Need your recommendations, please.

[faris]

Richard,

Richard,

thanks for replying. i shall be going to skye on tour ( not confirmed yet ) for 3
days. inverness for 2 nights to get the kyle line ride down and back. 4/5 nights in edinburgh ( see some stand-up comedy and opera=faust ).

already packed edmonton, alberta ( -30C ) clothing, arctic wind cheaters from
abiscoo ( sweden north ) and tropical rain shower kits.

what a change from the current 25C in riyadh. i love all weather. i hope my cam/s would too! the batteries discharged fast on my leica and nikons in all places except
riyadh😀

take care.

Dear Faris

Where abouts exatly are you going in Scotland? There is a great variety and unless i know exatly what you are planning it is hard to give too accurate advice. At the end of the day it is probably the best photo location in the Uk and you will get some beautiful light in March. Huge big waves crashing on rocks free of charge but ***** cold. Good outdoor gear and gloves is probably as important as anything.No one takes good pictures whilst suffering frost bite!
I can recommend the Western Isles for landscapes. Lewis and Harris are superb at this time of year as is Skye. In fact I would recommend contacting Skye in focus if you are interested. You could spend a couple of days with them and get an awful lot done benefitting from their local knowledge. Also quite a nice guest house there (and a website).

Have a great trip


Richard

View attachment 56596
Kallanish Stones, Lewis, Nikon FM2 35mmF2

 

[Ben Z]

I have the M8 and also Canon 20D which is about the size of a Nikon D300 as are a couple of the lenses I have for it similar to yours (18-55 and 85/1.8). Before I got the M8 I was still travelling with my M6 despite really preferring digital. I find the 20D great for shooting at parties, or local events, or very occasionally some nature photography but for travelling the M8 is what I take. It isn't the weight, it's the volume. I can put a couple lenses in my coat pockets and the capped body in another pocket and sit down to a comfortable meal in a restaurant. Even if I do carry a bag, it's small and narrow (sits close to my body) so don't have a large bag on my lap if I get on a bus or train or underground. And when I'm walking around I can keep the camera+lens under my jacket if I'm not shooting. It's just so much more comfortable for me, and my wife and other travelling companions like it that I don't look like someone from National Geo on assignment with an SLR and a big zoom and a large gadget bag on my shoulder.

Backup is a bit of a compromise for me, because I'm not about to buy another M8 and I wouldn't drag my 20D setup along with the M8 setup. So it's either my M6 and a few rolls of film, or else it's my D Lux 3. Like I said, a compromise. Luckily I haven't needed to use a backup yet.

 

[northpole]

If you are going to be out and about in the great outdoors, I would strongly recommend something a bit wider than 35 mm - especially when you consider the digi-crop factor. A 24mm elmarit or 25mm Biogon would definitely make it into my kit bag for a Scotland trip.

I too love Nikon gear and the autofocus on the af-s lenses is instantaneous. The weight of bodies and lenses is what drove me to Leica.

Have a wonderful trip and be prepared for rain - especially on the west coast!

Peter

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I'd skip the 85mm (portrait lens). I took that one never used. When touring a city it is recommended that you have a wide angel lens to capture the architecture. A small backup for the evenings. As someone posted here before there is a difference between vacation with family and taking serious photographs. Enjoy the vacation and take photos to remember.

 

[faris]

Ben,

Ben,

hi,

thanks for your advice. same boat as you were. i think shall take the m8 and the m7.

take care.

I have the M8 and also Canon 20D which is about the size of a Nikon D300 as are a couple of the lenses I have for it similar to yours (18-55 and 85/1.8). Before I got the M8 I was still travelling with my M6 despite really preferring digital. I find the 20D great for shooting at parties, or local events, or very occasionally some nature photography but for travelling the M8 is what I take. It isn't the weight, it's the volume. I can put a couple lenses in my coat pockets and the capped body in another pocket and sit down to a comfortable meal in a restaurant. Even if I do carry a bag, it's small and narrow (sits close to my body) so don't have a large bag on my lap if I get on a bus or train or underground. And when I'm walking around I can keep the camera+lens under my jacket if I'm not shooting. It's just so much more comfortable for me, and my wife and other travelling companions like it that I don't look like someone from National Geo on assignment with an SLR and a big zoom and a large gadget bag on my shoulder.

Backup is a bit of a compromise for me, because I'm not about to buy another M8 and I wouldn't drag my 20D setup along with the M8 setup. So it's either my M6 and a few rolls of film, or else it's my D Lux 3. Like I said, a compromise. Luckily I haven't needed to use a backup yet.

 

[faris]

Peter,

Peter,

thanks for stopping by. i cannot afford anymore lenses..but i do have the zm 21/4.5 small, so shall include it.

with rain and low light, would you recommend a small bean bag/tripod?

best.

If you are going to be out and about in the great outdoors, I would strongly recommend something a bit wider than 35 mm - especially when you consider the digi-crop factor. A 24mm elmarit or 25mm Biogon would definitely make it into my kit bag for a Scotland trip.

I too love Nikon gear and the autofocus on the af-s lenses is instantaneous. The weight of bodies and lenses is what drove me to Leica.

Have a wonderful trip and be prepared for rain - especially on the west coast!

Peter

 

[faris]

Hi Steve,

Hi Steve,

the 85 is big, but what images, no?
i shall include the zm 21/4.5.

thanks for your advice.

I'd skip the 85mm (portrait lens). I took that one never used. When touring a city it is recommended that you have a wide angel lens to capture the architecture. A small backup for the evenings. As someone posted here before there is a difference between vacation with family and taking serious photographs. Enjoy the vacation and take photos to remember.

 

[Ian Biggar]

Faris -
I live back in Scotland - having lived in Edmonton for 18 years - we maybe know people in common!
I have not picked up my D200 since I got my RD-1 - I love the simplicity - use it every day - have 25 year old Leica glass that needed using. Travel light - small tripod maybe (light levels can be low). At most pick up a 21mm or 24mm.
Concentrate on what you have not what you think you should have brought and you'll be fine.
You can use film as back up (having used digital as polaroid) and if you need to process the film I use a Kodak Q-Lab in Edinburgh called Trumps that have never let me down (ph.0131-667-7722).
Yep! - It's been wet lately and also very windy but we had some fabulous sun a couple of weeks ago that lasted over a week - least I think that was what that big, bright, warm ball in the sky was!!
Good luck and enjoy - especially if it's your first trip over here,
Ian

 

[Richard Marks]

thanks for replying. i shall be going to skye on tour ( not confirmed yet ) for 3
days. inverness for 2 nights to get the kyle line ride down and back. 4/5 nights in edinburgh ( see some stand-up comedy and opera=faust ).

already packed edmonton, alberta ( -30C ) clothing, arctic wind cheaters from
abiscoo ( sweden north ) and tropical rain shower kits.

what a change from the current 25C in riyadh. i love all weather. i hope my cam/s would too! the batteries discharged fast on my leica and nikons in all places except
riyadh😀

take care.

Hi Faris
You are going to have a great trip.
The Leica with 35mm lens set up is spot on for Edinburgh
If you are going to Skye, an organised photo trip will certainly make the best use of your time. Its just the local knowledge of which locations are good at that time of year at a particular time of day. I can strongly recommend Skye in Focus (have a look at their website). Steve Terry is very helpful. I am sure that any of the tours their will be pretty good. Its hard to miss with a camera there! It would really be worth hiring a car if your budget can take it as public transport in remote places is not all that great. Again its about making the best use of limited time.

