Gear: 6 months study/backpack in Sweden/Europe

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verselines

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Hi everyone,

It's the usual gear question again. I'll be traveling to Sweden in January for an exchange program and will of course use the opportunity to backpack around Europe. I'll be there for around 6 months.

I enjoy using film, but from previous traveling experience, I know that I can't travel for long periods with film as my primary medium. I will bring my FM2 along, but I can't wing it with just the film SLR.

The gear issue is that I currently use a Nikon DSLR system (D90, 18-70mm, 35mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8) but it's a tad too bulky for my tastes. I managed 2 weeks in Australia with it, but found myself wishing for a smaller system sometimes.

I have a budget, but I'm too poor to get a M8 or M9, so I'm looking to M4/3 (probably a GF1 with 20mm pancake and nikonmount adaptor, but oly has the better VF...sigh). With this I lose true wide angle coverage since I can't afford the wide angle m4/3 lenses.

My options now are
1.) stick with the Nikon system and use my budget to get a wide angle lens (Tokina 11-16 perhaps)

2.) switch to m4/3, GF1 with 20mm pancake, nikonmount adaptor with a couple of AIS lenses

Opinions, anyone?
 
Samsung NX10 + 30/2 lens + Nikon adapter...
- better sensor than m4/3 for wide angle,
- much cheaper than GF1 with 20mm lens,
- smaller and lighter than Nikon DSLR
 
Personally, I'd stick with the D90, only because that way you can stick with one set of lenses for the whole trip and just interchange between film and digital. Ditch the 18-70mm and pick up a 20/24mm and 50mm prime lens.
 
Do you really *need* a big sensor in your digital camera? Why not get a Panasonic LX5 or a Canon S95? Both are great compacts that deliver stunning results. Plus, you'll get a zoom lens and they're TINY. No worries about fatigue carrying these little guys around.

FYI, I've got the LX5 and it's a great camera for almost everything.
 
hipsterdufus said:
Do you really *need* a big sensor in your digital camera? Why not get a Panasonic LX5 or a Canon S95? Both are great compacts that deliver stunning results. Plus, you'll get a zoom lens and they're TINY. No worries about fatigue carrying these little guys around.

FYI, I've got the LX5 and it's a great camera for almost everything.
Click to expand...

This is the best choice to your travel.
And leave more money for beer. I heard that Sweden is not cheap 😉
 
Sweden is cold and is expensive.
I would keep things very compact and light.
One wide angle lens, one fast "normal" lens, and one short tele. [or one zoom lens].
Don't be battery replacement dependent. Get a battery charger for 220V. Most are 110V-220V anyways.
Have one back-up camera that is light.
 
I'd pick up a mirrorless body - any of them. I'd make sure I've got one wide angle zoom and one fast prime - for instance:

gf1/2 or e-pl1
olympus 9-18mm
Panasonic 20mm f1.7

Just got back from 3 weeks in Tokyo and it was pretty tiresome to carry around a DSLR and 3 lenses... The current mirrorless cams are a pretty good compromise.
 
For my next trip I'm planning to take FM2, with a couple of lenses (50mm for sure), and Samsung EX1. Maybe an old film, fixed-lens rangefinder as well. But now I'm seriously thinking about going the Samsung NX10/100 route - need to do some more research on that. Otherwise I think any top-end small-sensor camera (canon, ricoh, panasonic, samsung) will cover the digital needs, as a back-up to a solid SLR.
 
yeah, definitely leave the DSLR at home. six months is a long time, and when the system started to feel too bulky after two weeks already, you're going to want to burn it after two months of carrying a backpack, shifting your stuff in and out of trains, around cities, into too small lockers etc. the S95 is an awesome little camera, and - especially - you can use it for all those countless nights-out-shots-of-next-days-regret without paranoia. and these, in 20 years, will be the best ones!
 
Like shyoon suggested, I would also go with the D90 + FM2 option, if only to have both backup and a flexible lens set.

I don't usually recommend buying more lenses for travel, but a D90, FM2, 24mm and 50mm setup would be a pretty capable kit. A 24mm f2.8 & 50mm f1.8 shouldn't be as expensive as the other options being touted, while retaining their utility when the trip is over.
 
I went on an exchange program in England for six months at the beginning of this year, and before I went I bought an Olympus XA. I don't know about your personality, but I knew I was going to end up on a lot of unplanned adventures, where I would want a camera with me. So I got something pocketable. For me it was invaluable. When I went backpacking for a month I just brought my Nikon F3 with a 50 and 105. It didn't take up much space, and I ended up using the F3 with the 105 and the XA, which has a 35mm lens, most of the time. I hope my experience helps with your decision. Also it is a big plus to have gear that you are familiar with right from the start of the trip.
 
verselines said:
Hi everyone,
. . .

I enjoy using film, but from previous traveling experience, I know that I can't travel for long periods with film as my primary medium. I will bring my FM2 along, but I can't wing it with just the film SLR.

The gear issue is that . . . in Australia . . . (I) found myself wishing for a smaller system sometimes.

. . . I'm too poor to get a M8 or M9, so I'm looking to M4/3 (probably a GF1 with 20mm pancake and nikonmount adaptor,. . . With this I lose true wide angle coverage since I can't afford the wide angle m4/3 lenses.

My options now are
1.) stick with the Nikon system and use my budget to get a wide angle lens (Tokina 11-16 perhaps)

2.) switch to m4/3, GF1 with 20mm pancake, nikonmount adaptor with a couple of AIS lenses

Opinions, anyone?
Click to expand...


1. "I enjoy using film, but from previous traveling experience, I know that I can't travel for long periods with film as my primary medium." It sounds as if you really have made up your mind that you want a digital camera that would be supplemented by your SLR.


2. "I . . . found myself wishing for a smaller system sometimes." Therefore size is really an important factor in choosing a digital camera, hence 4/3 males a lot of sense.

> Logically, therefore the option of simply expanding your current lenses for the Nikon doesn't really meet your needs.

3. You want a GF 1 with the 20mm/1.7. That means you have a budget of around $1000. Good camera and great lens. The problem is that this doesn't get you the wide angle lens.

4. Putting on an adapter and SLR lenses is not a good solution because it takes away the form factor and makes for a rather awkward shooting package.

>> My suggestion is to pick up an E-P1 with the 17mm lens and VF-1 ocular viewfinder for around $500 (can be had for less if you buy refurbished; I'm using Amazon prices). Then turn around and get the Olympus 9-18mm wide angle zoom lens for a bit over $500 (price just dropped). Now for around the same money you were going to spend on the Panasonic, you have a range from normal to wide that you're looking for. Plus you have the E-P1, a handsome and highly portable, well made rangefinder-style camera. With the 17mm and the VF-1 bright line viewfinder you use the camera like a 1950s Leica, except that focusing is automatic. Your perspective with the 17mm/2.8 is equivalent to a classic 35mm equivalent wide-normal FOV: great for street photography. When you put on the wide angle zoom you have a 18mm to 36mm equivalent FOV that is framed through the LCD screen giving you very good range for architecture and cityscapes/landscapes. Two quite different shooting experiences and both different than that afforded by the SLR. Try it, you might like it 😀, Besides you still have the SLR for other types of photography.

The traveller
 
I've got a GF1 and to me it's a PITA to mess around with legacy lenses. And the Nikon lenses are big and heavy - I've got some of those too! (Although so old I don't think there's any plastic in them).
In your situation I'd get a Panasonic LX5 and the EVF that fits it. Not the best EVF in the world but adequate. You also get light weight, small size, good zoom range and more than adequate image quality.
 
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