The annual event in the making

raid said:
There always is one comment by someone that brings to me a new thought. I learn this way.
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It's interesting how often I see comments suggesting to shoot with one's phone or iPad on personal trips, and that's the sort of comment that makes myself rethink things.

There's a lot of merit to that. My mother often tells me about her own father, a very keen and accomplished LF photographer, regretting missing out on so much of their childhood trips because of worrying about gear, spending too much time chasing photos, and the like. I think were he around today, or even a few decades later, he would have certainly appreciated digital photography and smartphones.

But I'm sure many on here are similar to me in that when I travel, its photography that is the lens I explore a new place through, and its very difficult to balance worrying about equipment and having fun or relaxing. Both times my M8 gave out on me were on trips where I specifically intended to explore and photograph, in SF and Chicago. Being without a camera was both distressing and freeing, but caused me to lose out on half of the reason behind the trip—seeing somewhere new to refresh and inspire myself artistically. Mind you, these weren't family trips, but solo travel.

All that said I appreciate your minimalist approach to packing. Were you to have one of those do-everything wonder zooms for your DSLR, you'd have a small kit indeed, but I like the idea of constraint for creative purposes. I'd say option 1 myself, since there's nothing like a good wide-angle to see things in a refreshingly new way.

Slightly related, but two wides are the only pieces of gear I regret getting rid of. My first camera as a kid was a hand-me-down Konica 28W, and when I sold off most of my SLR gear that included a 17-35. Really didn't appreciate the former, and was only really getting to learn how to use a super-wide with the latter when I made the RF switch.
 
FWIW, this year I've taken two cameras away with me and have decided that that's one too many. Now I think a digital like the LX5 or a film one like the µ-V; both small and usable with decent zoom lenses. And as I doubt if I'll ever print bigger than 5x7½ or 5½x8¼ that suits me fine...


Regards, David
 
I enjoy traveling with one camera, the problem is that my trips extend for 2-3-4 weeks at a time. I prefer film, but also want to do realtime updates... and as a 'complication' my flip phone doesn't do internet nor email. Nikon F3P + 50 f/1.2 and Fuji x100t (35mm equivalent)... Ai'd Nikkor-H 2.8cm f/3.5 and AiS 105mm f/2.8 Micro in the bag.
 
For my upcoming road trip about three weeks long I plan to bring to M10 with the 28/5.6 Summaron on it.
After almost an year since I bought this lens I like very much how it renders and the high iso possibilities of the M10 compensate the slow aperture, at least for my photography style. Maybe I'll have a 50mm lens in a bag or in the hotel safe just in case one day I desire a different view, usually I do not change lens when out taking photo, I change the lens before going out depending on ..the mood...the surrounding...the project...

As addition I'll bring a Polaroid probably the SX70 with some color film, mainly because I want to make personal postcards from the trip to send to friends.

And my wife will have her D-109 for additional snaps.

Originally I planned to bring the M10 as said and the M7 with the 50 and B&W films. Film for outdoor and digital for interior (higher iso). But it means a long developing scanning process which I prefer to avoid for a more weeks trip.

robert
 
It's very odd, no one ever mentions a macro lens and yet it's on my travels that I see details I've never seen before and then the - so called - macro function on my compact zoom is very useful; especially at the 90mm setting.

That knocks out CRF's from all the suggestions I read in these threads but there you are...

FWIW, sitting here and looking up I can see one of those nice big leather Leica holdalls that will take an M or two and a few lenses but once filled it kills my pleasure in wandering about in new places and looking and photographing. And by the end of the day I've lost a pound or two and the bag has put on a pound or two or three.

So I stick to my little Lumix LX5 and take a bit of care just like I would with the M's...

Regards, David
 
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raid said:
I don’t own any AF lenses for the Nikon D700, and I do not have any spare batteries either.
Thanks for your collective feedback.
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I once spent one week in Tuscany with a D700 and some MF Nikkors, it worked out great.

The D700 battery lasts almost forever if you don't chimp, you don't need a spare battery if you don't forget the charger.

