European Tour this summer: What cameras?

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cassel

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I'm excited to have the opportunity to travel to Europe this summer for the first time in 27 years! I will have stops in London, Paris, and Barcelona. Of course I want to take lots of pictures of the trip and I'm debating about what equipment to bring.

I have a few film rangefinder cameras to choose from and one DSLR. I'm leaning towards film: A Leica M4-P with a Zeiss 50mm Planar and a Canon L3 with a 35mm lens (need to buy). I would also bring along a Steinheil 85mm with m-adapter. My other options are a Canon 7 rangefinder and a Canon Digital Rebel. I'm also considering a 28mm instead of a 35mm-- I'm leaning towards a 35mm because I have a 35mm brightline finder that works well on the Canon L3.

Also thinking a Voigtlander VC II meter would be better than my Luna Pro SBC. What do you think?
 
For those cities, just pick your favorite focal length and go... Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and loose clothing, and don't forget to hydrate.
 
my suggestions

my suggestions

kxl said:
For those cities, just pick your favorite focal length and go... Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and loose clothing, and don't forget to hydrate.
Click to expand...

Go light, go what you're most familiar with and have fun. I survived on one digital PnS when I went around the world and that ended up being great.
 
I always think Europe shoots better with a 50. I like the M4-P with the 50 and 85. Mostly look and smell and listen. It's a lot easier than when I first went. More English spoken, etc. Have a great time!
 
On a 3-week trip to Scandinavia and England in 2011, I took an M2, a Bessa T, and 50, 35, and 25 lenses. Worked great, although I used the Bessa/25 combination less than I thought I thought I would. I've also traveled w/ a 50 and 28, which was close to perfect in old European cities. So I agree w/ the advice to take a 50, take something wider, and don't take too much. Look at Dante Stella's article on surviving a trip w/ a camera, www.dantestella.com. No more than two camera bodies and 3 lenses, and a high quality pocket cam can count as one of those bodies and lenses.
 
Bingley said:
On a 3-week trip to Scandinavia and England in 2011, I took an M2, a Bessa T, and 50, 35, and 25 lenses. Worked great, although I used the Bessa/25 combination less than I thought I thought I would. I've also traveled w/ a 50 and 28, which was close to perfect in old European cities. So I agree w/ the advice to take a 50, take something wider, and don't take too much. Look at Dante Stella's article on surviving a trip w/ a camera, www.dantestella.com. No more than two camera bodies and 3 lenses, and a high quality pocket cam can count as one of those bodies and lenses.
Click to expand...

Took me a couple of minutes to find the Dante Stella article- but it was worth a read- thanks! I like the advice about the Domke 802 and the reminder that less is more. Some of my film choices were listed as "Don'ts"
 
Dante's recommendation to take cameras you can fit into a pocket of the jacket you are wearing is good.

I found that 35 was a perfect focal length for London. I did not feel the need for anything wider. I also used 50 for about a third of my shots there. I expect I would do the same in Paris or Barcelona.
 
I find that increasingly, I don't use the extra lenses I take with me. Either a 35 or (increasingly) a 50 stays on the camera. For example, I've just come back from the UK (London, Glasgow, Birmingham) and a 35 was fine.

Cheers,

R.
 
I would say bring a 28 and a 50. My first time in Europe I brought a 21 and a 50 (and 90) and I wish I had used my 50 more. Streets are so narrow that it's tempting to want to fit everything in with a wide, but in subsequent trips I gave my 50 about equal use of my 21 and was glad I did. Different perspective, more intimate, fewer shots with a lot fit in the frame but no real "subject," per se.

Or, if you bring just one, a 35. Best of both worlds.
 
Last year I went to London with my wife. I took my M6 with a 50mm f2.8 Elmar II and Canon S100 packed into a Domke F5B. It was perfect. Between those 2 cameras I had everything covered. I went to Belgium and Paris last October and I took 2 Leica's and a host of lenses with the S100. Great time but the kit was a bit heavy. Next time, I will do the M6 with the S100 again. My back will thank me. Enjoy your trip!
 
I live in Europe. I had very good results travelling with a M6/50mm Summicron combo and a Ricoh GR1s (28mm lens). I mainly used the former with black and white film and the latter with colour film.

For my Japan trip in May, I decided to change this setup slightly by leaving the 50mm at home and bringing my 40mm Nokton instead. I found out that f2 can actually be too slow in some situations.
 
The last time I went travelling anywhere I took a Bessa R2A and an M6 with 35, 50 and 90mm lenses and they did me for 90% of my shots. Colour slide in one camera, black and white film in the other. I also took my Canon 5D with 24-105mm f4 and that did me for everything else...if you've got a 24-70 that might suit the Rebel better.

Most of the time I'm a film user these days but I'm glad of digital every now and then for quick, easy and instant and if I do any other trips will still take it or I know I'll regret it at some point.

Another alternative would be a GF1 or other micro 4/3rds camera with an M adapter - manual focussing as a result but means you only need to take around one set of lenses: a 50mm becomes a 100mm too so you get instantly longer lenses with no extra expense. Small and pocketable like the M too so nicer for long walks around European cities. I'm pretty sure the Eiffel Tower shot in my avatar was the GF1 with 50mm Summicron.
 
Last year I just took my Fuji X100 n a 4 week European tour. A nice 35mm perspective, light and good for lowlight indoor shots.
So pick your favourite perspective, travel light, think of those indoor shots you may want and enjoy!
 
For the cities you're going, a wide-angle will do the trick. A 50mm is too long a focal length for me, but I survived my stay in Spain with my Nikon S2 and a 50mm f1.4 lens (got used to NOT want a wider lens after a while).

I'd pack a camera I can trust and know well, and a lens I am confortable with. The less choices you carry with the better. The first time I traveled to Germany I almost took all my lenses. The next time, I just took three and used two, mostly. I'll be returning in May, and I'm taking two bodies, three lenses... though I may just take one body and two lenses in the end.

Don't forget LOTS of film!!!
 
light and simple is best. Most I would carry on me at one time is 2 bodies and 2 lenses. most useful lens for me was a 35mm. You can take more equipment with you or have it in your hotel. but then the equipment takes a life of its own. you figure, "I got this on film, now with digital" , etc... The main benefit of 2 bodies/lenses is backup, loading different types of film, and different lenses. I like to shoot whole rolls without changing lenses (to keep track of what equipment I used on which shots)
 
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses so far, I have enjoyed reading them. I have paid for the trip at this point and sold a car to help pay for travel expenses and gear. Bought some nice luggage (still looking for a camera bag) and I’m getting closer to finalizing my photo “kit”. I bought a Canon LTM 35mm f2.8 late black lens and a Nikkor 35mm f3.5 little chrome Summaron copy. I will try them out and consider them both…so far I’m liking the Canon, it fits my M4-P nicely. I am also considering a Leicameter MR-4 so I don’t need to bring the big Luna Pro.
The only issue with the Leica is an occasional slight light leak- shows up maybe 1 of 100 shots- seems to leak from the front/through the lens. Also the viewfinder window has some discoloration- doesn’t affect use. I would like to get these issues resolved.
My only “flawless” camera is the Canon 7; it would be a good second body…
Also: My wife will bring her Canon PowerShot A1400 (2.8 lens and 16MP).
 
I will go on a two week Europe trip this summer, and I will take with me a Leica M9 with 35/1.4 and an Olympus EP-2 with a Zeiss 85/1.4, plus 21/4 and 50/2. Lenses will fit on both bodies. One has full frame sensor and one crops 50%. I may leave behind the 85/1.4. We'll see.
 
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