Middle East in August: What lenses and filters?

[kermaier]

I'll be in Israel for 2 weeks in August, and I'm trying to figure out what to bring with my R-D1s.
Modern lenses or lower contrast vintage lenses?
UV/IR filters all the time, on the assumption that everything will be radiating heat/IR?
UV filters only?
No filters, to reduce flare in sunlight?
What about a polarizer like the Leica flip-out system (haven't tried it, but sounds interesting).

Here's what I have to choose from, lens-wise (want to fit my kit into a Billingham Pro for transport, with 2-3 lenses on me for a given outing):

Vintage:
Canon 25/3.5, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.5, 50/1.2
Nikkor 35/1.8, 50/3.5, 50/2, 50/1.4, 85/2, 105/2.5
Leica Summaron 35/2.8, Summar 50/2, Summicron 50/2 Rigid, Elmar 50/2.8

Modern:
CV 28/3.5, 35/2.5, 35/1.2, 50/2.5, 50/1.5
Konica 35/2 UC-Hex, 90/2.8 M-Hex
Minolta 28/2.8, 40/2
Leica Elmar-M 50/2.8

Any advice (other than "sell some lenses" ), especially regarding filters?

Thanks,
Ari

 

[back alley]

so many nice lenses to play with...

 

[kermaier]

Thanks, Joe. I enjoy all these old lenses as much for the objects themselves as for their image-making abilities. I don't fool myself that having so many helps my photography, nor am I searching for a silver bullet that will revolutionize my pictures.

But do you have any thoughts on UV, IR and polarizing filters? I'm thinking of leaving all the Canon glass behind just because it's hard to get IR or POL filters in 40mm.

Ari

 

[aldobonnard]

travelling light...
UV filters
Minolta 28/2.8
Konica 35/2 UC-Hex
Leica Elmar-M 50/2.8 or CV 50/1.5
cheers

 

[oftheherd]

travelling light...
UV filters
Minolta 28/2.8
Konica 35/2 UC-Hex
Leica Elmar-M 50/2.8 or CV 50/1.5
cheers

I don't own Leica mount glass, so I don't know if anything in the same focal length has such a distinct signature, to make it worth while to have two of the same (or even close) focal length. Were it me, I would probably take the 28/2.8, the 50/1.5, and the 105/2.5. Add anything else you see fit to fill in gaps in how you "see." For instance a 35mm if you see wide, or the 80mm if you see long.

I don't know if you have others that share a filter size or not, so that might be a consideration in choice of lenses. I would definately take a UV filter(s), and if you have hoods, that would help tame flare as well. They will also help with blowing sand.

So far as I know, IR filters will only be useful (or even useable) if you plan to shoot IR film (or have the old Sonys).

A polarizer will be useful with color, but of course, you have to check it off camera, then be sure it has the same orientation once on the lens.

 

[umcelinho]

Canon 25/3.5 - your widest, should come in handy
Nikkor 35/1.8 - fast, tiny normal, drawns nicely and it's always useful, most of the time mounted on the camera
Canon 50/1.2 - superfast short tele with unique rendering
Nikkor 85/2 if you feel you'd use a tele

this should be enough

uv filters only if you're going to places where you feel sand could damage the lenses, otherwise leave them home.

 

[sanmich]

Ari,

I have no idea how the RD-1 renders, but prepare to very high contrast scenes.
You better try to shoot early after sunrise or late before sunset.
The light at noon is not pretty...