Gear suggestion on travelling to India

[hon910]

Hi,

I would appreciate for some suggestion here.

I will be travelling to India next month (October 2011) for around 10-15 days.
As this is my first trip there, I have heard a lot about the safety in this country with luggage being stolen, people get robbed from taxi & etc.

So I am worrying about my gear as well.

At the moment, I am using an M8 with a 28, 50 & 75mm lens which I am intending to bring.
And I do have a M6 which I am considering should I bring it along as a 2nd body or back up. But definitely the bag gonna be heavier which I always to carry light.
Apart from that I do have a small compact Lumix LX3 which I thought of bringing.

These are all the equipments I have, once if its gone it will be all gone, ha ha.

So any advise of what I should leave behind?

Thank you

 

[sevres_babylone]

I haven't been to India since a 4 week trip to the south in 1999. I've always considered it one of the safer countries to travel in, but that may be just in terms of violent crime. That said, I did have similar concerns before going. I was wondering whether to take my Mamiya 7, which was relatively new and far more expensive than anything else I owned. Asking a photographer friend about it, he asked. It's insured isn't it? You bought it to use it, no?

Anyway, I traveled with the Mamiya 7 and 2 lenses, and an Olympus OM and 2 lenses. All in the Domke slightly smaller bag. I carried it with me all the time. That was generally not a problem. I do remember one temple where I wasn't going to be allowed to take it in. I was asked to leave it with the shoes. After some negotiation, I agreed to pay a small amount for someone to accompany me, presumably to make sure i didn't take any pictures. When we got to the roof, my watcher offered to take a picture of me. I carefully adjusted focus and handed the camera to him. He quickly decided his focusing technique was better than mine -- it wasn't, as I found out when I processed the film.

Back to your question. On the assumption that you do need to carry your equipment with you all the time, the 2 Leica bodies might be too heavy. At least, that's what I'm thinking after doing some testing carrying my M9 and R-D1 around town, as an experiment for future traveling. I'm leaning towards using my Lumix G-1 as the back-up body. For the relatively short trip, I think I would chance the M8 holding up, and taking the LX3 as a second camera.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I always carry 2 Leica bodies and sometimes an old Nikon F too. In the past I've carried Hasselblad, Linhof (Tech 70) and Alpa.

There's almost no mugging in India. Thefts are of unguarded equipment, or by people who 'help' you, hurrying you along, keeping you (mentally) off balance, then disappearing with one of your bags. Happened to me in 1982. But keep your wits about you and it's probably one of the safest countries in the world.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Austerby]

Agree with comments on safety in India, though normal common sense applies to personal security it's not a dangerous place as, say, parts of South America are.

Chances are that if you left the bag behind by mistake, someone would bring it back to you if they could.

The M6 might be an idea as a back up to be left somewhere secure (hotel safe) rather than carried around with you all the time.

 

[Chris C]

Personally, I'd take your M6 with a lens or two, and a compact digital. Make sure your travel insurance covers everything you're taking and not worry about it.

 

[Turtle]

Keep it small and light so that you always have it on and with you.

Two Ms and three lenses is your lot, but if insured its not a problem. If this is too heavy for you, drop down to one M and 2-3 lenses. I'm going about the same time with two bodies and three very small light lenses (nothing fast). Last time I was there I had two Mamiya 7s and four lenses so this time I should float along.

Roger is right. There are certainly cunning individuals that will check you out in touristy areas. Just keep your bag under control, close and be aware of close contact and unexpected engagements. When sitting at cafes etc, I always put my foot through the strap and twisted it around, as much to ensure I could not walk off without it as much as anything!

My best advice if you have $60? Get a Slingshot 100 and then rotate the inserts by 90 degrees so you can keep the bag against your chest when working and pluck your kit out easily. There is no better way of combining access with control and security that I have seen.

 

[emraphoto]

well, some fine advice from the chaps who know. my opinion? M6, 2 lenses and the compact digital. keep the bag around the front at all times and like Turtle mentioned, the strap wrapped around a leg or arm at rest. it quickly becomes habit.

i have travelled through some tough places, well known for violent crime, and i actually try and leave the bag where i am staying. 1 camera in my hands and some film in my pockets. i am not sure if that will apply to you but consider it. if i lose the bag, i lose everything (including whatever i am expected to file). i lose a camera and two or three rolls? sucks but not a complete disaster. this all hinges on feeling confident your bag is safe in your room.

anyhow, just my approach. do what you feel comfortable with.

