Going to Iraq....MP + 35 or 50?

Going to Iraq....MP + 35 or 50?

  • 35mm Summilux Pre-Asph

    Votes: 126 67.0%

  • 50mm Summilum ASPH

    Votes: 62 33.0%
  • Total voters
    188
You're going on a year-long reportage trip to one of the most dangerous places on earth and you're asking people on the internet to give you advice on what lens to bring? You've got airplanes flying your film in and out and you don't even know whether you want to use a 35mm or 50mm lens? Something's not right here ...
 
don't know if naos has responded to any of the enquiries regarding his visit to Iraq however like all of us he does have some small footprint here at RFF:

naos initiated threads
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1815808

naos responses to threads
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1815811

naos profile
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/member.php?u=7582

Age:26
Biography:MP .72, M6 .85, 35 'Lux (pre-asph), 50 'Lux ASPH
Location:In Limbo
Interests:photography, Hiking, Violin, Cutlery, Tri-X
Occupation: 'Peace Keeper'
Do you know your alphabet?: h

naos photographs / links
none
 
Andrew Sowerby said:
You're going on a year-long reportage trip to one of the most dangerous places on earth and you're asking people on the internet to give you advice on what lens to bring? You've got airplanes flying your film in and out and you don't even know whether you want to use a 35mm or 50mm lens? Something's not right here ...
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I'm afraid I agree. Whilst I don't necessarily think you aren't going I do think you would be going ill-prepared. Why on earth would you restrict yourself to one lens for an entire year?! Why, when a trip like this involves incredible planning would you risk so much by taking one camera one lens - I'm afraid it simply sounds like romantic tosh rather than a professional approach to an exciting, dangerous and possibly career boosting assignment.

I travel light on any assignment* but I always have a back-up camera and a small selection of lenses. If something goes t*ts-up then you'll be sat on your backside until you get an alternative arranged. It sounds to me that the "integrity of the project" may well cause serious problems as you're not allowing yourself any slack when something does happen.

If you do go I hope you get the best out of it and listen to the words of advice of those that have been out there longer than you.

* I should point out that I have not and do not wish to imply that I am in anyway some kind of war reporter type. Simply that on any assignment/job I ensure that I can get the pictures should one or other bit of my kit give up the ghost as its my reputation and consequently my dinner on the line
 
OurManInTangier said:
* I should point out that I have not and do not wish to imply that I am in anyway some kind of war reporter type. Simply that on any assignment/job I ensure that I can get the pictures should one or other bit of my kit give up the ghost as its my reputation and consequently my dinner on the line
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Spot on, I could not agree more. In the end, no one cares how you took the photo, it is the photo that counts. Clients pay me to get images, period. Like I said, best of luck to you but don't make things harder than they have to be and don't risk your career just to say you used a Leica. I love the M as well, but I love my career more. :p
 
IIRC the deal is:

• one lens
• one camera
• one film

Even NASA, uses 'redundancy', why wouldn't anyone else going on a "mission" for a year?
 
Have you covered any events or shot essays before?

I don't mean to seem snide, but I think anyone experienced in the field of reportage wouldn't even have time to sneeze at this thread. If it was a:

''Will I need a 300mm 2.8 as well?"

"Nope to heavy, maybe I'll miss a couple of shots, I'll stick to shorts' and wides'..'' Question, then maybe that would be fair enough.

Taking one extra lens that will weigh less than your receipts for having flown in all your film? Come on. I agree that you wouldn't want to change lenses unless you had to, but if you've got a spare body stick the other lens on it.

Anyway, if you really want to play falling soldiers then perhaps you would be better off asking if your bread should be white or brown.

Benjamin
 
I think this guy is a little bit unrealistic or confused. He sees himself out there like the lone cowboy- one camera, one lens, one kind of film. Very romantic indeed.

As for equipment- if you don't look local, then you will have no use for 35mm unless you are going for landscapes, cityscapes, etc. You simply wont be able to get close enough to ppl with that lens.

Personally, I would not fit in as a local, and would thus take the MP (gaffer taped up) with a 50mm or 75mm. The only camera that I know 100% that I would take with me is an Olympus Stylus Epic (sand proof) with the 35mm fixed lens. This would be both a good backup AND complement to the MP with a 50-75mm. The stylus is also very small and anonymous and won't get you any more unneeded attention on the streets.

aizan said:
canon eos-1v + 35/1.4L
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And this guy has seen War Photographer too many times....
 
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I wish that no more foreigners travel to Iraq for a few years. Allow the people there some breathing space.
 
To ease some of the curiousty I unintentionally caused I think an explanation is in order:

I am in the Military, but this project is in no way Government or Media sponsored. It is strictly a personal endeavor. I didn't want to reveal what I do for a living because I don't want politics regarding the war to get involved on a topic relating to 35mm. Because of my occupational specialty (sorry no details), I think I will be in a unique position to take some excellent reportage style photos of subjects that would otherwise be unavailable to the general media.

