Going to India, what to take, gearwise? The agony of choice...

[Ronald_H]

In a few weeks I will go on a business trip to India. We are going to see how our outsourcing team works there. Which will be EXACTLY the same as in Europe no doubt 🙄

I do not have specifics yet on where we will stay, but obviously I will take photographic gear with me. Other details than it will be film based I don't know yet.

The main question is to go Leica RF or Nikon SLR. My M2 is in user shape, but was still pretty expensive and I don't feel comfortable dragging it all the way to India. On the other hand, for the shooting opportunities we are likely to encounter, it might be the best choice.

On the other hand, I have a closet full of servicable Nikons and more lenses to choose from. And the cams have a meter on board.

So the possibilities:

Leica M2 + 35 & 50mm
Nikon FM + 28 and 50mm

A back-up compact would also be nice. I'd prefer the Canonet GIII QL17 but I have to fix the gummy seals first. That leaves the Olympus Mju-II. Added advantage is built in flash, however dreadful flash pics often look.

Id' love to take the Yashica Mat 124 as well. it's recently CLA'd and MF + that Yashinon lens give breathtaking results in a relatively small package. But I fear it might be too impractical.

Choices, choices... and I did not even discuss film. But there I'd probably use FP4+ / HP5+ for B/W and Ektar 100 for color, with Superia 400 in the Mju-II

 

[payasam]

The varieties of film you name are difficult or impossible to find in India.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

With a Leica: go STEALTH!

 

[gavinlg]

Nikon personally.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Ronald,

Leica. The value of the Leica shouldn't matter if it's in carry-on baggage and with you, ad it's smaller and lighter. Most of the pictures here were taken with Leicas: http://www.semiadventuroustraveler.com/semi india1.html.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I spent two years going to and fro on a contract in India.
First, the only film you're likely to find will be basic consumer Kodak colour print film. Anything else you may desire you need to take with you.
I took a P&S digital for colour and a Bessa R3A for B&W with 25mm, 40mm and 75mm lenses. (My primary interest is mono/film). Didn't use the 75mm much, so your thoughts on M2 with 35mm and 50mm are probably about right.
I used a VCII meter one time when I took my IIIf. It worked fine but nowhere near as convenient as the Bessa metering.
As for cameras, my advice is to keep it light, compact and useable. I'd suggest rangefinder, lens hood and an inconspicuous bag to hold it plus spare film.
India is colourful and chaotic but also lends itself to B&W images. It's late winter there and likely not to be too hot

 

[Renzsu]

Go Leica.. what use is a camera if you're afraid of using it.. just tape off the logo's if you're concerned about theft. Use a strong strap and give it a nice workout 🙂
Second camera to bring would be the Olympus I think.. good to have a small point and shoot, perhaps load one with ISO 400 and the other with ISO 100 film? Or like suggested above, one for b/w and one for colour?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Go Leica.. what use is a camera if you're afraid of using it.. just tape off the logo's if you're concerned about theft. Use a strong strap and give it a nice workout 🙂

While I completely agree with your first and third points, I don't agree with the second. Is a thief going to stop and read the logo? Hardly! One of the things about being a thief is that everything if free -- at least if you're successful.

Cheers,

R.

 

[craygc]

Been there on a business trip and squeezed in the photography time. Took my M2, 21mm, 35mm & 90mm, and a compact P&S - Fujifilm Klasse W. Although I used the 21mm and the 90mm, in all honesty I could have easily survived with just the 35mm + the Klasse W. As mentioned previously, take your own film. In Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi (all one trip) I ran 400 speed film through carry on scanners with no issues. I have subsequently thought about using an SLR but certainly not on a business trip (carrying too much other stuff) and even on my own time I think I would rather carry the Leica + the Mamiya 7II. The SLR and the lenses are just too bulky to be worth the effort in my opinion.

 

[johannielscom]

Go Leica.. what use is a camera if you're afraid of using it.. just tape off the logo's if you're concerned about theft. Use a strong strap and give it a nice workout 🙂
Second camera to bring would be the Olympus I think.. good to have a small point and shoot, perhaps load one with ISO 400 and the other with ISO 100 film? Or like suggested above, one for b/w and one for colour?

+1

Use a wrist strap on the M2 and keep it in your hand (no dangling!). It's small enough for most people not even noticing its a camera. Keep the Olympus in your pocket and shoot that indoors or at night.

