Travel Gear (try to keep it simple)

[RichC]

Enjoy yourself Raid! I take even less gear than you when holidaying or travelling, carrying the minimum possible - one camera with a 35mm lens. I travelled across South America with a Minox, and climbed European volcanoes with a Leica M8 and a 35mm.

Mount Etna - caldera with sulphur deposits

This is in contrast to my personal photographic projects. My last was in London - and over its 3 years I walked about 500 miles, carrying several kilos of camera equipment plus a pair of aluminium steps for an elevated view (I got quite a lot of hassle from police and security - not that I was doing anything wrong but, rather, they considered me unusual = a threat, sadly!*)

* I solved the problem eventually by wearing a fluorescent worker’s jacket with “Project Services” printed on it - a tip I found on the web. It really works! I suddenly became invisible - clearly I was “doing something official” and meant to be there...! Took a few trips before I felt comfortable in my fluorescent green, but, with being ignored, my confidence soon grew. Only one small downside: although most people ignored me, I did get noticed by the occasional drunk (I was fluorescent after all...!), and a few panicked as they thought I was a traffic warden!

 

[kuuan]

my most common set for travel when I want it very small and light


Sony NEX5n, Cosina Voigtlander f4.5/15 and f4/25, M-Rokkor f2/40mm


travel set by kuuan's lens tests, on Flickr

my set varies, to Myanmar last year I took Sony A7 + CV f4/21 + Canon LTM 2/35 + Canon LTM f1.4/50mm.

to the set seen above sometimes I add an Olympus "Pen-F" f3.5/100mm, that made my set for a recent 16 day trip around Java: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/albums/72157695242040894 )

travel set by kuuan's lens tests, on Flickr

whichever, most important is that it fits into my waist belt bag. No weight on shoulders, both hands always free, fast access to and storing away of camera, at the same time never bothering, one may as well forget that one carries anything at all. ( I do not understand why these kind of waist bags are not more popular. I had to buy mine used, twice, because the model is discontinued and no other, similar around )


travel set by kuuan's lens tests, on Flickr

 

[Axel]

I decided for a smaller "travel gear".
Almost as tiny as Oly XA or Minox 35 are.
Fits to every pocket and provides me with stabilization and 26-500mm equivalent field of view and panos up to 360 degrees.

 

[Rob-F]

Raid, you’ve been on plenty of trips with cameras, why upset the apple cart? What has worked in the past will continue to work (with the right charger of course!).

Planning the gear is half the fun! 🙂

 

[presspass]

An LTM set: 2 IIIa cameras, 35 Elmar, 50 Summar, 90 Elmar, film and a small Sekonic incident meter. It will all fit comfortably in a small A&A bag and doesn't weigh much.

 

[Peter_S]

M9 + VM Heliar 50mm + Ultron 21mm.
Contax T3 + FP4+ as backup and for film-fix.
Done.

 

[ktmrider]

Last fall I hiked the C2C trail across northern England. Originally, I planned on carrying a Leica film camera and 35/90 lens combo. Well, hiking 196 miles over two weeks in terrible weather (rain and wind) across rather rugged terrain (Lake District) quickly changed my plan. I ended up with a Fuji X70 set on full auto shooting jpegs and it worked great. The film outfit got used but it was when I was in a hotel in York for a few days exploring the city.

I have done enough wilderness travel and other expeditions to know better but I still think I will bring home world class images. It is not that I am not a fair photographer but the amount of energy and time needed just for the travel in those conditions saps the energy and time you devote to photography. And often the light or subject matter just does not cooperate.

My advice is to keep it simple. I am back to one body and perhaps two lenses but this time digital: MP240 with 35f2.8 C Biogon and 90f2.8 Tele Elmarit M. Both those lenses are SMALL.

 

[x-ray]

Enjoy yourself Raid! I take even less gear than you when holidaying or travelling, carrying the minimum possible - one camera with a 35mm lens. I travelled across South America with a Minox, and climbed European volcanoes with a Leica M8 and a 35mm.

