Vince Lupo
Whatever
Okay, I'm having a bit of a dilemma here. My wife and I are going to the Netherlands, Brittany and Normandy very soon, and I'm dithering as to what equipment to take. Most of the film I'm going to bring along is black and white, with a few colour rolls thrown in for good measure. Last year when we went to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France, I took my Leica IIIa with a MOOLY motor, plus a black Leica III and all period lenses. As well, knowing that we'd be going to Dresden, I brought along my Exakta II. This time around, I have my Luftwaffe Leica IIIc with a black MOOLY-C, a Luftwaffe Leica IIIb with a SCNOO rapid winder, plus all period lenses, OR there is the 'M' option which includes an M2, an M5 and 4 M lenses. Another possibility is my Contaflex TLR with two lenses, but that's definitely a 'left of center' choice (plus really heavy!). Since I'm planning on using primarily black and white, should I only take one body? But, if I see something that wold look better in colour, I'm really not interested in having to rewind black and white film mid roll and load colour film. As well, I'm not interested in 'speed', as I'm on vacation and it's a nice respite from all the digital stuff I deal with on a daily basis. Of course, I could just chuck the whole thing and use a cell phone camera....
So, when you go on vacation, what's your philosophy as far as what to take? Do you take a bare minimum for ease of travel and weight? Do you take everything you can 'just in case'? Do you take modern equipment for reliability, or is vintage the only way to go, particularly when traveling to Europe and experiencing all these wonderfully historic sights/sites? I'd be really interested to read what other shooters' philosophies are regarding this subject......
So, when you go on vacation, what's your philosophy as far as what to take? Do you take a bare minimum for ease of travel and weight? Do you take everything you can 'just in case'? Do you take modern equipment for reliability, or is vintage the only way to go, particularly when traveling to Europe and experiencing all these wonderfully historic sights/sites? I'd be really interested to read what other shooters' philosophies are regarding this subject......
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hexar_hp5
Member
For the last four years vacations meant my two hexar AFs, a vivitar 2800 (a basic flash) and film, but for the few weekends away this year I've had, a canon digital P&S.
If I were flying out tomorrow for a once in a lifetime, I'd fall back on what I know best, my hexar kit.
I hate scanning and if there's something that will drive to me digital it will be that, but at the moment it's my hexar kit for my 'serious' pictures.
If I were flying out tomorrow for a once in a lifetime, I'd fall back on what I know best, my hexar kit.
I hate scanning and if there's something that will drive to me digital it will be that, but at the moment it's my hexar kit for my 'serious' pictures.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
When we have gone on a vacation (as a family) I would take enough gear 1 maybe 2 bodies a slightly wide, normal 50 and a telephoto...I don't go with the thought that I'll get to do "my own photography" but more of normal "family on vacation type photos"...
Once, many years ago took a 1 week vacation by myself just to shoot...
I ended up going to Mesa Verde and Durango, CO.
For this trip I only took & used a 4x5 View Camera...
Be very practical in what you take and make sure what you take will be dependable...
Once, many years ago took a 1 week vacation by myself just to shoot...
I ended up going to Mesa Verde and Durango, CO.
For this trip I only took & used a 4x5 View Camera...
Be very practical in what you take and make sure what you take will be dependable...
reuno
Log out, go shoot.
I took a lot of gear this summer for a japan trip (Yashica MF, Nikon F3+35+85, M6+40+50, Trix and colour films). I just used Leica and 40mm 
I didn't feel in the mood of asking myself what gear to used while hangin out. Just take one camera and one lens (ok, two lens !), and free your mind in my opinion.
I didn't feel in the mood of asking myself what gear to used while hangin out. Just take one camera and one lens (ok, two lens !), and free your mind in my opinion.Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Vince,
Yup.
Bear in mind too that I travel a lot -- as much as I can afford, in terms of time and money -- and that I live in Europe: the church across the square from my house is 800+ years old, the castle on the hill behind the house, just under 1000 years. And I write about it as part of my living. In June, Frances and I took the motorcycle to Krakow.
For some thoughts on travel, see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/travel.html.
Cheers,
R
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chris00nj
Young Luddite
I'm off to Europe soon as well and had the same dilemna. I pondered taking two bodies with me so I could have different film loaded. However, now I decided just to think about my itenarary and plan accordingly. On days that I will be indoors, I will used Portra 400 and outside days, I have Kodachrome lined up.
I plan on taking my Bessa (why risk the Leica) along with a 50/1.5 and a wide angle.
