Paris - one lens to rule them all ?

I agree with most of what have been said above. The last time I was in Paris, I brought a Fuji X-100 with it's 2/23mm lens and a simple on board flash and I was happy with it. Keep in mind that upon arrival in the airport, you can buy an all-in bus/metro card and hop on and off as you please. I'll save you time and keep you warm. Good luck!
 
When I visited Europe years ago, I had only my 50mm. For 95% of my shots this was very satisfactory. Several times I could have used a much wider lens, a 24 or 21; a 35 wouldn't have been wide enough. Rather than forego the inclusive image I wanted, I stitched together several 50mm images, and today I'm glad I did that. My goal was to visit & tour "light" on foot, to preserve memories. At least in my experience, in proportion to the number of pieces of equipment I take, the concern becomes more "which camera/lens should I use" and trying to remember where I put everything.
So if I could do it again I guess it would be a 50 & a very wide. Enjoy the trip with whatever you're comfortable using and carrying.
 
Trius said:
I look funny anyway.
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Join the club, dearie.

Still, I stand by my advice: two outfits, max. And, make sure they mix-match. That way you have four combinations.

My husband used to keep a summer-weight suit in the bottom of his backpack -"just in case, you know..." Cashmere, it took up no room.

We were once recently invited to an evening function while in the field and we both borrowed clothes and shoes to attend. Later that evening when back in our accommodations, he was repacking for the next morning's work. We both had a giggle when he pulled out the suit.

"It must have been in here for at least two years,"

It still fits.

He no longer carries the suit. It fell under the not-used-in-a-year-then-chuck-it rule.

Besides,I think people want to see us in field jackets or some other stereotypical photographer's get-up, not in pseudo-business/evening attire.

He looks lovely cleaned up or not!

Mme. O.
 
I've booked 5/4 (arrive 5/5) leave 5/13. There are lots of shops for essentials near my son's apartment (rue du Roi de Sicile) so I can buy essentials. I could spend nearly all my time in le Marais - sitting back on the patios and watching would suit me fine. Of course that won't be all, but I will just play it by ear. Thank you everyone for all the input - keep it coming!
 
May should be very nice, Earl. Best season really. Prepare for occasional rain. And if I were you, maybe take a day/train trip or two outside of Paris too, like Lyon, Strasbourg, or Geneva. Paris and the rest of France and French Switzerland are quite different.

Enjoy !

Roland.
 
Thanks Roland - yes, I figured May would be a good balance of weather vs. crowds. I'm taking an EMS rain shell. I don't do well in heat and, especially, humidity. The latter is not really an issue in Paris except maybe August, so I am good.

I am certainly thinking of a day trip via train, I just haven't decided where yet - there are too many choices. :D

I've started some blog postings at http://weedram.blogspot.com -- I may change to a different platform, but for now blogspot is what I have available.
 
Paris is such a special place that you'll enjoy it for sure and whatever gear you'll have with you will give you interesting photos, of course according to your shooting style.
robert
PS: bookmarked your blog...I never had an Olympus, still regretting but never to late...
 
robert blu said:
Paris is such a special place that you'll enjoy it for sure and whatever gear you'll have with you will give you interesting photos, of course according to your shooting style. robert PS: bookmarked your blog...I never han an Olympus, still regretting but never to late...
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Thank you, Robert.

You are correct on both counts - I will enjoy it no matter what, and it's never too late to get an Olympus. :)
 
robert blu said:
I never han an Olympus, still regretting but never to late...
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A long time ago I worked for a very small paper. We used a pool kit that consisted of Olympus OM bodies and lenses.

Fabulous viewfinder. Absolutely wonderful. Massive.

Reliability was just short of perfect. There was a Nikon F kit as well. I think with Photomic heads. The finder was almost as good and reliability no better.

The Olympus wasn't as heavy or robust as the F, but I loved it.

Ironically, I'm now hefting a D3. 0ld girls never learn - or maybe I'm a female Benjamin Button!

Mme. O.
 
I was just in Paris a few weeks ago. Brought my M6 and 35 and 50mm Summicron. Ended up using only the 50mm (with a yellow filter). A 35mm would've been equally great though.
 
jazzwave said:
Agree.... Bring one camera (prefer the digital), one 50mm (equivalent) lens.... and comfort sneakers shoes. Enjoy your trip...
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For me the good shoes are even more important than the choice of lens.

What I will probably do is bring two cameras and the lenses I've mentioned. When I go out for the day I will take one camera/lens depending on my destinations. I have, however thought about taking the XA instead of the OM.
 
In my drive to avoid travel issues ... what are the shops in Paris that sell film? My first choice for film is APX 100 (see my signature,) but I'd rather not fly in and out with film going through scanners.

So are there any shops in Paris where I can buy 5-10 rolls? If not APX (I'm not about to be film-religious for the trip-of-a-lifetime) then I could easily shift to FP4+, TMX, Adox, etc.

A big part of my excitement for this trip is serendipity ... I'm more than open to just shooting a film that's not in my everyday arsenal and being surprised by the results.

That said, Adox CHS 100 charmed me and seems trés Paris. I haven't used the type II.
 
Never mind -- the Lomography shop is a 4 minute walk from my son's apartment. They will have a variety of film available. From what they told me XP2 is always available. I can buy there, have all my film processed before I leave so I avoid all X-Ray issues. There are 2 Nation Photo shops within the general area as well. The one on rue des Lombards even scans up to 4x5 with a high end Kodak scanner.

Problem solved!

:D
 
I've settled (I think) on my kit for Paris.

X-Pro1, Fuji 18/2, Zuiko 35/2.8, Zuiko 50/1.8 and XA. Subject to change, but I think that's it.

I booked my shuttle a couple of weeks ago and quite by chance the drop-off in the 4th is about 130 meters from my son's apartment. This trip is charmed.

Chronicle will be on Tumblr: http://zuikoholic.tumblr.com
 
If you haven't booked your out-of-town trip yet, I highly recommend a side trip to Chalon-sur-Saone (birthplace of photography!). Do double-check your train tickets and the departing platform for the right train, as I got caught when I went and ended up temporarily in Besancon, which is all of 30 km from the Swiss border. I had to go back to Dijon and get another train that took me to Chalon. If you don't speak French and make that kind of boo-boo, you're likely to be stuck for a while because very few folks out that way speak English (I got lucky and there was a young American woman on the platform in Besancon who helped me get sorted on which trains to take where).
 
Nice kit. I think it should serve you well. The x-pro1 will be useful in low light situations, and the XA looks like a good tool for streets.
I also always have these kind of interrogations when preparing a trip, the x-pro1 and 18mm often makes it, but I usually also want film. I feel more comfortable with getting some pictures on a physical support.
I hope you enjoy your stay.
 
The little Oly XA has accompanied me on many overseas trips and some of the best pics on those trips came out of that camera. It rocks with Portra 160. I think you'll love having it in Paris. Enjoy your trip!!
 
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