Most Practical & Enjoyful Travel Kit

[raid]

Nothing is more important than speed, ease of use and reliability:

"M6 + Canon 35mm/1.8"

Enjoy your trip, Raid.

Roland: William and you have the same suggestion. The 35/1.8 would be good for available light situations with ASA 400 film indoors. I could use a speed of1/15 or even1/8 if needed.

 

[raid]

I agree with Roland's stated objective but would end up with a slightly different kit. Personally, because I like 50s best, I would go with the M6 + 50 and throw in that tiny Canon 28/3.5 for whenever you need the wider angle shots. Have a great trip and I look forward to seeing some shots from it.

-Randy

Thanks, Randy. I took the Canon 50/1.2 lens on my last trip to Germany. It is great for those dark lit scenes.

 

[peter_n]

I would take a pair of lenses that go together. My first choice would be a 35 and a 75 but you don't have a 75 on your list so plan B would be a 28 and a 50. Take whatever bodies fit those two lenses.

 

[raid]

Peter,

I have a Nikkor 85mm/2.0 and a Canon 85mm/1.9, but both are heavy.
The 28/50 mix would work well. The 25mm/50mm would also be fine.One of these two lenses better be a fast lens.

 

[gavinlg]

I'd take the m6 and canon 35 1.8 + the fuji natura. The 35 1.8 is basically a slightly wider standard prime and the natura is a nice wide decent quality camera. With both these lenses you have most bases covered. I dont know about you, but personally I don't really use much longer than a 50, and I tend to prefer a 35 to a 50 for versatility.
Those 2 will be reliable and easy to use, plus you can have 2 films ready to go. One slow 100 speed like reala and maybe a 400 or 800 superia in the other.

Sounds like fun though, I'd love to go to portugal!

 

[raid]

I'd take the m6 and canon 35 1.8 + the fuji natura. The 35 1.8 is basically a slightly wider standard prime and the natura is a nice wide decent quality camera. With both these lenses you have most bases covered. I dont know about you, but personally I don't really use much longer than a 50, and I tend to prefer a 35 to a 50 for versatility.
Those 2 will be reliable and easy to use, plus you can have 2 films ready to go. One slow 100 speed like reala and maybe a 400 or 800 superia in the other.

Sounds like fun though, I'd love to go to portugal!

Gavin,

Your suggestion is one that I have been thinking about. The Natura has a fast lens, but it is not as reliable or controllable as 24mm lens for the M6. You can't choose the aperture or speed. As for the 85mm/90mm lenses, I took the Elmar 90/4 with me to Germany, and I did not use it.

 

[gavinlg]

Gavin,

Your suggestion is one that I have been thinking about. The Natura has a fast lens, but it is not as reliable or controllable as 24mm lens for the M6. You can't choose the aperture or speed. As for the 85mm/90mm lenses, I took the Elmar 90/4 with me to Germany, and I did not use it.

I see your point, however you could look at it another way as well - the natura would make a mean street camera for quick grab shots. The auto shutter speeds and aperture could mean you see something, point and shoot. The m6 wouldn't be as quick in operation.

If you would much prefer the all manual way, grab that 25mm vc I think you have, and bring it with the m6 and the 35 1.8. Use the whole viewfinder of the m6 for composition and you wont need a clunky external viewfinder.

 

[FrankS]

I just got a used Contax Tvs and used it over the last few days at a friend's cottage. The feel and functinality of the camera is great and I "fell in love" with it. I only hope the results from the 28 to 56mm lens are good. If so, I think a Leica CL with CV40f1.4 and this Tvs would be a great and joyful travel duo where weight would be an issue. B+W film in the CL, colour neg in the Tvs.

 

[wlewisiii]

. As for the 85mm/90mm lenses, I took the Elmar 90/4 with me to Germany, and I did not use it.

While I can believe you didn't used it, the nice thing about that one is that it's the short tele equivallent to the Canon 28/3.5 - so light & tiny you almost don't know you have it with you.

No, thinking about it a bit more, I'd say go the single lens route. Make it a nice high quality fast lens (Canon 35/1.8, or IIRC you have a collapsible 'cron?) and just use the three step zoom as necessary.

Like most of us here at RFF, you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from. I mean, just look at my .sig forex! Go simple. It's fun, sometimes I think, to challenge yourself that way. My next trip I'm planning on taking my Canon A2E and my 50/1.8 and leaving my zoom at home.

Have fun with whatever you take & I know I'll have fun looking at the results!

William

 

[BillBingham2]

Raid,

What about moving the 50/2 up to a 50/1.4 or a 40/1.4 for the speed. I think the 25 is about as perfect a walking around lens as you can get, but it's slow. With the slowness comes small which is great. A fast 50 gives you night time capability without going longer (as you did not use it).

B2 (;->

 

[raid]

Raid,

What about moving the 50/2 up to a 50/1.4 or a 40/1.4 for the speed. I think the 25 is about as perfect a walking around lens as you can get, but it's slow. With the slowness comes small which is great. A fast 50 gives you night time capability without going longer (as you did not use it).

B2 (;->

Bill,

I have a Canon 50/1.2 and J-3 50/1.5, with both being tested and being very sharp. So are you suggesting that I take my CV 25mm/4 plus maybe the J-3 50/1.5?

