Trans Siberian Express....Which setup?

[Sorted]

First off, long time lurker/ 1st time poster. Hello to all.
I have been very recently invited to join some friends on the Trans Siberian Express (West bound), departs in 3 weeks.
Long time shooter, 1/2 frame to 8X10 and most everything in between. Consummate chaser of all 'silver bullets', both gear and processes.
I am returning to B&W 35 mm after 15+ years of LF exclusively and recently picked up a very affordable M4 + DR cron w/eyes with the idea it would just be a hold over setup until I narrowed down my actual needs/wants.
So here's my question; Before embarquing on this trip I am still wondering if I should perhaps make the jump to digital (M8) and save myself the trouble of carrying/handling a ton of film on a trip which for the most part will in very tight quarters with a heavy turn over travellers. Ideally, a single body and 2 lenses (21 & 35, or 18 & 28) would allow me to have my gear on my person both day and night as well as allow for maximum mobility during daily excursions.
There is also the draw of easy tonal options when converting colour files to B&W as well as the added dop available for quick snapshots, offered by the smaller frame size..
Then again the opportunities to really put b&w film to use will be so abundant; weathered native travellers, relics of the Union and general desolation will be daily fodder.
If I should stay analog, an R4A and an 18/ 35 combo would be lightweight
and very accomodating.
So what's a man to do? It's all happening so fast, I do feel a bit like the deer in headlights.
Cap in hand, I'll gladly take your $0.02

 

[bgb]

Don't think it's a good time to be using new equipment, I would take the camera i feel most comfortable with. Messing with a new camera will only slow you down and that leads to missed opportunities which is not a good thing on a once in a life trip.
You can have film scanned then converted to B&W if you want at a later date. B&W is very nice for some things but we live in a colored world and as you don't really know what you will encounter play it safe.
Even a digital point and shoot will do the job if you do yours.

 

[antiquark]

Take a look at the work of Emanuelle Smague:
http://www.urbansand.com/?p=1588
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmanuel_smague/296791390/

He uses a Leica M7 with a 35 mm lens and B+W film. He also took the Trans-Siberian route a few years ago. Check out his galleries, lots of great pics.

 

[Rob-F]

Take the M4 and add a wide-anlge lens to the kit. A 35mm might make sense, since the M4 has the bright-line frame for it. If the quarters are really all that tight, take a 28mm or 24mm with an auxiliary finder. Wider than that, you shouldn't need.

Then take also a D-Lux 4, which will fit in your pocket. That will cover your digital needs. But don't give up the opportunity to shoot some good B&W film shots.

 

[tensai]

I think this subject matters just begs for black and white. I would personally just keep it simple and take a film camera and enough film.

 

[hans voralberg]

How will you charge your M8? That's the first thing spring to mind.I'd take something low maintenance, Siberia doesn't sound nice together with electronic.

 

[aparat]

When I traveled by train in 1989 in Russia and Belarus, I used a Praktica with a 50mm lens. I never missed anything better (well, I did not have anything better). Film was not available anywhere, not even in the Beryozka stores. Of course, things have changed, but you are certain to have a great time and lots of photo opportunities. I would advise you to take one camera and one lens, perhaps a point-and-shoot as back up (e.g., Olympus Stylus Epic) and lots of film.

 

[35mmdelux]

This trip calls for a Leica and a fast 28mm lens, Fuji 400 NPH, and Epic backup camera. Enjoy.

 

[ryan26]

When I rode the train from Beijing to Lhasa, I used my XPan much more than my regular 35mm camera for some reason. The landscapes suited it. What works for me might not work for you, but an XPan is never a bad camera to have around when traveling.

 

[Mablo]

I've travelled many times on Russian trains, also the Trans Siberia route (Moscow - Vladivostok). My advice is not to take along any expensive gear like Leica + lenses. Unfortunately you'll not find very much to photograph on a moving and sometimes violently rattling train and secondly your gear might just be too much of a temptation for someone. Rural Russia is not as safe and civilized as Moscow or St. Pete.

Of course the train stops on various stations along the route but only for 10 minutes or so and you'll barely have an opportunity to jump off the train for a few quick snaps on the platform. Windows are always dirty and usually cannot be opened so snapping through the window is out too. You'll stay in a small cabin for four persons where there are no possibilities to lock away things and compartment doors cannot be locked from the outside either (the train attendant has the key if you must do it). So you have no other option than carry your valuables with you 24h a day. Never ever leave anything valuable in your compartment! When you jump off the train on a station to buy some food *always have your passport with you*. If you miss the train for some reason you'll be in a deep trouble without it.

 

[Freakscene]

Firstly - with little time between now and departure, do you think you can learn a new camera and system (digital)? I'd stick with what you know.

Spaces inside trains tend to make a wide angle handy, so a 35 (which your M4 has framelines for) or wider (for which you'll need an external finder) is useful.

