The Traveller's Dilemma

The Traveller's Dilemma

  • I take my best gear. I want to make the best possible photographs, regardless of the hazzards.

    Votes: 172 62.8%

  • I leave my best gear at home. I want to know that it will be waiting for me when I get back.

    Votes: 24 8.8%

  • I only have the best. For me, there is no choice to be made.

    Votes: 44 16.1%

  • Nothing I own could ever be put in the same sentence with the word "best."

    Votes: 34 12.4%
  • Total voters
    274
…….and what if you leave your prrrecious at home, safe, and thieves come in the night and burgle them; what then…… only thing to do then is to make less of an emotional investment in inanimate objects, now how hard would that be!



;)
 
I like to travel light. One camera, two lenses, or two cameras, one of them a fixed-lens compact. A lot of my photography on home ground involves a lot of walking on hilly coastal paths, so I tend to travel pretty light even when I'm photographing at home as well, recently I've got into the habit of taking a Rollei TLR and an M6 with either a 50mm or a 28mm, and nothing else, or the Rollei and a Pentax K100D with a single prime lens if I think I might want to shoot some colour.

If I worried about something getting stolen, I wouldn't buy it in the first place, which is one reason why I have no interest in buying expensive cameras.

Ian
 
I would take the more convenient equipment in terms of weight, focal lengths, number of items ... but never worry about losing or damaging it. Actually, I always bring my most importance and irreplaceable piece of gear: myself.

The only risk I couldn't bear with is leaving my "best" (I haven't really good gear, even if I really appreciate what I have) stuff at home and getting it hitted by a comet (fire, thief, earthquake, etc...) while I am away. That would be fun.
 
Very good, Stewart.

At least I bought cameras and lenses for using. That´s what I do although I never take everything I have when I leave for travelling. I suggest to travel light.

Don´t take to much gear with you, but take what´s best in your personal opinion. Bad weather and thiefs might happen, but that´s no reason for leaving your best, most useful gear at home. Maybe insurance will make you feel comfortable.

.Thomas
 
Whell when Travelling Abroad. I will usually take, My Canon Rebel (xti now) And 2 lenses, Laptop, Flash. For film I bring my G2 and 3 lenses (28, 45, 90) as well as the flash. All of it will fit in my backpack.
 
Robert Price said:
Whell when Travelling Abroad. I will usually take, My Canon Rebel (xti now) And 2 lenses, Laptop, Flash. For film I bring my G2 and 3 lenses (28, 45, 90) as well as the flash. All of it will fit in my backpack.
Click to expand...
I rest my case.
 
Like the majority of persons, I voted for "take your best gear". My best happens to be the CV kit, but still...

If you are going in a situation where the environment will damage your gear, does it matter what you are using? If you absolutely need the shot, you will make some appropriate attempts to protect your equipment, but in the end you will still take the shot and risk ruining your camera. If you don't take the risk, why bother bringing the camera?

As for theft, what can you do? Valuable and non-valuable articles are always at risk of being stolen from your hotel room, your home, or right out of your hands, and in the end I don't believe that the material loss matters. Keep your exposed films separate, in a bag or suitcase that is less likely to be taken, and when you get home you'll still have your photographs and your memories.

I'm not a materialistic person - nor am I suggesting that you are - so I try not to get worried about physical possesions that are not essential to my survival. A good insurance policy for your gear will go a long way to salving your conscience, and protecting your wallet.

If a piece of equipment cannot be replaced due to scarcity or emotional attachment, then it has a different value that needs to be evaluated separately. In this case, I would likely be more protective of it, and may elect to leave it at home if I had a reasonable alternative.
 
Always the best that I can take - packaging restrictions play more of a deciding role for me - always fighting the limits of airlines. But gear is gear and I see no point in compromising...although it is all very well insured as well.

That said, I wouldn't take big expensive looking gear to some trouble spots because it makes you a target for all sorts of problems, not because I'd worry about losing the camera itself.

I don't collect cameras, I buy them to use. If I'm too afraid to use one because of value then it's not a camera, it's a showpiece or investment.
 
I wouldn't consider something of sentimental value / a collectible that cannot be replaced as a proper working tool... You can always get the same (or similar) item without the embarrass of it being irreplaceable. If your M3 or IIIf has a particular value to your eyes, just get one beat up for your trip and don’t bother arguing whether you should bring your most precious collectible items on the field or your wife’s wedding gift…
 
I liked handling my IIf on recent trips. I got the J-9 to have a short tele with screwmount.
Always debating if and if so which body should be nr2. That can be the CLE for real lowlight stuff or the M4-2.
Next trip, cycling to Paris, I will probably only take the IIf, small lenses and the J-9.
Or should I bring a backup...

Stopped worrying about insurances long ago. Not practical while using old stuff, if it is camping gear or cameras.
 
Perhaps, one should add "the best gear for the job I have to do abong the gear I have"...
Why spending money on anything if you are going to leave it at home?

GLF
 
I don't understand collecting and I only have 1 rangefinder body and two lenses so I'd bring that one and maybe just one of the lenses (a 35mm Summicron) because really the less gear you bring, the easier it is to shoot. I don't really draw the line between going out to shoot locally and shooting for travel.

That said, I'd probably also bring a Yashica T4 with color film if I was going someplace colorful.

I think the less stuff you bring, the more likely you are to have the right thing with you. Planning for travel is always much more complicated than actually traveling. Once you're gone, you generally forget about what you don't have and concentrate on using what you do.
 
I would second the advice to travel light. My current favorite kit - M3 and ZM Planar. There are some wide shots I'll miss I'm sure but my bag is light and my back and feet are grateful at the end of the day. The camera got quite wet in Germany a couple of weeks ago on a number of occasions but it wipes dry and keeps on shooting (no electronics to worry about).
I'd hate to lose the camera and lens but I have little sentimental attachment to it and could replace it if necessary.
My bottom line would be take what you most enjoy shooting, don't overload yourself and don't spend so much time farting around with your gear as to miss the travel experience.
Have a good trip.
Nick
 
For me it's simple, the best, most versatile gear I have is not expensive nor it is rare. It's inconspicuous, quite beat up, and not loud. So I take it everywhere.

... oh, and also my trusty XA, it hardly takes any space ... ;)
 
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