Lightweight kit for extended travel: Leica M or Rolleiflex TLR

[Matthew Runkel]

For those who have used both, or even those who haven't, what would be your choice for extended travel, a Rolleiflex TLR or a Leica M with two or three lenses? Backup in either case would be a good point-and-shoot. And would you choose a faster film if you opted for the Rolleiflex?

 

[sf]

If I were going to be traveling long term, the most important thing to me would be the durability of the camera, how long batteries would last in it, and how versatile it is.

A mechanical Leica would be a perfect choice - but that requires an eye for exposure. The TLR will give nice negs, though, and you may be happy to have those larger negatives someday.

I love my RF645 because it uses a low power leaf shutter, batteries last forever, and it's just about the size of a Leica system.

Which camera has the least number of ways to break? Probably the Rollei.

 

[x-ray]

I would probably select the Leica with 35, 50 and 90. I traveled with my Rolleiflex last year and a Nikon with a 25-50 and 105. I used both about the same but would probably take just a 35 with two or three lenses in the future. I ran out of 120 B&W twice and had a problem getting what I wanted without a bit of travel. 35mm allows a more flexable system and the ability to carry more film in a smaller pack.


http://www.photo.net/photos/X-Ray

 

[sf]

I would probably select the Leica with 35, 50 and 90. I traveled with my Rolleiflex last year and a Nikon with a 25-50 and 105. I used both about the same but would probably take just a 35 with two or three lenses in the future. I ran out of 120 B&W twice and had a problem getting what I wanted without a bit of travel. 35mm allows a more flexable system and the ability to carry more film in a smaller pack.


http://www.photo.net/photos/X-Ray

Benefit of shooting with a medium format RF : Or even the Rollei, is that you can simulate a long lens by cropping. If I brought just one lens/camera combo on a very long trip, it would be my Bronica RF645 + 45mm f/4 because I would have wide angle + I could crop out of those frames to simulate having the 65 or 100 with me. Or course, you might find a tri-elmar. That would be nice.

 

[sf]

x-ray's point about carrying film is a very good one too. 35mm canisters are more durable and compact than 120 rolls. You can throw them in a pack/bag/whatever without worrying about harming them. With 120, from what i hear, you have to be careful about denting them. And 35mm canisters are more safe from the elements and from people trying to examine your luggage. I had people opening my 120 all over Europe. 35mm is safer in that respect.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I take both with me, the Rollei takes up less room than a Leica and three lenses but you are limited to the 75/80mm, it's a great problem to have 🙂

Todd

 

[raid]

I took along a Rolleiflex TLR plus one 35mm camera with one lens (in my case a Minox 35GT). This way, you concentrate on composition. With a Leica available, I would take two 35mm lenses plus the TLR.

 

[Nikon Bob]

If a big neg is a priority then there is no choice. For me it is not and I like a choice of focal lengths. If I take Leica on a trip my kit is a 21mm CV, 35mm and 90mm with an M4 and Sekonic hand meter. That combination is about as heavy and bulky as my TLR alone and much more flexable. I should add that this kit is for air travel. If travel is by car then I take what I want as the car carries the weight.

Nikon Bob

 

[nightfly]

If you're into more static things (landscapes etc.) take the Rollei. If you're more into people take the Leica. They are both about the same amount of gear.

I find when I travel with medium format equipment (a Rolleicord and a Mamiya 6) I tend to shoot more composed static shots. I haven't traveled (yet) with my Leica but judging from the way my work has changed, I would expect to bring back more dynamic, people shots. Depends what you are into. Either will work, I just find that differnet cameras and formats tend to influence my composition and what and where I take pictures.

The film thing is a non-issue. I've traveled with 120 film with no problems. If anything it is an adavantage because the rolls have no metal in them and I often put them in baggy pants pockets and walk right through the metal detector rather than having them X-rayed. That said I usually mail my film home from whereever I am to avoid too many X-rays. I've done this from New Zealand and Argentina with no problems.

 

[KoNickon]

I think that if you can manage it, take Raid's advice. If you can only bring one camera besides the p&s, opt for the Leica and lenses. Just taking the TLR will be too limiting, unfortunately. (And you're going to be taking a lot of pictures -- having to change rolls every 12 shots discourages taking multiple images of the same object, which as you know is where some of the best pictures come from.)

Which point and shoot are you taking? Maybe you can leave one of the Leica lenses home if the zoom range of the p&s covers it (and it's a focal length you might not be using frequently anyway). I realize this suggestion may be heresy (p&s over Leica), but to travel light you may be faced with such a decision.

 

[einolu]

I think a Leica M + 1 or 2 lenses (Im thinking 28 & 50mm myself) seem practical, but traveling with a Rolleiflex is so much more romantic 🙂.

