Would you take yours to Afghanistan for 6 months?

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spicoli

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Ive got a freshly CLA'd M6, decent glass (50 F2 summi, 28 F2 Voit, 135 tele) and will be spending Nov-May in Kabul. Id like to take the Leica, but am worried about all the dust. Your thoughts?
 
spicoli said:
Ive got a freshly CLA'd M6, decent glass (50 F2 summi, 28 F2 Voit, 135 tele) and will be spending Nov-May in Kabul. Id like to take the Leica, but am worried about all the dust. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I carried 2 M3's for 14 months in Vietnam with no problems.
You should however take some zip-lock bags to keep it in when not using or during times of dust.
 
Dust? That would be my last concern. 100% all risk replacement cost insurance would be my first concern. I would take enough film with me for the whole trip. I would add some more film. Lots of dust removal cleaning supplies. More film. What Colyn said: Lots of zip lock bags. The gallon size are good. Double bagging is better. A lot of film!

My bad manners again. Welcome!

Bon voyage!
 
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I agree. Get it insured and you'll be fine. If you're going to submit your body to Afghanistan, then it shouldn't be much of a question for your camera.
 
I would rather not travel to Afghanistan or Iraq at all. If you must travel there, then I would pay attention on staying alive. Here, it is best to take the cameras you can use the best without getting killed. Good luck.


Raid
 
I used my M6 with 50mm summilux in the desert southwest of the US and in northern Mexico for documentary work. Sand/dust, wind and temperature extremes were the norm and I had no problems at all. Just change film with your back to the wind if you can. The M6 was made for these kinds of conditions…
 
Hi,
Welcome to RFF.
If you are staying in Kabul the whole time, I don't think you should be worried about dust, being on the countryside is a different issue. After all Kabul is the biggest city and the capital.
Best wishes on your trip.
Kiu
 
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spicoli said:
Ive got a freshly CLA'd M6, decent glass (50 F2 summi, 28 F2 Voit, 135 tele) and will be spending Nov-May in Kabul. Id like to take the Leica, but am worried about all the dust. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...
Should be no problem. Don't overly burden yourself with batteries or film unless you need something special; you can get ordinary film without problems in Kabul. If you're there in winter, I wouldn't worry about the dust so much, rather about the cold, especially at night. You can expect sub-zero temperatures at night well into March.

Are you on a military assignment? Good luck! Things have been toughening up recently; even though things are usually quieter over the winter months, in the cities you can still expect trouble. November is rather soon, but if you can, try to get some basic phrases of Dari in your head, maybe while you're there; even though most people know some English by now, it's a door opener.

Philipp
 
I would buy two user Nikon F3s ($450-$600). MF Nikkor lenses are inexpensive too ($100-$200) for the 28 and 50. The F3s will stand up to anything. The F3s will have a few more dings and brassing. You can sell them when you return.

This will keep your M6 safe and sound.
 
If you are going to do an embassy or military gig you can order some film shipped to an FPO. That way you do not have to worry about carrying that stuff through all those flights and the especially the dreaded Heathrow. As for the M6 being able to handle the climate in the Middle East... contact Leica New Jersey and ask them. If something goes wrong then it is Leica New Jersey you will have to go to and not the RFF. Have a good trip and watch your 6, both the M and your rear.
 
I considered that..

I considered that..

Ive got 2 MF Nikons, an EM and an FM3A. Ive also got some Series E (inexpensive) lenses too, so Ive got options. The Mrs has 2 DLSRs (D100 and a D70) plus we both have little P&S digitals. I just enjoy doing it the old fashioned way and would enjoy the Leicas company, I just dont want it to end up like the N65 or 995 Nikons I carried over there in '02. Quality of life has improved a lot since then, Ive actually got a building to stay in with a shower and a/c, so it isnt that bad.
 
Bring the Leica. You can concentrate on photos instead of equipment. (For what it's worth, I took a Nikon SP to southern Iraq in 1991 for the same reason ... I just enjoy doing it the tried-and-true old fashioned way).
 
Get some insurance on it and go! I would love to have the opportunity to spend half a year with an m6 at my side. You're overthinking this.
 
While the approach of getting some F3 sounds ok, I would go with your Leica. Worst case you might send it to DAG or Sherry when you get back for a bit of TLC. Your Leica is a tool that loves to be used and gets better the more you use it.

I like the idea of ziplocks, pick up a new LED AA maglite at Walmart and watch your BUTT. Bring a couple of extra batteries for the M6. Come home safe and share what you get!

B2 (;->
 
I think that you should take it along. Plastic bags sound like a good idea, though. This sounds like a great opportunity to see a part of the world that many folks do not get to visit (hardships and danger aside). In the grand scheme of things, it seems to me that repairing or replacing a camera is a minor concern viewed against the experience of documenting your travels.
 
Take it and use it! I've always wanted to go to Afghanistan. An old boss of my, a former ambassador who helped negotiate the Soviet withdrawal way back when, spent time there and found it (of all the many places he visited and lived over a long career) the single most fascinating city he'd seen. No doubt it's flatter now than then, but I bet, no less fascinating.

And you know what? If you come back in six months with amazing photographs and experiences and a dead M6--it did it's job and died having contributed! Now, you don't follow the same advice! Cameras are for using and abusing. Our bodies aren't so replacable.
 
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