Hi,

I would appreciate for some suggestion here.

I will be travelling to India next month (October 2011) for around 10-15 days.
As this is my first trip there, I have heard a lot about the safety in this country with luggage being stolen, people get robbed from taxi & etc.

So I am worrying about my gear as well.

At the moment, I am using an M8 with a 28, 50 & 75mm lens which I am intending to bring.
And I do have a M6 which I am considering should I bring it along as a 2nd body or back up. But definitely the bag gonna be heavier which I always to carry light.
Apart from that I do have a small compact Lumix LX3 which I thought of bringing.

These are all the equipments I have, once if its gone it will be all gone, ha ha.

So any advise of what I should leave behind?

Thank you

 

[ashfaque]

Do not drink tap water, unless it's boiled! So it would be better if you have keep some boiled water always with you. However, if the water comes from deep tube-well then you can drink it.

Always keep some plastic bag with you, because when it rains there it pours! It's quite humid too just like Malaysia.

However the bigger problem in the Indian subcontinent is dust. SO perhaps filters are good idea too to protect your lenses.

As mentioned before travel light, if you are planning to spend a lot of time on the roads, taking photos or just enjoying your trip in general. If you have old non-camera looking bag then it's even better for camera as potential nasty people will not pay any attention to it.

One more thing, do not keep your wallet on your back-pocket - especially when you're at crowded places. I do it all the time regardless if I'm travelling or not.

 

[faris]

India is as safe as any other places I have visited. Be prudent. And I have traveled to most countries of this world.

How safe? My wife travelled all over India alone this year. She had the most wonderful time.

She just had her D-lux4 with her. What did she capture? Not many buildings.. Like me, she wanted to meet the people..

One suggestion..if you want to photograph the Taj and such like..leave your camera/s at home. Buy a professional photographic book on Indian architecture.

If you want to feel India ( it is different than in Malaysia!! ) get lost amongst its wonderful people.

Have a safe and pleasant rip.

 

[sevo]

Roger is right. There are certainly cunning individuals that will check you out in touristy areas.

India is extremely crowded - the arm's length distance we keep to strangers in the west would be impossible there. People will often touch you and generally move in much closer on you than in Europe or the US, without any evil intent. You'll need days or even weeks to readjust your subconscious pickpocket alert, and may feel strained and insecure until then. This may lead to an unwarranted feeling of India being "dangerous" - which it is not, not even compared to New York, Paris or London...

 

[nobbylon]

Take the lot with you. Carry the M6 with you, a back up in a safe at the hotel is useless if you need it!
I was there in May and carried my D700 with 24-70 and an LX3 for back up. It's an amazing place and the people are great. I felt safer there than in Manchester UK! If you get out of the cities it's even nicer.

 

[avikrc]

Hi,
India is much too big to generalize, so it will totally depend on which places you plan to visit. Just normal safe travel practices and you should be fine. Mind that wallet if you go to over crowded areas and don't keep too much money or important docs inside it. Even I don't do that and I live there.

About gear, if you are carrying only the M8, I don't know how useful the 50 and 75mm lenses going to be. People in India are often much too close for long(er) lenses.

Have a nice trip.
Avik

 

[Rayt]

I have been to India quite a few times and never felt unsafe. I carry one M body with 35mm and 50mm lenses plus an Xpan with 45mm. You should worry about food safety though and bring medicine for the inevitable "Delhi Belly". Instead of the 75mm I would go wide.

 

[Turtle]

True, but in quite a few touristy areas foreigners are genuinely being checked out by those with ill intent. More normally they are con artists and confidence tricksters, trying to sell fake silk, sell over inflated curios or tours etc. its all perfectly manageable, but it pays to be aware of it. The greatest risk is wasting money and time. I have never been too concerned about pick pockets, but they are definitely out there.

