Which cameras for my trip?

[sr1200]

A part of my family lives in Kyrgyzstan. I'm going in late August and will be there until late Sep. I plan to be mostly in villages, but with a little time in the city. My plans are to shoot the older folks in my family (wife's fam actually) to include the grandmother/father and great-grandmother. I'll shoot both indoors and out, and will carry my speedlights, umbrella, etc (meaning I'll bring my D750 at minimum) Will go for a strong natural light look... morning/evening light streaming through windows and so forth.

Also will try to do some landscapes to include mountain scenes and some light painting/Milky Way shots, again with the D750 most likely, and also shoot a large local sporting event. For this I'll carry a 20mm, a 24-70, a 70-200, and a 150-600.

Finally, and this is where it comes to you I think, is film camera. I have a choice of an FM2, an M3, or my Rolleiflex. I think, because of the absolute specialty of the portraits I want to take, that the Rollei is best for the task. Thinking Portra 800 pushed to 3200 if it's darkish. Also do backup with the D750. I think I'll leave the two 35mm's at home.

BTW, I do a lot of street photography, and would feel comfortable carrying a 50mm on the D750 in the city, but don't want to carry yet another lens (even though it's small).

Thoughts?

 

[tunalegs]

I too, would take the Rollei.

 

[tuanvinh2000]

Rollei for the film portraits. you can use flash with it too. dont have to push film.
for the street since you already carry a 24-70, why not just use it? or the 20mm for a walk? or drop the 24-70, bring 20-50 and the longer zoom. i like the 1 film + 1 digital camera + 1-2 lens max. i feel i'm more focused when i shoot one or the other, not both at the same time.

 

[Pete B]

Another vote for the Rolleiflex.
Pete

 

[michaelwj]

I'm a bit confused why you're contemplating a film camera?

You say that you will mainly be doing portraits and that the D750 will be used for this with speedlights and reflectors.

Some landscapes and Milky Way shots, D750.

Sporting event, D750 + long lenses.

Then you say you want to take a Rolleiflex with Portra800 for the portraits (I assume with the reflectors).

If you really want to take a Rolleiflex, then;
1) you'll need a lot of film,
2) ditch the 24-70 and 70-200 and replace with a 50 or 85 as a backup (you'll need the space for film!),
3) dump the speedlights and instead take a small LED panel (they work really well with reflectors and a less obnoxious for "non-model" portraits). They make metering and light control easy.

If it were ME, and I was doing what you're planning and REALLY wanted to take a Rolleiflex, then I'd take;
Rolleiflex with lots of Portra800, D750 (ideally with a backup for the event) with 20, 50, and 150-500 (or 70-200 depending on access and the type of event), reflectors and an LED panel.

BUT, if I just wanted to shoot the portraits on film, I'd take the second Nikon body, loads of Portra 800, and the D750. Pack an AiS 20 and 50, and the modern tele. Easy plus redundancy plus smaller and less film volume.

Either way, the trip sound very exciting, have a boatload of fun!

 

[JChrome]

I would shoot color with the TLR only if you have a more modern, multicoated lens. Single coatings are good for BnW but IMHO not as proper for color.


www.stillthrill.com

 

[sr1200]

Hmm... I had not thought of the value of the LED panel until now. Unfortunately it's too late to get one ordered and in. So, I'll be stuck with those speedlights, but I'm pretty familiar with their use. I may bring my gels to soften the temp a bit.

Interesting thought on ditching the 24-70, and I do have a beautiful 85. So yes, the 50 and 85 would be nice in comparison to the 24-70. One extra lens, but often times less weight day-to-day.

The Rollei is my favorite camera. If I take a stellar image with anything, I prefer it to be with that camera. I do alright with the D750, but given the option, I'll use the Rollei. Thus, I envision taking the portraits with both, with emphasis on the Rollei.

As for a backup for the sporting event. I already planned to bring a D5200 along for a friend there to try out, so that's my backup.

@JChrome (guess this board doesn't auto tag) I have the 3.5F, and as far as I know, it's not multi-coated. Nevertheless, I see some nice results out of Portra and Velvia with the camera, I'll try it. (Though I usually shoot black and white myself)

I'm a bit confused why you're contemplating a film camera?

You say that you will mainly be doing portraits and that the D750 will be used for this with speedlights and reflectors.

Some landscapes and Milky Way shots, D750.

Sporting event, D750 + long lenses.

Then you say you want to take a Rolleiflex with Portra800 for the portraits (I assume with the reflectors).

If you really want to take a Rolleiflex, then;
1) you'll need a lot of film,
2) ditch the 24-70 and 70-200 and replace with a 50 or 85 as a backup (you'll need the space for film!),
3) dump the speedlights and instead take a small LED panel (they work really well with reflectors and a less obnoxious for "non-model" portraits). They make metering and light control easy.

If it were ME, and I was doing what you're planning and REALLY wanted to take a Rolleiflex, then I'd take;
Rolleiflex with lots of Portra800, D750 (ideally with a backup for the event) with 20, 50, and 150-500 (or 70-200 depending on access and the type of event), reflectors and an LED panel.

BUT, if I just wanted to shoot the portraits on film, I'd take the second Nikon body, loads of Portra 800, and the D750. Pack an AiS 20 and 50, and the modern tele. Easy plus redundancy plus smaller and less film volume.

Either way, the trip sound very exciting, have a boatload of fun!

 

[sr1200]

Update!

A friend had an LED panel and has loaned it to me. I think that will definitely make a difference.

Packed along with the Rollei are my backup D5200 and also my D750. The 20, 50, 85, 70-200, and 150-600. Two strobes, an umbrella, tripod and light stand. Heavy bag. I have a bout 20 rolls of film, mostly Portra 400 and 800. Some Velvia and some Neopan. Lots of SD cards of course. Many things I can't find, go figure. At this point I have to accept those things are not coming along and get on the plane. Wish me luck!

 

[michaelwj]

Good luck!

Looking at those lenses, you could probably ditch the 70-200 and save 2kg. You have the 85 and the 150-500... It might make it more pleasant to carry?

Make sure you post some shots!

 

[Doug]

Hope you have a great trip, get some fine photos to show! I'd take along noise-cancelling headphones and ditch the heaviest lens, that's a lot to carry. But I'd take a paperback or iPad with ebook to read on the plane... Have fun...

 

[sr1200]

Well, I'm carrying that big lens for a reason. I also have a press pass (for what it's worth) to the 2016 Nomad Games. Kind of a Central Asian version of the Olympics. Hopefully there will be some good opportunities for action shots with the "goat polo" (Kok Buru) event. Otherwise I would not carry that heavy thing...

 

[tunalegs]

I would leave the 85 and the 150-600 at home. Yeah you have a reason for having it, but every time I've traveled I've had a "reason" for a lens or camera I brought that never got used. And it sucks to waste luggage space on something you don't need.

 

[KM-25]

Being a guy who really likes to focus on the image, there is just no way in hell I would take that much gear. Every time I have traveled light, the photos benefit, every time I have gone gear heavy, the photos or at the very least, the opportunities I can respond to, have suffered.

 

[tightsqueez]

No kidding! You forgot one thing... an assistant to carry all that crap.