Traveling with MF cameras

I took the Yashica 124G with two "regular" Holga's and a Modified Holganon 612 with me to Myanmar earlier this year.

The Yashica was slowing me down big time.
Holga's are easy and fun to use.
The Holganon was a conversation piece ;-)

After scanning the 55 rolls of film I found that the most interesting shots were taken with the Holga's (my wife and me each one) despite the fact that most images were taken with the TLR....

We have a few very nice keepers taken with the TLR that made it to the photo books and door display's. But overall the X100 won the competition...

Hope this helps.

Rogier
 
Just returned from 2 weeks in Costa Rica , what camera(s) did I bring you ask? Well only the lightest I had,Bronica Etrsi,2 lens and 2 backs with pistol grip and my Kodak Medalist 1.
At 4000 ft in the MonteVerde cloud forest you can bet they tested my resolve (or is that
endurance?). I doubted I'd be returning and hoped the results would merit the effort involved. Should be developing them in my Arista E-6 kit this week,wish me luck !!!
Regards,Peter
ps: anyone here used these kits? Any helpful hints appreciated.
 
I am waiting for a Moskva-5 folder right now and if it turns out that the camera is working OK I am considering this as my next travel-camera ... 6x6 & 6x9. 🙂
 
I've also traveled with Rolleiflex/GXR-M/grd, and with rf645 instead of Rollei. Each is worth its bulk; neither is that heavy. Not that I would lug all the kit around streets or hikes all day-- I tend to shoot one at a time, and one lens at a time, then trade out for the next sortie.
 
Just recently got back from a short trip to Bologna (Italy). I took my Yashica Mat 124g and my M2 with 50/2 DR Summicron.

I found both the cameras quite complementary - the Mat for early morning / late evening strolls around town, taking my time and enjoying the atmosphere, while the M2 with 50 cron was perfect for a bit of more intense street shooting. (I even got caught up in a small demonstration and the M2 proved to be the perfect tool)

Funnily enough, (I only ever went out with one camera at a time) after using the Mat for a few rolls I began to start using it more like I would the M2, for quick and dirty street shots - I also noticed that using a TLR didn't attract as much attention as using my M2 did - I guess most people don't really recognise a TLR as a camera any more and not having to raise it up to eye level was definitely a bonus.

The only issue I had was that of speed and if you are travelling with any other non-photographers it does become rather difficult, so my advice would be to definitely take along a MF camera but if space allows, also take a smaller, lighter second camera.
 
I've often carried a pair of Mamiya 7iis, with three lenses on international trips. The only disadvantage I've found is not the weight, which is not a problem for me, but the fact that MF films take up so much more room in my carry-on luggage. I suppose it depends on what you intend to do with the photographs you get from your trip. When I am planning on using my photos for exhibitions, the MF gear is best. But, for a family vacation, I should think the Leica would more than suffice.
 
I have only ever traveled once with *only* medium format. I have traveled several times with medium format and 35mm.

The slow lenses are no problem for me, I rarely shoot wide open, I don't really care for the shallow DOF look.

The weight is a non issue, my Zeiss Super Ikonta III is smaller and lighter than my M3 + Summarit was. My Rolleiflex GX is probably insignificantly bigger/heavier.

For me, 35mm cameras are not small enough/light enough to be an acceptable trade off for the images you can get out of medium format. There are of course exceptions, Leica IIIf or Rollei 35 or something are of course tiny, and great if you want something *really* small, but generally, many medium format cameras are smaller than typical DSLRs or even Leicas, so it's not a big deal for me to shoot medium format exclusively.
 
I've been traveling with medium format and 35mm in the mix for the last years. Cameras I took along inclueded a Pentacon Six (once w/ 80mm and once with the 120mm), a Rolleiflex, a Rolleicord and the Mamiya 7.
Except for the Pentacon Six + 120mm combo I've not had the feeling that something is too heavy. I mostly use a backpack for carrying when not shooting - so this is o.k.

I believe some medium format cameras are easier and nicer (Rolleicord) for trips than some 35mm SLRs (Nikon F, Leica R etc.)

For the low light thing: I can hold the Mamiya 7 and the Pentacon Six as steady as a 35mm camera (the M7 because of the leaf shutter and the P6 because of the weight). The large format gives you a slight advantage when enlarging or looking at a comparable size over 35mm so you can actually go a bit slower. Also grain is less of a problem so you can underexpose a bit.
 
