Please recommend light gear

Juan Valdenebro

Juan Valdenebro

Truth is beauty
Local time
3:52 PM
Joined
May 23, 2009
Messages
4,353
Here's a place for recommending light cameras and/or lenses. I've found light equipment helps for longer and more comfortable shooting, and maybe in the long run it helps for better photographs...
I'll start with a couple rangefinders I like to use:
1. At 600 grams only, we get a very capable set: camera, fast lens and external viewfinder. Camera is mechanical, and goes up to 1/2000th of a second, with great magnification for focusing (superior to most Leicas), and it has a meter too. It was designed for external finders, so there's no escape: you enjoy the best possible view while composing, always. The lens is a fast sonnar, 50mm f1.5, more than sharp enough at medium apertures, and gentle wide open for portraits, with very pleasant bokeh. So, everything's in... The name is:
Voigtlander Bessa T with Jupiter-3. You hang this set from your shoulder and it feels unbelievable light for all that's offered...
2. At 220 grams only: a camera that fits everywhere, even in jeans pockets... We get autoexposure, with a useful and effective +1.5 option for backlight... Aperture priority: you decide the f-stop... Smallest 35mm lens rangefinders ever... Good image quality for street shooting at f5.6-f11... The name is:
Olympus XA.
Thanks for all your recommendations!
 
Fuji X100. It's what I take on a short trip. Don't know what it weighs but it's very light. Leica II. Smaller and lighter than an M.
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
I've found light equipment helps for longer and more comfortable shooting
Click to expand...

In my experience, it's not the weight or size that makes for a longer or more comfortable experience but rather the ergonomics and the balance between body and lens.
 
It's hard to beat the XA for size and weight, but the RF patch on mine is not as bright and contrasty as I'd like so I tend to scale focus with it. An alternative is the Minox 35.

The Mju-I with fixed 35mm f3.5 is not quite as compact but has AF and motor film advance. Still a very capable compact. I also like the Rollei 35S - I prefer it's more solid construction and weight compared to the Olympii :)

For interchangeable lenses the Olympus OM-1 with a prime is also very small and light, and not battery-dependent if you use sunny 16. I'm not sure how it compares to the Bessa T?

In MF the compact Voigtlander folders are good quality. I think the Perkeo is the smallest and lightest?
 
I loved the Konica Hexar (AF) for it's size, weight and extraordinary capability.
These days I carry around a Kodak Retina IIa which is a fantastic little camera and weighs very little but packs an amazing 50mm f/2 Xenon lens.
The boutique P&S cameras make great lightweight carry everywhere options.
For interchangeable lens options and extreme durability, the Barnacks are great. After that, we're talking full size Leica and Nikon RF bodies.

Phil Forrest
 
This is a thread after my heart, since I'm a fan and frequent user of compact, lightweight cameras. + 1 on Juan's selections of the Bessa T and the XA. I have two recommendations in a similar vein. These are the cameras I take backpacking, where light weight and robust build are essential:


Travel Companions by bingley0522, on Flickr
 
"Light" rigs that feel nice:
1) Ricoh GR1
2) Zeiss Ikon SW+Biogon 21/4.5 - I use the grip for better handling
3) Bessa R4A + Elmarit 28 ASPH
4) Zeiss Ikon + Summicron 35 v4
5) Pentax ME Super/ MX with 55/1.8
6) Olympus (OM1-4) with 85/2 or 100/2.8
7) Nikon FM3A + 45/2.8 P
In medium format:
Bronica RF 645 + 45mm or 65mm
 
Contax T3. Weight to IQ ratio is unmatched. The only 35mm format camera I still use for serious photo projects.
Contax T. The RF in your pocket.
 
For film and High Enlargement capability.... Voigtlander Bessa ii Color Heliar (105/f3.5). Hard to beat a 6x9 Negative that comes out of that 'little" Camera. It's lighter than an M6 before mounting a lens.
For 135 the Olympus MJU2 is really quite something (or rather nearly nothing :D ).
Digital it's the X100 all the way!

Cheers!
 
Although I love using a Barnack, my FN2n is a bit lighter with a 50/1.8E. My Konica C35v (340g) with 38mm f2.8 four-element Hexanon lens is much lighter than either.

Contax T3 at 230g does beat it.
 
Contax T3 is my smallest, but the T is only slightly bigger and a real RF. Honorable mention goes to the IIIb, but it's much heavier. :)
 
a bessa R with an elmar 50mm 3.5 or 2.8 would be pretty lightweight IMO, lighter than a barnack. great finder built in unlike the T bessa's, with an ultra lightweight body and good meter.
 
Lightweight autos, Contax T3 or Ricoh GR1s.
For an RF, Leica CL with a 40mm. I used to carry an Olympus XA but the dim rangefinder puts me off.
 
I'm not professional photog, not sure if my experience is valid here.

In terms of long walk and keeping it light on the gear without big compromise on IQ it is XA for me.
If I want best possible IQ and light, Leica and it's clones with 35 and 50 primes.

Prime is IQ big factor already. With b/w film it doesn't have to be very expensive prime, IMO.

If digital, new ff Sony or ff Leica would be my choice to stay light. With modern primes. If it is street, reportage or just a long walk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom