Going to Paris - what to bring ^2

[kaiyen]

Hi all,
So I'm headed out to Paris next month (I know it'll be cold) for my first real vacation of my entire life. I found this prior thread about what to bring.

I'm thinking along the lines of bringing less rather than more. A lot less, in fact. Right now, I'm thikning just my Canonet 17 with a lot of film. However, my only reservation is the lack of a wider lens. I don't have an interchangeable RF system other than my Fed 3a. I suppose that, if I can verify the light-tightness of the shutter (I had one aberrant frame on my 2 test rolls so far), I could get a wider LTM lens and keep that camera with me _just_ for that purpose.

Thoughts? I will probably have my wife bring along a digital p&s that we'll borrow from a friend.

allan

 

[SolaresLarrave]

See to take another small rangefinder, just to have the fun of loading one with B&W and one with color film. I'd favor slightly fast stuff, like ISO 400, mostly because of the moody weather you'll encounter.

Don't worry, the 40mm lens of the Canonet will do for you. It's a strange focal length... but it does work wonders! Besides, the Canonet is a resilient little camera that can be turned into an entirely manual apparatus should batteries fail.

And yes, be ready for that nasty inconvenience. Carry a spare battery with you always!

As for film... my choice has always been slide, but there are some very fine print films you can find, like the Kodak Supra (although I'm not sure if it's discontinued). In other words, Allan, DON'T go for supermarket film! A trip like this deserves good stuff, so treat yourself to Fuji Reala (however slow... you may have sunny days, and, besides, shooting a mirrorless rangefinder at slow speeds is precisely the reason we like them), and some high end fast-ish stuff from Kodak or Fuji.

I've been dreaming of doing this... but I'd carry my Leicas with. Probably too much, but never all at once!

I'm you-know-how with envy... 😱

Have a nice trip! 🙂

 

[cp_ste.croix]

take me and i'll bring and carry all the cameras!

in all honesty, go with equipment you know and enjoy using...it will vastly improve your hit rate and you can spend time photographing rather than fiddling. If it were me, I'd take the ql17 and maybe a TLR if you have one...or, if you have a standard lens for the FED, take that and a wide and forge the ql17. I personally find myself more often going longer than shorter...

I like B&W film (Delta 100, and APX 100...still working on a fav 400) and Fuji for colour slides...and always take more than you'll need. Of course you can also pick some up while you are there to avoid running out. I'd take a mix of 100 and 400 with the knowledge that i can push the 400 if necessary.


most importantly, have a great time and remember the pics you take in your mind's eye will always trump anything a camera can take. Sometimes i put the caera away just so I can enjoy the moment free from any deciciveness...

 

[kaiyen]

Thanks for the input. Don't worry about me and film. I don't ever use supermarket stuff. I'll probably bring a cr*pload of TXT, plus some Delta 3200 for some super fast stuff if needed. Plus some Astia and I'll be set.

I have been thinking about bringing my Yashicamat, but I gotta see if my wife is cool with me carrying that around. Not that it's heavy or bulky but...one never knows.

I'll go test out the fed 3a some more. If it works, then perhaps I'll bring that as my other camera (so I can have both color and b&w).

thanks!
allan

 

[Pherdinand]

bring someone that can speak french 😀

 

[Aperture]

Be sure to bring a Michelin guide to find to perfect place to eat after long a day of photographing. Can honestly recommend "Aux Lyonnais".......perfect food!
Most of all have fun and soak up the atmosphere of this great city.

 

[jrong]

Don't worry about bringing tripods, they are not allowed in most public places in Paris anyway. Would be a good idea to bring lots of fast film. 😉

Jin

 

[Pherdinand]

Try one of those "bistro"s for a diner. Chez Janou is a good one, it's close to the 'place des vosges'. But there are amny more around.

And camera gear, keep it simple and lightweight.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Allan, if you're thinking about bringing your own Ilford film, you can find it over there for about the same price you can find it here in the U.S.; I didn't see Delta 3200 readily available, though, but lots of HP5+, Delta 400, FP4+. Not hard to find a FNAC (the "equivalent" of the Best Buy in the U.S.) or other photo shops where you can find good film. Don't get it developed there, unless you have lots of money to burn!