I went on our annual beach holiday with some Leicas and a Rolleiflex. I got a great candid with the Rolleiflex. I carried the Rolleiflex (Automat 4 with f3.5 Xenar) through a forest, up and down hills, with the M9 and three lenses and a SLIK PRO 614CF tripod, and a light meter, with a broken rib one afternoon without any problems at all. I might not take the Rolleiflex on a plane, but for any other trips it's coming with me.
 
chasfreeland said:
I've often carried a pair of Mamiya 7iis, with three lenses on international trips. The only disadvantage I've found is not the weight, which is not a problem for me, but the fact that MF films take up so much more room in my carry-on luggage. I suppose it depends on what you intend to do with the photographs you get from your trip. When I am planning on using my photos for exhibitions, the MF gear is best. But, for a family vacation, I should think the Leica would more than suffice.
Click to expand...

I buy film on arrival, when possible. And I usually don't shoot as many photos with MF, for the volume of film tends to be similar. YMMV.
 
I use a Hasselblad 500cm exclusively. It has the 80mm C lens and waist level finder. I had the 150mm C lens and 40 degree non-metered prism finder, but they made the camera much too heavy and off balance.

The real clincher for me was to get an OP/TECH Pro A Strap; the old Hassy strap was like cheese wire. It distributes the weight of the camera so I really don't notice it. It hangs vertically under my right arm and doesn't bang around or stick out. It's more convenient than many DLSRs.

The EV interlocked C lenses make changing exposure a breeze. I meter once in a while but otherwise the interlock gives me "automatic" exposure for whichever element I want to give priority.

I tend to stick the dark slide and lens cap in my back pocket, or hang the dark slide off the strap. A lens hood and filter protect the lens whilst out and about.

I have a very (too) large Gossen Lunar 6 which fits in a coat pocket. I usually carry a second film back too in the other coat pocket.

I worked like this in New York for a week in the winter with no bag out and about. Likewise when we visit the family in the California and go on day trips. All this with a 3 year old in tow.

The caveat here is the winter coat with large pockets. Without that I use a very small bag to hold the meter, extra film back and films. I've never had any kind of case for the Hassy.
 
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I carry MF while traveling when I want photos that I can hang on my walls. Otherwise and for snap shots a 35 is ok.
To keep the weight down for my next trip I am looking for the lightest bag I can find.
 
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raid said:
I would like to see feedback from people here who have traveled on some trips on which they used only MF cameras.
Did the weight slow you down?
Were lenses too slow without using a tripod?
Did you wish you had brought with you 35mm camera instead or a digital camera?

Do you have tips to follow?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I guess that the key for successfully travelling with some MF equipment is to go straight to some extreme simplicity and spend your time training your eyes rather than changing lenses etc. Remember that Wim Wenders travelled into the Western US with a Makina 67 only (the beautiful photographic result of this trip is printed in the now highly collectible "Written in the West" book).

Having travelled many times with a MF camera only, my answers to your questions, in the asking order, would be :

- no but I never took any complete equipment with several lenses and the like, limit yourself to one body and one lens
- yes for night shots but the Manfrotto professional pocketable table tripod always helped me a lot, there is always something you can install the camera on (wall, bench, car, urban furniture)*
- no
- take a huge lot of films (don't forget you can only shoot 12 frames a roll with some 6x6, for example).

*Below, a photo of the Fontana di Trevi in the middle of the night with my Rolleiflex 3.5F, with which I travelled to Rome last year.

7314188470_5dc67d246b_z.jpg


Remember : keep it simple, and enjoy your trip ! 🙂
 
You might consider a Fuji GS645S. It is reasonably light and compact. 16 shots to a roll. Comparatively inexpensive and does not attract a lot attention.

The 645 negative size still provides a good negative size for scans and prints.

attachment.php
 
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How many rolls of MF film did you expose during your two week trip to Italy, and did you have little children with you? In the past, and before getting married, my standard travel set was a Graflex XLSW, Rolleiflex 2.8D, and as back-up and for mcro shots a Canon T90.
 
I spent a lot of my time visiting museums and churches. No reason to take photos of paintings of course. I exposed 10 rolls of Tmax400.
 
Richard G said:
I went on our annual beach holiday with some Leicas and a Rolleiflex. I got a great candid with the Rolleiflex. I carried the Rolleiflex (Automat 4 with f3.5 Xenar) through a forest, up and down hills, with the M9 and three lenses and a SLIK PRO 614CF tripod, and a light meter, with a broken rib one afternoon without any problems at all. I might not take the Rolleiflex on a plane, but for any other trips it's coming with me.
Click to expand...

Hi Richard,

why wouldn't you take the rolleiflex on a plane?
 
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