Paris - one lens to rule them all ?

[marcr1230]

I'm traveling again.

Paris over Thanksgiving
It will be a family trip so a compromise photographically.

Part of the joy and anticipation of travel is obsessing over which gear to take.

I'm thinking one film camera, maybe a last hurrah for my OM system, I'm trying to clear out items from my shelves that don't get a lot of use
with the OM's I have plenty of lenses , would probably take a 50/1.4 and 85 2.0

Rangefinders - definitely a would go with a 35mm lens, camera body ? maybe Nikon SP

digital - I was thinking of taking some night-time photos with a DSLR and tripod.

my mind says "you'll never use all this stuff" my heart says "bring it all"

if you have to bring one small kit for a family trip to Paris , what would you bring?

Any new and interesting sites to see ? any secrets to iconic views of Paris ?

I went a couple years ago and will review the thread I started at that time - but why not kick off a trip with a fresh thread ?

 

[FrankS]

I'd take this wide angle, medium format rangefinder.

I loved the few days I spent in Paris some years ago.

Do all the touristy things with your family, and enjoy observing and photographing the street life along the way.

You must see the Louvre, walk along the Seine, cross over onto the islands. Walk, walk, walk. Sit outside a cafe and people-watch. Buy a bottle of wine, a loaf of fresh bread and an assorted cheese plate, and picnic in a park.

 

[Thardy]

On my last trip to Paris (2013) I took a micro four thirds kit consisting of a couple of bodies, kit lens 14-25 mm, telephoto zoom, and for low light fixed 20mm 1.7 and 45 1.8 mm. The kit was pretty compact, but still a bit much.

My first trip 2007 - I took too much ... SLR, DSLR, RF, film. Too much, too bulky, too heavy, unused.

 

[daveleo]

Bring the camera body that you are most comfortable with and a lens in the 28mm-50mm (EVOF) range.
Don't turn the trip from a dream to an anxiety excursion. You cannot take a "bad" picture in Paris.
Just know your gear, and shoot.

 

[hellomikmik]

I'm traveling again.
...
Part of the joy and anticipation of travel is obsessing over which gear to take.
...

or where to go/what to do:
http://www.fangduffkahn.com/books/city-secrets-paris

 

[nongfuspring]

3 cameras seems like overkill to me, you can only use one at a time. Personally I'd take the SP with 35 and/or the DSLR, but not the tripod.

Palais De Tokyo seems to have some cool stuff on at the moment, the botanical gardens are worth a visit (even during the winter), and I've always wanted to visit the catacombs but the lines are pretty huge if you get there too late (which I always do). Recommend eating at Chartier, a little touristy but very cheap and the food decent. La Mosquée de Paris is also worth going to, interesting restaurant, excellent desserts and also a hammam if you're into that sort of thing.

My tip for taking pictures of iconic views of Paris is to not bother.

 

[robbeiflex]

One of my favourite trips to Paris was with a single camera (M6), a single 50mm (C-Sonnar), and it was back when we also had only one daughter:


20120629-M6-HP5+04crop by robsomogyi, on Flickr

 

[Photon42]

On my last trip to Paris I've used an XPro-1 with 18/35/56 (equals 28/50/85). Paris is about walking in the streets and watching the street life. The Fuji did a fantastic job. I was too lazy to use a film camera. Just too many photos to take. I would travel light and use digital. It is a family trip, so maybe leave your tripod at home.

 

[Jack Conrad]

I love to shoot with film...when I'm alone and free to poke around.
But if I were to take a trip to Paris with family, it'd be with a small, fast, easy digital, lot's of battery power and someone in my group that knows the camera too, so I could hand it off if they see something cool that I'm bound to miss, because I'm easily discombobulated. Too much input too fast and I'm likely to forget to put my pants on, let alone capture the decisive moment. 😛

 

[YYV_146]

OM, an RF and a digital body. That's three kits plus a tripod...

I use to load up on gear for trips, but since I have realized that no matter how much gear I take, I end up using only one body and one or two lenses...So now I don't take more than that, unless it truly is the trip of a lifetime.