I agree with some of the other posters that you need something a tad wider than 35mm on the M8 if you are shooting landscapes. I get by most of the time with the 28 2.8 but my next lens is going to be something wider for sure. One thing to think about though is that you probably need a tripod. There will be many occasions when the difference in exposure between the skye and land is high and conventionally one might use a grey grad filter. This is not really possible with the M8. The alternative is to merge a number of images with different exposure, or to make separate exposure adjustments from the same RAW image. I think it is vital to shoot RAW for landscapes (or anything else for that matter), but a tripod will allow you to bracket exactly the same image for later manipulations. Also I would recommend a polarising filter.

Sounds like you have adequate weather gear.

Most vital of all you must go to Creelers seafood restaurant on Skye. Insist on the Gumbo followed by some of the best scallops money can buy. Oh and Talisker distillery also essential. A bottle of their cask strength whisky is exceptional.

Have a great trip.


Richard

 

[faris]

Ian,

Ian,

you folks are really some nice and helpful people around these parts. i just visited
edmonton ( daughter is doing her medical fellowship there. i visited scotland a long
ways back when i was a student in the uk ( don't even ask when😱 )

i shall have my zm 21/4.5c with me...would it not be real slow!!

Thanks for all the help.

Faris -
I live back in Scotland - having lived in Edmonton for 18 years - we maybe know people in common!
I have not picked up my D200 since I got my RD-1 - I love the simplicity - use it every day - have 25 year old Leica glass that needed using. Travel light - small tripod maybe (light levels can be low). At most pick up a 21mm or 24mm.
Concentrate on what you have not what you think you should have brought and you'll be fine.
You can use film as back up (having used digital as polaroid) and if you need to process the film I use a Kodak Q-Lab in Edinburgh called Trumps that have never let me down (ph.0131-667-7722).
Yep! - It's been wet lately and also very windy but we had some fabulous sun a couple of weeks ago that lasted over a week - least I think that was what that big, bright, warm ball in the sky was!!
Good luck and enjoy - especially if it's your first trip over here,
Ian

 

[faris]

Richard, really appreciate your help and advice. i shall check Skye in Focus. Just what I need in Skye, whle my wife goes hiking ( or something..).

I have my int'l driver's license ready, but one of us drives on the wrong side of the road😱 ..this is making me a little nervous!

i have that small leica tripod ( if one can call it that ) with the smaller ballhead.

Wow..love the gumbo and scallops ( the cholestrol can take a hike ).
if not by tour,we would have to make our way to Skye, so that has to be worked out. no i won't drive from edinburgh to skye..never..too scared with traffic direction
in the uk. when i was young, could not afford a car..now forget which way to overtake. it is instinct with me and over there instinct would be real baad!!

Best.

Hi Faris
You are going to have a great trip.
The Leica with 35mm lens set up is spot on for Edinburgh
If you are going to Skye, an organised photo trip will certainly make the best use of your time. Its just the local knowledge of which locations are good at that time of year at a particular time of day. I can strongly recommend Skye in Focus (have a look at their website). Steve Terry is very helpful. I am sure that any of the tours their will be pretty good. Its hard to miss with a camera there! It would really be worth hiring a car if your budget can take it as public transport in remote places is not all that great. Again its about making the best use of limited time.

I agree with some of the other posters that you need something a tad wider than 35mm on the M8 if you are shooting landscapes. I get by most of the time with the 28 2.8 but my next lens is going to be something wider for sure. One thing to think about though is that you probably need a tripod. There will be many occasions when the difference in exposure between the skye and land is high and conventionally one might use a grey grad filter. This is not really possible with the M8. The alternative is to merge a number of images with different exposure, or to make separate exposure adjustments from the same RAW image. I think it is vital to shoot RAW for landscapes (or anything else for that matter), but a tripod will allow you to bracket exactly the same image for later manipulations. Also I would recommend a polarising filter.

Sounds like you have adequate weather gear.

Most vital of all you must go to Creelers seafood restaurant on Skye. Insist on the Gumbo followed by some of the best scallops money can buy. Oh and Talisker distillery also essential. A bottle of their cask strength whisky is exceptional.

