Prague - What should I take?

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scarletfawth

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I'm off to Prague with a large group of very good friends. We travel to an Eastern European city once a year as a bit of a reunion. Anyway I digress...I'm only in the city 2 days and won't have much time for any really staged or time consuming shots. It will mostly be grab shots and 'capturing the moment' in small back street dim lit bars.

I have the following kit at my disposal. What would you take? (Hand luggage, so max two cameras, oh go on then 3!).

Also what film?

Finally, does anyone know of any camera shops worth a visit? Thanks all, the benefit of your experience will really help.

Cameras
Nikon FM2n with 105mm, 50mm 1.6, 28mm 2.8.
Contax G2 with 28mm, 45mm and 90mm
Olympus XA4 & XA3
Olympus Mju 2
Fuji GA645 WI
Nikon D40 30mm 1.4

Film
120. Fuji 160 Pro, Fuji Pro 400 H
35mm Ilford XP 2, Reala 100, Superia 1600

My flickr
 
Prague is perhaps my favorite European city. Untouched by WWII.

There's a lot of narrow streets, so a wide angle would be good. Perhaps Fuji GA645 and the XA 4. What lens is on the Fuji?

Not terribly much use for a telephoto.

Ilford XP2 or some other B&W film will be useful it meshes well with the old world city. however, the colorful buildings in Old Town Square would be work well with some Fuji 160 Pro.


XP2 on the Charles Bridge (Karlovy Most).
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BillP - You are just being grumpy!
Plummerl - that camera shop is about a km away from my hotel so I'll check it out. Thanks v much.
Chris the jufi is 45mm. So should be good for those streets.
 
Travel light. Forget the underpants, and take only one roll of film. That will force highly-selective photo sessions and will result in much better pictures!
 
Ask for the Skoda Gold Card, you get 10% off, and if you have time, visit Jan Pazdera (used and commission cameras) across the street, try to deal with the owner's son, he will deal.

I spent a lot of time in Prague with a G2, and a GA 645.

Film (other than the chromogenics, I really liked the Foma 200 by what ever name they are selling it), and Prague was one of the few places where you could get a good selection of film at reasonable prices. The Foma B&W reversal film has great tonality, but I was there long enough to get it processed by Foma.

People there think of it as Central Europe, not Eastern.

I liked some of the areas under the Bridge, plus the view from across the river, "Joe's Place".

Great appetizers, Argentinean Fillets, and beer at HUSA on Vinohrady, near the modern TV broadcast antenna (hard to miss).

Olympus and Nikon had factory service in Prague -- very reasonable prices and fast service. I needed a minor part for an Olympus, they had a minimum charge, so they overhauled the camera while they were at it, perhaps less than $20. Dollar is down, I am seeing 18 Kc to the dollar, 25 is more normal, and I remember having a good time when it was 39.

Best beer in the world, several of the women who modeled for me are Czech.

Regards, John

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As was already mentioned - don`t bother with tele-lenses - wides are more useful here.. :) In case you wouldn`t be satisfied at fotoskoda, just walk across the street to another store called "Pazdera", where you can find some gems at great prices.. But don`t bother looking for their website, they have none. And being in Vodickova street, continue further from Vencelsaus` Square - in a side-street you can find "Leica Photo Caffee" which is quite nice as for pictures, but as for coffee, don`t miss "mamacoffee" just one or two corners further. :)

PS: There are many photography exhibitions open right now, so just don`t forget to check the internet about them as well..
 
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By the way I visited Prague before I was RF addict.. So I need to go there again :)

I found it the city is quite expensive!
 
andreios said:
As was already mentioned - don`t bother with tele-lenses - wides are more useful here.. :) In case you wouldn`t be satisfied at fotoskoda, just walk across the street to another store called "Pazdera", where you can find some gems at great prices.. But don`t bother looking for their website, they have none. And being in Vodickova street, continue further from Vencelsaus` Square - in a side-street you can find "Leica Photo Caffee" which is quite nice as for pictures, but as for coffee, don`t miss "mamacoffee" just one or two corners further. :)

PS: There are many photography exhibitions open right now, so just don`t forget to check the internet about them as well..
Click to expand...


Leica Photo Caffee-- relatively new? My Czech friend mostly work and live elsewhere now, so I have not been back for a few years. I used to enjoy Jiri at B&S photo in Bethlem Namesti, but items were getting scarce. Easy to find Vodickova, it is the street where the trams cross Wencelas Square.

Never get in a taxi on the square though, unless you really want to be taken for a ride. Only meters I have seen that keep moving when the taxi is not. ;-)

Two important Czech words, Prosim Pivo.

My Avatar came from FotoSkoda.

Regards, John
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
By the way I visited Prague before I was RF addict.. So I need to go there again :)

I found it the city is quite expensive!
Click to expand...


Really helps to have friends there, they normally found me an apartment, Ave Travel (on the web), ask for Pavel, they should find a good place if only for a few days. I stayed for 6 weeks in Paval Mara's studio near the Charles Bridge, no kitchen, but a darkroom. ;-) 7 flights of steps though.

Meals and drinks should still be reasonable, less than NYC for sure.

J
 
Go to the National Technology Museum too. It's utterly stunning even before you get to the near-magical camera collection.

But to return to the cameras: if you don't know, how the hell can we tell you? I found that 35/90 on Leicas did almost everything I wanted, though now I'd go for 35/75. Sure I could have taken MF too but I could also have taken 4x5 inch, 13x18cm, 8x10 inch, half frame...

Any one camera and readily usable lens will give you plenty to photograph. Choose whatever you're happiest using. It will work very well. Add another for backup if you want. That's it.

A while back I started and then deleted a 'what should I take' thread which postulated two bodies and 4 lenses: 18-35-75-135. I asked if anyone could think of a more versatile (Leica-based) outfit. In the second or third post someone asked how this differed from the usual 'what should I take' thread and I realized they were right so I deleted it.

Cheers,

R.
 
Charles Bridge is first for tourists but as a photo destination it's wonderful. The surrounding area is terrific, too, so if time is limited that's a great choice.

I'm just asking, but -- why the redundancy with 35mm film cameras? If you're goal is to pack lightly, pick one. Definitely bring MF -- choice is up to you but a solid Nikon body will let you shoot regardless of battery situation and it's certainly tough enough to take any knocks on the road.
 
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