las vegas equipment?

[jano]

Hi,

I'm off to Vegas for six days due to two business conferences, yuck (Vegas is not really my cup of tea, but I need to be there for finance and denny's). Not sure whether I'll have any time to take any photographs, as I won't have a car or much time to get beyond the strip. Which of the following equipment should I take, if any at all: sony f717 digi, Leica M2, or contax G2? If film, which one: kodak 400UC, tri-x, Acros, or Reala? My trip will be interrupted with a day's trip to sacramento and back.

*shrug* and thanks 🙂
Jano

edit: whoops, forgot I have a few rolls of kodak e100vs as well, never used this film before.

 

[egpj]

Take the digi. Vegas is that kind of town.

 

[Rodinal Addict]

Great street shooting/people watching possibilities on the strip, in front of the casinos. Sometimes they have mimes working the crowds in front of Paris hotel. This can be fun if you're patient.

Careful taking pictures inside casinos. Casino security frowns on this greatly.

 

[eric mac]

Vegas baby

Vegas baby

There are alot of people opportunites. The G2 maybe the way to go for the autofocus. There is Elvis in front of the Imperial Palace, the gondolas at the Venetian and the fountains at the Bilaggio. You can also get some nice pictures of the strip on the overpasses. The casinos have lightened up on pictures, just don't take pictures of the gaming tables and secure areas.

If you get a hankering for landscape, rent a car and go to the red rock canyon (1/2 day trip) or the Valley of Fire (all day trip). Bring the widest lens you have for these babies.

My setup for Vegas is a 21mm, 40mm, and a 90 on my Bessa R3a.

BTW, they have gambling in Vegas.

Eric

 

[ducttape]

Shoot color in town. The lights are incredible, and I hate to say it, you can 'shoot Europe' in Vegas! Eiffel Tower, canals, pyramid, (ok, that's Memphis Tn. :bang: ) etc etc.

Take black and white if you go into the mountains surrounding Vegas, which, btw, are NOT as close as they look. They are a good 1/2 to 1 hour away, depending on direction.

I would probably go digital over M2 because a lot of Vegas i night time and unless you are a good meter, it will be hard to get proper exposure.

Paris, Las Vegas

 

[dmr]

Take the digi. Vegas is that kind of town.

Au contraire! We may have to agree to disagree on this. Las Vegas is a *film* kind of town! 🙂

I love shooting Las Vegas at night, but there's a lot to shoot in Las Vegas in the day as well. I would suggest the 400 print film. On the last trip I got good results using Fuji 400 but exposing it at 800 in the GIII. This seems to give very good results and doesn't blow out the highlights as much.

I recently spent a few weeks in Las Vegas on business and on time off I shot quite a bit, mostly in the Strip area, but wandering about as well. Here is a collection, not a fancy display, but ...

http://www.letis.com/dmr/pics/vegas/vegas5/
http://www.letis.com/dmr/pics/vegas/vegas6/

The wide angle ones were done on Fuji 1600, but the normal angle ones were mostly done with Fuji 400 or 800.

I would suggest you just take a night off by yourself and wander the Strip. One night a few weeks ago on Friday I took the Monorail from the Sahara where I was staying up to the Flamingo corner and just wandered back slowly while shooting several rolls. I got to the Flamingo right about dusk (6:30pm or so then) and finally made it back to the Sahara (about 2 miles) before midnight. It's all very well traveled so it's perfectly safe to walk it anytime.

I'll post a note about shooting in the casinos separately.

 

[dmr]

Careful taking pictures inside casinos. Casino security frowns on this greatly.

This is a frequently recurring topic on the Las Vegas boards. I really don't shoot that much in the casinos where it's allowed, though.

Anyway, over the past couple years I've been regularly asking casino people at various places what their policy is, and it varies quite a bit. I post this list to Las Vegas Talk and Usenet every so often. Here's a cut-paste of what I now have in the list:
. . . . . . . . . .

On the past several trips, I made a point to ask at the casinos we
visited to see what their photo policy was. I always asked a uniformed
security person or else a "suit", so I would be sure I was getting the
actual policy and not somebody's whim.
. . . . .

Sahara: "Well, you're really not supposed to, but ..."
. . .

Sam's Town: "Over here by the machines is fine, don't shoot the pit."
. . .

