When we can go traveling again...

[Bolo Kukus]

What camera and one lens only will you/would you take? It can be film or digital. Whichever.

And while we are at it, where will you go?

As some will have noticed, I have started several of these "what about, what if?" threads of late.

I admit it, I'm fishing for good ideas to keep me stimulated during the dreary times we are now living through. I've been at home since I had to return posthaste from Indonesia in March, 2020 and after 15 months of enforced domesticity, almost nothing remains to be done at home and I am quite chafing at the bit to be let loose to travel again. Later this year, I hope. We at home all hope!

As well, the responses I've had so far have given me much food for thought. Indeed, I'm fishing for ideas, and thanks to all the posters in the other threads I've created, I'm getting them in droves.

This intro will be kept short. I will come back later and write my own input re camera, lens and destination.

For now, please post your own thoughts.

 

[sevres_babylone]

When I went to Vietnam in January 2017, the only digital camera I took was my Ricoh GR2. I did take my Olympus OM-2 and a couple of lenses as well, but I used the Ricoh 80 percent of the time, at least.

If I could only take one camera and lens, I would take a Ricoh again, now the GR3.

However, the Ricoh had 2 weaknesses. A lack of weatherproofing (and it rained more often than not on that trip), and I've been spoiled by my Sony's lowlight performance (although the Ricohs aren't bad). I was supposed to go to Japan last October-November. I am hopeful of going there this fall, but that depends on the COVID situation (not good at present, and I'm a bad forecaster.) I did buy the new Sony A7C and the kit lens, for its compactness, excellent autofocus and for more weather resistance. In addition to the kit lens, I would likely take my Zeiss ZM 50mm. For a telephoto, I'm torn between my Sony FE 85mm F1.8, which is excellent and lightweight, but big compared to the Olympus 85mm I took to Vietnam, and my CV 75mm F2.5 ltm heliar, which is compact, and works well with the Sony.

 

[kshapero]

Going to Western Mass. this weekend. I will take my Leica M-P 240 and 50/2 'Cron.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

What camera and one lens only will you/would you take? It can be film or digital. Whichever.

And while we are at it, where will you go?

My wife and I will go to see her family in KL (Malaysia) as soon as we're allowed, possibly also to Helsinki to see my family.

In terms of gear, I'll probably do what I always do for the Malaysia trips, pick something from the collection that takes my fancy on the day and run with that 🙂 I have a black paint Pentax SV in the mail, so perhaps that with the 8 element 50mm Super Takumar.

 

[pyeh]

Oz, yours is exactly the question I tantalise myself with almost daily. Recently I 'invested' in the Sigma fp and fp-L cameras and I-series lenses, figuring they'd be good travel gear, especially given the film/airport CT scanner problem.
The only problem with settling on the Sigma stuff is forsaking all my previously favourite digital equipment. This quandary ties in with at least one of your other recent topics.
As to where to go, well San Diego to see our daughter, Japan because we love it and miss it, Malaysia because I haven't been for 40 years and I want to eat the food, and bits of Europe because I haven't seen enough of it.

 

[Rayt]

I want to go on a road trip this winter to the Southwest for some 8x10 photography. It’s a pretty modest plan except I want to do it in a new mini SUV.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I don't have any international travel plans for this year: I am living in Vietnam which closed its external borders in March 2020. Vietnam is managing Covid-19 very well. This said, I don't expect the borders to re-open this year and so I'm staying put, except for a few trips to the coast for some fresh air. Gazing at my crystal ball, I suppose that things will only change when the majority of the Vietnamese population -some 97 million, have been vaccinated. Cheers, OtL

 

[Rayt]

I don't have any international travel plans for this year: I am living in Vietnam which closed its external borders in March 2020. Vietnam is managing Covid-19 very well. This said, I don't expect the borders to re-open this year and so I'm staying put, except for a few trips to the coast for some fresh air. Gazing at my crystal ball, I suppose that things will only change when the majority of the Vietnamese population -some 97 million, have been vaccinated. Cheers, OtL

I’d rather be stuck in Vietnam than anywhere else. By next year we’ll be in California. Don’t know if I am happy about it yet.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

When I travel, I know I'm going to take my Bolex or maybe my Bell & Howell 70DL, with 3 lenses, not one. As for still camera, I'll take my F2 with whatever, maybe 25-50. As for WHERE I'll go, I have no idea. I have all sorts of goals to travel but it actually isn't feasible for the foreseeable future, even if there were no pandemic. I would like to go meet my nieces for the first time. One is in west Texas, the other in Melbourne, Australia.
I know I want to pack up a bike, have someone drop me of at the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, ride over to the beginning of US Route 30, then ride all the way west to Astoria, Oregon. This is a dream I've had for maybe 3 decades now. At this point, I'm only in shape enough to walk up a couple flights of stairs, so the bike trip is out. So I really don't know where I'll travel, when it becomes healthy to do so again.

