Travel camera advice

[Godfrey]

I have flown between 16,000-32,000 miles per year for the past 12 years. Except for the first two years when I brought digital cameras, I have always had at least 30 rolls of film with me.

Never, not one single time, have I seen so much as a hint of fog on my film, even after multiple rounds of scanning. During one long, extended trip to Europe, I had films scanned over 12 times. All came out 100% perfect.

One time in the Beijing subway system I had the girl at the X ray scanner (yes, they do have those in Chinese subways), scan a test roll off film (TMAX400) 20 times. Developed just fine. I literally tried to ruin a roll of film with Xrays and could not do it.

Good for you, you are lucky. The scanning machines your film was subjected to were adjusted in spec.

I've flown 1.2 million miles in the past twenty five years. I've lost film from maladjusted scanners four times, a few hundred photos from places that I'll never visit again. I'm done with carrying a bin of 30 to 50 rolls of film through the airport scanners and around the world.

Whatever makes you happy. I know what makes me happy. 😀

Do be aware that I love shooting film. I only recently bought yet another film camera (a Leica R6.2) that is a delight, and I probably spend more on film for my Polaroid SX-70s than most people spend for their high-end digital cameras. I just don't use film for travel anymore, unless it is with said Polaroids.

G

 

[Out to Lunch]

I've flown 1.2 million miles in the past twenty five years. I've lost film from maladjusted scanners four times, a few hundred photos from places that I'll never visit again

When and where?

 

[nightfly]

Two things I've learned from traveling with both film and digital cameras:

1) I tend to shoot a lot more when I travel. Many of the photos are more "here I was" than anything artistic or meaningful to me later. When I get back with a load of film the time to develop and archive these sort of photos feels overwhelming. There is also a certain pressure from others to see the photos in a timely manner.

For these sort of photos, digital is a great option.

2) For the more artistic photos, film or larger sensor digital is the way to go. Personally if I'm going to be in spectacular natural places, medium format is the way to do it. It's big and bulky but the images are just that much better. If it's a once in a lifetime thing, you might want to consider. I just bought a Fuji GFX specifically for medium format travel so I could have a digital option. In the past I took a Mamiya 6 or 7.

 

[d_c]

One thing that adds to the difficulty of film these days is the problem you will inevitably have trying to source additional rolls at your destination. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's definitely getting harder to find decent stockists.

 

[bjolester]

So I'm going to assume that you know the best uses and limitations of your Pentax and iPhone. Even an inexpensive m43 camera will be better than film or iPhone for low light work.
You mentioned a Sigma DP1s - although it's really slow and creaky, it produces images with great dynamic range and a 'film look' which can very nice. Higher ISO's look better now, thanks to Sigma Photo Pro v6 having way better high ISO support. Try it out for a bit and see what you think.

I agree, the Sigma DP1s is a very capable camera, even today. The flickr link has some wonderful images. I much prefer the output of the first generation DP cameras to later models. I once owned a DP2 Merrill, and even though the resolution and detail sharpness was almost unbelievable, I never came to appreciate the overall look of the Merrill foveon images. So I sold the DP2 Merrill, but kept the DP1s.

However, I am not convinced that the Sigma DP1s would be a complement to the Pentax MX + iPhone combo. The Sigma DP1s is not very good at dealing with low light conditions.

 

[bjolester]

Having read all your comments and advice with great interest, I believe I already now can draw some conclusions:

1. To complement the lacking low light capabilities of the Pentax MX film camera + iPhone combo, I would need to purchase a recent digital compact camera. A Ricoh GR is at the very top of the list for future investments.

2. For the time being I will contradict my opening comment about not wanting to bring along a DSLR for the USA travel, and conclude that the most obvious solution is to bring along my Pentax K-5 with a DA 15mm f4 and the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f2. This is my everyday digital kit, and although not as compact as other cameras/camera systems, I guess this is my best option right now. So the Pentax K-5 for quality digital files and the iPhone for snap shots🙂

Thank you all for providing such valuable advice! Most appreciated!

 

[Huss]

Do be aware that I love shooting film. I only recently bought yet another film camera (a Leica R6.2) that is a delight...

G

digression - please do a ‘review’ of the r6.2! I have recently got into the later R cameras, they r very nice machines.

 

[Godfrey]

When and where?

Twice going through Heathrow after training across Europe. Once flying in from Hong Kong to Japan. Once flying from Australia to the US. Dates ... I don't recollect precisely, but smattered between 1990 and 2008. When you're flying as much as I was, specific trip dates are a mish mash in my memory. 🙂

G

 

[Godfrey]

digression - please do a ‘review’ of the r6.2! I have recently got into the later R cameras, they r very nice machines.

Okay, I will .. but not in this thread as it is off topic for the thread. I'll try to post something a bit later today.

