Maldives, What to take!!!

[chrishayton]

Well I'm off to the Maldives shortly with my partner and her family and I had my camera gear planned for a while. It was to be my Mamiya 7II with 43 and 80mm and Leica M4-P with Summitar and 25mm Biogon
However after just 'test' packing my bag it seems very excessive. The idea was I would have the Leica for snap shots with B+W film and the Mamiya for the nice family and landscape shots.
I also have a tiny Olympus EPM-1 and 14mm 2.5 which would do the job as a snapshot camera and has a little flash for when i need it

I will probably take my Thinktank Retrospective 10 as carry on so I can fit all or any combination of cameras and lenses but debating whether traveling light would be a more pleasant experience.

What would you take for a one off holiday and is taking both the Leica and Mamiya excessive?

 

[stompyq]

Well I'm off to the Maldives shortly with my partner and her family and I had my camera gear planned for a while. It was to be my Mamiya 7II with 43 and 80mm and Leica M4-P with Summitar and 25mm Biogon
However after just 'test' packing my bag it seems very excessive. The idea was I would have the Leica for snap shots with B+W film and the Mamiya for the nice family and landscape shots.
I also have a tiny Olympus EPM-1 and 14mm 2.5 which would do the job as a snapshot camera and has a little flash for when i need it

I will probably take my Thinktank Retrospective 10 as carry on so I can fit all or any combination of cameras and lenses but debating whether traveling light would be a more pleasant experience.

What would you take for a one off holiday and is taking both the Leica and Mamiya excessive?

Considering what i normally take yours looks almost spartan. I wouldn't cut down.

 

[Joao]

Take whatever allows you to shoot underwater with colour film. Even if it is one of those disposable single-use cameras.
Out of the water, be ready for strong sunlight and beautiful sunsets.
Enjoy your trip !
Joao

 

[chrishayton]

Take whatever allows you to shoot underwater with colour film. Even if it is one of those disposable single-use cameras.
Out of the water, be ready for strong sunlight and beautiful sunsets.
Enjoy your trip !
Joao

I do have a little underwater digital compact which is definitely going. Thank you, Im sure we will and Ill be sure to post pictures when we get back no matter what I take.

 

[maddoc]

I would pack some sunscreen (highest protection available ...), the M4-P with 25mm lens, some rolls of film and enjoy my trip. For nice scenics I would buy post-cards ... 🙂

 

[Rob-F]

Take it all. Nothing worse than finding out you should have taken something you left behind.

 

[stompyq]

Are you only going to the maldives? Sri Lanka is only a few miles away

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well I'm off to the Maldives shortly with my partner and her family and I had my camera gear planned for a while. It was to be my Mamiya 7II with 43 and 80mm and Leica M4-P with Summitar and 25mm Biogon
However after just 'test' packing my bag it seems very excessive. The idea was I would have the Leica for snap shots with B+W film and the Mamiya for the nice family and landscape shots.
I also have a tiny Olympus EPM-1 and 14mm 2.5 which would do the job as a snapshot camera and has a little flash for when i need it

I will probably take my Thinktank Retrospective 10 as carry on so I can fit all or any combination of cameras and lenses but debating whether traveling light would be a more pleasant experience.

What would you take for a one off holiday and is taking both the Leica and Mamiya excessive?

Yes. On the other hand, you're 24. It'll take you a while to learn to carry less equipment. Both Frances and I suggest that you put up with the learning curve.

Cheers,

R.

 

[thegman]

I don't think that a Leica and Mamiya is all that excessive at all. If you're staying at a resort, you can leave bits in the hotel room safe that you don't need that day. It's just two cameras, and fairly small ones at that.

 

[chrishayton]

Yes. On the other hand, you're 24. It'll take you a while to learn to carry less equipment. Both Frances and I suggest that you put up with the learning curve.

Cheers,

R.

Sorry, Im not sure how to take that? As a well traveled photographer I would have thought your input would have been more informative, especially as someone who writes about owning an using many different types of cameras and the usefulness of each of them.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sorry, Im not sure how to take that? As a well traveled photographer I would have thought your input would have been more informative, especially as someone who writes about owning an using many different types of cameras and the usefulness of each of them.

