Going Travelling: What Camera and What Film?

[greywind]

In January 2014 My girlfriend and I will be going travelling to Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and New Zealand for 3 months.

I wanting a rangefinder for around £200 for the trip. I've been learning with a Zenit E for the past year and recently I bought a Fed-3, although I've not been bowled over by it.

I was thinking of a Contax G1 or, maybe, a Yashica Electro 35 GSN.

I would like a Minolta CLE or Contax G2 but they're a little out of my price range. From reading the Contax forum there doesn't seem a world of difference between the G1 and G2.

The Yashica Electro 35 GSN got a lot of praise in blogs I was reading whilst researching this question.

Also, what film do you recommend. I like taking black and white photographs so I was going to take Ilford FP4 125, HP5 400 and a few Delta 3200 for shooting in the late evening, although I've not used this film before. Colour wise, I was going to take some Portra 400 but mostly Lomography 100. I don't know what people think of the Lomography 100 but it seemed to get pretty good reviews online. Portra is too expensive to make it the bulk of my colour film.

I'm travelling for 90 days, so I was going to take around 40-45 roles of film. I'm not going to be shooting all the time and I might be able to pick some up over there if I have too.

What do people think about ratios? I want 25 b/w and 20 colour to take.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

GW

 

[jwicaksana]

Why not consider visiting Indonesia? I can even provide the films you need or show places that sell them.
Moving on, does it have to be a rangefinder? Reliability wise newer is almost always better but of course there's that mechanical vs electronic debate. If you favor RF for its compactness, you should Canonet QL17. Yashica Electro series while fun to use are not small.

 

[Bingley]

It's not clear whether you're looking just at fixed lens RFs or RFs with interchangeable lenses. For fixed lens, I'd consider the Canonet QL17 or even a Rollei 35. The Konica Auto II has a terrific and fast lens and is pretty robust, although on the large size for an RF.

For interchangeable lens cameras, look at Canon RFs from the late 50s/early 60s, e.g Canon P, Canon 7, and similar models. very robust, quality cameras within your price range. Put a 35 or 50 on it, and you're good to go.

I'd strongly recommend taking a small camera for back-up regardless. I defer to others on film choice for Asia. I prefer Tri-X and TMax 400 for bw, and Portra 400 for color.

 

[greywind]

Why not consider visiting Indonesia? I can even provide the films you need or show places that sell them.
Moving on, does it have to be a rangefinder? Reliability wise newer is almost always better but of course there's that mechanical vs electronic debate. If you favor RF for its compactness, you should Canonet QL17. Yashica Electro series while fun to use are not small.

Unfortunately, it's all planned so we can't go to Indonesia.

I wanted to take a film camera. My girlfriend has a DSLR, although she thinks I should take a digital but then I decent smallish one of them will probably go over my budget.

It's compactness I was looking for.

 

[greywind]

It's not clear whether you're looking just at fixed lens RFs or RFs with interchangeable lenses. For fixed lens, I'd consider the Canonet QL17 or even a Rollei 35. The Konica Auto II has a terrific and fast lens and is pretty robust, although on the large size for an RF.

For interchangeable lens cameras, look at Canon RFs from the late 50s/early 60s, e.g Canon P, Canon 7, and similar models. very robust, quality cameras within your price range. Put a 35 or 50 on it, and you're good to go.

I'd strongly recommend taking a small camera for back-up regardless. I defer to others on film choice for Asia. I prefer Tri-X and TMax 400 for bw, and Portra 400 for color.

To be honest, I'm not bothered either way. I was going to take only one lens. I like 50mm lenses but I'd consider in between 35mm and 50mm.

The Canonet QL17 came up a bit and now here twice, I'll look into it.

The Canon 7s I found on eBay broke to budget once a lens was taken into consideration.

 

[Spicy]

Would probably be better to research where you can buy film over there (or look into having a local member buy some for you and prep it for a pickup), since 45 rolls is a decent amount of luggage space, not even addressing the To X Ray Or Not To X Ray debate.

Also, do you want interchangeable lenses? The Canonets have a good reputation for reliable, easy to use, high quality lenses. You could probably pick up two nice ones for €200, either one color one B&W or just to have one as a spare.

Regarding film, TMax 400 is a great general use film, since you can push it to 1600 super easily and have very little effect. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could push it to 3200 and still probably have comparable quality to TMax 3200. I bet Ilford's modern t-grain offering (can never remember which one it is) has similar flexibility.

