What would you take?

What would you take?

  • Leica M6 TTL Millennium 35 Summicon and 90 Tele-Elmarit

    Votes: 48 57.8%
  • Leica M2 Voigtlander 21/4 and 50/2.5

    Votes: 20 24.1%
  • Kodak Retina IIc

    Votes: 4 4.8%
  • iPhone

    Votes: 23 27.7%

  • Total voters
    83
30 year aniversary!!! and you are thinking in a camera!!!!

30 year aniversary!!! and you are thinking in a camera!!!!

My wife will kill me if I use anything other than point and shoot. I would recommend the Olympus Pen EED (half frame). One 36 frame roll will give you 72 very sharp and neat images that you can enlarge to 10x14. That was the first automatic camera. You set it up in 3m, input the ISO, and the camera will do everything for you. Of course, you could buy the Olympus Pen (just like that, no S, no EE, no D), first one made. That will produce even better pictures, you just guess the speed and set the aperture, pure Sunny 16. Both of them fit in the shirt pocket.

In my first tour to England (15 days) traveling within, I carried my Canon 5DII, the 24-105mm lens, the Sigma 35/1.4, and the 180mm f3.5 macro, total weight: about a ton. I came back with back pain. At the cathedrals, I saw people with a smaller camera with no flash, no tripod, etc., yes, Leicas M6, M3, M2, etc. That is when I decided to dump canon for Leica, and here I am.
 
I voted earlier for the M6 and 35/90. I am sticking with the idea of an M body and two lenses although it could be different focal lengths like 21/50 or 28/75 etc. Since you appear to have both a 35 and 90, I would go with those two as I travel with the same combo unless I am lazy and then only carry the 50.

Why own an interchangeable lens camera and only carry one lens? The more I travel and photograph, the more I find that I leave the extreme focal lengths at home. The classic photojournalist focal lengths of 35/50/90 work for me and my favorite Leica film body, the M2.
 
My wife will kill me if I use anything other than point and shoot. . . .
And you're still married? How? Frances and I have been together 35 years and we still discuss what sort of cameras to take.

I'd probably kill myself if I were forced to use a point-and-shoot. Or (rather easier) just not go.

Photography is more important to some people than others. Yes, my wife is more important to me than photography, but part of the reason for that is that she understands how important photography is to me.

Cheers,

R.
 
If your wife is very supportive of your photography bring one of your Leica outfits.

If not and as you imply this trip is very much about your anniversary something smaller and less obtrusive might be a better choice.

When I travel I usually opt for an excellent truly pocketable film camera, mostly for convenience.

Chris
 
And you're still married? How? Frances and I have been together 35 years and we still discuss what sort of cameras to take.

I'd probably kill myself if I were forced to use a point-and-shoot. Or (rather easier) just not go.

Photography is more important to some people than others. Yes, my wife is more important to me than photography, but part of the reason for that is that she understands how important photography is to me.

Cheers,

R.

Roger, Frances is a photographer, you are in Heaven!! :angel:

To buy my M9, I had to buy the wedding ring that I promised and never bought after 35 years.
 
My llast vacation a year ago locally in California, I took: M9 + Summicon 35/2 + Summircon 50/2 collapsible+ Tele-Elmarit-M 90/2.8. A very small set up.

Last month, I took my M5 + Summicron 50/2 (v)+ Color Skopar 35/2.5. I wanted to use the modern lenses on the M5. Looks like the M5 is with me at all times nowdays.
 
Not a big fan of 35mm RF but if I had to pick then the dead simple nature, the minimal nature of the M2 appeals to me. I've always been drawn to meterless cameras with the most basic controls. Shutter speed/aperture/focus......advance/rewind/viewing/focusing. Like I said, minimal.
 
Enjoy your trip, celebrate your relationship and take the occasional pic. If photography is secondary (or tertiary) to these above priorities, take the iPhone and focus on living.
 
Way back in 2004 when I was a mere pup of 50, my wife and I spent three weeks traveling in Europe. We landed in Frankfurt and using the trains, carry on luggage, plus a lot of walking we made our way through parts of Amsterdam, Brugges, Paris, Arles and finished up in London. On that trip my camera of choice was an Olympus Stylus 105 Zoom (Mju to most of the world) and I had my film processed at numerous one hour places. Part of my thought process was, dad always told me it's the photographer not the camera, if something happened to it I wasn't out much money, it did what I needed and it fit in a pocket. Fast forward to spring of 2017. To celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary we are planning another trip but this time spending more time in Paris and exploring more sites around the city. I would like to travel light and avoid lugging a camera bag around with me but I would like to have something to document our trip. Coming home with some nice images would be a bonus but mostly I just would like to enjoy the experience. So my question to the world is what camera should I take?

