Lens advice for a long trip

Simply carry the lens or lens kit that works for you at home. Your photo style does not change regardless of the location or length of trip.

I would question the merits of committing to use a new lens for 3-4 months without being positive you like it. If the rendering difference between a zipdedodagon and a omygoshigon lens is important to you, sort that out at home before you leave.

Absolutely have total redundancy is your equipment if photography is going to be an important part of your trip. Nothing worse than being on unfamiliar turf and realizing you have an equipment problem that forces you to use something other than your first choice.
 
Some folks like to travel with a lot of glass. Somehow i've come around to reverting to minimalism. When I was a student, i only had a rollei 35. I've travelled in the Alps on foot with just a a Rolleiflex or a Leica with a 35mm. It works for me. You just have to to decide what works for you.
In my opinion, having minimal baggage, especially on a long trip sure makes moving around easier & I extend this to photographing. Less worries about leaving things, less worry about theft...
 
If you have only one film camera in M mount, consider getting a cheap and light Bessa T or similar camera as a second camera for the second lens, if you choose to use two lenses.

For general photography, the 35/1.4 Lux will be suitable in almost any situation you will could encounter.

For a wide angle look in most of your street images, a 28mm or 24mm lens would work well.

For a challenging very wide angle look in your images, go with a 15mm-21mm lens.

For a classical combo to cover "all", I would use a 35mm/1.4 (slightly wide and fast) plus a short tele that is not heavy. If your wide lens is wider than 35mm, then your second lens could be a 50/1.4 or so.

For simplicity, use 35/1.4 and that's it.
 
While in Europe I used a 35 constantly on my M camera. There were times I wish I had something wider for interiors, like the Zeiss ZM 25mm I use today. Did not use the 50mm Summicron much at all. I shot more with a 75 Summarit than the 50mm.

Of course, it's what you are comfortable with. Good luck on your travels.
 
Hi,

I don't know what version of the minilux you have but, if it's the zoom, then it reminds me that I have been very happy taking two compact cameras with a decent zoom lens on long holidays. It gives you a back up and many compact cameras have good lenses that you can squeeze a lot out of and usable - if minimal - controls.

Also you can easily carry them anywhere and shoot away without worrying people. Large cameras seem to frighten people imo and they sometimes overreact. Plus you don't need to carry a separate flash and extra batteries for the flash and so on. If the zoom was about 28 to 85 or 90mm it would cover a lot of situations on a long holiday without becoming a major worry at times.

Regards, David
 
Bruno Gracia said:
Many many thanks to You all guys, very helpful.

Now I'm more keen to bring MP and Cron 35 ASPH. and a Minilux.

Other thought that cross my mind was 40 summicron and cheap M like M6 or M4P but I now I will be missing something from my images, I like to take pictures in low light and bar/pubs so Summicron ASPH wide open is gonna be better, just need to push film one or two steps.

Is this or is a RX1 which I don't have and would love to try before!

BTW do You think HP5 is to soft for that light? I like more the trix punch.

Regarding film, with 100 rolls I have more than enough, my way of shooting is really calm.
Click to expand...

🙄

You newer know what is going to happen with 100 rolls or even half of it calm 🙂 shooting, just purchased used and old film M and 40mm lens which doesn't match any frame line. Worst combination, dare I say...

I sold 40mm lens because on film M it was not good without external VF.
You already have best possible 40mm in Minilux, or is it zoom version?

Regarding low light and pub&bars. In really low light it doesn't matter how sharp wide open f2 lens is. What is matter is how steady you could hold camera at 1/8 and how moderate you are for motion blur.
And if it is low light we are talking 1/8, f2, plus pushing. Pushing and sharpens are not exists together. Especially with HP5+ or TRIX. But maybe with Delta 400 or TMAX400.

This is low light (after sunset, dark street) with f2.5 (Leica ASPH lens), 1/8 and HP5+ has to be pushed @3200 to get enough light and have this shutter speed at f2.5. Print:

image.php



This is totally dark area with light coming from inside, with open to f1.5 non Leica, not even shimmed for Leica, not ASPH lens and shutter speed faster than 1/8 (can't tell exactly, it was impossible to see shutter dial and aperture ring, too dark). Also HP5+ @3200. Scan:

U57736I1506195936.SEQ.3.jpg
 
Nice images - steady hands for 1/8th second!

Ko.Fe. said:
🙄

You newer know what is going to happen with 100 rolls or even half of it calm 🙂 shooting, just purchased used and old film M and 40mm lens which doesn't match any frame line. Worst combination, dare I say...

