Going to Cuba; camera advice please!

[literiter]

This Xray stuff is beginning to concern me just a little now.
I wonder how crude and hot the equipment in Cuba will be and how hard it will be to get them to hand inspect.

We went to a convention it Florida a few years ago and it was so busy they wouldn't even consider hand inspection. Kinda snotty about it as well even though I was about as polite, meek and contrite as a intimidated Canadian can get.

We checked with the carrier (Air Transat) and there warnings are if you think we are gonna zap your film too much don't bring it. As well they don't want stuff like computers or other electronics in checked baggage.

 

[Bob Michaels]

There are no provisions for anything other than x-ray for film entering or leaving Cuba. But, I have always managed to talk them into not x-raying mine and just do a visual inspection of 30-40 rolls. Sometimes it was immediate and no problem. Other times it has taken 15-20 minutes of debate and escalation up the chain of command. The biggest thing we have going for us is that Cuba is extremely gracious to tourists. It is almost embarrassing what we can get away with.

I have no evidence that the x-ray machines in Cuba are any different. But, I have seen too much parts swapping and Cuban maintenance tricks to have any real confidence in the strength of the output. Others report having their film x-rayed and not showing problems. Personally, I just do not want to risk it as the primary reason for my Cuba trips is to photograph.

The normal caveats about never placing film in checked baggage apply.

FWIW, you have the right in the US to not have your film x-rayed. Usually TSA is very good about that, but like everything else, there are times when it is is problematic.

Bob

This Xray stuff is beginning to concern me just a little now.
I wonder how crude and hot the equipment in Cuba will be and how hard it will be to get them to hand inspect.

We went to a convention it Florida a few years ago and it was so busy they wouldn't even consider hand inspection. Kinda snotty about it as well even though I was about as polite, meek and contrite as a intimidated Canadian can get.

We checked with the carrier (Air Transat) and there warnings are if you think we are gonna zap your film too much don't bring it. As well they don't want stuff like computers or other electronics in checked baggage.

 

[andredossantos]

I wasnt so lucky with my film. It all got x-ray'd twice (once going into Havana and once going out). I tried debating and asking for a hand check both times (and I speak spanish) but it was to no avail and Im not the type to have the patience to stick around. I just wanted to leave the airport. Thankfully, my films were fine. Mostly it was 100 iso slide film, a bit of Provia 400x, and some Neopan 400, fwiw.

The funny thing is that the most extensive security scheme at any airport Ive experienced is going from Bogota, Colombia to NYC and they readily accepted a hand check without any cajoling AT ALL. They check you about 4 times total, even to go in and out of the pre flight waiting area at that airport!

 

[literiter]

I was there and now I'm back. You really need a long time to visit Cuba, 6 days on the ground, is not nearly enough. I think I could spend a month at least in Havana. I could spend a long time in Trinidad (Cuba) as well.

I was Xray'd in and out but my film, as far as I can see, wasn't compromised.

I ended up taking my least valuable easily replaceable kit which was a Nikon F3HP and a old Barnack; my Leica iiif. I ended up using the Leica with the 15mm Heliar more than the other stuff.

I'm pleased with the Heliar........if you like a wide angle like I do you should get one!! Trust me! Perfect for the narrow streets of Cuban cities and towns.

Both pics Leica iiif and 15mm Heliar. Not the greatest scans I'm afraid. Both pics are from the hour we spent in Trinidad. (more later)

 

[Bob Michaels]

Literider, glad you enjoyed your trip.

Yes, Cuba is a large diverse country. My nine trips, each about two weeks, have not yet covered the western part.

Nice photos. That lens certainly works for you.

 

[literiter]

Literider, glad you enjoyed your trip.

Yes, Cuba is a large diverse country. My nine trips, each about two weeks, have not yet covered the western part.

Nice photos. That lens certainly works for you.

The kit I took was heavy, and I see your economy with equipment is really smart. My shoulder is still a little tired.

I like your site. I'm not where you are yet I think. You handle people really well. I don't do people well for some reason.

I missed a good shot of an old guy sitting on a burro with a cigar in his mouth but I thought it was just a little too ridiculous and didn't get the shot. I later realized that as a second thought that would be the beauty of it. The old guy was getting handed a few 10 Peso notes!! No one would pay me anything for sitting that same burro. I'll bet he scored over a $100.00 for a few minutes.

Next time I take the Hassy and a tripod and look for more old buildings etc.

 

[Bob Michaels]

............................... I missed a good shot of an old guy sitting on a burro with a cigar in his mouth but I thought it was just a little too ridiculous and didn't get the shot. I later realized that as a second thought that would be the beauty of it. The old guy was getting handed a few 10 Peso notes!! No one would pay me anything for sitting that same burro. I'll bet he scored over a $100.00 for a few minutes. .........................

This guy in Trinidad? He is probably the most tourist photographed person in Cuba. He is always there charging a fee. He was even on a guidebook cover. I use this photo, one of a Cuban lady smoking a cigar, followed by a stock photo of Mickey Mouse in my Cuba talks to demonstrate common tourist photos before I show my photos of everyday Cuban people in their environment.

