rebel, but the crop factor isnt too exciting, so instead of buying a wider lens to go with the Rebel, I started thinking of what kind of camera (film and/or digital) I could get to go along with the XA for the same (or less) money - what would be the better buy?

The types of photos I take are more like landscape/building shots, which tends to mean wider angles (again another disadvantage of the Rebel). I dont take many photos of people other than an occasional photo of myself and wife for example.

There is no perfect camera, or even a perfect camera for a specific application really. I am gathering ideas and suggestions on what would be a good choice on a camera purchase - someting different enough from what I currently have and also useful to travel in Europe etc., I may or may not find it.

Currently I am considering wide angle cameras like the Bessa L, or a compact MF like a Fuji GS645S, or something digital...
 
stewmander said:
I am pretty set on the XA, its small enough to have it with me at al times and wont be a burden during any part of the trip, even with another camera. I think if I only had the XA I wouldnt miss shots, but I would miss the big negatives of MF or the convience of digital. I like my Rebel, but the crop factor isnt too exciting, so instead of buying a wider lens to go with the Rebel, I started thinking of what kind of camera (film and/or digital) I could get to go along with the XA for the same (or less) money - what would be the better buy?

The types of photos I take are more like landscape/building shots, which tends to mean wider angles (again another disadvantage of the Rebel). I dont take many photos of people other than an occasional photo of myself and wife for example.

There is no perfect camera, or even a perfect camera for a specific application really. I am gathering ideas and suggestions on what would be a good choice on a camera purchase - someting different enough from what I currently have and also useful to travel in Europe etc., I may or may not find it.

Currently I am considering wide angle cameras like the Bessa L, or a compact MF like a Fuji GS645S, or something digital...
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Check out the wide angle zooms for Canon APS-C sensors. Sigma has a 10-20 zoom starting at $479. An 8-16mm goes for $699. The canon 10-22 version is $799. Like everything, they were cheaper a few years ago.
 
Do you have the equipment to print at home? If not I would spend the money there. You should be able to get a v700 and a canon pixma 9000 for around that budget. I think you will get more enjoyment & learn more from that than a new focal length. Plus it will save you money in the end.
 
I am pretty set on the XA, its small enough to have it with me at al times and wont be a burden during any part of the trip
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Well, you said it. A full-frame with 35mm lens that you can fit in your pants pocket. No brainer.
 
OwenStegemann said:
Do you have the equipment to print at home? If not I would spend the money there. You should be able to get a v700 and a canon pixma 9000 for around that budget. I think you will get more enjoyment & learn more from that than a new focal length. Plus it will save you money in the end.
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I do not have printing equipment at home, but do have a V500 scanner, which is boxed up ATM since I have recently moved and haven't had the time to unpack and find the space for it...

Tempted by a deal on SD: a Panasonic LX5 (24-90mm f/2-3.3) with free $75 gift card...

I am stuggling with the APS-C wide lenses...it seems like for less money I can get a P&S digital camera good enough to be almost as good as the digital Rebel I have. I think I will keep the Rebel with my 50mm as a semi tele set up, and decide if I should bring it with me or not depending on what I end up buying if anything...
 
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