If you had to stay abroad for months...

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magicianhisoka

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would you bring just film? Or mix it up with a digital camera?

Currently going through a mini dilemma while preparing for my exchange in Portugal. Have been shooting film exclusively for 6 months and I don't have any digital cameras left. However, I haven't been able to find much information about processing labs or the cost of film in Europe. Have considered picking up a sony nex 5n as a digital backup alongside my M2. But it just bothers me that the nex 5n can basically fund all my film needs during that time.

What would you do if you were me? I probably will be traveling far and wide in western Europe.
 
Europe is a fairly civilized place, finding a lab for most kinds of film should not be difficult. I have been living abroad for several years now, and have had no problems with film. I develop black and white film myself, and take my color film to whichever lab I can find. So far I haven't had to mail off film to get it processed. Buy enough film to last a month or two, and shoot away, most likely during that time you'll run across a few places where you can buy and process film.
 
@frontman and @ruby, sounds like I may stock up then. Since my girl has a compact, I guess we could depend on that.

@George Is there a ballpark figure for how much it costs to process a C41 roll of film in Europe?
 
magicianhisoka said:
@George Is there a ballpark figure for how much it costs to process a C41 roll of film in Europe?
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Ballpark: between 3 and 7 euro depending on where in Europe you are. For scans or prints, add 1 euro or double the price depending on where in Europe you are. C41 is pretty easy and pretty affordable in general.
 
I would seriously consider the NEX-5N. If you get an M-mount adapter, you can use all the same lenses. Digital frees you up to not worry so much about shooting and processing, and using your M lenses will help you enjoy the experience. Having used the 5N myself, I can vouch for its low-light capability as well, which also frees you up to take faster film and leave the low-light to digital (if you prefer).

I just spent two weeks in Portugal, and although I wasn't really looking very hard, I didn't come across anyplace that did film (that's not to say it doesn't exist--I'm sure it does). I also did not see a lot of folks shooting film. I'd say the M2/5N kit is a solid one, and that would be my recommendation.
 
May wind up adding a nex 5n to my kit closer to my departure date. Hoping that some new product announcement will help the price drop just a bit more. I'd rather have more money for traveling at the end of the day while still satisfying my film obsession.
 
I'm leaving in a week for a six-week trip to the UK, France and Spain. I'm taking the M3 with Summaron 35/2.8 and some C41 film. Then I'll replenish film and develop as I go, because I have seven trips through the X-Ray.
 
Take adapters for charging your digital batteries and check with the locals if there are problems with power surges (unlikely in Portugal). Best is to take with you a power bar with surge protector and a plus adapter. This gives you plenty of outlets for charging.

I've spent months in India with ONLY digital and apart from protecting against surges (VERY common there) I've never had a problem - of course I take 2 or 3 spare batteries for when I'm off the grid.

Take both film and digital - belt & braces.

Have a great time
 
IMO, the thing that is more important than a digital camera as a backup is a backup film camera. Take it from someone who lost nearly 100 rolls of film due to not one but two leicas going out of adjustment on a two month long trip. Take along something that is a proven tank, like a K1000, a Trip 35, or something of that ilk.
 
I've stayed abroad for 6 months at a time several times. I took film and only developed a few rolls. Most of it, I refrigerated after exposure then developed it when I got back home.

Phil Forrest
 
When I travel abroad I always do a quick check first to see where I can buy B+W film locally (if required). Usually when travelling around Europe I've never had any problems sourcing film. (At least in most cities and large towns - but sometimes you do have to look hard!)

I can certainly understand the argument for going digital though as once or twice I have been down to my last one or two frames before being able to buy some more film, and sometimes the choice is a little limited, but, hey, that's part of the 'thrill' of using film! 😀
 
thomasw_ said:
Looking at the developed negs from a trip would be rather a pleasant 'trip' back on the vacation memories.
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I get a real buzz when I get back home and get my rolls of film developed - always something unexpected (sometimes not always good mind!:bang🙂 and usually I find one or two 'keepers' that I totally didn't expect at the time. I really believe that with digital, the temptation to view on camera would be far too great for me to ignore and this would ruin that whole moment.

Also, with film, once the frame has been exposed, it's always there. With digital I know that I would be one of those people who would delete any shots that they didn't like almost immediately, or at least back at the hotel room. On many occasions shots that I initially dismissed as 'rubbish' have, with hindsight and viewing later on, sometimes months or years later, turned out to be real gems. I shudder when I think that I would have erased those shots had I been shooting digitally!😱
 
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