Capsule summary: The Leica R6.2 is kind of what I always loved about my Nikon FM2, plus a bit, with even better lenses. It's a sweet complement to my Leicaflex SL body... 🙂

G

 

[Deleted member 65559]

One thing that adds to the difficulty of film these days is the problem you will inevitably have trying to source additional rolls at your destination. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's definitely getting harder to find decent stockists.

....they are small enough to carry lots.. just like carrying the charger & spare battery for your digital machine...😕

 

[Godfrey]

....they are small enough to carry lots.. just like carrying the charger & spare battery for your digital machine...😕

Interesting thesis.

On the left is enough 35mm film to cover making 430 35mm film camera exposures. It weighs about a pound and a half. I could take the film out of the boxes, mark the canisters with expiration dates, etc etc, and save a little on the package size and weight. Still only got 430 exposures, no power if my camera needs batteries, two ISO settings, etc.

On the right is everything I need to carry with my Light L16 to make an infinite number of exposures. It weighs about 5 ounces. The Light L16 has storage on board for about 1500 exposures without deletion (one charge records about 600 exposures, but I never let it go that low) and supports ISO 50 to ISO 3200 on a frame by frame basis. If I was referring to my Leica CL (ISO 100 to ISO 50000), I'll add a 128G SD card, another third of an ounce or so, and that would be sufficient power and storage for 2500 exposures without deletion. I could add another ten cards (about enough to fill one 35mm film box) and have enough storage with me to record 25000 exposures.

So: For the digital camera, I must carry the equivalent of about one roll of film worth of power and storage accessories for a near infinite number of photo making opportunities. For the film camera, I'll need another roll of film every 36 exposures, need whatever batteries the camera might or might not need. And I have to send those rolls of film through potentially damaging machinery, protect it from light, etc etc.

G

 

[d_c]

....they are small enough to carry lots.. just like carrying the charger & spare battery for your digital machine...😕

I don't know how much you shoot, but if you perhaps budget two or maybe three rolls a day then the space required in your bag for film soon starts to add up for any trip longer than a couple of weeks.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

yes, a pound and a half will break your back. so you can make 2500 exposures...out of which you'll delete how many?
all the 128 SD cards won't help either if darkroom output is your final goal ;-)

 

[David Hughes]

Having read all your comments and advice with great interest, I believe I already now can draw some conclusions:

1. To complement the lacking low light capabilities of the Pentax MX film camera + iPhone combo, I would need to purchase a recent digital compact camera. A Ricoh GR is at the very top of the list for future investments.

2. For the time being I will contradict my opening comment about not wanting to bring along a DSLR for the USA travel, and conclude that the most obvious solution is to bring along my Pentax K-5 with a DA 15mm f4 and the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f2. This is my everyday digital kit, and although not as compact as other cameras/camera systems, I guess this is my best option right now. So the Pentax K-5 for quality digital files and the iPhone for snap shots🙂

Thank you all for providing such valuable advice! Most appreciated!

Hmmm, why not a fast lens for the Pentax? There's a standard f/1.2 from memory...

Regards, David

 

[bjolester]

Hmmm, why not a fast lens for the Pentax? There's a standard f/1.2 from memory...

Regards, David

The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f2.0 is a very good piece of glass, and it is a "pancake" design. The SMC Pentax A 50mm f1.2 is legendary, but more than twice the size (and weight) of the Voigtländer. I also find the 40mm FOV more useful on aps-c cameras than 50mm. Furthermore there is really no need for fast lenses on the Pentax K-5 due to its wide DR and excellent low light capabilities.

 

[raid]

The Pentax 50/1.4 is a legend too, and it is lighter than the 50/1.2.

 

[bjolester]

The Pentax 50/1.4 is a legend too, and it is lighter than the 50/1.2.

I have the Pentax M 50mm f1.4 and, like you say, it is lighter (and much smaller) than the 50mm f1.2.

 

[Godfrey]

yes, a pound and a half will break your back. so you can make 2500 exposures...out of which you'll delete how many?
all the 128 SD cards won't help either if darkroom output is your final goal ;-)

LOL! I only rarely make more than 300-400 exposures per week on a trip. I always budget to have at least twice that in storage capacity when traveling "just in case" ... So I'd need twice the amount of film I showed in that photo to do just a single week trip. But I can't have ISO 50, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, and ISO 3200 film available at will with film at all unless I shoot with single sheet film cameras, or carry eight cameras.

And yes: another extra pound will ultimately break my back. Particularly when I'm riding a bicycle, where I measure whether I want a particular thing with me based on how many grams it weighs. 😀

This whole film vs digital thing is just f@@kng nonsense, you understand. I carry what I like and want to make photographs with. I couldn't give a single d@mn about "darkroom output" ... I haven't used a darkroom for anything other than the storage of boxes since 1992.

G

 

[raid]

I have the Pentax also as a Leica M adapted lens. It is a great lens.

 

[MacReady]

Interesting thesis.

.........

On the right is everything I need to carry with my Light L16 to make an infinite number of exposures. ........

How is that camera? Never got to hold or even see one yet.