Phil Forrest

 

[robert blu]

My wife and I dream of that roadtrip to north Europe we were planning to do before the pandemic, we already did one two years ago with Raid and his family. And it was a beautiful experience.

But I'm afraid it will be not soon...and we're not sure what our health will be like as time goes by...the age ...

So when reopening we plan a roadtrip through Italy staying away from large cities and visiting small villages. Which could be a good photo exercise.

And perhaps a trip to Wetzlar...why not? If Germany will be open and safe...

Which camera? almost sure the M10 with a 50 and the 28 summaron in the pocket 🙂

 

[Larry Cloetta]

<snip>….
I know I want to pack up a bike, have someone drop me of at the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, ride over to the beginning of US Route 30, then ride all the way west to Astoria, Oregon. This is a dream I've had for maybe 3 decades now. At this point, I'm only in shape enough to walk up a couple flights of stairs, so the bike trip is out……..

Phil Forrest

But, by the time you got to Iowa, you’d be in fantastic shape. Just do it. Sounds wonderful.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

But, by the time you got to Iowa, you’d be in fantastic shape. Just do it. Sounds wonderful.

Very true, Larry.
I've always wanted to see the Tetons as well. Maybe a detour on my westerly month-long trip...

Phil Forrest

 

[Larry Cloetta]

What camera and one lens only will you/would you take? It can be film or digital. Whichever. ……..
.

I’ve done more traveling this last year than the previous three put together, so, my condolences. It was nice.

One camera one lens..on a trip……hmmm.

Depends on what kind of photos I was planning on being in the mood to create on the trip.

1. If I wanted the highest quality digital images, and a lot of them, in the smallest possible package, and didn’t want to expend much effort or time in obtaining them, or fooling with gear (outside of the batteries which seem to last for only 45 minutes) then….the Sony RX1RII. Easily.

2. If I wanted to have the most possible creative fun with the said camera, and wanted to make the trip as much about the photography as the locale, if not more so, and be willing to take the necessary time, and didn’t care if my family was standing around making anxious noises and tapping their feet, then the…..SWC/M.

3. If I wanted the distinctive attributes of film images, and wanted the absolute highest percentage of keepers, but with the minimum of size and bother, and time involved, grab shots mostly because the trip is about the locale and the photos are secondary, then the…..Contax G2 with the 45 Planar.

4. If I didn’t care about how many keepers I got, if any, but wanted to be sure the maître d’ seated us at the best table, then the …..black paint M3 with the Noctilux.

But seriously, a trip with one camera and one lens? I shudder at the thought. I’d have to turn back after two days.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I would go to USA after full vacation. In USA.
I like m-e 220 for travel.
I only have three tiny lenses.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Back to the Dolomites in South Tyrol/N Italy. With my Plaubel Makina 670 and a stack of 120.
Beautiful mountain hiking, via ferratas & climbing, great food & culture.

Flickr

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I’ve done more traveling this last year than the previous three put together, so, my condolences. It was nice.

One camera one lens..on a trip……hmmm.


4. If I didn’t care about how many keepers I got, if any, but wanted to be sure the maître d’ seated us at the best table, then the …..black paint M3 with the Noctilux.

But seriously, a trip with one camera and one lens? I shudder at the thought. I’d have to turn back after two days.

It's good to see that you haven't lost your sense of humour this year Larry!

 

[Dogman]

If I was interested in landscapes, nature or the features of buildings in urban areas, I would take a couple of Nikon full frame DSLRs and a range of lenses from 18/20mm up to 180/200mm.

If I was interested in people photos, street photos or anything social, I would take a couple of Fuji X-Pro2 bodies and lenses from 18mm to 50mm.

If I just wanted to snap photos while seeing the sites and not be a nuisance, I would probably just take my trusty Fuji X100S...and maybe the Ricoh GRII.

If I wasn't able to decide what I wanted to do, well I'd just take it all and sort it out once I got there.

Where would I go? Oh, I wish I could go to many places but it's likely my next trip will be no more than a few hundred miles from home.

 

[Spluff]

It depends if I need to go through those industrial scanners at an airport - so on the continent, would have to be digital, probably Leica T and probably a wide angle - may be a 15mm? (anyone know if Instax will be destroyed by one of these new scanners?)

Back in the UK, one camera, one lens? Probably film then, in maybe, Contax N1 and 17-35mm zoom?

Seriously though, one camera and one lens only? - after you asked us if we had too many cameras? 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

I'm going to (hopefully!) be spending the month of January in New Mexico for an Artist in Residence program. It was postponed this past January and has been rescheduled for this coming January, so fingers crossed that it actually comes to pass.

If I were to choose strictly a one camera/one lens combination, it would either be my Nikon Z7 and the superb 50/1.8 Z-mount lens, or my Hasselblad 907x and the equally-superb 65/2.8 XCD lens. In the end I think I'd have to flip a coin, as I like both setups.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Vince, I hope the Artist in Residence position comes around for you. It's definitely on my list to visit my friends in New Mexico and maybe drive over to Hatch during the green chile harvest too.