Color choices are a bit more complex, in my opinion, but when I did 2 weeks backpacking around Thailand and Cambodia, I shot a lot of Lucky 100 color (cheap Chinese film) and really liked the color palette (the semi-faded look suits the environment quite nicely). Additionally though, some of the greens/blues I shot on some Fuji that I brought were excellent as well -- both ProFotoXL 100 and Superia 400.

 

[philipaloft]

My recommendation might not get much general support, but it's based on a fair amount of extended and rough travel, including 20,000 miles around Sth.America. I've hauled medium format, Noblex 150 etc. Not again.
Don't encumber yourself - keep it simple.
I'd suggest getting two little Rollei 35s. Go for Tessar lens - although you might get a Sonnar . Keep one set aside for the Delta 3200 ( shoot it at 1600 ) for evenings and indoors. Even old ones seem to have functioning meters but I'd get a separate handheld, which are cheap these days.
I said two ( which is possible within your budget ) because you're less likely to be devastated by theft , loss or mechanical failure. It's worth noting that with care, those rollei 35s can be disassembled and worked on more easily than most.
Pretty sure you need to cock the shutter before sliding the lens back into the body. These cameras were designed by Rollei specifically with repair and maintenance in mind.
Plus it's a small and non-threatening camera to use in public places.
Plus they're sharp.
The fixed focal length might be a blessing when traveling because you can enjoy being a tourist while quickly learning what will and won't work as a photograph.
Philip

 

[greywind]

Would probably be better to research where you can buy film over there (or look into having a local member buy some for you and prep it for a pickup), since 45 rolls is a decent amount of luggage space, not even addressing the To X Ray Or Not To X Ray debate.

Also, do you want interchangeable lenses? The Canonets have a good reputation for reliable, easy to use, high quality lenses. You could probably pick up two nice ones for €200, either one color one B&W or just to have one as a spare.

Regarding film, TMax 400 is a great general use film, since you can push it to 1600 super easily and have very little effect. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could push it to 3200 and still probably have comparable quality to TMax 3200. I bet Ilford's modern t-grain offering (can never remember which one it is) has similar flexibility.

I never thought of other people getting it for me. I'll look into buying it over there and see if they have decent stuff. But I don't want to be going out of the way a lot and spending a day looking for the place.

I like the idea of taking two cameras, one black and white and one colour.

I wasn't going to develop my own film, I've never done it before and I wasn't going to start on my travelling photos. I was thinking of sending it to Ilford to be developed.

 

[niels christopher]

Have you considered an Olympus XA? They are quite cheap, very small and feature a decent (fixed) 35mm f/2.8 Zuiko lens. Plus it's a proper Rangefinder. I probably would not go on a journey like yours with the XA being the only camera in my bag, but they really don't cost a lot, so you could get one as backup or second camera. 🙂

 

[greywind]

Have you considered an Olympus XA? They are quite cheap, very small and feature a decent (fixed) 35mm f/2.8 Zuiko lens. Plus it's a proper Rangefinder. I probably would not go on a journey like yours with the XA being the only camera in my bag, but they really don't cost a lot, so you could get one as backup or second camera. 🙂

Nope but I'll check it out.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

In your shoes, traveling for 90 days and shooting film... I'd take a Canonet with, and would try to get my hands on either another Canonet or a Konics S2. They're both robust and reliable cameras, and very portable.

Film... I don't see the practicality of taking so many different types. I travel often and usually take at most two types, one slow and one fast (that can also be pushed two stops if needed). Both in black and white and color. You don't want to have a roll of film ruined because you forgot to adjust the meter to a new ISO when loading a fresh roll in your camera.

So, take a Canonet for color film (have you considerered transparency?) and another camera for B&W (here I'd pick T-Max or Tri-X or HP5 or FP4). If it's going to be very sunny, consider a relatively slow film. If not, go for the faster stuff.

For family and work reasons, I travel somewhat often. I've learned that the least you carry with, the happier you'll be. For my last trip, I just took my Fuji X100 and a Leica M5 with a Summilux 35mm. Sure, I also took a 90mm lens, but I used it only a few times. Most of my shooting was done with wide-angles, and I am pleased with the results.

Best of luck shopping and hope you enjoy the experience!

 

[konicaman]

A Canon P fitted with an FSU lens? I use Industar 61, Jupiter 8 and 12 (the newer models of the 12 will fit) on the P.

 

[philipaloft]

And as to your film.
I'd suggest isolating your Delta 3200 and having it in a separate ziplock.
It's always worked for me, if you can quickly say " my bag is full of regular film that'll be fine, - it's just this high-speed stuff that'll fog ".
The fact that you're not being neurotic about all film will usually get it hand inspected.
Philip

 

[stompyq]

Fixed lens RF's I would pick would be

Canonet QL17 III
Konica auto S3
Minolta Himatic 7sII

I have tried all 3 (still have the canonet) and all are significantly smaller than the Yashica Electro 35 GSN. I would even argue that all three are better interms of image quality vs the Yashica also. Frankly if your considering the yashica even a Olympus OM-1/2 would be smaller.

