European Tour this summer: What cameras?

[cassel]

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?

 

[kxl]

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.

 

[FrankS]

Take a wide angle for sure. 35 or 28 depending on personal preference.

 

[Don Parsons]

my suggestions

my suggestions

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.

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.

 

[Vics]

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!

 

[Bingley]

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.

 

[cassel]

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.

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"

 

[Bingley]

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.

 

[Roger Hicks]

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.

 

[anjoca76]

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.

 

[cassel]

I've got my eye on an Acall 35mm F3.5 and a Canon 35mm f2...also a Safrotto knock-off of a Domke 802.

 

[scorpius73]

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!

 

[filmfan]

Go with Leica M4-P + 50mm Planar

 

[silent1]

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.

 

[Steve George]

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.

 

[thirteen]

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!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

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!!!

 

[marcr1230]

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)

 

[cassel]

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).

 

[raid]

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.