If you want to enjoy the experience, take the M6 and the 35mm and 90mm lenses. I would recommend that you give serious thought to taking a 50/2 Summicron, too. You can find a clean used 50 'cron for around $1000 USD if you shop judiciously, so it won't break the bank.

A vest like the Domke photographer's vest will carry your kit - the 90mm in one pocket, the 50mm in another pocket, film in another pocket and the M6 and the 35mm lens on a strap around your neck and you are done. No bulky camera bag to drag around!

The one critical thing that I would recommend is this: Do NOT let a one hour processor develop your film! 😱

Bring your film home undeveloped and get it developed properly by a professional lab. Better still, develop it yourself at home - it's not difficult to do and if you just follow the film and chemistry maker's directions, you will do as good a job as a pro lab can.
 
If you want to enjoy the experience, take the M6 and the 35mm and 90mm lenses. I would recommend that you give serious thought to taking a 50/2 Summicron, too. You can find a clean used 50 'cron for around $1000 USD if you shop judiciously, so it won't break the bank.

I have appreciated all of the answers so far. I have a 50 Summicron V5 and have debated about taking just it and the M6. To complicate matters, I have recently added a Nikkormat FT2 and swapped out the 50 2.0 for a 50 1.4 SC which, although bigger than the rangefinders, would be just fine to carry around. Adding to the slr kit is a Nikkor 28 3.5 for the narrow spaces. We still have several months before departing and are still working on itinerary but keep the answers coming in and thanks for all the advice. MAD
 
If the iPhone is your only digital camera, take it. International travel with a bunch of film is an absolute nightmare anymore. The last time I did it, every single roll and canister had to get explosives swabbed separately, as well as the lead lined bag and everything else I was carrying for good measure. Never again.

Also, no matter how supportive your wife is of your photography, this isn't a photo expedition, it is an anniversary trip. It's a time for selfies and happy snaps and images to show friends on facebook more than it is for making art. Concentrate on your wife and what would make her happy FIRST, and if there is room for photography afterward, you'll be able to at least get the shot with a reasonably current iPhone.
 
If the iPhone is your only digital camera, take it. International travel with a bunch of film is an absolute nightmare anymore. The last time I did it, every single roll and canister had to get explosives swabbed separately, as well as the lead lined bag and everything else I was carrying for good measure. Never again.

Also, no matter how supportive your wife is of your photography, this isn't a photo expedition, it is an anniversary trip. It's a time for selfies and happy snaps and images to show friends on facebook more than it is for making art. Concentrate on your wife and what would make her happy FIRST, and if there is room for photography afterward, you'll be able to at least get the shot with a reasonably current iPhone.

Heed the voice of wisdom! 😉
 
International travel with a bunch of film is an absolute nightmare anymore. The last time I did it, every single roll and canister had to get explosives swabbed separately, as well as the lead lined bag and everything else I was carrying for good measure. Never again.
.

I've never had an issue with X-Ray damage to any film even after its been through a dozen airport carry on scanners; so I don't see the need for the hassle caused by requesting special inspection.
 
Could you possibly buy a small digital point and shoot? There are loads of good ones available. I would be slightly nervous carrying several thousand dollars worth of Leica gear on vacation. My rule is never take anything on a trip that you aren't prepared to possibly lose.
 
Can't say I've had that happen to me ever regardless if traveling around the US or internationally to Asia, Europe, South America, or Australia.

If the iPhone is your only digital camera, take it. International travel with a bunch of film is an absolute nightmare anymore. The last time I did it, every single roll and canister had to get explosives swabbed separately, as well as the lead lined bag and everything else I was carrying for good measure. Never again.
 
The M6, 35 Chron and 90 TE. You could add the 15 Voightlander and have the Head Bartender's original Leica walkaround kit. The LTM 15 with an adapter would fit back to back on the 90 using one of Leica's double mounts [don't know the right terminology - the grey plastic thing that looks like two open rear lens caps]. The 15 would give you the wide you might need in a European city without a lot of bulk or cost.
 
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