Green Valley Ranch: >>>>NO!<<<< Very emphatic. He said that some of the
other Station properties do let you do it.
. . .

Gold Coast: "With you and your friends by the machines is fine, don't
get other people in the background. The pit is off limits."
. . .

Westward Ho: No!
. . .

Slots-A-Fun: "No tables, no cage, anywhere else is fine."
. . .

Stardust: Long discourse about how the pit, cage, showroom and sports
book are a no-no, but about anywhere else is ok. War story about how the
cage was robbed a couple years back, so if they see you photograph the
cage, they may get nasty.
. . .

Imperial Palace: No tables, no cage, no flash. Some entertainment may
be restricted. Be considerate.
. . .

Wynn: Very snooty answer from suit type floorperson:

Me: What is your policy on photos here?

FP: Oh, the same as in all of the better casinos.

Me: What is that.

FP: {condescending look} No gaming, all else is ok.
. . .

 

[jano]

Okay, thanks for the info. I don't really have any interest taking pictures inside the casino, but from what it sounds like, a slight chance I may sort of enjoy the Wynn (I'm sort of a posh, snooty person by accident, people often mistake me for arrogant, haha). Vegas is just not my place, I don't partake in the kinds of vices they offer (except maybe the food). I'm staying at the Mirage the first two nights, then changing over to the wynn for the rest of the trip.

I doubt I'll have enough time to rent a car and go beyond the strip unless I play hookey 😎

Okay, enough for now, thanks everyone and good night 🙂

 

[dmr]

I may sort of enjoy the Wynn (I'm sort of a posh, snooty person by accident, people often mistake me for arrogant, haha).

The Wynn is actually very nice. A very enterprising limo driver named Mary got me and some of my friends into the Wynn on opening day past all of the roadblocks and checkpoints and such last April. Some of the photos I took then are about 2/3 down the page at:

http://www.letis.com/dmr/pics/vegas/vegas4/

Vegas is just not my place,

Uh, that's what I thought before I first went there. 🙂 🙂 🙂

I doubt I'll have enough time to rent a car and go beyond the strip unless I play hookey 😎

LOL! Playing hookey is part of the experience of a conference in Las Vegas. 🙂 You'll notice that after the first day or so many will be fashionably late for the first sessions in the morning. 🙂 🙂

 

[dostacos]

Great street shooting/people watching possibilities on the strip, in front of the casinos. Sometimes they have mimes working the crowds in front of Paris hotel. This can be fun if you're patient.

Careful taking pictures inside casinos. Casino security frowns on this greatly.

I just returned from Las Vegas and when I checked into the Mirage I asked about pictures in the casino and was told "no problem" I never did bother finding out but I did spend time with my Bessa R around my neck, and took lots of shots in their atrium.....

 

[dostacos]

Okay, thanks for the info. I don't really have any interest taking pictures inside the casino, but from what it sounds like, a slight chance I may sort of enjoy the Wynn (I'm sort of a posh, snooty person by accident, people often mistake me for arrogant, haha). Vegas is just not my place, I don't partake in the kinds of vices they offer (except maybe the food). I'm staying at the Mirage the first two nights, then changing over to the wynn for the rest of the trip.

I doubt I'll have enough time to rent a car and go beyond the strip unless I play hookey 😎

Okay, enough for now, thanks everyone and good night 🙂

I was just at the Mirage, the best food was the Brazil BBQ. the Japanese was second but more expensive.

 

[jano]

http://www.letis.com/dmr/pics/vegas/vegas4/

Those are nice pictures, thank you!

Uh, that's what I thought before I first went there. 🙂 🙂 🙂

This aint my first time to Vegas, I've been going two or three times a year for last several years on these durn conferences. Just never considered taking a camera until now, haha. I don't drink, smoke, gamble, drug, or pimp myself, so it's really just a boring chore to me to meet one or two people and maintain my precense. There's never any eye candy at the pools, either, and if anything, they're usually too wasted for my tastes, so I usually spend any free time locked in my room on the phone with clients. Guess I'm just a boring guy 😛 I have found a few decent restaurants, but there's only so much I can eat in a day and it gets seriously dull when you're alone!