Don't buy film over there, its still a second world country and you can expect film to be of lesser quality than in the EU and US, unless you have a trusty dealer.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

In cases such as this - having maybe obtained two or three pages of differing advice e.g. - "well - I would take XXXX"...."No I'd rather travel with YYYYYY", who's pearls of wisdom do you abide by - for god's sake? or do you start another thread entitled - 'which honarable member should I emulate?'
Dave ( in rainy, grumpy, Saturday morning mood )

 

[markwatts]

Dave,

Feeling grumpy with the weather was one of the many reasons I left the UK nearly 20 years ago. Below freezing here but crystal clear blue skies and sunshine<s>

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Dave,

Feeling grumpy with the weather was one of the many reasons I left the UK nearly 20 years ago. Below freezing here but crystal clear blue skies and sunshine<s>

Yes!...but do you know which bloody camera to take out? 😀

 

[markwatts]

Look, It is Saturday night. I've just had a long day at work in sub-zero temperatures. Don't ask bloody difficult questions. Of course I don't<s>.

Have a good weekend

 

[xxloverxx]

I haven't used an M2, but I've tried an M3…needless to say it was amazing.

I do, however, have an FM and use it with a 50 1.4 as my main camera, which goes around everywhere with me. And I'll say that just casual walking around for a few hours, the FM soon gets very heavy; not to mention that it's pretty big.

So I'd suggest:
M2 kit, because it's smaller than the Nikon set, and it's easier to handhold slow shutter speeds

At least 1 roll of film per day if you're going to be shooting a lot. I've never gone out of the country with film as my only option, but my grandpa told me that when he travelled, regardless of the format he was shooting, he went with "1 roll per day, 1 roll spare (just in case)". You didn't mention how long you're going to stay, but I'm guessing if it's more than 2 weeks it's going to be a real hassle to bring all that film.

I'd shoot 400 film all the way, just to avoid flash and still be able to shoot comfortably in dim lighting. I used to shoot Superia 400, but then I tried Pro 400H and like it more. Bit more expensive though.
Haven't tried any true B&W films (only C41), so I can't comment on your choice of Ilford.

I'd take the Canonet over the Olympus, because of the lens.
Depending on the environment you'll be in, the Yashicamat may or may not be worth it. But then remember you'll have to carry another format of film for that…and you're gonna have to get it hand inspected at the airport…

 

[Ronald_H]

In cases such as this - having maybe obtained two or three pages of differing advice e.g. - "well - I would take XXXX"...."No I'd rather travel with YYYYYY", who's pearls of wisdom do you abide by - for god's sake? or do you start another thread entitled - 'which honarable member should I emulate?'
Dave ( in rainy, grumpy, Saturday morning mood )

Maybe because I just like the answers and thoughts of my fellow honourable RFF members no matter how diverse?

Btw, I'll take a small over the shoulder Domke bag. This will hold 2 lenses + cam + one extra item like the Olympus. I'll bring my own film. I just bought a huge stash in many exciting flavors. I indeed plan on loading one cam with B/W, the other with color.

I do not worry unduly about theft ( I walked with my M2 through Amsterdam many times 😀) but more about the age of the M2 and the opportunities to lose or damage it so far from home.

As for metering, I have a Gossen Digiflash. It is nasty in many ways, but small and generally accurate enough for what I do.

 

[Rayt]

It depends on what you want to shoot. If you are going to shoot the forts for example then medium format would be nice. If you going to do street photography then I'd recommend a fast 50mm to isolate the subject from the crowds. For subject matter that is clearly overdone I would try something different like shooting with just a Noctilux (or equivalent) at F1 or Hasselblad SWC for example.

 

[marduk]

Btw, I'll take a small over the shoulder Domke bag. This will hold 2 lenses + cam + one extra item like the Olympus. I'll bring my own film. I just bought a huge stash in many exciting flavors. I indeed plan on loading one cam with B/W, the other with color.

I do not worry unduly about theft ( I walked with my M2 through Amsterdam many times 😀) but more about the age of the M2 and the opportunities to lose or damage it so far from home.

I second what Leigh said - pack light. Take the M2 kit, unless you have special preference for a SLR, because it's more compact and easier to handhold.
I've been to south India two times, first with M3 + DR Cron and Bronica SQ-Ai and second time with two M3s, a handful of lenses and a Rollei. I found that shooting square format is not up to my liking for most scenes in India, I was typically reaching for it near the ocean or backwaters or in the tea hills. I used Leica at all other times, with 35mm lens being most used and 50 and 25 somewhat less. If I took less gear I wouldn't have to worry a little but about leaving it in the hotel rooms. Though I mostly stayed in the homestays which I knew and trusted. Enjoy your trip.

 

[hans voralberg]

Take what you're comfy with, I've lug my camera from M8, RD-1 to Mamiya 7 through most of South and South East Asia, they're all there. The only thing that broke on me once is my 35mm Cron!

 

[peter_n]

Both cams are small, I would take whichever you think is most reliable. Personally I'd lean to the Leica. Take lots & lots of B&W film - good for India. One of my kids is in Mumbai for a three week graduate school project and she's sending back crap color pics from her digi P&S. She knows how to take pictures too which is the annoying part.