Don't take too much B&W because parts of Europe are so colorful. I took some B&W in Vienna, but was disappointed because the buildings had bright bold colors. Some else may lend itself better to B&W, like the Collesium in Rome.
I plan on taking my Bessa (why risk the Leica) along with a 50/1.5 and a wide angle.
Don't take too much B&W because parts of Europe are so colorful. I took some B&W in Vienna, but was disappointed because the buildings had bright bold colors. Some else may lend itself better to B&W, like the Collesium in Rome.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Great thoughts from all. The kit that I took last year (not including the Exakta) was really great, particularly using those fantastic Leitz lenses from the '30's. However, I found that I used much more black and white than colour, so the thought about taking only one body arose. But then, if something happened to that body I wouldn't have a back up. The M cameras are so dependable, but not as 'vintage' as I'd like. Ideally, I'd love to take that Contaflex TLR, but that sucker is much heavier than a screwmount Leica, to be sure, plus I only have the 50mm and 135mm lenses for it (they are just a BIT pricey!). So a little more deliberation is required. I can definitely appreciate the sentiment of taking as little equipment as possible, so maybe I just need to get over my own psychological sentimentality and go for the simple and practical....but of course, that's subject to change!
oftheherd
Veteran
I'll be going to the beach in a couple of weeks. I have decided to take a 35mm SLR kit I put together a little over 4 years ago for an expectant trip to Germany. Didn't make it. It consists of a Yashica FX 103, Zeiss 50mm f/1.4, 18-28mm zoom, 28-70mm zoom, and 75-150 zoom. The Yashica dedicated flash, Luna Pro, and a Yashica FX 3 as backup. All fits in a small bag with room for my Welta 6x6 and film. I have been wanting to evaluate that as a travel kit.
Also, my Zeiss 6x9, and my Balda 9x12. Probably will take my Mamiya Super 23 kit as well.
Sounds like a lot, but it's all pretty compact. Since I will have the Welta, the Zeiss and the 9x12, I might forgo the Mamiya outfit. Beach time, fishing, shopping, all with the wife, all to be recorded in photographs. Maybe some side trips to a brewery, or not.
Also, my Zeiss 6x9, and my Balda 9x12. Probably will take my Mamiya Super 23 kit as well.
Sounds like a lot, but it's all pretty compact. Since I will have the Welta, the Zeiss and the 9x12, I might forgo the Mamiya outfit. Beach time, fishing, shopping, all with the wife, all to be recorded in photographs. Maybe some side trips to a brewery, or not.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Woo, that sounds like quite a bit of stuff. Be careful at the beach with all of that - sand can wreak havoc on nice equipment! This year my wife and I went to the Riviera Maya (Mexico), and I found that my Nikonos III with the 35 f/2.5 lens was great - could go under water, and you could rinse any sand off under a faucet.
bastian a.
Well-known
One camera with one lens is the best choice for me (M6 TTL 0.58 + Lux 35).
If I take more lenses: 21/35(/90) or 35(/50)/90 or 28/50(/90) and one or two M bodies.
B.
If I take more lenses: 21/35(/90) or 35(/50)/90 or 28/50(/90) and one or two M bodies.
B.
akptc
Shoot first, think later
Hi Roger, could you post some photos from Krakow? I love that city, spent a lot of time there a few years back. - Thanks in advance!
sojournerphoto
Veteran
I just came back from a family holiday in Norway. I took two dslr bodies (gin and small!) and a bag of lenses. I used both bodies, but one would have been fine. I used the tripod once and shot with the 35, 50 and 85 lenses as well as using a 'normal' zoom for one trip out on a glacier with my six year old. I maybe changed lens once after leaving the tent in the fortnight.
Next time we go as a family I'll take less - probably an RF with 35, 50 90 and maybe a dslr.
Mike
Next time we go as a family I'll take less - probably an RF with 35, 50 90 and maybe a dslr.
Mike
Sparrow
Veteran
Bingley
Veteran
As an amateur photographer, vacations are when I can enjoy concentrated play w/ different camera body/lens/film combinations. But taking too much stuff gets in the way, too. So, for me, it's a balance between the gear I want to use, how I'm traveling (plane or car), and what I expect to shoot.
My wife and I took a road trip in June to the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia. I wanted to street shoot in Seattle and Vancouver, and also do some landscape photography. I took a Canon P, Bessa R, and 28, 35, 50, and 100 lenses (all very small), and used them all (although I often went out for the day w/ just one camera and one lens, with the 35 and 50 seeing the most use). This kit worked really well on this trip. I only missed not having my XA as a pocket cam.