Sorry. It wasn't meant to be rude. What I meant -- literally -- is that at your age (and for at least a decade or two afterwards) I'd have taken the lot, and not regretted it. Now, I wouldn't. I'd rather miss a few pictures than be weighed down. I'd NEVER travel with just one camera (BACKUP! BACKUP!) but only very rarely nowadays would I travel with two systems. Well, actually, I might travel with just one Alpa body, but as that's only a spacer to hold the back and the lens apart, with nothing to go wrong, that's not saying much: I'd still have 2 backs and 2 lenses.

In other words, it was a classic (but I hope forgivable) example of "I knew what I meant, so you should have too."

Once again, apologies for the unhappy phrasing.

Cheers,

R.

 

[icebear]

I would pack some sunscreen (highest protection available ...), the M4-P with 25mm lens, some rolls of film and enjoy my trip. For nice scenics I would buy post-cards ... 🙂

+1, focus on your family and enjoying the vacation in that location.
Taking a couple of family shots to capture the memories is nice but shouldn't get in the way of the whole experience.
Photography shouldn't be #1 priority for this trip it seems.😉

 

[chrishayton]

+1, focus on your family and enjoying the vacation in that location.
Taking a couple of family shots to capture the memories is nice but shouldn't get in the way of the whole experience.
Photography shouldn't be #1 priority for this trip it seems.😉

Yeh thats whats changing my mind after I had packed all my stuff, I don't want it to be all about photography, Id like a high quality camera for some shots of the island and environment (for my own amusement) and some nice family shots so the Mamiya is a cert as the image quality offers something special.

Some interesting and opposing views and thanks for the contributions.

Thanks for the follow up Roger, The first reply seemed rather condescending but it was obviously just my reading of it. An Alpa would be nice as it packs nice and small. For a moment when we first planned the trip I considered taking my Ebony 4x5 however the logistics of a tripod and film holders quickly put that thought to bed (although the idea of having all the time in the world to set up a photo in an idyllic place is exceptionally appealing)

Im probably going to streamline my trip to my Mamiya 7 and my E-pm1 and leave the Leica at home. It only replicates the Mamiya stuff in a smaller format, ill just take some more film.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . .Thanks for the follow up Roger, The first reply seemed rather condescending but it was obviously just my reading of it. . . .

And even more obviously my bad writing! I'm pretty sure I'd have read it the way you did, too. Once again, apologies.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Marc G.]

I'd take the leica and the small underwater cam. been on a trip with too much gear, never ever again 😉 2 lenses, 1 camera and 1 backup is more than enough

if you insist on the mamiya then take that + underwater cam

 

[SakamakuAme]

I'm going to turkey with my family next month. Ill take Mamiya 7ii 65 80, Yashica T4 compact and iphone. My wife will take GF1 20mm. I will not take 43mm.

Pretty much the same setup as yours. If I were you, I would leave 25mm Biogon at home. I don't think you need to change the lens for snapshots.

 

[pakeha]

You will come across some wonderful opportunities in the Maldives..but remember that it is a place where perhaps being un - obtrusive is a good idea.Culturally for the inhabitants and also for the European way of sunbathing...🙂 Most of the Islands are very small...the one i stayed on was the size of a football field. Lots of colour and great skies.
Wide angle is a must.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

My wife and I went to Vilamendhoo for honeymoon 5 years ago. I took a Nikon D300, 17-55mm f2.8 and a 70-300mm VR. You won't be walking very far and the highest point above sea level on any island is about 2 meres. Although it's a Muslim country, the locals (islands inhabited by locals) that we visited seemed very comfortable having their photo taken (ask first, smile and accept "no" means "no").

Big skies, cloud formations, reef pools and white sand. Don't forget a polariser and a broad-brimmed hat to keep covered up (the sun will frazzle you very quickly otherwise).

Have fun.

 

[Rogier]

Maldive islands are very small. You go for a walk around the island and see your own footprints in 15 minutes....

Would bring the Mamiya with both lenses. Or if you really have to slim it down only the 43mm lens.

How about underwater camera??????????

 

[venchka]

A gallon of SPF 50 sunscreen. Apply frequently. Don't forget your feet if you're wearing sandals. SPF 50 clothing. As mentioned above, full protection hat. Sunglasses.
Medium format. Digital. Done.

Wayne