What film would you take to Africa?

[pedro.m.reis]

Hi ppl.
I'm out to an african country in june, Guinea Bissau. I'm going in work but i beleive i'll have some time to take pictures. I'm thinking to take my electro 35 along a fed-2.
My problem is the film and the conditioning of it. First, nor i beleive that the X-ray machines in Guinea are up-to-date nor i beleive that the officials would let me get the
film around. Second, i'm going to stay about 3 weeks, how would film stant that time in africa without refrigeration?
I was thinking of taking some velvia, tri-x and some fuji superia.
Advice needed!
Thanks

 

[BrianShaw]

Two years ago my brother went to Africa (Kenya, I believe) and brought a lot of Nikon equipment with even more Velvia. He had the film developed upon return the the US. He has many, many priceless images from that trip. My only complaint is that he shot no B&W... but he claims he'll make some with PS.

He took no special precautions regarding X-ray exept to request hand inspections and no special storage precaustions except keeping the film in zip-lock baggies because of dust.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Where i'm going is the capital, so i espect to shoot mainly in the street. I hope to visit the some small vilages also, but no "safari" . Hence the RF not the SLR system.
I think the main problem would be the heat, because i'm preaty shure that the hotel room will not have a fridge and maybe not have AC either....

 

[Jon Graham]

On my trips to Africa I took Kodak 400VC and 100UC. The heat and humidity is no worse than South Florida (where I live). Just keep the film in a separate carry on plastic bag. I had never had problems with xrays or anything when I returned home and had it developed locally.

You then can convert to B&W as needed in PS.

 

[clarence]

Whatever you do, don't put your film in a lead-lined bag. The scanners will turn up the x-ray output to get through the lining, and your films will get fogged to an even greater degree.

Clarence

 

[Avotius]

from experience traveling frequently between the USA and China with film I can say if you have a zip lock bag with your film in it where it has been removed from the packages and they can easily and plainly see it then there ususaly is no problem. I just put it in the dish with my wallet and phone that they give you and they always pass it through without any grief. Helps even more if you can get clear plastic film canisters to put your rolls into that way they can see them inside and wont get so picky about opening every single one

ps. I would take lots of velvia 100 or if you prefer 100f there. The sun is very bright and ususaly speed is not a problem, but just for backups you might want to take a few 400 speed slide films with you as well. If you want to shoot bw then hp5, xp2 and delta are great options.

 

[RayPA]

Kodak 400 UC & Tri-X or NP 400

 

[sf]

Buy a lead lined film bag to protect faster films (3200)

B&W :

Plus-X for rich tones and bright light shooting.
Neopan 400 for everything else.

color :

Kodak UC and VC films - they are great - choose a speed

Slide film : Velvia 50 if you want to catch some of the early morning, late afternoon and sunset colors at their best. Of course, you'd need a tripod.

RayPa has it right.

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Thanks all for your tips and advices!!

 

[jaapv]

I've been coming to Africa for the last 15 years. in my experience there is no special problem with any film. But I did use lead bags, not only because of X-rays but also because they are very practical for carrying the film in a protected environment.

 

[sooner]

I used to live in Senegal in the mid-1990's, and a friend who travelled frequently to Guinea Bissau said the only x-ray machine in the country was the one at the airport, donated by the Chinese government, supposedly. He described it as very crude technology, but he was also looking at it from the perspective of a medical doctor wanting to x-ray people (i.e. broken arms). My point is just that you should expect pretty old equipment that probably has not been maintained or calibrated, so I would worry more about fogging there than in a more affluent or better travelled country like Kenya or South Africa. I would try hard to get the film hand inspected.

 

[jaapv]

Don't forget: back up your equipment. The worst thing that can happen is standing in the middle of nowhere with a broken camera in your hand and no repair shop -or even postoffice 😱 😱 😱 And don't expect to be able to buy anything really exotic - like usable film or batteries that last longer than two minutes. :bang: :bang:

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Don't forget: back up your equipment. The worst thing that can happen is standing in the middle of nowhere with a broken camera in your hand and no repair shop -or even postoffice 😱 😱 😱 And don't expect to be able to buy anything really exotic - like usable film or batteries that last longer than two minutes. :bang: :bang:

Do you know a better backup for my electro 35 than my Fed-2?? 🙂 (or vice-versa)
I've not decided yet if i'll take my eos system also.....

 

[ruben]

What film would you take to Africa?

It depends. If you want to be controversial, take Black & White. Colour for caution.

Best,
Ruben

 

[jaapv]

Chances are your room will have AC in the capital.It will be pretty noisy though. They're bound to have electricity from time to time. AC's are popular in Africa amongst those that can afford them and have access to electricity. Even where there is none fridges are a status symbol. Sometimes a beer from a non-functioning fridge, plugged into the ground, will be more expensive than one from the crate. In the capital there may be an Indian shop or South African supermarket selling some film or decent batteries, but forget about slide film.

 

[jan normandale]

film is dead.. take a digital camera

 

[jaapv]

There is a lot of truth in that for this kind of work, Jan....

 

[jan normandale]

Film is not seen til it's processed and printed or put on a screen , ie 'dead'. You seldom know what you got or how it came out until you are no longer where the shot was taken.

Digital, gives feedback immediately on the spot. Any mistakes and the shot can be taken again ie 'live'

Really take both.. I would.

 

[Bill58]

Check this out---http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/safari.htm

 

[pedro.m.reis]

Uff, so you would take the DSLR+Lens + RF (+lens).
I need a new camera bag .....

Film is not seen til it's processed and printed or put on a screen , ie 'dead'. You seldom know what you got or how it came out until you are no longer where the shot was taken.

Digital, gives feedback immediately on the spot. Any mistakes and the shot can be taken again ie 'live'

Really take both.. I would.