 

[literiter]

That is the guy!

 

[Godfrey]

...
On travel, the less you carry the better off you are.

Revisiting this thread ... the more I shoot with the M9 and 40mm lens, the less I find I want to shoot with anything else.

Whether M9 or M4-2 just depends whether you'll have a place to charge the battery or prefer to work with film. Add a wider or a longer lens to allow for occasional variety. Leave everything else home.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Buy six or seven digital point and shoot cameras, and plenty of cheap memory cards. One camera to use, the others for barter.

Leave all the rest of the heavy film garbage home. You either want to be an overloaded, eccentric Luddite with something to prove or a photographer.

You either want to have a good time, take lots of photos, and not worry about your equipment, or be a nut lugging a ton of overweight, easy-to-steal deadweights and troublesome film.

Save the experiments with the antiques for when you're home.

I never understood this mentality... it's like those people that buy expensive cars and keep them in garage-shrines and never drive them. I bought my cameras to take pictures with, if I left them at home every time I went somewhere they could get damaged or stolen I'd never take them anywhere.... I may as well just write "Leica M9" on a box, put it on my shelf and *pretend* I have one 🙂

And generally, the more risk to your camera (whether it's from people or the enviroment) the better the photographic opportunities... no risk, no reward. As long as you're not careless, most risk can be avoided or at least mitigated.

 

[miatab]

My heart says "One camera one lens", but my hypocritical mouth is saying "P&S digital", and for my two weeks in Dominican Republic in mid month, my F2SB and Domke bag of lenses, My G1, my Bessa 2R and 28, 35 and 50, my Canon G10 and my new X-100 are all staying home, and my little Sony Cybershot with its Zeiss Vario Tessar 4X optical zoom with optical viewfinder will be the only camera on the trip, as it was in Cinque Terre, our bike ride from the "Sound of Music" Salzburg to Prague, and Mexico vacations. But then it could be because I'm 72 and suffering COPD! My wife says to me, and it applies to you at 66, "Take your favourite camera, who cares if you lose it, you will not live for ever. Enjoy it." Enjoy, enjoy!

 

[literiter]

My wife says to me, and it applies to you at 66, "Take your favourite camera, who cares if you lose it, you will not live for ever. Enjoy it." Enjoy, enjoy!

I think this is something we could all consider I'm afraid.

When I got back I realized I was completely comfortable in Cuba......and if I did get my stuff stolen, well I could replace it easily. I'd be a tad grumpy but I could replace it.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Last week I knew students were going to ask about what equipment I used in Cuba when I was doing a gallery talk. So I told them that I had gathered all the photo equipment I had used over 9 trips to make all the photos in the exhibit. Then I showed this slide

That's it, one ZI body, one 28mm lens, no strap, no bag, pocketful of film.

BTW, I would never buy a camera that I could not afford to lose. Actually the one if the photo is a replacement for the one I lost. (Actually I lost 2 identical cameras)

 

[bigeye]

I was there and now I'm back. You really need a long time to visit Cuba, 6 days on the ground, is not nearly enough. I think I could spend a month at least in Havana. I could spend a long time in Trinidad (Cuba) as well. [/IMG]

The 15 is a great lens and the 80 year old Barnack concept shows its utility. You would have used a beastly DSLR and massive wide zoom for a modern equivalent.

The only problems I have with an extended stay are chain-smoking cigars and to too many trips to the JM factory...

- Charlie
.

 

[literiter]

Last night I sat with my pictures, about 100 of them, and with a Cuba Libra I looked at each image with a critical eye.

They pretty much all really suck, so at least I've achieved a certain dingy consistency which can't be said of most of the work I've seen on this site.
(dammit!)

I will post a few more pictures later for those who have that certain morbid curiosity, but they ain't all that good.

I'll have to go back.

 

[hendriphile]

A fun thread - I'm sure many of us would love to visit Cuba.

Being an "f/8 and be there" rather than a "Group f/64" kind of guy, I'd probably take kit #1 and one lens.... now as to the 35 vs the 50, there's the rub!

 

[literiter]

I live in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, about a 15 minute drive from the Banff Park.

I look out my front window and see the famous (for Canada) "Three Sisters" mountains. If I wish to photograph some fantastic mountain scenes I literally step out my front door.

The beauty of being so close to your source is of course if you didn't bring the right camera today well there is always tomorrow. You get a little frivolous in your choices of camera sometimes.

Going to a place like Cuba, you can't take the whole cupboard full of goodies, but instead must distill the whole thing down to something that must fit, for the most part, in carry on luggage. This creates enormous stresses on the sensibilities of a gadget freak such as myself.

I can really see the justification for taking a good digital point and shoot like the Canon G11 (or maybe that nice little Sony NEX 7) which alleviates the bulk and hassle of film, saving room for some sort of entertainment device, like a book in the carry on.