Rangefinder Lens for the Slopes...

[JPSuisse]

So, there are enough crazy posts on this forum that it's now my turn for one!

If you were taking your RF skiing and were only going to take 1 lens, which lens would it be?

Not even sure, if I'll take color or BW...

JP

FM, MP, D100, M8

 

[Austerby]

I took my M6ttl (since sold) cross-country skiing in Norway once, with a 35mm Summicron attached, along with an orange filter. It was a good combination and worked well in the freezing temperature. It was a bit of a lump though and I would not wanted to have landed on it in a fall. Got some good shots of the high fells and lakeside ski trails.

I don't think the lens choice is too critical for RFs in such circumstances - you're not going to be getting many dramatic action shots of skiers at speed with a long lens - so whatever your preferred focal length of the day should suffice. A faster lens is useful for evening shots of course too.

 

[Krosya]

Due to possible danger of breaking it during a fall or what not - I'd take something small, yet good and not very expensive - Olympus XA comes to mind.

 

[payasam]

The aptly named "Mountain Elmar".

 

[Pherdinand]

HCB used to ski with a rolleiflex. 🙂

 

[Ronald M]

Skier friend used a small Olympus with collapsible lens. I would use my Rollie 35 with 40 mm Tessar.

Small photo backpack if you do not wish to miss anything.

 

[like2fiddle]

I've been struggling with this question for years. Practically speaking, an M camera is really too much of a "brick" if you are alpine skiing. If you're an aggressive skier and occasionally end up in the snow, you could also end up easily breaking some ribs with that thing in your pocket or around your neck. A small P&S is really the best choice for this type of activity. If you have to have a RF, Olympus XA comes to mind. I had one and traded it toward something else - miss it now when I'm being active outdoors.

 

[nico]

I'd bring my Voigtlander Vitessa with Ultron 50/f2, compact (slim), and solid as brick.

 

[grainhound]

Before getting into rangefinders, I tried a Canon F1 + 35-105 zoom in a backpack. Not fun & not for every day of skiing (in British Columbia). I now use a p&s digital: slips easily and securely into a ski jacket pocket, and the cam & I both survived a head over heels tumble caused by hitting an unexpected jump at high speed. Last winter I wanted to take the M4-2 with the Heliar 15 to about the spot where I took this stitched shot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33955951@N00/2224313652/
The cam/lens combo is compact, but my plan was to take it on one run, get the shot, return to the lodge and put the cam in a locker. I needed a sunny day & didn’t get it, so no shot. I’ll still go for a digi p&s for ski shots. Leicas are compact, but heavier than I’ll take for a day of skiing, and I don’t want to go head over heels with one in a backpack. To quote one of my ski instructors, “If I don’t fall once or twice during the day, I’m not having fun.”. My p&s has a 38mm or so equiv. at the wide end, and that’s what I used for almost all of the shots you can see in my flickr stream, so if you’re going to torture yourself with a real camera on the ski slopes, a 35mm lens is what I’d suggest.

 

[sanmich]

RB67 with a full set of optics will make you break any speed record.

 

[wlewisiii]

Plus-X, Jupiter 12 35/2.8 & a light yellow filter for my Contax.

William

 

[percepts]

Skied with an slr many times. Use a small rucksack and place camera at top of rucksack and well padded. Camera should be up between shoulder blades and not down by your lower back. That way falling on it will unlikely damage you or the camera.
Next, when camera is in rucksack, take lens off. That way falling on it will not create any force on lens / body join. i.e. the mount will not be susceptible to any damage.
Take what ever lense or lenses you want. A rangefinder is plenty small and light enough not to be a problem at all.
If you have never skied with a small rucksack (30litres) then that does take a little getting used to but having anything weighty or solid at the top stops it bouncing around and having the shoulder straps firm enough to stop it bouncing around also helps.
As someone has said, don't put camera in a pocket. It will get damaged if you fall on it and you run a high risk of breaking a rib if its in a front pocket.
And if its your first time with a rucksack, take it off and carry it on your lap when you get on a chair lift.

And be careful with T-bars when wearing a rucksack, they can get hooked on rucksack straps.

 

[filmfan]

I will be using my Bessa R2 + collapsible Summitar 50mm/2