Going to Paris, etc...

Thanks for all the great advice. I've made a list and will try to visit many of the places mentioned.
Gear-wise, I'm going to go with the MP and 50 'cron, as well as my OM-3 and a 28 & 85 (ok , the 50mm 1.4 also). I'm leaving the evil DSLR at home, the iPhone 3GS will have to suffice as my digital. based on the comments above, I've added some film to my bag - probably 15 rolls for 8 days, I tend to over pack anyway.

I had an attack of GAS this morning and went to my favorite "Ye Olde Camera Shoppe", looking for a 35 2.0 'Cron or a 35 ZM Biogon. They did have the 'Cron, but the price to weight ratio was too high for a last minute purchase. They did not have the Biogon in stock.

I tried out the Bare-Bones bag on a 750 mile road trip to Wisconsin yesterday (13 hours driving - don't ask) . It's great, I would make 2 changes (I will talk to Stephen) first, better/stronger Velcro on the flaps, or sew in a buckle/clip like the Domke F-803. Second, re-arrange the pockets on the inside, I'm using the central pocket for body+lens, I'd rather have 2 sections for body+lens, and a big pocket or multiple pockets for other things. i.e. I'd like to carry 2 bodies without them banging against each other. The bag itself is small in a good way, and does not scream "camera". I'd also like different fabric choices for the outer shell and flap.

Thanks again.
 
After playing around with many lenses, I know use only 24-35-60 in Paris on the M8 which is 35-50-85 equivalent. I think you will cover anything that might come up with the 50mm being the most used. Have a look at my blog on Paris as the lenses used are mentioned on each picture, it might help you visualize the situation in which these lenses are needed and some ideas for spots where to shoot. http://blog.yanidel.com
 
marcr1230 said:
I'm going to Paris next week for vacation.

it's there anything other than the obvious major landmarks and museums that is a must see ?

some thoughts on preparation:

I just received my Bare-Bones bag. it looks nice, and will hold one body and a couple lenses and accessories/film comfortably. I don't see putting more than one body in the center pocket for fear of things bumping and grinding together that shouldn't. I'm going to use it on this trip and will try to report back, to add my impressions to the endless "What's the best bag" thread

I do like the space and separation of my Domke F-803 satchel, into which I can get 2 OM's 4 lenses , a flash, accessories and film. it is a little bigger and certainly more identifiable as a camera bag - although mine is an older one w/o the DOMKE name tag.

Equipment. I'm going with my MP and 50mm 'cron. I'm also thinking of bringing my Contax IIa for which I have an 85 and a 50.

I'm kind of lacking in the wide angle dept. I'd like to bring a 35 but don't have one for either camera.

Lastly, I'm reluctant to leave my ginormous Evil DSLR at home. but it seems overkill to bring 3 cameras, after all this is vacation, not a safari.

Suggestions anyone ?
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if you want to see people, popular neigbourhood, follow the metro line n°2 , and go to the right bank, not in the very old center of the city 😉


3 cameras etc is a lot, one camera, a 24 25 and 50 mm is really enought 😉
 
Oh yes, if you go to the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, you will see the HCB exhibition, big prints with no frame nor glasses, fantastic 🙂
 
Interim report

the HCB exhibit is outstanding! All of us are probably familar with his work, but seeing full size prints is just amazing. These are not really fine art productions IMHO but never the less the tones in these are so nice and rich. Also , it's incredible that he managed to do this with the equipment, film and chemistry of the time. He was shooting HP3, Tri-x and super XX from what I was able to see from contact sheets shown in a movie style presentation. The prints are on the order of 20x30" and while you can see some grain at times, you are so focused on the images that any diminuition of quality is the last thing you would notice

What this really reinforces, as he took most/all his shots with 35mm Leicas, is that the eye behind the camera is infinately more important than the technology

with this in mind I exited the exhibit with new energy for my photography. So far I think I have shot 3 rolls and have 2 good images. Good in the wet darkroom sense that a lot of things have to have happened correctly and still do before I see the finished product.

Did the film leader catch correctly when loading? Wad the exposure in the ballpark? How was the focus? How was the composition? Any yet to come, development and printing.

I've been going out with just the MP and the 50mm 'Cron, I agree with the above posters that a 35 would perhaps have been a good or better choice. For me a small kit is easiest to work with. The Bare-bones bags is near ideal. 2 systems at the same time feels like too much. At most an extra body and lens from the sane system might be okay, but I'm not really feeling the absence.

Most important is that the camera must be out and in your hands to capture street scenes. If it's in the bag, you've already missed the shot

thanks again, I hope to keep posting (kudoes to iPhone and wifi)
and will post any successful images upon my return
 
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I greatly enjoyed spending time around Notre Dame, on Isle de la Cite. And from there, across to the left bank, in the Latin Quarter, there is a very photogenic bookstore called "shakespeare and Co." They have books in English and French, and they do speak English. Very near there is a charming, very narrow street with restaurants; a place where real French people go, not so much tourists.

I'll recommend Montmartre as a place no photographer should miss! Easily reached by the Metro, and the walk up the steps to the Sacre Cour is fun, if strenuous!

Have fun!
 
Chambre Claire gallery and bookshop 14 Rue Saint Sulpice in the 6th Arr. Great photo books there. I'd go with my Leica and 35mm lens as I have a few times but last time it was a D80 as well. Just enjoy that great city.
 
