Travel to Cuba, What do I need?

[LeicaFoReVer]

I am going to Cuba soon and I just wanted to ask what films and lenses (in my equipment list) would you suggest me to take?

I have lots of PanF 50 and I am using ID11 developer. Considering this what other films shall I bring with me?

I like PanF but it has little lack of contrast.

I tried T-max with Kodak t-max developer but I did not like the results. My favorite is agfa with Ilford developer but I cant find Agfa in canada easily.

 

[Toby]

I've spent a month shooting in Cuba and if any country was made for the rich colours of slide film Cuba is it. I'd take some Provia 100 or Velvia for colour in the day and Tri-X to shoot at night.

 

[micromontenegro]

Colour and slow speed. You won't believe the amounts of light!

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Well I am sure at the end I will end up with taking all my equipment 🙂

sonofdanang, thanks for the suggestions, I never tried Tri-X, I will try it. Which iso, 400 for night shooting should be ok? Can I push Tri-X to 800?

Then definitely the slide is necessary as Toby suggested. I am such a fan of slide and I saw from the photos on the net, that country is really rich in colors...I just dont like to scan slides...The colors are lost...Well I will enjoy on my wall 🙂

Aperture, I dont know but I always get low contrast. I develop 1+1, maybe I shall try 1+0. which proportion do you use?

 

[Tom A]

Cuba might be colorful - but it is also perfect for bl/w. I like TriX for that kind of shooting (mainly because I am used to it). Havana is fairly "flat" light on the streets too. Contrast can be a problem - but not too big as you can "pull" film if it is shot under high contrast light.
The 35 will serve you well there. Keep it small and compact, take the screwmount as a back-up with the 50 - and take lots of film. You spend hours walking so "light" is good - nothing like a tropical heat/humidity to sap your carrying capacity.
Enjoy yourself and shoot a lot (and post). If you go to our Flickr I have a set with a series of bl/w (triX) that were taken there a long time ago (2000/2002).

 

[35mmdelux]

Astia 100 and M6/one or two lenses. Learn a few Spanish words before you go.

EDIT: couple shots of Cube Libre while there. enjoy.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I am leaving next week for Cuba on a two week trip. I am just taking what works for me everyday, but with backups:

2 Zeiss Ikon bodies
ZM 35mm f2.0 Biogon
CV 28mm f3.5 Color Skopar
those two lens are what I use 99% of the time, but I am also taking:
ZM 50mm f2.0 Planar
CV 21mm

for film I am taking 50 rolls of Neopan 400

And thanks, but no thanks, juggling two different types of film does not work for me. I like to keep things as simple as possible.

I also believe that everyone needs to take what they believe will work for them so long as it is equipment / film they use everyday.

 

[jplomley]

I'll be heading to Cuba in February. Was going to take a Mamiya 7II with a 43mm and 65mm lens combo. I was thinking either 160NC or 400NC. I can always convert to B&W in post with Silver Efex.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Hey Bob you have a cool kit! I know what you mean but I like to try different things, maybe still could not form my taste...As I said Agfa APX was favorite but I can not find conviniently in here...

I 'll definitely try tri-x. I still have D76.

Anybody having experience with Ilford FP4?

 

[JohnTF]

A lot more experience among other RFF'ers with TMax developr, but I never liked the developer, even with TMax film. A friend recently went back to film and he had the same mediocre results I got when I tried it.

Tri X in Xtol, D76, or HC110, perhaps in that order of preference.

And there does seem to be a lot of color in many good shots of Cuba.

J

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Absolutely, I used t-max with t-max developer and I did not like it...

 

[mich8261]

I'll second the vote for Astia. I took some to Mexico this spring after seeing stefan dinu's images of Cuba with it.

 

[Artorius]

I know this is late, but...

I know this is late, but...

A cigar cutter or punch if you indulge. All of the photo stuff has been answered.

 

[Bob Michaels]

the OP has been to Cuba and is back. I have been and back. Now, here are what I think of as priorities for a Cuba trip:

1) toilet paper. It is a priority in life and hard to come by. Also a very welcome gift to locals.

2) over the counter medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, vitamin C, vitamin E. These are in scarce supply and appreciated by everyone, including hospitals.

3) balls, as in baseballs or rubber play balls. If you really want to make a kid's day, give him a ball to play with.

4) small bottles of shampoo & conditioner. Cuban females really appreciate these as they have none.

5) disposable cigarette lighters. Many Cubans smoke, no one has matches or a lighter.

If you bring an extra 5 of each of the above, you will truly bring joy to 25 Cubans. And, you will reinforce their belief that your country (US in my case) are the nicest people in the world and that your political structure is the best way.

Bring the film that works for you at home. I only brought Neopan 400 and found that to be the best decsion for me. I will do the same thing again. But that is me, not you. You should bring what you shoot normally.

 

[Tom Diaz]

the OP has been to Cuba and is back. I have been and back. Now, here are what I think of as priorities for a Cuba trip:

1) toilet paper. It is a priority in life and hard to come by. Also a very welcome gift to locals.

2) over the counter medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, vitamin C, vitamin E. These are in scarce supply and appreciated by everyone, including hospitals.

3) balls, as in baseballs or rubber play balls. If you really want to make a kid's day, give him a ball to play with.

4) small bottles of shampoo & conditioner. Cuban females really appreciate these as they have none.

5) disposable cigarette lighters. Many Cubans smoke, no one has matches or a lighter.

If you bring an extra 5 of each of the above, you will truly bring joy to 25 Cubans. And, you will reinforce their belief that your country (US in my case) are the nicest people in the world and that your political structure is the best way.

Bring the film that works for you at home. I only brought Neopan 400 and found that to be the best decsion for me. I will do the same thing again. But that is me, not you. You should bring what you shoot normally.

All good items to remember for the next trip, especially the toilet paper, but it's nice to take those simple gifts for people. If you know anyone personally, they also enormously appreciate reading matter of almost any kind.

The first time I went I decided to shoot almost nothing but black and white, which turned out to be a nice decision. The light is excellent but very intense, so those beautiful tropical colors are not easy to capture. The pictures I have from there that I value are black and white.

I shot Astia and the (to me) similar E100G when I wanted slide film on later trips.

 

[Pablito]

I also believe that everyone needs to take what they believe will work for them so long as it is equipment / film they use everyday.

That is the answer to all these types of threads. 'Nuff said.

 

[jorgef2002]

Hello Bob how did you go to Cuba ? can u give me info I will like to go too but how ? thank you jorgef2002

 

[jorgef2002]

Sonofdanang question why overexpose please explain thank you jorgef2002

 

[Bob Michaels]

Hello Bob how did you go to Cuba ? can u give me info I will like to go too but how ? thank you jorgef2002

Jorge: I flew direct from Miami to Havana on a commercial flight, of which there are many. I was able to do so because I had a US Visa to visit Cuba as a part of a humanitarian group that just happened to have a lot of photographers.

I will post you off line the name of the group as they prefer to remain low key.