Have a great trip.


Richard

 

[Richard Marks]

Richard, really appreciate your help and advice. i shall check Skye in Focus. Just what I need in Skye, whle my wife goes hiking ( or something..).

I have my int'l driver's license ready, but one of us drives on the wrong side of the road😱 ..this is making me a little nervous!

i have that small leica tripod ( if one can call it that ) with the smaller ballhead.

Wow..love the gumbo and scallops ( the cholestrol can take a hike ).
if not by tour,we would have to make our way to Skye, so that has to be worked out. no i won't drive from edinburgh to skye..never..too scared with traffic direction
in the uk. when i was young, could not afford a car..now forget which way to overtake. it is instinct with me and over there instinct would be real baad!!

Best.

Hi Faris
It would be worth getting in touch with Steve Terry by e-mail. Incidentally he and his wife are both PHD graduates who were research scientists who just dropped everything and set up Skye in Focus. He can advise about transport links and local hire cars. There is a good train service from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochash and Steve used to meet people at the Kyle of Locash train station if requested. (it is only a short drive accross the new bridge from the train station to Skye.)

Regarding driving in Scotland the roads are not that busy. You should be OK. Look out for sheep and also ancient drivers in Morris 1000's doing 15 miles per hour!

A small tripod should be fine. Just one cutionary tail keep hold of it! Its very windy. When my M8 and tripod got blown over there was a very nasty tear of the base plate (see thread "is this a write off?". Fortunately all fixed under warranty. Incidentally Inverness has a brillinat camera shop called FFordes. They would be more than able to provide you with any bits and bats that you might need. (also have a pretty good website).

I am really looking forward to you posting some pictures. I think it is about time I booked another trip! (my last trip was with Hasselblad, 3 lenses, 5x4 view camera and Nikon FM2. It all fitted into a Tamrac bag. Im over it now!

Let me know if I can be of any further help.


Richard

 

[faris]

Richard, i have already sent an e-mail to gale/steve.

called a friend of mine and he is willing to lend me his cv 15/4.5 with a 15 and 21mm viewfinder. so guess ready for wide! I am thinking of packing the 90/4, instead of the 90/2.8 or the 75/2.

any opinions?

Grateful to you for all your help.

Hi Faris
It would be worth getting in touch with Steve Terry by e-mail. Incidentally he and his wife are both PHD graduates who were research scientists who just dropped everything and set up Skye in Focus. He can advise about transport links and local hire cars. There is a good train service from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochash and Steve used to meet people at the Kyle of Locash train station if requested. (it is only a short drive accross the new bridge from the train station to Skye.)

Regarding driving in Scotland the roads are not that busy. You should be OK. Look out for sheep and also ancient drivers in Morris 1000's doing 15 miles per hour!

A small tripod should be fine. Just one cutionary tail keep hold of it! Its very windy. When my M8 and tripod got blown over there was a very nasty tear of the base plate (see thread "is this a write off?". Fortunately all fixed under warranty. Incidentally Inverness has a brillinat camera shop called FFordes. They would be more than able to provide you with any bits and bats that you might need. (also have a pretty good website).

I am really looking forward to you posting some pictures. I think it is about time I booked another trip! (my last trip was with Hasselblad, 3 lenses, 5x4 view camera and Nikon FM2. It all fitted into a Tamrac bag. Im over it now!

Let me know if I can be of any further help.


Richard

 

[Richard Marks]

Richard, i have already sent an e-mail to gale/steve.

called a friend of mine and he is willing to lend me his cv 15/4.5 with a 15 and 21mm viewfinder. so guess ready for wide! I am thinking of packing the 90/4, instead of the 90/2.8 or the 75/2.

any opinions?

Grateful to you for all your help.