Don't miss the Pere Lachaise cemetery ! If you like old trees, abandonned and romantic tumbs, and some of celebrities, including Jim Morrison. Very nice place.

tombedetiennegaspardrobertsonprelachaise1994.jpg
 
Good advice from one of the posts: have the camera at the ready. I carried mine in hand or under my jacket so I could use it quickly. When I was there last I just took the little snaps of things that caught my attention. Google "Gary M4" and they are there on Flickr if you are curious.
 
I was there recently and only took a 50mm Rigid. This was really a dumb idea. All the architecture was way too big for the distances involved even filming off the open top tour bus! :bang:

You will need at least 35mm and 28 would be better.

If I was going tomorrow alone, I would only take a 35mm lens,
If travelling in a group I would also take a 50.
If travelling with one other person I would take a 35/90 combo.

Gadge
 
Ok, I just got back and here are my thoughts on Paris, and aspects of street photography. I will post my successful images hopefully within a weeks or so.

Photography-wise, I ended up shooting only film, with my MP and '50 Cron, aside from the iPhone for snapshots.
I like the MP, I'm still getting up to speed. RF focusing is an acquired skill.
I found that occasionally I would get confused when focusing on a object extended away from the camera, because the tip might be in focus , but the back would not be. I also sometimes confused myself when my attention was not in the RF/VF square. but off center, where everything is sharp, and I'd snap a shot thinking it was in focus, only to realize I was not looking at the RF center. finally I saw some weird effects focusing, when, due to the viewfinder/rangefinder window straddling an object like a wall or sign, I'd lose the focusing abililty. As for loading film, I'm not fast, but I'm starting to like the way the Leica film loading works, with the sprockets pulling the film into the take-up reel, without having to hitch the tongue to the take-up reel.
The MP film winding is smooth as butter, I sometimes thought the film had not caught and was not advancing, even though it always was. my OM's are pretty grindy, if I can make up a word. you hear and feel the film winding with these, not with the MP.

The Bare-Bones-Bag worked better than I thought, it's my new go-to bag for a small kit. very small and inconspicuous.

At time having a 35mm lens would have been better as some people in the thread suggested. some locations or subjects were too tight for the 50. The light was amazing, the days were long, sunlight until 10:15 pm.

I think I got some good shots, I ended up shooting an average of one roll a day, in part because I spent a lot of time inside museums, and exhibits and eating etc...

I found it hard to take some intimate Paris moments, couples kissing and such. More because of my hesitation to invade people's privacy, regardless of whether I have a right to shoot or not. maybe a 90mm lens would have helped there.

I saw thousands and thousands of people with cameras, and counted maybe 4 film cameras in the bunch. Film is gone for the masses, dead. it's kind of sad.

I found it humorous to watch endless streams of people taking the same pictures of the same sights, when a postcard would give a much better result. I tried to take interesting people and street situations, and stay away from snapping the monuments, bridges and buildings.

I was there for Bastille Day, which apparently is known as "Fete National" in France. I have ( JK) proposed changing it to "Anglo-American Appreciation Day". I saw the fireworks around the Eiffel Tower also, very impressive.

Paris is just awesome. There is culture, art and history under every cobblestone.
We saw the following museums:

Pompidou center (and Brancusi museum)
Louvre
Musee D'Orsay (Impressionists) and "See Italy and Die"
L'Orangerie (Impressionists)
Jue De Paume - Martin Parr - Parrworld
Musee D'Arte Moderne de la Ville de Paris (HCB exhibition)
Maison de la Photographie Europeanne ( HCB among others)

There was an exhibit called "See Italy and Die" at the Musee D'Orsay. it was very nice and had many early photographic techniques, Daguerrotypes and Calotypes. It would have been nice if they explained some of the early processes so people would understand what was involved in creating these images.

In general, many museums had either only French descriptions of the items displayed, or a horrific unreadable literal translation from French to English. There were some exceptions of course.


Also spent some time in the Marais and Montmarte

Restaurants we'd go back to:
Le Relais de L'Entrecote
L'As du Falafel
La Marinara (Pizza and Pasta)

We walked what seemed like 10 miles each day. it's a magical city, and hopefully I will make a return trip some day.
 
Petit fer de Cheval, 30 Rue Vieille du Temple is a small restuarant behind the bar in that street. The duck I had there was marvellous and the whole street has a lot of galleries.
Enjoy Paris and walk a lot.
 
It took me a while but I'm posting a few of my Paris shots from summer 2009

All shots taken w/Leica MP, Summicron 50, film type as noted

Bike Lady #1, in the rain, HP5
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Statue - Tuileries Garden, TMX 100
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Outside Parr-World exhibit, TMX 100
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Kids walking and Playing video games
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Synchronicity, 2TMY
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Cool Van, 2TMY
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Bicycle Lady #2, 2TMY
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Street Musicians, Tri-X
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Guitar Jesus #1, Tri-X
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Guitar Guy's Gal, Tri-X
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Guitar Jesus #2, Look at the hand, Tri-X
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Yes, I shot the entire time with a single camera and lens and in B&W
I had a backup camera which didn't leave my hotel room.
I still have a few more rolls to scan and of course would like to make wet prints

bgb said:
Nice photos and a great topic ... I'm very jealous

Did you shoot the whole trip in B&W?
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