 

[bob cole]

Lightweight kit for extended travel: Leica M or Rolleiflex TLR

matthew, as most of the others said, I'd take a Leica over the Rollei and -- unlike the others-- I'd take just a 50mm lens for comfort while travelling and because 35mm film is much easier to find when you travel than 120 film...If you want to take your Rollei and happen to have a Rolleikin adapter for 35mm film, you might take that because , as you know, you could take at least 24 or even 36 pictures on a roll...I have an old Rollei with a permanently installed Rolleikin in it but have not used it in years...The 75mm Zeiss Tessar 3.5, which was the standard lens in old Rollies, is just great...The later Planar is regarded an even better, if yours happens to have one...regards, bob

 

[raid]

I need to install the Rolleikin unit in my Rolleiflex TLR to get some supersharp telephoto shots with the camera since I will be shooting through the center of the Planar glass. Sounds like fun!

 

[ZeissFan]

I see this as two choices:

1) With the Rolleiflex, you get excellent tonality, sharp photos but fewer shots per roll and you giv e up the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. You can do a lot with the square format,.

2) Interchangeable lenses, a smaller format but the ability to change lenses.

Both systems are optically excellent and unobtrusive.

Personally, I generally travel with at least two cameras, often three: SLR, rangefinder, medium format. And sometimes I'll add a classic camera, a Rollei 35 or a P&S or even a digital.

 

[wlewisiii]

The last real travel I did (Vietnam in 2002 to adopt our son) I took what I had, a Canon Rebel XS with the kit 35-85 zoom. It sufficed, but I ran into that cameras limits very often during the trip which lead me here, ultimately, to my eyes delight and my wallets regret... 😉

Now, if I were to go there again, I would take my CL and whatever seemed appropriate out of my motley collection of lenses - 40/2, 50/1.5, 50/1.8, 50/2, 50/2.8, 90/4, & 135/4.5 - and pack as much Reala & Fomapan 100 as I could find space in my luggage for. Hopefully by then I could add a 28 of some type as that's the only other focal length I desire 🙂 I'd probably not even have a battery in the camera and just bring along my Sekonic L-28C for pure battery-less joy.

Not sure if any of this is a help to the OP. I do have a TLR but I really couldn't consider it a travel camera. I'd sooner be really perverse and take the Speed Graphic & 8 1/4" Tessar on the trip. Handheld 4x5 is always fun... 😀

William

 

[tkluck]

Given those choices, I'd take the Leica with a 35mm & 50mm.

If I have to carry my camera around my neck on a long, "once in a lifetime" trip by air I take my OM-1 with a 28mm and stick a zoom in my carry-on. A Minox EC & flash in my pocket (take the chain off). I can buy a P&S anywhere if I have to.
Yeah I saw the title of the forum, and if it is to be a perhaps "twice in a lifetime" trip I'll take the RF dejour. (currently a Kiev 4am) after 'dry firing' at home a few times.
Leica's frighten me when I'm in a strange place. Even my Nikon lens cap is a bit scarry. How does a Mugger decide who to clobber? The fat guy with the expencive camera.
Once I get to the airpport I ain't the fat guy with the CCW anymore.....

 

[MelanieC]

I have both cameras and would bring the M3 with me traveling over the Rollei. The two cameras actually take up the same amount of space (I only have one lens for the M3) but the Rollei is a more awkward shape and I worry more about damaging it because it has more parts that move and/or stick out. I'm also much slower at composing and taking photos with the Rollei, although that's not necessarily a bad thing and I'd probably get faster if I used it more.

Don't know if that helps, but I carry the M3 with me every day in my purse and don't think about doing so with the Rollei. Maybe I should rethink this, considering that I've taken many fewer pictures with the Rollei and yet they include some of my favorites I've taken so far.

 

[tedwhite]

my solution: Take two trips. One with an rf and a few lenses, the other with the Rollei. They'll be different trips, I suspect. Advantage of the Leica? Interchangeable lenses, quicker focusing. Advantage of the Rollei? Superb negatives, not having to think "Which lens shall I fit for this shot?" and while fiddling about for the right lens, the photograph you wanted to take isn't there any more. And with a bit of practice you'd be amazed at how fast you can bring that Rollei into play. Zone focus and use the sportsfinder and you can shoot fast moving action.

Ted

 

[Matthew Runkel]

Thanks to all who responded for the varied and insightful opinions. I think for sheer versatility and ease of use the Leica option gets the nod, probably with 35/1.4 and 90/4. And unless weight and space were critical, I would probably bring a second M body with a 50/2 and likely also the Contax T3, which weighs only slightly more than my 50 cron.

 

[x-ray]

Ask yourself how large you will make the prints. If it's 11x14 or less then you will probably not see the difference if you use something like adox KB 25 and take care in processing and printing. Also determine whether square fits the kind of shots better or a rectangular format. Will you want a longer or shorter lens? How much film will you carry. It all depends on your style of shootong. My personal favorite for general shooting is a 35 and 90 and then add a 50 if space is available. A three lens kit with one body is small and easy to carry. It's not uncommon for me to take fourty rolls of B&W. Depending on what I am shooting I adjust the mis to meed my needs. I carry 100 and 400 delta and sometimes 3200 depending on what and where. Unfortunately when I go on vacation I have to make certain I don't turn it into an assignment. Too many years of pro shooting.


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