I just spent a week in Boston visiting friends with nothing but one camera and a 15mm lens. I missed a lot of shots, but the keepers were nice 😀

 

[Fixcinater]

I brought a single lens/camera and a variety of films to suit the day's conditions. Happened to be a Pentax 6x7 and 105/2.4.

When I go again, I will bring another single lens and camera and just stuff my pockets with film. Probably a rangefinder this time just to check off that item on the bucket list. Slightly wide would be preferable to the slightly long normal of the 105 on 6x7, so I might try a 35mm to get more context. The 105 worked well for a lot of situations, though.

Picnics built from street fair food were great, time spent in the gardens was great, people watching and walking, of course, and I was lucky enough to be there for Bastille Day, which was a fantastic time.

 

[Pablito]

A French camera, of course!

 

[robert blu]

One body, one lens. Good shoes.
robert

 

[thegman]

I used to load up on gear to take, these days I take 1, or perhaps 2 cameras. I much prefer the lack of stress of packing light. Some will stress over not having the right gear with them, some not.

Maybe I used to be focused on 90% travel, 10% photography. Now I'm more like 99% travel, 1% photography. I'd carry light, and have a good time. If I miss a photo because I don't have a wide or long lens, so be it.

 

[Frontman]

If you have a 35mm lens for your SP, it would be a good choice, a 28mm lens might be even better. I have a four lens kit for my SP, from 21mm to 50mm. The 28mm seems to work best for me.

On my last trip to Paris, I took a pair of Leicas, an X-Pro, and a Rolleiflex. The Leicas were dead weight, I ended up not using them at all. The X-Pro was a pleasure to shoot, as was the Rolleiflex.

If you are going to be on your feet all day, pack light. Paris is a very busy city, and you'll do a lot of walking. If you are carrying a heavy bag, you are sure to feel it by the end of the day.

 

[Godfrey]

If it were me going, and I could only carry one lens, I'd take the Leica X (fast 35mm EFoV) or M9 fitted with either 35 or 40 mm*lens.

Two lenses: E-M1 with 25 and 45mm lenses, M9 or A7 with either EFoV 35/40 and 90mm, or 28 and 50mm lenses.

For those night shots, I'd have my small and light weight travel tripod and cable release.

In any event, the goal is to keep the kit very small and light as on a family trip to Paris I would not want to be burdened with a massive amount of gear or the expectation of having to use it. ;-) I'd probably carry just the Leica X and the small tripod, at this point, because that would do most everything I'd want, and keep my expectations small.

G

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I have that trip scheduled for probably 2016... I was going to do it this coming summer but plans changed.

Now, after what I've learned, I would take just one digital (either a dSLR or my Fuji X100) and one film. Probably two lenses for the dSLR, and one spare for the film (which is bound to be a Leica). That way I don't walk with anything but my camera.

Enjoy the experience. There's a lot about Paris in the fall being even prettier than other times.

 

[jpa66]

Marc,

Having been to Paris many times, I'd suggest that you take the Nikon SP and a wide and telephoto lens. Also bring along a digital for family pics. If you had one, I'd say take a tlr, too 😉

Or simply forgo all of that, and bring the Oly and a zoom (I know - heretical...).

Have fun, and drink good wine and eat good food!

Jan

P.S. I might have told you this before, but definitely try to go to the top of the Tour Effiel at night - it's totally awesome (and have a picnic on the lawn - the kids will dig it).

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Panasonic LX100 and light-weight tripod for night scenes.

 

[madNbad]

Marc,

Having been to Paris many times, I'd suggest that you take the Nikon SP and a wide and telephoto lens. Also bring along a digital for family pics. If you had one, I'd say take a tlr, too 😉

Or simply forgo all of that, and bring the Oly and a zoom (I know - heretical...).

Have fun, and drink good wine and eat good food!

Jan

P.S. I might have told you this before, but definitely try to go to the top of the Tour Effiel at night - it's totally awesome (and have a picnic on the lawn - the kids will dig it).

Just my thought. Several years ago spent three weeks with light luggage and a Stylus Zoom. Came back with some great pictures and never once worried about my camera.