Rome & Tuscany -- gear tips?

bobby_novatron

bobby_novatron

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Hello all -- going to Rome / Florence / Tuscany for 3 weeks, leaving very soon (next week! yikes!) ... and of course, I've been lying in bed thinking about what camera gear and film I'm going to take.

I suffer from an chronic embarrassment of camera GAS, so as a result I have a decent selection of equipment that I could take:

Body #1: Zeiss Ikon / Bessa R3A
Lenses: CV 21/4, 35/1.4, minolta rokkor-m 40/2, Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2, Summicron DR 50/2, CV 75/2.5

Body #2: Contax G2
Lenses: Carl Zeiss 28/2.8, CZ 45/2, CZ 90/2.8

I like both systems ... but I see advantages / disadvantages to each bundle.

The Zeiss / Bessa cousins are great machines. I could throw the Zeiss in a bag with a couple lenses and be happy. But (and here's the 'but') ... aside from the AE shutter priority, I'm going to have to get much faster on my focusing.

On the other hand, there's the G2: occasionally I get missed shots on the G2 due to the twitchy Contax AF system. Either that, or I have to shoot at F8 all the time to make sure I'm safe. Annoying, because otherwise the Zeiss glass is astounding.

A final issue (and these are all wonderful problems to be dealing with) is -- what film? And will film survive OK with baggage screening?

Anyways, if anyone has any friendly input, it's much appreciated.

🙂
 
Won't comment on the gear choice, Bobby, because it's so personal.

Tuscany is simply wonderful. Take your time for food and drink, visit Chianti, Sienna, Pisa, etc. Rome can be pretty stressful. For me, I prefer it in small doses (day trips).

Film should be no problem, as long as you take 400 ASA or less; do not check it in, have it with you carry on.

Enjoy !

Roland.
 
In Rome, I'd go out with a 2 body 28/50mm combo. In Tuscany you will need something longer for landscapes. I would take G2 with 28 and 90mm, ZI with the 50mm, 35mm (for evening shots) and would throw in the 21mm for landscape in Tuscany. Leave the rest home and load up on Tri X (Arista Premium 400)
 
I'm in Italy right now, in Desenzano (Lake Garda).

As I wrote in another post, you don't need more then 200 asa film here, unless you're going to shoot late in the evening on the terras etc .. I'm usually at F8 or F11, 1/125 - 1/250.

Usually, I take the CV 21 or CV 28 on the ZI, but because I noticed the RF being slightly off, I'm using my Leica CL these last days; I hardly used my Hexanon 90mm, and I did not use at all my CV 50 (all CV-lenses I have with my are Color Skopar).

I also notice that once I started out on a trip with a lens attached, I rarely change lenses ..

Anyway, take LOTS of film: I use Fujichrome Sensia 100, and it's not easy to find over here in; mostly Kodak in the shops.

Be sure to use light equipment: I now (but never before) noticed in daily reality the difference in weight between lenses and cameras ... A few 100 grams do make a difference while you are walking in Venice all day.

Stefan.
 
Excellent advice so far, my friends. Thank you.

Yes I have considered the weight issue. The full Contax G2 package (body + 3 lenses) is surprisingly heavy. Must be all those exotic alloys that Kyocera used! LOL!

In terms of film, I'm still trying to decide. I do not have much experience shooting chromes ... although I have a lot of Velvia 100 in my fridge at the moment. I have heard that slide film is much less "forgiving" in terms of exposure than colour negative film.

I also have lots of Kodak Ektar 100, Reala 100, and 400VC at home at the moment... 🙂
 
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I did your trip back in 2008.

I took a Bessa R with a CV 21/4, 50/1.5 Nokton, and 135/4.5 Hektor. Aperture priority would have been nice, because the building cast shadows so sometimes, I'm in sunshine and sometimes I'm in shade, cause a swing in exposure. I used the CV 21/4 about 75% of the time. It was useful with the narrow streets and tall buildings. The Hektor was paperweight. A fast lens was nice for night time or for inside shots.

Don't take both systems. It will be a nightmare. Carrying two systems all day, plus suveniors or whatnot will get heavy and cumbersome. However, I would take a second camera to have two different films. It doesn't have to be an M mount. Get something small like a Rollei 35 or an Olympus XA. I wish I did.