I think your Canonet is good enough. Use your P&S as your color camera, and the Canonet as your B&W camera, if this is all you're limited to.

The really wide lenses would be of benefit in places like churches (i.e. Notre Dame), or if you want to take wide cityscapes. Perhaps you'll find the 40mm lens wide enough, who knows.

I only used my 15mm and 17mm lenses at "true" focal length a couple of times. I used the 28mm and 50mm focal lengths (real and "effective" -- don't ask) primarily, both times I was there.

I think 3200 is overkill, unless you're going to be shooting indoors in the evening a lot, or at night outside a lot. 800 seemed to be a nice compromise, but the mostly-overcast days will call for no more than 400 speed outdoors.

And just a few tips, although the times may see bigger crowds: for best light, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, late afternoon (you'll see), Sacre Coeur, mid-morning or late evening, and Louvre, noon or evening. If you're going to Versailles, get there early; it's also nice to have a pic-nic there.

Enjoy!

 

[pstevenin]

Come and see me !
I can give you some insider adresses. Do not buy films, we've got some great providers here (I'll provide you with correct address) Even large distributors like FNAC have their pro-films stocked into a fridge.

Probably take with you a small tripod, may be useful for architecture stuff.

You normaly don't have the right to use it in regular museums, or even in the street. I ALWAYS use it whenever I want to. No problem on public sites sometimes on museums you may get caught and asked politely not to use it, end of story.

Any helps?

 

[jdos2]

When I went to Portugal, I brought:

Leica MP
35mm ASPH Summilux
50mm Noctilux
90mm Summicron ASPH AA
135mm Elmarit.

Yellow/orange filters for the 'Lux and the... Um... 'lux, along with ND filters (8x!)

Film:
LOTS of hand rolled Tri-x (shot at 1250/1600 for Diafine)
LOTS of hand rolled Pan-F (shot at 80)
6 rolls of Fuji 100 speed color.

I had planned my photography around the Portuguese delight in spending evenings together en-masse in restaurants, and I wasn't let down by the film/lens combo.

Sadly, I didn't use the 90mm ASPH AA except once, and that was a comparison shot. The 35mm wasn't quite wide as I'd have liked.
I shot all the color, and most of the B&W, and I was quite happy with the results.

If I were to do Medium Format, I'd do it again with the Mamiya 7, or if I didn't want to buy camera gear, the Mamiya Universal with the 50mm, 100mm (f/2.8) and 250mm (f/5), lenses, with two 6x7 backs.

Take up pstevenin on his offer- and remember that FNAC can do development in a day, if you don't want to worry about X-rays.

Have fun. Bom chance!

 

[julianphotoart]

Bring something to keep your cameras SECURE if you're anywhere even near the underground/subway.

 

[pstevenin]

That's partly right. but I go on metro for years with an M6 with no problem at all. Perhaps with a heavy nikon gear you may be an attraction, but mostly Paris and it's subway is a safe place (that's definetely not true on suburb's) Just be prudent on most visited places by the tourists like tour eiffel, trocadéro, etc... (but honestly even there...)

The basic idea is to avoid the tourist look (but it is tightly coupled with a M mood isn't it?). And most of people there speaks rough english (like me by the way), at least in Paris.

 

[nomade]

Trying to be as light as possible is a great idea, because carrying a lot of stuff often makes u nervous and adds more confusion that u don't need in a trip when u r supposed to have fun and relax, i'd also go for the suggestion of carrying a couple of cameras, one loaded with B&W, and the other with Color.

I envy you, but probably i'll be there next summer...😀

Bon voyage...

 

[CJP6008]

Bring a book of photographs by Robert Doisneau for inspiration, some comfortable shoes (Paris is not that big and much can easily be enjoyed on foot) and whatever camera gear you feel you can carry without being burdensome but that will allow you to do justice to that wonderful city. Do keep a keen eye out on the pavement, Parisians are dog lovers (although the pavements are washed almost daily - London take note!). Prepare yourself for excellent food and fine wine. Do bear in mind that your steak, although appearing so rare that a good vet could have it back on its feet, will be great. (I guess I am a Francophile Brit at heart!)