 

[raid]

[
So the Canon 35/1.8 or the collapsible Summicron would be the best single lens. What do you mean by the three step zoom, William? Do you mean, as Keith suggested, take a step back or forth to get a "zoom"? Using one lens is a fun challenge indeed.

Roland once stated that if you take only one lens, leave the Leica behind. It is too expensive.




QUOTE=wlewisiii]While I can believe you didn't used it, the nice thing about that one is that it's the short tele equivallent to the Canon 28/3.5 - so light & tiny you almost don't know you have it with you.

No, thinking about it a bit more, I'd say go the single lens route. Make it a nice high quality fast lens (Canon 35/1.8, or IIRC you have a collapsible 'cron?) and just use the three step zoom as necessary.

Like most of us here at RFF, you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from. I mean, just look at my .sig forex! Go simple. It's fun, sometimes I think, to challenge yourself that way. My next trip I'm planning on taking my Canon A2E and my 50/1.8 and leaving my zoom at home.

Have fun with whatever you take & I know I'll have fun looking at the results!

William[/QUOTE]

 

[BillBingham2]

Bill,

I have a Canon 50/1.2 and J-3 50/1.5, with both being tested and being very sharp. So are you suggesting that I take my CV 25mm/4 plus maybe the J-3 50/1.5?

Yes, I'm not sure which. I've never had good luck with FSU stuff, so the J-3 would not be high on my list. If you have had good luck with it being spot on (focus-wise) wide open, the size is right. The Canon I think is a BIG lens and might be too big for a pocket (unless you want to think you are happy to see them). If you're cool with the size of the Canon, I'd go there.

While I like 35mm, I love the CV 25. You can get around it being slow if you bring a cable release and hold it against a railing for long shots at night. A handkerchief helps keep the bottom of the camera from being scratched.

I have never been a 50mm lover (or liker for that matter), but I’m taking my new Nikon S3 2000 and a 25/4, 50/1.4 and 105/2.5 with me to Halifax in a couple of weeks. I have to say the jump from 25 to 50 has a nice feel to it. I may come back changed (liking the 50mm focal length more), I do love the 40/1.4, but that is in my M6 kit.

Your Konica III brings me back to my first year of High School, it was my camera of choice (only choice I had at the time). Leave her home and take the T with two lenses (24/50).

B2 (;->

 

[wlewisiii]

So the Canon 35/1.8 or the collapsible Summicron would be the best single lens. What do you mean by the three step zoom, William? Do you mean, as Keith suggested, take a step back or forth to get a "zoom"? Using one lens is a fun challenge indeed.

Roland once stated that if you take only one lens, leave the Leica behind. It is too expensive.

Yes, by three step I mean what Keith recently talked about. One thing about using primes is that you often don't have time to change lenses. Even fast & easy lenses like M mount lenses, much less LTM or M42, can take enough extra time that a shot is lost. So I like to go out on occasion with only a single prime & force myself to practice compostion. I almost never get anything good from the practice sessions, but the practice makes me aware of situations that have given me several of the shots in my portfolio album.

I guess that, while I can understand the sentiment, I don't agree with Rolland on this issue. I'd rather have a single body & a single lens that I know and am very comfortable with than anything else. Now, some may find that certain inexpensive fixed lens cameras are able to do that constantly. For me? The XA probably comes closest but still, if I wanted a single camera w/ the 35mm FOV to travel anywhere I'd have some time to actually shoot more than a fast grab, I'd have one of my prefered cameras with one really good lens. Bessa R w/ Canon 35/1.8 or T90 & Canon 50/1.4 SSC (perhaps 35/2 thorium) or A2E w/ Canon 50/1.8 mk II just staying in 35mm land.

Hoping this makes sense to someone other than me,

William

 

[pvdhaar]

You'll need a wide when it's crowded, and a fast lens for when the light gets low.. I'd say take an M6, a CV25/4 and a 35.

 

[RML]

First of all, I'd bring a backup camera, but leave it in the hotel until I ever need it (never, I hope).

Secondly, I'd carry one camera with 1 lens, using a wrist strap and a carabiner (to clip the camera to my belt when I need 2 hands free, like in the toilet). For me, the combo would be the R-D1 and the Carl Zeiss 50/2. I might add an extra lens like the CV 15/4.5 (or the CV 25/4 for a film camera).

The spare camera would have one lens and only come out when absolutely needed. I'm loathe to carry around much gear, though I did that when in Istanbul last July. I was loading it all (and my family's stuff) in a fab Crumpler Big Boy backpack, and it never was a drag. However, I would still suggest a single camera from my wrist than bringing extensive loads of gear.

 

[mike_j]

Tavel package

Tavel package

I really wanted to vote Ricoh GR1 with film of your choice - Contax T2 is pretty good alternative.

 

[Mikael.N]

Mikael,

I must be ignorant; could you explain more about the fado places.

Fado is Portugals traditional music sad and emotional dont miss it.and for filmspeed 1600 at evenings.enjoy your trip i was there in juni with my daugther i had kiev 2 and a mf rf folder westex4 with me.

 

[richard_l]

Contax T2, although I think a Minilux or Rollei 35 would be better.

 

[Paul T.]

Leica CL, 40mm and 90mm for me...