Hi
Well done.
I have not use the CV 15 but lots on this site rate it very highly. A good choice.
Im not sure you need any of the longer lenses!
Regards
Richard

 

[ericodom]

I went through this same dilemma last weekend for a trip to New Orleans. I have an M8 and a 28/2.8 and 35/2 plus a D300 with 18-55 and 50/1.4. I always lugged my DSLR with me, regardless of the weight.

However, I broke with tradition, because I was only taking a carryon bag for the weekend. Took the M8 and my two lenses and a Fuji P&S as backup/party camera. I never once said to myself "Gosh, I wish I had the Nikon...". For me, it was the perfect setup and I'm glad I saved the weight in my carryon!

Everyone's different, but I had no regrets. Take the M8 and enjoy! Oh, and take something a little wider. I had a 28, but could have used something even wider (given the crop).

Cheers,
Eric

 

[Ian Biggar]

Faris
The 21 will be fine and shouldn't be too slow - I use it almost as standard on my RD-1(tho' mine is a 2.8) and the 15 you will love. Both can be used at much slower shutter speeds than 60th but I'm sure you know this. Not a problem if your on a tripod. I would second Richard Marks' comments on Ffordes(yes - that is how they spell it) tho' it's actually just outside of Beauly about 8 miles west of Inverness in an old converted church with a really seriously fresh cakes type of tearoom on the ground floor - heaven above, hell below!! I would go back for the cakes alone! Check out (and make a note of their phone number) their website.
I'm at the other end of Scotland (not far from where PanAm came down) so am considerably closer thatn Richard - if you have any problems - call me - I'll PM my phone number.

 

[tbarker13]

A visit to Ffordes is definitely worth it. I dropped by on my way to see a performance by the Beauly Firth & Glens Pipe Band. The folks at Ffordes were a pleasure to chat with. Lots of cool stuff to look at.

As an aside - that pipe band was quite neat to watch. And my wife loved the highland dancing performance (by some younger kids) that preceded it. We were there in the summer - at that time, they were doing shows every week (Thursdays, I think).
One of my favorite memories from the trip - sitting in the town square eating fish & chips wrapped in paper, and then watching the band.

 

[faris]

Richard, booked myself to stay with gill/steve for a couple of nights. may extend
it!

You guys are something.

Bless.

Hi
Well done.
I have not use the CV 15 but lots on this site rate it very highly. A good choice.
Im not sure you need any of the longer lenses!
Regards
Richard

 

[faris]

thanks eric. going that route.

I went through this same dilemma last weekend for a trip to New Orleans. I have an M8 and a 28/2.8 and 35/2 plus a D300 with 18-55 and 50/1.4. I always lugged my DSLR with me, regardless of the weight.

However, I broke with tradition, because I was only taking a carryon bag for the weekend. Took the M8 and my two lenses and a Fuji P&S as backup/party camera. I never once said to myself "Gosh, I wish I had the Nikon...". For me, it was the perfect setup and I'm glad I saved the weight in my carryon!

Everyone's different, but I had no regrets. Take the M8 and enjoy! Oh, and take something a little wider. I had a 28, but could have used something even wider (given the crop).

Cheers,
Eric

 

[faris]

thanks Ian. check your inbox.
regards.

Faris
The 21 will be fine and shouldn't be too slow - I use it almost as standard on my RD-1(tho' mine is a 2.8) and the 15 you will love. Both can be used at much slower shutter speeds than 60th but I'm sure you know this. Not a problem if your on a tripod. I would second Richard Marks' comments on Ffordes(yes - that is how they spell it) tho' it's actually just outside of Beauly about 8 miles west of Inverness in an old converted church with a really seriously fresh cakes type of tearoom on the ground floor - heaven above, hell below!! I would go back for the cakes alone! Check out (and make a note of their phone number) their website.
I'm at the other end of Scotland (not far from where PanAm came down) so am considerably closer thatn Richard - if you have any problems - call me - I'll PM my phone number.