Mount Etna - caldera with sulphur deposits

This is in contrast to my personal photographic projects. My last was in London - and over its 3 years I walked about 500 miles, carrying several kilos of camera equipment plus a pair of aluminium steps for an elevated view (I got quite a lot of hassle from police and security - not that I was doing anything wrong but, rather, they considered me unusual = a threat, sadly!*)

* I solved the problem eventually by wearing a fluorescent worker’s jacket with “Project Services” printed on it - a tip I found on the web. It really works! I suddenly became invisible - clearly I was “doing something official” and meant to be there...! Took a few trips before I felt comfortable in my fluorescent green, but with being ignored my confidence soon grew. Only one small downside: although most people ignored me, I did get noticed by the occasional drunk (I was fluorescent after all...!), and a few panicked as they thought I was a traffic warden!

Rich I took a look at your portfolio and it's stunning! One rarely sees originality especially executed so beautifully but youve done it.

 

[RichC]

Rich I took a look at your portfolio and it's stunning! One rarely sees originality especially executed so beautifully but youve done it.

Thanks, x-ray! 🙂

 

[raid]

There are many posts here, with a variety of suggestions and examples on what people here tend to take with them on their trips. There is a group of photographers who prefer to keep things simple, and one camera with one lens would be the chosen kit then.

The iphone is used for family snapshots. I want to try out the Hologon with buildings, scenics and street scenes (Milan, Lugano, Bern, Zurich, Lauterbrunnen, and Lyon). The 35 Lux would be good to complement the Hologon.

 

[raid]

Thanks, x-ray! 🙂

Your posted work looks beautiful, Rich.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Doesn't the supporting hardware required, i.e. batteries, chargers, converters etc. - all of which must be used daily - complicate digital photography?

I think it's just easier to bring a low-maintenance film camera.

When possible I buy film at my destination and have exposed rolls processed there or shipped home undeveloped, bypassing airport security issues.

Chris

 

[ptpdprinter]

Doesn't the supporting hardware required i.e. batteries, chargers converters etc. - all of which must be used daily - really complicate digital photography?

Carrying an extra battery and charger is less hassle than carrying or buying film on location. Honestly, neither is a big deal, so shoot whichever you prefer.

 

[Bob Michaels]

...................... While on travel, why would you take something else than what you are used to ?
.................. you don't take "different" photos when you travel. Hence no "different" gear to take with you.
Limit your gear size and weight but take the gear you like to use most, even when not on travel, and feel natural with ..............

Sums up my thinking exactly

 

[ptpdprinter]

For general travel:


Film: Olympus OM-4Ti with 21mm and 28-48mm, OM-1 backup body, or
Digital: Fuji XT2 with 10-24mm and 18-55mm, XE2 backup body


For photography specific travel, obviously more.

 

[raid]

Sums up my thinking exactly

Yes, this is the logical thing to do. 35/1.4 Lux and 50/2 Cron.
Adding the 16/8 may be a plus? :angel:

 

[raid]

Raid, you’ve been on plenty of trips with cameras, why upset the apple cart? What has worked in the past will continue to work (with the right charger of course!).
The M9-SWC kit seemed like a winner to me.

Switching the SWC with a Hologon is an option.

 

[RichC]

Your posted work looks beautiful, Rich.

Appreciated, Raid!

 

[faris]

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Are you returning to places you've been to, Raid? If so, take different gear; your photos will not be the same. If not, just take the gear you can handle in the dark.

I'll be going to Europe in a month too... but in a busman's holiday. In these cases, I take my trustworthy Nikon D700 (for "promotional" images) and a Leica body with two lenses (for my own personal stuff). Usually I take a 35-90 combo (and force myself to use the 90 at least twice a week), and never carry both lenses with me when I leave the apartment. This time I'll take my M4-P with an Elmarit 28mm f2.8 (a bit limiting for the night shots I want to make... again), and a Summicron 90. Whenever I leave my place, I only take a camera and a lens. The only exception is when I walk with the Nikon, because then I carry an SB-600 flash with. 😉

Looks like you'll cover a lot of ground in two weeks! Good luck and happy traveling!