If traveling on vacation by air or train, however, I might pare things down: M2 or Canon P w/ 28 or 35 (but not both), 50, and an XA for the pocket would be a good, light combination. I might bring the 100, too, if I thought I would be shooting landscapes; it's very small and lightweight (Canon 100/3.5).
I don't think the one camera-one lens kit would be much fun for vacation shooting; for a camera carry-along on work travel, it's another matter...
My wife and I took a road trip in June to the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia. I wanted to street shoot in Seattle and Vancouver, and also do some landscape photography. I took a Canon P, Bessa R, and 28, 35, 50, and 100 lenses (all very small), and used them all (although I often went out for the day w/ just one camera and one lens, with the 35 and 50 seeing the most use). This kit worked really well on this trip. I only missed not having my XA as a pocket cam.
If traveling on vacation by air or train, however, I might pare things down: M2 or Canon P w/ 28 or 35 (but not both), 50, and an XA for the pocket would be a good, light combination. I might bring the 100, too, if I thought I would be shooting landscapes; it's very small and lightweight (Canon 100/3.5).
I don't think the one camera-one lens kit would be much fun for vacation shooting; for a camera carry-along on work travel, it's another matter...
micromontenegro
Well-known
Depending on the trip, I usually carry:
A Rollei 35
As above, plus a Contax IIIa with a 21mm Biogon
As above, plus a Rolleiflex
I used to carry a Minox B too, but haven't for some years now
A Rollei 35
As above, plus a Contax IIIa with a 21mm Biogon
As above, plus a Rolleiflex
I used to carry a Minox B too, but haven't for some years now
FrankS
Registered User
If it is the kind of trip that you can repeat easily, then a single body and lens would be fine, if you are confident in the body and the focal length chosen.
If it is a possibly-never-to-be-repeated trip, then a second body is advisable. (Murphy's Law) Two bodies opens up the possibility of using different film emulsions simultaneously, or using 2 different focal lengths without the need to switch lenses in the field.
What you decide to take also depends on what kind of trip you are on. Just how accommodating to your photography are your travelling companions? Keep this in mind when deciding how much gear to take.
I'm of the pack heavy and then decide what you need on a day to day basis mind. Also, what's the point of owning great camera gear but being afraid to take it anywhere? It's meant to be used. I disagree with the "save the Leica" view, unless one is going into very extreme conditions abusive to camera gear.
Last July I travelled with my (understanding) family to England and France. I packed "heavy" and then decided what to take out on a daily basis. I took 2 RF camera bodies for B+W with 28/35/40/50mm lenses, a 35mm zoom P+S camera for colour negs, and 2 compact/folding fixed lens medium format cameras for the possibility of large B+W enlargements. Most days I carried everything.
If my trip were more of a backpaking nature, of course I'd take less gear, but there was always an apartment or hotel to leave anything I did not want to carry that day.
YMMV
If it is a possibly-never-to-be-repeated trip, then a second body is advisable. (Murphy's Law) Two bodies opens up the possibility of using different film emulsions simultaneously, or using 2 different focal lengths without the need to switch lenses in the field.
What you decide to take also depends on what kind of trip you are on. Just how accommodating to your photography are your travelling companions? Keep this in mind when deciding how much gear to take.
I'm of the pack heavy and then decide what you need on a day to day basis mind. Also, what's the point of owning great camera gear but being afraid to take it anywhere? It's meant to be used. I disagree with the "save the Leica" view, unless one is going into very extreme conditions abusive to camera gear.
Last July I travelled with my (understanding) family to England and France. I packed "heavy" and then decided what to take out on a daily basis. I took 2 RF camera bodies for B+W with 28/35/40/50mm lenses, a 35mm zoom P+S camera for colour negs, and 2 compact/folding fixed lens medium format cameras for the possibility of large B+W enlargements. Most days I carried everything.
If my trip were more of a backpaking nature, of course I'd take less gear, but there was always an apartment or hotel to leave anything I did not want to carry that day.
YMMV
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pesphoto
Veteran
I dont take cameras with me on vacation. Its a vacation after all......
feenej
Well-known
I thought we all just took an Olympus XA.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
I always take what is appropriate to the vacation. For example if it is a beach/water vacation a Nikonos is appropriate. On the other hand if I am photographing buildings/architecture 24/28mm lenses are best or MF. For street work 35mm is best. Now what kind of streets will you be visiting? That will tell you what camera you will carrying. Most of all have a wonderful time.
Quinn Porter
Established
My bag gets smaller and lighter with each trip I take. I always find I am happy with the shots I get. Maybe one day I'll travel with just an Ikon and a 35mm lux.