If you were going on a trip....

[amateriat]

if travelling i always take 2 cameras as i'm way too neurotic to believe that if i take only one that it wont break down.

Funny you should mention this. As all but one of my cameras (Konica Auto S3) is electronic in origin, the one ace I hold is that all but one of the electronic models (the OM-2s which I only occasionally work with) use the same battery, which makes keeping spares much easier.

My travel set (like my working set) is usually my Hexar RF system, sometimes with my Ricoh GR1 coming along for the ride. They all use CR2 batteries for life-support, so carrying three spares in my bag – a pair for whichever Hexar poops out (each body can clear at least 100 36-exposure rolls before needing a new set, and I don't keep as close tabs as I might on when they were last replaced), plus one for the Ricoh, which is about as miserly as a p/s camera gets, provided I don't lean on the flash too much.

Keeping certain variables down to a minimum is a good thing when you're truly on-the-move, photographically and otherwise. It makes it easier to be in the moment, wherever you are.


- Barrett

 

[Honus]

OK, here goes...

I leave for Switzerland on June 15. My travel kit will be as follows:

M2 : 50/1.4 asph : 35/2 pre-asph
IIIc : 25/4
Digilux 2
Gossen Digisix for incident readings

My bag is the same size as a Domke J-803, but made by a local bagmaker (Waterfield).

I will carry about 40 rolls of film (Delta 100, Tri-X and Velvia 100).

Robert

 

[Talisker]

We depart for Svalbard for nine days in just over a weeks time and I'm still rationalising what to take. We are onboard ship for seven days, but will make frequent landings by zodiac. I can rationalise the full Bronica RF645 kit (quality!), one of the Bessas with the 15mm and 25mm, because I'm addicted to wide angles, and the Pentax MZ5n with standard and long zoom for shooting ship to shore, and any possible wildlife - I'll live without the 400mm and the macro. Trouble is, it all seems a bit much - I know I haven't got to carry it all around all day, but something is going to have to give - I'll never be able to decide what to take out on the zodiacs!. Decisions, decisions.... I'll get my wife to take a picture of what eventually goes, with her Pentax digital SLR!

 

[jonasv]

I've been thinking for a while about this particular subject.. what cameras to take this summer, for trips to romania and palestine (neither set in stone yet). I assumed I'd take my best SLR (Nikon F4s), my best rangefinder (Bessa R), perhaps something medium format (a TLR or my Pentacon Six) and a smaller camera such as my XA. And then quite a few lenses.

Thinking it through... not only would it be too much equipment, it's not a really usefull kit either. So I'm pretty much settled taking my Nikon F70, the cheaper (but also smaller and lighter) SLR, with a 24mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/2 lens, and then my old Minolta Hi-Matic 7s (with fixed 45mm f/1.8).

I think for me, in the circumstances I'm exspecting, a 24mm plus 45mm combo would be ideal, with the ability to switch to 45mm plus 85mm when I need something longer. Two cameras, three lenses in total (including the fixed lens on the Minolta).

Leaves room for 100+ rolls of Delta 400...

 

[raid]

You seem to be having two great places to travel to. Have a great trip.

Regards,
Raid

 

[ddunn]

<snip>put to the test not terribly long ago when I had to make a same-day round-trip from NYC to St. Louis with two connections each way on planes of seemingly all possible sizes for commercial flight). <snip>


- Barrett

Good Lord man! What did you do to offend the God of Travel? Two connections? There ain't but one decent size town between NYC and STL. 😉

 

[saiseto]

I will be off to Hokkaido, Japan for a week on 2th July. These are what I will be travelling with:
1. Bessa R2A with Cron' 35mm ASPH, 90mm Elmarit and a Viogtlander 25mm (for colour film)
2. Leica Minilux Zoom (for B&W film)
3. Fuji GA645 (Oh, Frank, I hope I can have a TLR like you!!)

And, of course, a lot a lot a lot of film.