In 3 weeks, there will be a lot of hours of sunlight along much of the route. If you're going all the way to St Petersburg you'll almost have white nights. It's really handy for shooting - I got a lot of images I was pleased with in a short amount of time while I was there:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Russia/

Trains can be dim inside, so take some fast film. Outside it may be very bright, so take some slower film too.

Shoot a lot and show us what you get when you return. насладитесь!

If you cannot already, spending a few minutes to learn cyrillic will help a lot - being able to read a little is much better than being both dumb and illiterate . . .

Marty

 

[nico]

My 2 cents go for a wide, like a 21/25, because trains are very narrow places to shoot in, and a normal (35/40), I'd bring just 1 body and a p&S as backup. Lots of film, of course!
Enjoy your travel and please share the results with us 🙂
ciao

 

[Armoured]

I would not count on being able to charge consistently along the route, so you will want a backup regardless (including any batteries for meters). If possible, take a side trip to Lake Baikal.

Whatever else you take, I would consider a simple fixed-lens rangefinder of whatever provenance (as long as reliable). You'll still be able to take fine photos, and (even in rural Russia) nobody would think of these as valuable.

I agree entirely with the comment above about learning Cyrillic - Cyrillic may seem difficult, but it is the *only* easy thing about the Russian language. With cyrillic and a bit of imagination, you'll be able to figure out more than you would think - Kafe, Restoran, Chai (Tea). If you know any German or French in addition to English, a lot of words will come to you - train technology in particular has a lot of borrowed words. (I speak Russian so I'm not making this up)

Note that I think the trains are sometimes operated by the Chinese state railways, sometimes Russian (I think they alternate, but not certain). Don't know if you can find this out in advance. Shouldn't make much difference, but don't be surprised.

 

[manfromh]

Learning cyrillic in 3 weeks can be done if you are not overly busy. Print out a cyrillic alphabet with its latin equivalents and take it with you. Try to learn how to pronounce russian words as well. Its not hard, but some of the letters have their own pronounciation. Could be useful. Only thing I remember from Russian classes in school is the cyrillic alphabet and pronounciations.

I say, take lots of 400 speed film, which you can push to higher speeds if need be. Take a little less 100 speed film for the occasional outdoor shot.

If you decide not to take the Leica, then maybe Yashica Lynx 14 is a good/cheap alternative with 1.4 lens.

 

[varjag]

I'd take a wide or two, a Leica and some Kodachrome. Oldschool Soviet trains can be colorful in unexpected ways.

 

[Freakscene]

>Note that I think the trains are sometimes operated by the Chinese state
>railways

Only on the trans-mongolian route. The trans-siberian from Vladivostok runs on Russian rolling stock. The Россия (Rossiya) carries most of the passenger services and is a Russian Railways (Российские железные дороги (РЖД)) train.

Train rides in Russia are a lot of fun.

Marty

 

[Svitantti]

You probably want to think about taking gear for many thousands with you in there, at least if the gear looks obviously valuable.

Also if you are planning to stay on the train most of the time, maybe dont expect too much of photography. I dont know if it is possible to change trains during the trip, but if journey is really mostly staying in the train, I wouln't take fifty rolls of film...

 

[Sorted]

Great, great input from all, thank you! I still don't have all the details of the trip yet as I was just notified hours before I originally posted here. Got my priorities straight, right?
It is my greatest hope that there will be some side trips. I can't imagine my fellow travellers are setting out for a straight run without some ' leg stretching' planned along the way. My fingers are crossed. There was talk of spending a week in Tallinn, Estonia at the other end.
Lots of options to consider vis a vis gear. It is clearly a nuisance (and a distraction) to be constantly fretting about the safety of one's camera in a particular environment, that said, chance does often favour the brave. Easiest approach would be an LX3 or 200 EXR in the front pocket I suppose but to miss such a chance to use good glass and film on such unique subject matter could be agonising:bang:
Cyrillic alphabet would be worth getting acquainted with, thanks for the encouragement and sound advice.
I did enjoy looking at Smague's work http://www.smague.fr/ beautiful images. I do see a blend of Salgado and Bresson. I especially love the 'one camera, one lens' approach.
I'll keep posting as I learn more.

 

[tyrone.s]

I did enjoy looking at Smague's work http://www.smague.fr/ beautiful images. I do see a blend of Salgado and Bresson. I especially love the 'one camera, one lens' approach.
I'll keep posting as I learn more.

Wonderful photo's. From this chap's portfolio I see that less really is more. My pictures can't compare with these, but on my last trip to Thailand I took 1 camera 1 lens (Hexar RF and Elmar 3.5 if it matters to anyone) and I was really pleased that I did. You know, the 50mm is a great length for travel. I often think wider is better. But so often the 50 allows me to cut out the distraction (and often the ugliness) of the outside. Careful framing and a familiarity with the focal length you are using pays dividends, I think.

Enjoy your trip!