LOL! Playing hookey is part of the experience of a conference in Las Vegas. 🙂 You'll notice that after the first day or so many will be fashionably late for the first sessions in the morning. 🙂 🙂

Yes, I've noticed that, haha. I tend to sneak out during sessions a lot, to catch up with work or take a breather. Some of my assocaites suggested I visit a place called the "Chicken Ranch", but with Avian Flu running rampant all over the world, thought I'd pass this time 😉 There's always the Bunny Ranch, but I think that may be up by Reno. I wonder if they let cameras in there? 😀

Ah well, time to finish packing.
Jano

 

[Rodinal Addict]

From what I've heard, "Ranch Photography" is allowed, as long as you pay the talent well.

 

[dmr]

Those are nice pictures, thank you!

You're very welcome. 🙂

Just never considered taking a camera until now, haha.

Las Vegas is a great place to photograph, both the city itself and the surrounding area. I'm most definitely not the outdoorsy type, but I love the desert scenery and up in the mountains just north of Las Vegas.

There are 2 real camera shops in Las Vegas, one is Sahara Camera at Sahara and Eastern, where I bought my zoom years ago. I haven't been in there for a few years though. There's another one on east Tropicana.

There are lots of things to do in Las Vegas besides gaming. I tend to be a shopaholic, but my hunch is you're probably not one. 🙂

Don't forget the entertainment! All kinds of shows and such. Like music? Just about any type there is any day of the week. Like thrill rides? 🙂

Some of my assocaites suggested I visit a place called the "Chicken Ranch", but with Avian Flu running rampant all over the world, thought I'd pass this time 😉

LOL! Yes, I know what the Chicken Ranch is! (I've been around the block a few times.) And I doubt that Avian Flu is what you might catch there. 🙂

A few years ago this friend of mine gave me a Chicken Ranch t-shirt kind of as a joke/gag and a dare. I've had more fun with that! 🙂 It has a big "Howdy boys, welcome to the Chicken Ranch" and their logo on the front. I wore it recently when we went to see an "insult comic" but he wouldn't take the bait. He seemed to leave me alone. 🙂 Then, next trip he gave me a large silver Chicken Ranch drink token, which I made a nice pendant out of, and it makes a great conversation starter. 🙂

There's always the Bunny Ranch, but I think that may be up by Reno.

Well, which is worse, Bird Flu or Tularemia? 🙂


Have fun in LV! 🙂

 

[kuvvy]

dmr436, Thanks for showing your pix. Some good shots there. I'm hoping to get some decent shots too when my wife and I get to Vegas in 3 weeks time, before doing San Fran and LA.

Like Jano, I too have been pondering on what gear to take. Some time ago I had decided on my Hexar Silver, with a compact (probably the Espio Mini (UC-1) in my pocket.
Then I bought a Canon G5 digicam and more recently a Contax G1 plus 28 and 45 lenses. Now I don't know what to take!

Paul

 

[dostacos]

You're very welcome. 🙂



Las Vegas is a great place to photograph, both the city itself and the surrounding area. I'm most definitely not the outdoorsy type, but I love the desert scenery and up in the mountains just north of Las Vegas.

There are 2 real camera shops in Las Vegas, one is Sahara Camera at Sahara and Eastern, where I bought my zoom years ago. I haven't been in there for a few years though. There's another one on east Tropicana.

There are lots of things to do in Las Vegas besides gaming. I tend to be a shopaholic, but my hunch is you're probably not one. 🙂

Don't forget the entertainment! All kinds of shows and such. Like music? Just about any type there is any day of the week. Like thrill rides? 🙂



LOL! Yes, I know what the Chicken Ranch is! (I've been around the block a few times.) And I doubt that Avian Flu is what you might catch there. 🙂

A few years ago this friend of mine gave me a Chicken Ranch t-shirt kind of as a joke/gag and a dare. I've had more fun with that! 🙂 It has a big "Howdy boys, welcome to the Chicken Ranch" and their logo on the front. I wore it recently when we went to see an "insult comic" but he wouldn't take the bait. He seemed to leave me alone. 🙂 Then, next trip he gave me a large silver Chicken Ranch drink token, which I made a nice pendant out of, and it makes a great conversation starter. 🙂



Well, which is worse, Bird Flu or Tularemia? 🙂


Have fun in LV! 🙂

Ah, the "Chicken Ranch" is in the Great state of TEXAS where Aggie boys hope to get "lucky"

and that type of establishment is illegal in Clark County, so ya gots ta drive into another county for those pictures 😀