Travel camera advice

[ChrisPlatt]

Vest pocket camera

Vest pocket camera

I have all sorts of cameras and lenses, large and small, but I prefer
to travel with a good truly pocketable 35mm fixed-lens film camera.

I find lightweight (plastic) folding capsule models especially convenient.

Chris

 

[Ted Striker]

Ahhh... you need visit from Marie Kondo 😀

She's welcome any time!

 

[narsuitus]

Travel Camera by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I use the Canon G15 compact digital as my travel camera (the Canon G11 is shown in the attached photo).

I also carry the following:
Battery charger
Extra Battery
Extra memory Cards
Polarizing Filter
Pocket-size tripod (not shown)
Cell phone for backup (not shown in image)

 

[narsuitus]

Film Travel Camera by Narsuitus, on Flickr

The Fuji 6x9cm medium format rangefinder with 65mm f/5.6 lens is my film landscape travel camera.

I also carry the following:
Small tripod
Hand held light meter
Cell phone for backup
Enough 120 medium format roll film to shoot at least two-dozen photos per day because that is the average I normally shoot
Lead-lined storage containers to protect my film from the X-rays used by airports and cruise ships for security purposes

If I plan on shooting people, instead of the 6x9cm, I carry a Fuji 6x7cm medium format rangefinder with a 90mm f/3.5 lens.

 

[bjolester]

Thank you all for such extensive response and valuable advice! Maybe I need to purchase a rangefinder camera to show my respect for this great forum🙂

 

[bjolester]

Film can be scanned without any issues. Just leave it in your carry on bag and forget about it. My film gets scanned 8-10 times on a trip and never has any problems. A Fuji GA645 is one of the best travel cameras. Amazing quality and light as a feather. Small too.

I will surely keep this in mind if I decice to bring a film camera along on a travel abroad!

 

[Ted Striker]

I will surely keep this in mind if I decice to bring a film camera along on a travel abroad!

Have no worries about X-rays. Film is 100% safe in today's scanners for carry on bags. Never put film in a checked bag.


Glad to hear you are shooting film. Nicely done.

 

[bjolester]

"I have also been looking at "vintage" second hand digital compact cameras like the Lumix GF1, LX3 or LX5, Fujifilm X10 and Olympus MFT 12mp cameras, which can be had for little money, but I am not sure how much of an improvement this would be."

Where I find having a reasonably modern digital camera to be a benefit is in relative low light ability - and when travelling this can be a big plus if you plan on being out at night or going into dark rooms, halls, cathedrals etc, etc. I will focus on this aspect in my comments.

The Sigma DP1s is not known for this ability of course and while an iphone is surprisingly good in some situations it will limit you - especially in the ability to make larger images.

I either have or have had in the past the Lumix and Olympus cameras you mention as potential "buys", and while they are not bad you would be better served by later camera bodies with better dynamic range in my view. At least this is my experience when travelling. Later cameras tend to also have image stabilization and also focus peaking making them better. None of the named ones do. And of course the LX 3 and LX5 are nice pocket cameras they will not give you much better low light capability than what you already have (if at all). In other words I would suggest a later M4/3 camera if your budget will stretch to it or perhaps a Sony NEX for their bigger sensor and better dynamic range (some do not have in body I.S. though). For example I own the Sony NEX F3 (a later upgrade of the Sony NEX 3) which is a lower specification camera body in build terms though not in image quality. It is dirt cheap to buy and when matched with, say, a Sigma 30mm f2.8 it gives terrific image quality in low light situations. I like primes for this because they are relatively faster than Sony's kit zooms. The Sony NEX 5 is a similar performer and also cheap due to its age - it is certainly a "vintage" lens in digital camera terms though once again it is a serious performer.

Thank you for highlighting the very important aspect of travel camera low light capability! I will have the Sony NEX5n on my list when planning for my USA trip.

Great photo from the Sony NEX3!

 

[bjolester]

A APS-C Ricoh GR digital along with your MX and 40mm would be a nice combination

I agree! A Ricoh GR digital would be a perfect match for an MX and 40mm.

 

[bjolester]

For "very little money" (though I haven't checked prices) I'll be an outlier and suggest an early super zoom with IS. I would suggest an old Panasonic Lumix FZ-X with "Leica" (branded, designed... who knows) f2.8 through the zoom range lens. I used a modded Lumix FZ-1 (making it an FZ-2 with manual control). I took some great pics with that 2 MP camera. The sensors are so small on that thing and ISO is limited but the small sensors = non-obnoxious lens size when zoomed out to 420. Early IS very effective. I'd pair that with the Espio 24EW for your film fix. Use your IPhone indoors, low light.

I only recently acquired the Espio 24EW, and have so far only shot one roll of Kodak Gold with it, so I do not have enough experience to know how good a camera the Espio is. Do you have experience with the Espio 24EW?

 

[bjolester]

Film Travel Camera by Narsuitus, on Flickr

The Fuji 6x9cm medium format rangefinder with 65mm f/5.6 lens is my film landscape travel camera.