As I stated in a previous I'd like to only carry one body and lens because I like to travel light (I already have enough military issue to carry around on a daily basis.)

I will be sending exposed rolls and notes to my developer on a bi-weekly/monthly period. I don't intend to review any of the photo's I take until I return next year; although I've instructed my developer to contact me if any of the frames come up with abnormalities.

After my return I plan on creating a single photobook/story + camera set for my future grand children detailing tidbits about Iraq and the war, as well as some info on the camera and lens I used. In a world becoming more and more digitized, I want to pass on something that is defiantly NOT digital. Of course I will also share some photos write a user review for RFF.

I wouldn't call my MP disposable, but I do have contingency plans in place should the MP or lens kick the bucket.

My apologies to those who took my initial post the wrong way. I just wanted some help deciding which lens to take as well some practical advice.
 
the OP may not have a choice ... he lists his occupation as 'Peace Keeper' ... I may be wrong, but this strikes me as a likely euphemism for soldier and he may be doing a tour of duty there in Iraq and hence (a) not have a choice about going or not going and (b) not be able to bring along a lot of gear. (I have no idea what the restrictions might be on soldiers bringing personal items into a combat zone as far as size and weight go ...)

edit: oops, guess I was a couple of minutes late with my post! :D
 
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I still don't see why you can't find a little bit of room in your belongings for a second lens. It's not like it's an extra canon zoom.

It's pretty itty bitty.
 
cmogi10 said:
I still don't see why you can't find a little bit of room in your belongings for a second lens. It's not like it's an extra canon zoom.

It's pretty itty bitty.
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And I don't see why we refuse to accept the limitations he wants to set for himself - I think it's completely acceptable, a liberating approach to creative work. "Minutes to Midnight," Trent Parke's masterful project was done with a single 28mm lens for two years on a cross country trip with an M6.

I would take a 50mm lens, personally, and avoid wide angles; I find them overdone in photojournalist work.
 
Forget the Leica... Take protection

Forget the Leica... Take protection

And I am not thinking in terms of Condoms.

If you must take a camera, which will add to the need for protection, take a disposable camera. Nothing you take will last a year in that environment. Those little flashy yellow kodaks or green fujis will work well, if camo'd with black electrician tape.
 
lic4 said:
And I don't see why we refuse to accept the limitations he wants to set for himself - I think it's completely acceptable, a liberating approach to creative work. "Minutes to Midnight," Trent Parke's masterful project was done with a single 28mm lens for two years on a cross country trip with an M6.

I would take a 50mm lens, personally, and avoid wide angles; I find them overdone in photojournalist work.
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Sure, deciding which one lens you want to bring based on the opinion of an internet forum is very liberating and creative.

:rolleyes:
 
cmogi10 said:
Sure, deciding which one lens you want to bring based on the opinion of an internet forum is very liberating and creative.

:rolleyes:
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Play nice now....:) I'll only be using one lens for a year, so I want to see reasons for or against those I haven't already thought of. Is it a crime to ask the opinion of your peers?
 
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I'm sorry, it's nothing personal.
I just like to argue and fight.
From where I'm sitting it looks like it comes down to a focal length preference and no one knows which focal length you like using better then, well, you.

So which one do you want to bring?
 
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alan davus said:
Before you go try and get a hold of some of Wilfred Thesiger's books, especially "Arabian Sands" and "The Marsh Arabs." And if your'e really lucky his "Visions of a Nomad". He travelled and lived for years in some of the world's last remote places carrying a Leica 11 in a little goat skin bag to protect it from the sand. His photos in "Visions" depict a world now, unfortunately, changed for ever. By the way up until 1950 when he bought Elmarit 35 and 90 lenses, he only ever used a 50.
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I happen to adore Thesiger's work! It's a shame he's not with us anymore....His work with the Leica II constantly reminds me of what is possible with straight, un-edited photography.
 
Not an easy decision to make. I use a 35 and 75 together and they make a great pair. My single carry-round is the 35, but I live in a big city, a lot of subway riding and commuting in general, people in close quarters. I reckon a 35 or a 40 is best for that. In your situation if you forsee that most of your scenarios are up-close I would take the 35. But given my own experience with the 35 & 75 covering 95% of what I shoot and forced to take only one lens I'd go down the middle and take my 50/1.4 ASPH. Let's face it that lens is just amazing and I think I'd be able to step in for the up-close (and the floating element would deal with that very well) and step back for the broader view.
 
naos said:
I happen to adore Thesiger's work! It's a shame he's not with us anymore....His work with the Leica II constantly reminds me of what is possible with straight, un-edited photography.
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A fellow Thesiger devotee. All the best in Iraq mate. My recommendation, just the MP and a 50 a-la Wilfred. I spent 7 years travelling in the '70's with a manual Yashica SLR and just a 50. No regrets I didn't have a spare body and a bag full of lenses. Some times less is more.
 
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