As for the most important thing, I don't read it : where are you going to, this year, Raid ? :)
 
Lessee: I can't be you so I can't really say what works best for you. I can tell you what I've used over the past three-four trips and has returned me photographs I'm happy with, however.

Trip one: Leica M-D + 35 + 50 mm lenses. Houston, Texas to visit family. Photos split between the two lenses, excellent results.

Trip two: Cork, Ireland @ Christmas with a friend and his family, and the Isle of Man to visit friends @ New Years. Same Leica kit, add iPhone 8 Plus as well. Made most of my photos with the Leica and the 35mm lens with very satisfying results. There were a couple of occasions where I would have liked the 90mm, it would have been worth carrying.

Trip three: Six week travel, first to the Isle of Man for the Manx GP in late August, then visiting friends in three areas of Great Britain (Oxford, Potton north of London, Greenwich in London); then visiting family and friends in Boston, Providence, New York, and suburban Connecticut; then riding the train cross country from New York to California. Leica CL + R 28mm and R 50mm lenses, iPhone 8 Plus. I wished for the 90mm or 135mm lens again at the races, an ultra wide in NY might have been nice for one or two shots. Otherwise just right. Lots and lots of satisfying results, both still and video.

Trip four: One week gay cruise from Miami to Nassau to Cozumel to Roatan to Costa Maya and back to Miami ::: a huge mix of subjects from people to Mayan ruins. Brought the iPhone 8 Plus and the Light L16, a tabletop tripod and phone/camera mounts: a tiny kit. Lots of very satisfying results throughout. The L16 produces superb quality photos and is remarkably versatile with FoV options from 28mm to 150mm effective, what it lacks in responsiveness and handiness is complemented by the speed and ease of the iPhone 8 Plus.

Trip five is coming up... I'm headed to Phoenix this weekend for a quick gathering in celebration of a relative's 90th birthday. I'll bring the iPhone 8 Plus and a tabletop tripod, and a Polaroid SX-70 with two-three packs of film, maybe the 1.5x teleconverter. Another tiny kit... It will be fun. Nothing brings out as many smiles as a Polaroid. :)

At some point, I'll carry just the Fuji GS645S Wide 60 for an entire trip. Or, if I acquire one, a Hasselblad X1D with 21mm lens and 120mm Macro, or Leica Q2. You can do an awful lot with a 50 Mpixel camera by framing for a cropped image.

Far as travel goes, the smaller and lighter is better as a general rule. I only bring the larger or heavier gear if there's going to be something specific I know in advance that I want to work on. I may buy a couple of Moment accessory lenses and case for the iPhone 8 Plus for a bit more versatility in shooting, and leave it at that for some trips...

G
 
Highway 61 said:
I once spent one week in Tuscany with a D700 and some MF Nikkors, it worked out great.

The D700 battery lasts almost forever if you don't chimp, you don't need a spare battery if you don't forget the charger.

As for the most important thing, I don't read it : where are you going to, this year, Raid ? :)
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Germany and several Scandinavian countries on a road trip. I think of Stave churches, some glaciers, and Fjords.
 
It will be this outfit:
M6 + Hologon
M9 + Lux 35
EPL-1 + 50

I bought fresh film for ISO 200 and 400.
 
I usually get 1000 images from the phone, and about 500 images per Leica camera. It does not bother me that I use a phone for photography.
This 18mm gimmick is not comparable to a Zeiss Hologon.
 
I am glad that you find my choices good, Robert. The E-PL1 is very light and small, so it will not be a burden. It will be my short tele lens with the 50mm. I will have then the views for 16mm, 35mm, and 100mm or when lenses are moved around the cameras, I have 50mm, 21mm, and 32mm.
 
raid said:
I usually get 1000 images from the phone, and about 500 images per Leica camera. It does not bother me that I use a phone for photography.
This 18mm gimmick is not comparable to a Zeiss Hologon.
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What will you do with 2000 images from your trip?

Just noticed, you have not included the images from the EPL. So, 3000 images?
 
I use my phone as a supplement to my Leica M8 and M9 in most trips. It is a gimmick in comparison to using the Leica. I would not travel just with a phone.
 
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