I also carry the following:
Small tripod
Hand held light meter
Cell phone for backup
Enough 120 medium format roll film to shoot at least two-dozen photos per day because that is the average I normally shoot
Lead-lined storage containers to protect my film from the X-rays used by airports and cruise ships for security purposes

If I plan on shooting people, instead of the 6x9cm, I carry a Fuji 6x7cm medium format rangefinder with a 90mm f/3.5 lens.

Fabulous camera, looks to be in superb condition. Lucky you!

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

What does works in a drawer mean? Never heard that before.

“Works in a drawer” was a tagline from the 1960’s Motorola TV commercials, it was referring to convenience and ease of use. I guess I’m showing my age.

The other day I referred to someone being almost as beautiful as Sophia Loren, the young man I was talking to had no idea who Sophia Loren was. So I asked him if he knew who Raquel Welch was and got the same blank stare. I thought to myself, when did 63 become so old?

Mike

 

[David Hughes]

Shocked to discover I first posted this 8 or 9 years ago...

The Cobra slave flash is brilliant...

Regards, David

 

[Ted Striker]

“Works in a drawer” was a tagline from the 1960’s Motorola TV commercials, it was referring to convenience and ease of use. I guess I’m showing my age.

The other day I referred to someone being almost as beautiful as Sophia Loren, the young man I was talking to had no idea who Sophia Loren was. So I asked him if he knew who Raquel Welch was and got the same blank stare. I thought to myself, when did 63 become so old?

Mike

Thanks. Interesting. I'm not all that far behind you age wise. I've checked out of popular culture, unable to find anything even remotely interesting.

 

[raid]

I travel almost each year to some country, and I always then have at least one camera with me. I have tried different variations of camera & lens set-ups. They all worked in the end. Once I had with me a Canon P and Canon 50/1.2 ltm. I dropped my Pentax Digital Spotmeter as we arrived to Paris! I had to estimate exposure at night time with rain. I used slide film then, so I had to really guess exposure well enough not to completely wash out all slides.
These days, I use mostly Leica M9 and M8 during trips. I have tried using E-P2 and E-PL1, and it worked out really well. Two small m 4/3 cameras, each with one lens.
When we visited Japan for 6 weeks, I had with me Bessa L with CV 25/4 plus (one in each pocket) a Minox GT and Olympus XA. It was a great choice then.
I have tried having with me Hasselblad SWC plus Canon M9. This also worked out well.
It seems to me that as long as you have with you at least one camera and lens and you know well how to use them, all is fine here.

 

[michaelwj]

“Works in a drawer” was a tagline from the 1960’s Motorola TV commercials, it was referring to convenience and ease of use. I guess I’m showing my age.

The other day I referred to someone being almost as beautiful as Sophia Loren, the young man I was talking to had no idea who Sophia Loren was. So I asked him if he knew who Raquel Welch was and got the same blank stare. I thought to myself, when did 63 become so old?

Mike

I’m (only) 38, but got the same black stare when I used a Simpsons reference yesterday. The young man was a PhD student of mine, so would be mid twenties. Young people are no longer my generation. I feel old.

 

[bjolester]

I travel almost each year to some country, and I always then have at least one camera with me. I have tried different variations of camera & lens set-ups. They all worked in the end. Once I had with me a Canon P and Canon 50/1.2 ltm. I dropped my Pentax Digital Spotmeter as we arrived to Paris! I had to estimate exposure at night time with rain. I used slide film then, so I had to really guess exposure well enough not to completely wash out all slides.
These days, I use mostly Leica M9 and M8 during trips. I have tried using E-P2 and E-PL1, and it worked out really well. Two small m 4/3 cameras, each with one lens.
When we visited Japan for 6 weeks, I had with me Bessa L with CV 25/4 plus (one in each pocket) a Minox GT and Olympus XA. It was a great choice then.
I have tried having with me Hasselblad SWC plus Canon M9. This also worked out well.
It seems to me that as long as you have with you at least one camera and lens and you know well how to use them, all is fine here.

Thank you for sharing your experience with travel and cameras! I believe I need to invest into a good compact digital camera, to supplement my many film cameras.

 

[NickTrop]

I only recently acquired the Espio 24EW, and have so far only shot one roll of Kodak Gold with it, so I do not have enough experience to know how good a camera the Espio is. Do you have experience with the Espio 24EW?

I do not. My compact is the Pentax PC35AF, however, and it's a very good camera. The Espio line was Pentax's top-of-the-line brand so I would imagine it's quite good.

 

[kuvvy]

I’ve got my trip to Chicago later in the year and I’m already baffled as what to take.
I’ve a choice from
Fuji XT1, 18/2, 50/2, 18-55, Laowa 9mm
Fuji X100F, WCL(28mm)
Fujif X70, 21mm adapter
Fuji XQ1
Ricoh GR

Already decided not to take the Epson RD1

 

[back alley]

I’ve got my trip to Chicago later in the year and I’m already baffled as what to take.
I’ve a choice from
Fuji XT1, 18/2, 50/2, 18-55, Laowa 9mm
Fuji X100F, WCL(28mm)
Fujif X70, 21mm adapter
Fuji XQ1
Ricoh GR

Already decided not to take the Epson RD1

i'd keep it simple with the xt1/18/50...