R-d1 or MP for travel

[Ponsoldt]

I am going on a trip out of the country. I am interested in experiences people have had lately traveling with film? Has anyone had any trouble with it getting exposed in the x-ray?

Bill

 

[kbg32]

I've had no trouble in asking for hand inspection of film. I usually wait until most people have passed or go to a slow x-ray inspection station. This way the guards are not rushed.

 

[RML]

I am going on a trip out of the country. I am interested in experiences people have had lately traveling with film? Has anyone had any trouble with it getting exposed in the x-ray?

It's a question that people have been asking for years, and even more after 911. There is _NO_ noticeable effect on your film, not even after multiple passes. You can, however, ask for a hand check with film rated iso1600 and up.

 

[Ossifan]

There is/should be no effect on your film if you put it in carry-on; however, DO NOT check it in your luggage - airports use stronger x-rays for checked luggage and it will damage your film.

Cheers,
alex

 

[AusDLK]

Unless you can manage to use your R-D1 with a misaligned RF, leave it at home and take the MP.

My (former) R-D1 lasted five weeks (out of a 17 week trip) before the focus patch, etc. was mucked up. I shipped it home.

My M7 took the whole trip in stride with lots less worry about reliability and panicy "oh crap is the battery charged?" moments.

 

[sf]

Unless you can manage to use your R-D1 with a misaligned RF, leave it at home and take the MP.

My (former) R-D1 lasted five weeks (out of a 17 week trip) before the focus patch, etc. was mucked up. I shipped it home.

My M7 took the whole trip in stride with lots less worry about reliability and panicy "oh crap is the battery charged?" moments.

this is a very good point. reliability is really really really important. And surely the RD1...or most all other CV bodies...simply don't make any promises.

One benefit of digital is that you can play around more, shoot more long exposures, carry less, etc. But the MP will feel ALOT better in your hands, be more trustworthy, and even possibly instill a sense of artistic duty in you that the digital might not. I know I feel more obliged to perform when shooting film than with digital. Who knows why.

 

[AusDLK]

>I know I feel more obliged to perform when shooting film than with digital.
>Who knows why.

Well, each shot counts for more. And each has a finite $$$ cost associated with it.

 

[pfogle]

FWIW , last year I did a 6 month trip to USA, Australia and NZ with the R-D1. Used it most days, and had no trouble at all of any sort. I took 2 batts, 2 1-Gig cards and a laptop.

 

[RML]

FWIW , last year I did a 6 month trip to USA, Australia and NZ with the R-D1. Used it most days, and had no trouble at all of any sort. I took 2 batts, 2 1-Gig cards and a laptop.

Indeed. The unreliability of the rf is IMO greatly exaggerated. I have my R-D1 since June 2005 and have yet to do any adjustments to the rf (or the camera as a whole). I've taken it everywhere in my messenger bag (no padding whatsoever), every day of the week for close to 2 years, to work or vacation, and it never let me down. 3 batteries and 2 1GB cards will keep you shooting most days.

I really don't know what people do with their cameras but I fail to understand why rf's should go out of alignment so quickly with just regular, everyday use. 😕

 

[iml]

What RML said. Mine goes everywhere with me, just thrown in a bag, and has been faultless.

Ian

 

[Nachkebia]

I travel with my Zeiss ikon and M7 without any problem, MP would be much better 😀 I try to buy film on location and let it scan through hand baggage x-ray without a problem iso 100 and iso 400....

 

[Ben Z]

I still shoot 90% of my travel with an M6 and 100-speed slide film, and as long as it's still sold and processed, that's how I intend to continue. I've got the RD1 and a Canon 20D, they're great but I still prefer slides spread out on a light table to images on a monitor.

 

[AusDLK]

>I really don't know what people do with their cameras but I fail to understand
>why rf's should go out of alignment so quickly with just regular, everyday use.

I don't know either but I've had the RF's "go out" in two R-D1's and one Bessa R3A under normal use. (They share the same questionable RF mechanism, of course.)

This has not happened (under the same conditions) to my Xpan, M7, M3, or Hexar RF -- and hopefully will not happen to my "new" Bronica.

 

[Tuolumne]

Why not just take both the R-D1 and the M7? Each can back up the other and they share lenses to boot.

T.

 

[demian]

I may be seemingly biased, but as others confirm, MP hands down...

Never let you down. And I hesitate to buy film on location, or at least try to avoid it. Prices can vary greatly, as well as, types. Depends where you are going...

My wife is attending photo school, uses her canon digital always (and while traveling). I hate it. But obviously it is an SLR...

Oh, how blissful it is to be free of batteries...

Depending on where you are going, it can be a *real* boon trying to charge them!


I think no batteries above all is one of your greatest allies while traveling.



Safe journey.
D

 

[LeicaM3]

Two questions?

Two questions?

I am going on a trip out of the country. I am interested in experiences people have had lately traveling with film? Has anyone had any trouble with it getting exposed in the x-ray?

Bill

Bill,

MP or R-D1?
Since you are going away I guess this aims at reliability.
Take the MP. This would be my order one single body for trips:
MP > M2-6 > M7 > R-D1 or M8.
MP over M2-6 just because it is newer. Recently CLA'ed it would not matter.
MP, M2-6 over M7 so I have other options than 1/60 and 1/125 when the battery goes.

x-ray?
Not a problem.


Have a good trip.

Andreas

 

[RML]

I don't know either but I've had the RF's "go out" in two R-D1's and one Bessa R3A under normal use. (They share the same questionable RF mechanism, of course.)

Like I said, I don't understand the why. I've been shooting rf for years now and none of my cameras has had a disalligned rf; not the Bessa R, not the R-D1, not the Zeiss Ikon, not the CL, not any of the other cameras I have. Admittedly, the R, the CL and the R-D1 saw and see most of the action. I just dunk them in my messenger bag, schlepp them everywhere in every place and every weather, and I just shoot. I shot on average a roll per day (literally), which is why I got the R-D1 (film, processing and scanning cost me too dearly in money and time).

 

[Jim Watts]

Well for what its worth my Leica M4 has never needed a rangefinder adjustment in over 30 years (of not too careful) use from new.

My R-D1 is now about 2.25 years old and is only just starting to show a very slight verticle mis alignment. Not enough to make me want to fiddel with it yet.

 

[JonasYip]

Over the last 2 years my R-D1 had no RF alignment problems... until last week, naturally while out of town, and with no backup RF body. I shot with it anyways and was fine.

When I got home, I looked up the various resources right here on RFF and got the RF realigned pretty easily (thanks all who posted details and pics).

So for future travel I'll still not hesitate to bring the R-D1 ... I'll just have the appropriate screwdrivers in my bag as well. Realistically, if I'm on an extended trip I'd probably bring: 2xR-D1, an M6TTL just in case, plus the ever present P&S.

j