Any through for the above travel set?? Should I bring my M2 instead of the minilux zoom as I will be carrying some M mount lenes anyway.

And I am planning to buy a camera bag for the trip this time, in the past, i used to just throw all my equipments into my backpack. So any suggestion of which bag should i get?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I take one camera and one lens because I remember my various SLR systems with several lenses: and it was take this lens off put that one on, now take that one off and put the first one back on... And I remember how my back felt by the end of the day.

If the thought of multiple lenses now disturbs my looking, thinking and picture taking process the thought of multiple cameras is ten times worse.

As for reliability (the 'take a spare' mentality), do we really spend good money on top quality cameras and then imagine we need a spare? I've never had a breakdown and batteries are so small you can slip a spare in a pocket.

 

[FrankS]

On the topic of more than 1 camera: I love B+W so much so that I wish I could take a camera body for 100 and another for 400. My family (and I) would not be too happy though, to have holiday pics in "only" B+W. We are going to want sildes of this experience to relive and to torture future generations with. One camera body just doesn't cut it for me!

 

[steamer]

Hmmm, been agonizing over what camera to take to Mongolia. So far the Iskra and panasonic fz5 are going. I'd be pretty heartbroken if my contax stuff got stolen so maybe I'll take the kiev 4am with gelios 103 and the jupiter 12, at least that stuff could be replaced fairly easily. Sometimes I think I know how Imelda must have felt when she was trying to figure out what shoes to wear.

 

[peterc]

I'm hitting the road for Nova Scotia and points in between tomorrow morning. I'm still debating camera choices. The Nikon Coolpix 5000 is going for colour. But for B&W, I'm weighing the pros and cons of Bessa R + 35 + 50 + 85, or Kiev and same lens set, or Nikon FE with 28 + 50 + 105.

Peter

 

[FrankS]

Kiev: fully manual, heavy, most satisfying to use
Bessa: RF, built in meter, lightest choice
Nikon FE: AE, battery dependent

Peter, let us know what you choose!

 

[John Rountree]

I like to travel light so I only carry an interchangeable lens pinhole camera. I have no problems with airport security and I can slide several different diameter "lenses" into a shirt pocket. If I really want to travel light I wait till I get to my destination and then I buy a new box of oatmeal.

 

[saiseto]

No doubt it would be easier and lighter to travel with the one body one lens combo and concentrate more on the composition and the idea/story behind. However, I must also agree that my partner would not be very happy if all the photos are in B&W (although this is the 'colour' that i perfered personally!!)

 

[peterc]

Peter, let us know what you choose!

The travel kit.
Bessa R + CV35/2.5 + J8 + Steinheil 85/2.8
Zorki 3M + FED 50/3.5 + Weston V meter
Nikon CP5000
A bunch of Acros and HP5+

Peter

 

[Trius]

Oly 35SP w/ filters
Konica C35
OM-1 w/ 21, 28 and 100 (sorry, not RF, but ....)
K64 (K25 better), PanF+, FP4 and APX 400

If I hd to cut back, the Konica would go and I'd limite the OM kit to the 21/f2 and 100.

 

[Phoenix Phil]

In my past trips to Europe, I would load Agfa flim (aka Costco film) in my Canon QL17 and Ilford HP5 into a YashicaMat LM. The Agfa film was chosen so that I could get a look of Europe that I have seen elsewhere (softer).

Both cameras were deliberately selected for their small size (for their format) and lightweight. Having no extra lenses is actually a plus...I don't have to worry about which lens to use. It forces me to work with what I have and it frees me up to shoot quicker (something that my traveling companions seem to like). I have never had a camera failure and I don't have pristine equipment.

 

[back alley]

i would take the zi and all 4 zm lenses. it's light 😉

but i would also pack up the m3 and have it ready to ship out in case the zi bit the bullet or got stolen.

another day or so and i might do things differently yet again.

joe