I would take the Zeiss Ikon/ Bessa R3A. The CV 21/4 and one of the following: 35/1.4, 40/2 or 50/2. If you plan on taking a few photos of people, I'd lean toward a 50/2. Otherwise, the extra stop of the 35/1.4 is helpful inside.

Just use depth of field focus for most walk around shots with your 21/4. Even at f/5.6, when focused at 10 feet everything between 4.5 feet and infiniti will be in focus. Just leave it at 10 feet and snap away.

I took a combination of Kodachrome and 400 Ultracolor and Portra film. Just carry it through the airport x-ray and you will be fine. Don't put it in checked luggage where the x-ray is stronger and can damage film in one pass. Kodak says five trips through the regular x-ray is fine. When you go out for the day don't take all your film. Everytime you go into a museum they may x-ray your bag.

Slide film exposure is more sensitive, but it's not so bad that your resulting shots will be unusable if you are off 1/2 stop.

Bring enough film. Despite bringing 14 rolls for 9 days, I ran out and had to buy some. The "Kodak Gold" I bought sucked. Perhaps it was left out in the heat. Bring a mini tripod. I'd rest it on a pew bench or something to get a good inside photo.


Here is the set of my photos.
 
chris00nj -- absolutely fantastic advice, thank you very much. I am leaning towards the ZI / Bessa set-up with 3 lenses as my primary kit.

I appreciate your advice regarding the x-ray machines & film, this has been a big concern of mine. I have read about modern x-ray machines being much more "gentle" on photographic film, but still, there's the issue of multiple passes (i.e. through airport security, then museums as you stated) ... I bought a metal-lined film bag from B&H recently, I suppose I could request physical inspections when possible. Sometimes it's a hassle to do so, though.

Film-wise, well -- there's so many good films, aren't there? I love Kodak Ektar 100. Reala 100 is also brilliant. Also have a stash of Kodak 400UC in the fridge, recently expired. I suppose any of those would be great!
 
Don't know what you shoot.
If you shoot interior spaces (churches, cathedrals), I think you'll find the 21 very helpful.
I started off as a 50mm shooter, but I've recently got two 40's and notice that they rarely come off the camera -- very flexible.
75mm may not have as much reach as you want for some landscapes (haven't shot it that way -- and have shot Tuscany w. 90/100mm) but I definitely would not take two systems and 21, 40, 75 would cover just about anything.
If you want the extra stop, sub the 35 for the 40.
And if you have any inkling of which end of the spectrum you'll be shooting, consider losing one more lens.
 
Once again, a huge thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my thread and respond.

I do not leave for another 6 days, so I think I will do a "dry run", using 2 different systems in my Lowepro bag, to see which one feels better.

I think I'll load a roll of cheap 24 exp. C-41 in two different bodies, and shoot in different conditions to see how things go. This might help me decide.

Plus it gives me an excuse to have fun with my cameras! 🙂
 
bobby_novatron said:
I've been lying in bed thinking about what camera gear and film I'm going to take.

I suffer from an chronic embarrassment of camera GAS, so as a result I have a decent selection of equipment that I could take:

Body #1: Zeiss Ikon / Bessa R3A
Lenses: CV 21/4, 35/1.4, minolta rokkor-m 40/2, Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2, Summicron DR 50/2, CV 75/2.5

Body #2: Contax G2
Lenses: Carl Zeiss 28/2.8, CZ 45/2, CZ 90/2.8

A final issue (and these are all wonderful problems to be dealing with) is -- what film? And will film survive OK with baggage screening?

)
Click to expand...

I'm probably going to repeat what someone else has posted, but first DO NOT PUT ANY film in your checked baggage. It'll get fried. Exposed or unexposed. Just don't do it! Checks on cabin baggage are OK up to 400 ISO.

My choices, after a trip to Paris last year, would be the 21/4, the 35/1.4 and the 75/2.5. Chuck in a 50 if you want but I suspect you'll hardly use it. I mostly used 100 or 200 ISO film and that was fast enough. I did have colour in one body and B&W in the other but I see you prefer colour, so I'd still take the second body for backup but you can choose each day whether you want to carry it or leave it behind.
 
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