Kit for Spain

[scorpius73]

I am off to Spain for 2 weeks. I am taking a Nikon D700 with a couple zooms. I will shoot a lot with it. Those days when I want to travel light and leave the DSLR in the hotel room safe I will have my M6. Here is the dreaded kit question. I'm definitely taking my Konica 35mm f2 M-mount. I also want a 50mm. Here is the choice: a Nikon 50mm f1.4 Millenium Nikkor with Amadeo adapter or a Leica 50mm f2.8 Elmar M-mount. I will have 400 ASA B&W film. I imagine I will be shooting anything from architecture to street scenes with my M kit.

 

[Krosya]

I'd say - if you have one - bring a super wide like 21mm. I think its a must have lens for any travel.

 

[Vics]

Take it all! No, I don't mean that. Take the one camera and one lens that you usually shoot with and let it go at that. I'm a minimalist when I travel, usually an M3 and a 50 and lots of Tri-X. "We only arrive at truth through a great economy of means."

 

[scorpius73]

"We only arrive at truth through a great economy of means."

Easier said than done for me. But thanks for the word.

 

[scorpius73]

I'd say - if you have one - bring a super wide like 21mm. I think its a must have lens for any travel.

That's part of the DSLR zoom kit. Not the M kit.

 

[d_ross]

Listen to Vics!!

 

[Dave Jenkins]

"We only arrive at truth through a great economy of means."

Do you know the author of this quote?

Here's one from Picasso that is very similar: "[FONT=&quot]Forcing yourself to use restricted means is the sort of restraint that liberates invention. It obliges you to make a kind of progress that you can’t even imagine in advance.”

And another from Orson Welles: [FONT=&quot]“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” [/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Dave Jenkins]

If you're working professionally and have to be ready to cover every base, than you'll have to take a complete kit. But if you're only photographing for your own enjoyment, you will soon come to hate very extra ounce.

Fritz Henle traveled the world with only a twin-lens reflex. Yet, time and again he made photographs that captured the essence of a place so completely that they have become icons.

So take a light and simple kit and concentrate on what you can photograph instead of what you can't. Your photographs will be immeasurably better.

 

[nonot]

Where in Spain are you going?

If you're going to the Barcelona or Madrid, do yourself the favour someone mentioned earlier and bring a super wide, the alleys and tight nooks you'll find yourself in will ask for it.

From my time spent in Spain (about 2 years) I'd say generally people are pretty used to and okay with portraits being taken whether obvious or a little more candid, so plan for that.

Personally I'd probably take a 15 or a 21 - in much of Spain, you'll find yourself out at night eating later than you usually would and so maybe a faster lens is a smart bet, as many of the plazas and restaurants will be intimately lit.

Whatever you take you'll get some interesting shots, if you have the ability to go north of Barcelona into the foothills of the Pyrenees, do yourself a favour and go.

Don't set your camera down even partially unattended anywhere near La Rambla.

Have fun

 

[d_ross]

listen to Dave too 🙂

 

[scorpius73]

Where in Spain are you going?

If you're going to the Barcelona or Madrid, do yourself the favour someone mentioned earlier and bring a super wide, the alleys and tight nooks you'll find yourself in will ask for it.

From my time spent in Spain (about 2 years) I'd say generally people are pretty used to and okay with portraits being taken whether obvious or a little more candid, so plan for that.

Personally I'd probably take a 15 or a 21 - in much of Spain, you'll find yourself out at night eating later than you usually would and so maybe a faster lens is a smart bet, as many of the plazas and restaurants will be intimately lit.

Whatever you take you'll get some interesting shots, if you have the ability to go north of Barcelona into the foothills of the Pyrenees, do yourself a favour and go.

Don't set your camera down even partially unattended anywhere near La Rambla.

Have fun

I'm going to Seville and Madrid. I have a 19-35mm for my Nikon D700. The M kit is for those days when I'm just wanting something a bit lighter. I'm kinda leaning towards the Elmar 50mm and I'll have the Konica 35mm f2 as my fast lens.

 

[scorpius73]

If you're working professionally and have to be ready to cover every base, than you'll have to take a complete kit. But if you're only photographing for your own enjoyment, you will soon come to hate very extra ounce.

Fritz Henle traveled the world with only a twin-lens reflex. Yet, time and again he made photographs that captured the essence of a place so completely that they have become icons.

So take a light and simple kit and concentrate on what you can photograph instead of what you can't. Your photographs will be immeasurably better.

This is for my own personal enjoyment. So, what I can't get with my gear photographically, oh well. I'm there to enjoy myself most of all. Thanks for turning me onto Fritz Henle.

 

[andredossantos]

Take the fast 50, for sure.

 

[nonot]

I'm going to Seville and Madrid. I have a 19-35mm for my Nikon D700. The M kit is for those days when I'm just wanting something a bit lighter. I'm kinda leaning towards the Elmar 50mm and I'll have the Konica 35mm f2 as my fast lens.

Nice, you're going to have a great time, Seville is wonderful and a bit more "open" than Madrid (and definitely Barcelona) when it comes to architecture and streets, meaning that a super wide will be less beneficial there. If you can snag a fast lens for night time you're set. I predict you'll mostly use your 35.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

The fast 50. You won't use it at 2.8 too much, but you're allowed... 🙂

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Rogier]

Depends where you are going in Spain.
If you go and travel to the smaller villages or Barcelona I think the 35mm will be a better fit.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Depends where you are going in Spain.
If you go and travel to the smaller villages or Barcelona I think the 35mm will be a better fit.

He's sure about the 35...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Rogier]

Ah sorry I had to read it better.
Leica Elmar M mount + some neutral density filters if you take the ISO400 film with you!

 

[scorpius73]

I checked the weather. It looks like rain and clouds in Seville going into next week. I'm going withe the fast 50. Can't wait to get there! Thanks for the advice.

 

[Vics]

Do you know the author of this quote?

Here's one from Picasso that is very similar: "[FONT=&quot]Forcing yourself to use restricted means is the sort of restraint that liberates invention. It obliges you to make a kind of progress that you can’t even imagine in advance.”

And another from Orson Welles: [FONT=&quot]“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” [/FONT][/FONT]

I don't remember who it was. I put it in quotes because I know I read it in a Popular Photography Annual back in the '60s. Just wanted everyone to know it wasn't mine