I don't think it is a case of retraining your pickpocket alert, because those indicators remain the same. I have never considered getting brushed past a big deal whichever country I am in and in India, as you say, its like being in the sea sometimes. I don't use wallets at all, just a security pouch under my trousers and so there is nothing to be stolen from any outside pockets. The great thing about the slingshots is that in a serious crowd you can bring it to your chest and keep it under control. In combination with a security pouch its very hard to lose things.

just as with any country, put your wallet in your back pocket and you are asking for trouble!

India is extremely crowded - the arm's length distance we keep to strangers in the west would be impossible there. People will often touch you and generally move in much closer on you than in Europe or the US, without any evil intent. You'll need days or even weeks to readjust your subconscious pickpocket alert, and may feel strained and insecure until then. This may lead to an unwarranted feeling of India being "dangerous" - which it is not, not even compared to New York, Paris or London...

 

[hon910]

Thanks for all the great advices so far, appreciated that.

Well, Getting films & processing it here in my country are getting more expensive.
Therefore I would most likely use my M8 as the main, looking at the portability, I would probably leave my M6 at home & bring my compact Lx3 along.

But the only advantage of bringing my M6 would be able for me to put my 75mm fixed onto it, while my M8 would switch with my 28 & 50mm or vice versa.

 

[hon910]

Keep it small and light so that you always have it on and with you.

Two Ms and three lenses is your lot, but if insured its not a problem. If this is too heavyY for you, drop down to one M and 2-3 lenses. I'm going about the same time with two bodies and three very small light lenses (nothing fast). Last time I was there I had two Mamiya 7s and four lenses so this time I should float along.

Roger is right. There are certainly cunning individuals that will check you out in touristy areas. Just keep your bag under control, close and be aware of close contact and unexpected engagements. When sitting at cafes etc, I always put my foot through the strap and twisted it around, as much to ensure I could not walk off without it as much as anything!

My best advice if you have $60? Get a Slingshot 100 and then rotate the inserts by 90 degrees so you can keep the bag against your chest when working and pluck your kit out easily. There is no better way of combining access with control and security that I have seen.

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion on the Slingshot 100, been longing for one.

But currently I am using a Domke F6 for my daily use & I have a Think Thank Speed Freak which I m planning to bring it to India.
But I understand the bag is a bit too big & bulky but it does gives the protection.

 

[filmfan]

Easy...
M6 + 28mm + 50mm + Compact digital zoom

 

[Glenn2]

As others have said TRAVEL LIGHT! My first India trip was 41 years ago in 1970 with a pair of M4s and three lenses, 21, 50, and 90mm. Later trips were with small inexpensive Barnacks carried in an old war surplus gas mask bag.

Don't leave your gear unattended, especially if you're traveling by train. Hawkers and people begging come aboard at every stop and there is a chance for things to go missing. And yes, I know of people who have lost expensive gear on Indian trains. When you dash to the loo with Delhi belly remember to take your camera bag with you. Also be careful about dropping wallets or light meters down the hole of squat toilets on trains, the hole goes straight through to the tracks. There are western style ones, but the squatters are often cleaner.

Am hoping to make it back to India myself this year. My gear will be one of the same M4s I used 40+ years ago along with a Fuji X-100 for digital backup.

There's an India travel web site that you might find useful, it's called India Mike after the founder. Link --> http://www.indiamike.com/

I've got quite a few vintage and recent images from India and surrounding countries posted there under the user name Wanderer22. In 1971 I did my first around the world trip with a Leica 3g, spending most of my time in India. In fact I got stranded there as it was during the Indo-Pakistani war when all the airports were shut down. Have uploaded a few of the images from that trip to my gallery here on RFF. So far have only posted up to Greece, guess I should get busy and put a few more up.

Glenn

 

[Bluedog2212]

India trip

India trip

I would take one M and maybe two lenses and a digtal backup. I spent a month in India, never had any concerns about violence at all, but unguarded stuff will get legs quick. Be prepared to offer "tips" if obstacles arise at tourist sites. Baksheeh is pretty common in such places.

 

[hon910]

Well. thanks again for the input.

Most likely I will definitely have my M8 with my 28 & 50mm, I would have to try putting my M6 to see if its too heavy. Or else the LX3 compact would go along.