If you want even smaller I would get the Olympus 35RF which is a phenomenal small RF. Although good I feel you might be too limited by the XA or the Rollei 35's

Also have you ever tried the lomography stuff? why not stick with portra 400? buy as many as you can and make up the rest with b&w film. If you want cheap color film (although a notch below the portra in my eyes) then try Fuji superia X-tra 400. I've had good luck with it and it's dirt cheap if you buy it off ebay

 

[mfogiel]

If you want something reliable for this money, get a Nikon F3 with a 35/2 lens and a couple of spare batteries, this will keep you going.
As to film, make it simple, you are in the UK, so get HP5+ and if you really want colour, Portra 400. I would skip colour, this will avoid you the temptation to produce the millionth postcard like images. Expose Portra at 200 and HP5+ between 200 and 1600, then take notes on the canisters. When you return, you can develop B&W to measure. A slightly less robust, byt smaller alternative with a great lens, would be a Pentax ME Super with a M 50/1.4.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Great travel plan and respect for decision to use film!

Zenit E is the brick to travel with, IMO. FED 3 might quit in the middle of the trip.

My travel film camera #1 is Olympus XA. Extremely well built camera, very durable and it will serve you on two common LR44 batteries for entire trip. XA lens is sharp at 2.8 and gives very nice colors. At 35mm focal length it works very well for scale focusing at f5.6 and smaller, but RF patch is handy for precise focusing at f2.8.
This is extremely small, fast to operate, yet capable 35mm camera.

As alternative to 50mm lens ,135 film camera, I would suggest to look at half-frame camera. Like Oly Pen EE. You will need twice less film, it makes noticeable price difference for color film. Plus, you don't have to change film often.

For b/w film I would suggest to buy bulk loader, empty cassettes and any 400 ISO bulk film.
Probably same price as 20-25 individually packed film and huge savings in short period of time anyway.

You could push 400 film to 1600 and it is enough for low light pictures. XA has small detachable flash also.

 

[taemo]

when I went to the Philippines for 2 weeks in August, i was planning on bringing the QL17 GIII and the Xpan.
ended up bringing just the Xpan only because I also had the X100s and X-Pro1 with me.
if I was 100% film shooter, I would have definitely brought the QL17 along the Xpan as it's smaller, inexpensive and great 40mm lens. plus it has shutter priority mode.
another great thing about the QL17 is that you can shoot it full time manual without batterys as it is only for metering.

for film, I use velvia/provia for landscape, for general shooting I like Portra 400, but lately I've been shooting Gold 200 and 400 as they are cheap compared to Portra

 

[greywind]

In your shoes, traveling for 90 days and shooting film... I'd take a Canonet with, and would try to get my hands on either another Canonet or a Konics S2. They're both robust and reliable cameras, and very portable.

Film... I don't see the practicality of taking so many different types. I travel often and usually take at most two types, one slow and one fast (that can also be pushed two stops if needed). Both in black and white and color. You don't want to have a roll of film ruined because you forgot to adjust the meter to a new ISO when loading a fresh roll in your camera.

So, take a Canonet for color film (have you considerered transparency?) and another camera for B&W (here I'd pick T-Max or Tri-X or HP5 or FP4). If it's going to be very sunny, consider a relatively slow film. If not, go for the faster stuff.

For family and work reasons, I travel somewhat often. I've learned that the least you carry with, the happier you'll be. For my last trip, I just took my Fuji X100 and a Leica M5 with a Summilux 35mm. Sure, I also took a 90mm lens, but I used it only a few times. Most of my shooting was done with wide-angles, and I am pleased with the results.

Best of luck shopping and hope you enjoy the experience!

Looks like the Canonet is leading the pack.

I've not considered transparency.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[greywind]

And as to your film.
I'd suggest isolating your Delta 3200 and having it in a separate ziplock.
It's always worked for me, if you can quickly say " my bag is full of regular film that'll be fine, - it's just this high-speed stuff that'll fog ".
The fact that you're not being neurotic about all film will usually get it hand inspected.
Philip

Thanks for the tip!

 

[taemo]

^you will not regret a canonet, i used to have the QL17, sold it, regretted it so I bought a QL17 III now.
another great feature of the QL17 is the quick loading, making it easy and fast to load film