To avoid looking like a tourist avoid the usual pitfalls - those bright white sneakers apparently so beloved of citizens of the US, tee shirts and hats that have obviousy been bought from a tourist shop, the sort of thing that say "Paris" on and such like. Avoid fumbling about with vast wads of Euros in the street. A Euro is worth about a Dollar - easy (although I suspect it might buy you rather less...!)

One final thought - to our delicate European ears, the conversations of Americans are conducted at a volume that we barely argue at (Italians excepted) and seem very loud. A sure way to attract attention is to be the loudest people in the place!

Have a fantastic time!

C

 

[kaiyen]

Gabriel,
Thanks for the info. Just for the record, the Canonet isn't the only camera I have, it's just that I want to keep it simple. I could bring my Nikon SLR kit, or my TLR, or some old folders, or even my 5x7 (well, not really), but I want to keep it small and compact. The Canonet fits the bill. Obviously I'd _prefer_ an interchangeable system, but I don't have the money for the body _and_ lenses.

Thanks for the info on what focal lengths you use (and don't worry, I got the absolute and relative thing down after too many discussions on photo.net and dpreview). That kind of practical information is very helpful.

Good suggestions from you and ptstevenin on buying film there. I handroll my TXT and may prefer to use that anyway (I got 400 feet of it...), but it's good to know there is film there. I'll decide on how much film to bring shortly beforehand, perhaps. I got the flexibility.

I _do_ shoot in some seriously low light quite often, so the Delta 3200 will be there with me. TXT for everything else. Everything 🙂.

I'm not too worried about the x-ray issue, to be honest. I'll be able to get the handcheck on the way there (at least, I have never had an issue getting one in a US airport on about 10 trips now), and I am not that concerned if I ran the film through a check-in machine just one time. I've sent exposed Delta 3200 through it 3x without incident.

And pstevenin - I would like to take you up on your offer, if it works out okay. It's very nice of you. I'll drop you a PM...

thanks to everyone. for a first vacation ever it seems like it'll be nice.
allan

 

[sockeyed]

I was going to say something like, black and white in Paris has been done to death, but the truth is, there really isn't a lot of colour there in the later fall, and the skies are kind of milky or grey. So, in many way, B&W really does suit Paris. I would be tempted to just take Tri-X. If you process film yourself, there are ways to get great results from 200 to 3200 - just do a bit of research here on the forum. I think that you could have great fun with just a Canonet and Tri-X.

I would recommend getting a copy of the Michelin map book Paris-Plan and just walking in the streets; there's no better way to see Paris. And don't forget, if you buy metro tickets in packs of 10 (un carnet), you get a discount.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I think you were onto something when you were thinking of a wide angle and I mean wider than 35mm. Paris is a great city and friendly people have fun.

Bob

 

[P C Headland]

I'd bring along the Yashica TLR as well if at all possible. For some reason, TLRs seem to make people relax, maybe because it is more obviously an old camera, and you get those nice big negatives. You can run ISO400 in this, and have the higher speed film in you RF. Perfect combination.

As already said, you can use a tripod if you're sensible, and a little table-top one (or similar) is unobtrusive for outdoor use, and you can rest it on a bridge or railing.

I've done quite a bit of travel, often bringing along just the one focal length, and found in many ways it is quite liberating.

Avoid the tourist restaurants, look for those in non-obvious places - that is where you get the best food for the money. Practice you yes/no/please/thank-you/I'm sorry I don't speak French (in French!) and you should find most people are more than friendly.

Enjoy!

Paul

 

[kaiyen]

Hm. Okay - what are my lens options for wider than 35mm that will work with my fed? I know I could get a CV lens (the 28mm maybe?) but I don't know if my wife will agree to that price. I know there is a 35mm FSU lens (I forget which one, but ebay will find it for me...). Are there FSU lenses wider than 35mm?

The good news is that, other than a wider lens, I have just about all the stuff that people are recommending. table top tripod, TLR, mad quantities of film, develop my own, etc. So with very little extra expense I can get what I need, if I decide I need something else.

And I think I remember enough from my 6 years of french to handle most situations. The sad part is that I don't remember more...

allan