What Contax G lenses for Morocco?

I don’t find that using a single lens limits me photographically. I often take one camera and one lens even on longer trips. I’m not a pro photographer on assignment. We often get seduced by seeing a big selection of gear. How did Cartier Bresson photograph? Check out the work of Adam Marelli. Making graphically interesting photos is the art. One of my favourite photographers is William Allard. He uses 28,35 or 50 most, and I am sure could make interesting photos with just one of those. A couple of years. Ago I did a trip with my two kids, hiking in the Alps through France,Italy, and Switzerland, followed by a week in Paris and a couple of days in Iceland. I took only a Rolleiflex. Less is often more.
 
Agreed with the 21/45 recommendation. The 21 will be brilliant in the desert where it can suck in the wide, wide vistas. The 45 will be good for people shots but don't forget that many Moroccans hate to be photographed so if you're a nice guy you should ask first but if you're not you'll be glad of the auto-focus 😉
 
lawrence said:
Agreed with the 21/45 recommendation. The 21 will be brilliant in the desert where it can suck in the wide, wide vistas. The 45 will be good for people shots but don't forget that many Moroccans hate to be photographed so if you're a nice guy you should ask first but if you're not you'll be glad of the auto-focus 😉
Click to expand...


Being from New England, where people hate even making eye contact, I know a thing or two about using autofocus to steal a shot! I'd more interested in portraiture than stolen candids, though, so I'll definitely be asking.
 
One way to lighten your load, so to speak, put your lenses in a belly bag which for me makes them much easier to carry and get to. You should be able to have all five lenses with you at all time that way. Four in the bag, one on the camera around your neck.
 
My plan is to keep the viewfinder on the camera, and stick whichever lens I'm not using in the pocket of my French chore coat. (The other pocket will have 2 trolls of film).

The other useful thing about the chore coat is that it lets me pretend I'm Bill Cunningham.
 
As a person who used to shlep around Canon L glass, I confess to being fairly amused by this discussion. I can see having a philosophical discussion about the creative benefits of shooting with only one or two lenses. I have gone for months only shooting with one lens. However, if i was spending the time and money to travel to Morocco for two weeks, and I was going to bring a Contax G camera, I would just bring the extra lenses with me in case I changed my mind while there. The 28mm lens is tiny and weighs only 150 grams! The 21mm weighs 200 grams. The 35mm only 160 grams. You might get there and realize that you really see well with the 35mm FOV (like your x100f) and just leave the other lenses in your car or hotel. Seriously, leave one book at home and take the other lenses. What is the downside?

Cheers

Steve Rosenblum
 
Last edited:
Fair point! I should have specified--the price of the trip means my budget is limited, so I can only afford one lens to add to my kit. Since I don't currently have a wide (just a normal and a tele) I wanted to add a wide, and I assumed that most people would suggest a kit including a normal and a wide!

Otherwise, totally reasonable approach, if you can resist the urge to change lenses over and over again throughout the day (not sure I could...)
 
karateisland said:
Fair point! I should have specified--the price of the trip means my budget is limited, so I can only afford one lens to add to my kit. Since I don't currently have a wide (just a normal and a tele) I wanted to add a wide, and I assumed that most people would suggest a kit including a normal and a wide!

Otherwise, totally reasonable approach, if you can resist the urge to change lenses over and over again throughout the day (not sure I could...)
Click to expand...
Ah, I see. Travel safely and I wish you great enjoyment on your trip!
 
I would check out online if RFF or Leica has any members in the cities that you will be visiting. That could be a great RFF meeting for you there. Plan ahead where you will be traveling so that you have plans and backup plans if needed.
 
Funny, I'm going thru the same issue. I'm going to Italy and trying to decide what to bring. Most likely gonna bring all 4 lenses I have as they are small and light.

When I go out shooting landscapes, I never even think about what to bring as it's what I normally shoot. but being as I never go on vacations, it's a new thing so I over-think it and make it much more complicated than it should be. So 2 G 1's and a Mamiya 6 for MF shots
 
A year or so ago I hiked up to the top of the Pfanderbahn from lake Bodensee in Bregenz, Austria.
I carried a full Fuji XT2 kit, a full Leica M240 kit, and a Nikon F6 w/ Zeiss 35 f2 and a bunch of film.
Weighed a ton. But I did not/do not regret it for a moment, as it was an unforgettable experience that I do not know when I'll be able to do again.
And yes, I used all my kit. As well as getting some serious exercise!
 
As nobody has mentioned about protection from blowing sand, I'd add this one---not that you do not know already. So for that reason alone, I'd say just bring the zoom on one camera body, or bring primes if you have two bodies.

I am looking into a Morocco trip next year, and a friend mentioned her experience a few yeras ago when they ran into blowing sand and got back to their hotel all covered with sand---hair, clothes and everything else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Godfrey
Going on a short vacation ...
2
Replies
22
Views
759
Godfrey
Godfrey
CP93
Help with dating/manual for Contaflex
Replies
4
Views
577
CP93
CP93
F
What is the best non M digital body for M lenses?
2
Replies
23
Views
893
shawn
S
LeicaFoReVer
Departing with my Contax G2
Replies
1
Views
442
Godfrey
Godfrey
oldhaven
Aires 35 Rangefinder lenses and photos
Replies
10
Views
854
ped
ped
Back
Top Bottom