GAS, and what it comes down to is this...

[jdos2]

Okay. I've worked hard to get the camera gear that for me makes the best images. I've practiced with them, I'm happy with them all, and I've several.

I'm going back on vacation to Lisbon. Love it there. The city has wonderful detail for B&W, and amazing colors for... Well, color.

Now what should I bring?

I've a Black Contax G2 kit, with the standard 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm. I'd pick up a 21mm (and I don't care what color it is) and/or an inexpensive 35mm lens before I leave, but I can't afford them right now..

I've also a good Mamiya Universal kit, and I'd bring the 50mm, 100mm (f/2.8), and 250 f/5.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, obviously. The G2 is small, light, quick, and meets my image quality needs, but the images don't scan as well as Medium Format.
The Universal is slower, needs a light meter, but the images from it are rather better than the G2 for the huge negative. Also, the 50mm on 6x7 is wider than the widest lens I have for the G2...

Anyway- is it worth the bulk for the image quality, or the ease of use?

Or should I say "to heck with it" and bring along the Voigtlander Prominent and play "50's tourist?"

Decisions, decisions. There are worse things to have to think about...

🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Voigtlander Prominent and Kiev 4 for backup! And don't forget the Tanar!

Hey, you might find some good, used shops there.

 

[jdos2]

I forgot to mention the Kiev- worth bringing for the 21mm CV I have hanging on it. And it's got high speed Infrared in it right now... Hmmm.

Not making it any easier.

🙂

 

[rover]

I would probably take the G2 kit and the Mamiya with the one lens that isn't in your 35mm outfit, so the 50mm. In that way you can take it easy making really nice images with the Contax, and challenge yourself to find awsome images to make with the Mamiya.

 

[Nick R.]

Why don't you plan a photographic itinerary? Since you've been there before, write out the kind of shots you want to take for what days and where you'll be in the city. The types of shots and where you'll take them will dictate which equipment to bring along. It will also make it more likely that you will actually go and take the shots if you plan ahead. When I just wing it, I find I miss shots because of equipment I didn't bring or indecision on which shots to take on any particular day.

 

[DougK]

JD, I think Nick's got the answer. When I was on vacation in Florida, I was very happy to have my XA with me as it was probably the most space-efficient, versatile choice I could have made. However, there were a number of fantastic shots I missed that I could have made if I'd taken along my digital camera or my SLR outfit. If/when I go back, I'll know exactly what gear I need and while I may take fewer shots, I know I'll get the ones I want.

 

[RubenBlaedel]

I caried a SWCM and a 500CM, 3 lenses, an M6 with a 35 mm cron 2.0 and a 90 mm, filters , flash tripods etc. on a Lisbon easter Hollyday - carried the many kgs in my lowe pro back pack for a week up and down the hills of Lisbon 45 % af the pictures was with the SWCM point and shoot and 50 % was with the M6 with 35 mm cron 2.0 / 90 mm 4.0- the last 5% was with the macro on the 500 CM for some tile details my wife asked me to shoot 🙂 I did not use any filters or flash and shot Scala at 400 (it was lousy weather) and RSX II - So my advice for Lisbon -Travel light and bringe a wide wideangel and a nice portrait lens for detail. The town was a bit roughfer then last I visited the place so dont flash your gear - I managed to draw attention away from my cameras because I have an army haircut and look like a maniac 🙂 A look that has helped me more than once from getting mugged but sometimes made it difficult to get a room or to rent a car. By the way foodwise apart from grilled fish/meat and seafood in the cheapest spots the portuguese cuisine is not all that interesting but Lisbon has some nice indean food places with nice spicy meals - have a nice trip and shoot some graet pictures

 

[jdos2]

Good suggestions, all, and thank you.

It's going to come down to what I pick out of the Karmera Kloset when it comes time to go, and how I feel that day.

I've brought along the Mamiya 7 which was a pretty good travel camera (in spite of the emergency rangefinder adjustment I had to do) and I enjoyed it, but the camera itself didn't fit with the Universal, and all else, so I've not it for travel, hence the idea to bring along the Universal.

I was going to say too that I would bring along two backs.

But I love the idea of travelling light, and the G2 (even with lenses) would do that.

We'll see. All valid input, and much appreciated.

In Lisbon, I've never found anywhere that I thought I'd at all be at risk- the city itself is pretty safe, demonstrated by the murder during the Euro Cup soccer game making world headlines, rather more rare than here in Cleveland. Of course, robberies are not uncommon, but I'm not afraid of being boistrous, and I know Portuguese, so yelling at folks isn't much of a challenge. Thankfully I'm 192cm and 98 kilos, and the average Iberian is rather shorter...

🙂

I'm so looking forward to this.

Perhaps I'll just load a Polaroid back on the Universal with the 5" lens and fuh-getabout it.

 

[jan normandale]

Hi jdos2 , Take a Kodak or Fuji disposable and don't worry if you lose them. Then go to all the Porto lodges and forget pictures. Drink and eat and live. If you need a drinking guide ( I know nothing about Lisbon but I know how to enjoy Porto) let me know, for a fee I'm ready to quit my day job.

cheers , Jan

PS have a great trip!

 

[jdos2]

Thanks, Jan!

I have my travel kit- and my tickets. Only thing left to do is wait for the days to get a bit longer...

I can't wait.

(Leica with 35 and 90mm lenses, and I'll probably bring the G2 as an Emergency Backup Camera, since my luck is frequently poor with Leicas)

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Thanks, Jan!

I have my travel kit- and my tickets. Only thing left to do is wait for the days to get a bit longer...

I can't wait.

(Leica with 35 and 90mm lenses, and I'll probably bring the G2 as an Emergency Backup Camera, since my luck is frequently poor with them)

JD,
This sounds like the way to go. An important event occurred with me a few years back when two weeks before a trip I was going through the usual routine of packing two Pelican carry-ons, a 1650 wheeled case, a large Domke bag and I was dreading every minute of it (mainly Nikon SLR and 2-1/4 gear). The very night before we left I said to Hell with it, found the smallest bag I owned and took two Contax IIa's, a 50/1.5, 21/4.5, and an 85/2. Also took a few filters and a monopod and that was it -- never felt like I missed a shot and I was so unencumbered! Oh, forgot that I also slipped in a 2-1/4 folder -- they're great for travel. Go light and enjoy the trip!