Give and Ye shall receive? Italy.

[pagpow]

So, I’ve given advice to others about travel gear and I can’t make up my own mind. Let that be a lesson to anyone who has read my advice before.

Going to Italy, known territory, moving around by car, in country and cities, mainland and Sardinia. Part of the kit is clear – question is how to close it out.

Clear part:
XPan, with both 45, 90 lenses
RD1s – with one of following lenses (35, 40, 50) lens, plus the CV 21

Question is what next:

Option 1: Nothing else – nice light kit

Option 2: Canon G5 – kinda small for lazy days or days not focused on photography (really! there are days not focused on photography?)

Option 3: M3 or M2 – same mount as RD1s, difft crop factor – makes multi-use of lenses taken

Option 4; Bessa L – nice light body dedicated to 21mm if taken, w. metering

I’m leaning to:
Option 3a, with the M3 and the 40mm, using whole VF to frame. 40 giving me a single lens compromise to the 35 AND 50 lens approach, plus the 21mm. Or

Option 3b, with M2 and Canon RF 35/2, plus 21mm.

Concerns:

Too much gear?; Three cameras, four lenses is a bit much to handle on extended trip, even with car and not having all three bodies at the ready al the time. Also weight.

Regret missing 85-105 lens? my favorite. It would be available with the Xpan, but isn’t with the others. One solution: shelve the 35/40, substitute the 50, which gives me 75 equiv on the RD1s. Other solution, pack Canon RF 100/3.5.

Omissions? Thoughts? Suspicions? Warnings?

Thanks. Grazie in anticipo per i vostri saggi consigli.

 

[rogue_designer]

I'd take the RD1s with the 21 and the 50... (which gives you 35mm equiv, and 75mm equiv.)

Then with the Xpan, you're all set. Nothing else.

 

[nico]

Xpan and Rd-1 are perfect kits for your trip. I wouldn't bring anything more because I wouldn't find myself spending more time looking into my bag than at the beautiful places all around 😉.
Hope you'll enjoy Italy.
Ciao

 

[jonmanjiro]

I'm visiting to Italy for 2 weeks later this month. I plan to keep it simple as I will be using public transport and intend to carry all my gear with me at all times. Two Zeiss Ikon bodies and three lenses (28/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/2) and that's it.

If I was travelling by private car I'd be tempted to take more gear, but I still recommend to keep it simple!

Have a great trip 🙂

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Although my kit was completely different when I visited Italy, my advise would be to travel as light as you can. Too much photographic gear on a travel will be cumbersome to carry around and you will be more concerned about your cameras and lenses than about taking pictures.

There isn't really much you cannot cover with the Xpan with 45 and 90 lenses, and the RD1-S with the CV 21mm and either the 40 or 50mm. Travel light and enjoy your trip.

 

[Austerby]

I concur - a 28mm or wider is a very handy lens to have for narrow streets, church interiors etc. I used my 15mm more than I expected whilst in Rome recently .

 

[historicist]

Two bodies and four lenses is already way more than I'd ever take on a trip (I'm a bit of a one body/one lens/compact for backup person), you should be able to cover pretty much everything with that.

 

[nico]

Looks like many Rff's are going to visit Italy,
well, if someone is planning to visit Lucca and wants to share a drink and some shooting just drop me a pm.
ciao

 

[pagpow]

Thanks, guys -- useful advice as always. Nice validation to hear my own advice reflected back to me -- now, maybe i'll be strong enough to follow it.

I've started weighing individual pieces -- amazing how large the Canon 50/1.4 is next to the Canon 35/f2 or the VC 21/f4.

 

[pagpow]

So after all the advice, I spent some time paring things down even more.
XPan 45 and 90, in. RD1s w. 35 f2 Canon in. TriX and Fuji Velvia 100 F. in.

Canon 50 f1.4 out -- too big. CV 21 out -- vignetting, postprocessing necessary that I know nothing about. Minolta Spotmeter -- out, huge.

I toyed w.making it an all film, all pano, substituting a Noblex 135 for the RD1s (too heavy, though the notion lingers)
and/or subbing a Canon G5 for the RD1s. In some ways bulkier w. lens adapter than the RD1s.

I'll shoot mostly landscapes and family.
Any last-minute warnings, suggestions?

Looking for proper support for night shots, my last trip bent my Gitzo Weekend -- haven't replaced it, yet.