I sold 40mm lens because on film M it was not good without external VF.
You already have best possible 40mm in Minilux, or is it zoom version?

Regarding low light and pub&bars. In really low light it doesn't matter how sharp wide open f2 lens is. What is matter is how steady you could hold camera at 1/8 and how moderate you are for motion blur.
And if it is low light we are talking 1/8, f2, plus pushing. Pushing and sharpens are not exists together. Especially with HP5+ or TRIX. But maybe with Delta 400 or TMAX400.

This is low light (after sunset, dark street) with f2.5 (Leica ASPH lens), 1/8 and HP5+ has to be pushed @3200 to get enough light and have this shutter speed at f2.5. Print:

This is totally dark area with light coming from inside, with open to f1.5 non Leica, not even shimmed for Leica, not ASPH lens and shutter speed faster than 1/8 (can't tell exactly, it was impossible to see shutter dial and aperture ring, too dark). Also HP5+ @3200. Scan:
Click to expand...
 
Bruno Gracia said:
Hi there!!

Well I'm gonna make this south asia trip next February around Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bali... for 3 or 4 months, and was wondering which lens would You carry?

I've sold my 35 FLE, 28 Cron ASPH, 50 Lux ASPH and 21 Super elmar (I know super painful but I mostly shot in b&w), and now I have money for travel and buy a couple of small lenses, so the choices are:

-35 Cron IV and 50 Elmar-M II.
-35 and 50 Summarit.
-35 lux pre asph and 50 Sonnar.
-Cron 35 ASPH to rule them all.

Maybe add 21 Super Angulon 3.4 but I think even with 35 is more than enough.

BTW my camera is a Leica MP Black Paint (and I was thinking even in Leica Q or RX1, even a X100F but at the end this is gonna be a unique experience in my life and must be recorded on film).

I also have a Minilux which is my second camera.
Click to expand...

You sold the two I'd take, the 35 Summilux FLE and 21mm Super Elmar.

I don't sell lenses.....
 
aizan said:
i looked at your flickr, and i think you'll be fine with just a 35mm.

look at the zeiss 35/1.4 distagon zm if you want something fast, or the 35mm summicron asph for something smaller.
Click to expand...

I'm primarily a 35mm shooter as well. I love collecting lenses as much as the next guy, but honestly, a 35mm can do just about anything. I have a 35mm cron v IV that is just about perfect.. especially on black and white. that or a 35 1.4 would be my vote.

If you need something that your 35mm can't deliver, use your phone. 28mm equivalent, so a little wider when needed. If you need wider still, take a pano. If you need to get closer than your film setup will allow, it'll do that too.

At the end of the day, you'll get the best pics if you shoot what you are most comfortable with.
 
Muju79 said:
The RX1 is a great travel companion provided you have a couple of spare batteries and the EVF (but if you have one you will know this already).
I traveled through Myanmar and Vietnam a while ago and the RX1 was a good choice. RX1 pics from those 2 trips are here:

https://muju.exposure.co/myanmar
https://muju.exposure.co/vietnam

That said, don't bring too much expensive gear, and don't bring too much gear in general because otherwise you'll spend more time being worried about your stuff than taking photos. Keep it minimal and fun with a restricted, reliable set.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say, I really enjoyed those links. Thank you for sharing!
 
If you want fast then 35f11.2 or 50f1.1. The money you will save over the marginal improvement (if any) of Leica branded lenses will allow more film or wider travel. We all get wrapped around equipment but I don't see lens data published for the most famous or best photos taken by anyone. All I see is the photo.
 
thanks everyone!!!

Now I’m just hesitating if old school lenses (mandler) vs new ones. I think being Leica is all I can ask for. I’ll go with 35mm, it’s decided. ASPH or IV.

Thanks again!
 
I went to France, Paris and Nice, with a Leica Monochrom, a black 1980 tabbed Summicron 50, which I used, a lot, and the 28 Elmarit ASPH which I needed, a lot, in the narrow streets of the old city of Nice. For colour I had the Fuji X100. It was a very light kit and covered everything. Maybe I could have managed without the 50, but I never go without a 50. The same trip with film I would push Tri-X two stops and expose at 1250 for dark streets, interiors etc.

I would hate to use anything unfamiliar on a trip, especially a new digital.

Brilliant answer from Ko.Fe to link to the Hanoi thread.
 
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