What gear would you pack ?

[srtiwari]

I'm part of a Medical Mission going to the Dominican Republic in May, for a week. The team of 20 consists of Surgeons, O.R. nurses, and various Medical specialists.
I plan to document the trip in images, and am pondering what my travel kit should consist of. The photographs will be taken outside, as well as in the clinics, operating rooms, and inside homes. I expect to take Color and B+W film, and will likely bring it back home to develop, here in the US.

My plan is to carry 2 bodies, 3 lenses, 24 rolls of film, and filters etc.
(I will also carry a Digital P&S, as backup)

Limiting oneself to the M system of RF bodies and lenses, what would you take ? The kit needs to fit into a backpack type case.

1. Which camera bodies , and why ?
2. Which lenses and why ?
3. How many color film rolls, how many B+W films and which ones ( not to total more than 24) ?

I look forward to suggestions, specially from those who have planned for similar trips...

[Doug]

Maybe a list of your possible choices would help with suggestions...

[SciAggie]

For pictures inside clinics, operating rooms, and inside homes I would take a fast 1.2/ 1.4 35mm lens. I tend to like having a really wide angle lens (15mm?). It will allow images in really tight places and it gives a unique look. For a third lens I would choose a 50 or 75. I like the 75, but frame lines can be an issue depending on the body you have. The camera bodies to take are the ones you have in my opinion.

[chrishayton]

Couple of metered cameras

24/50/90 mm lenses

Some low iso (100) film some medium (400) and a couple of fast (1600+) is what I would take

Actually Id take my d3 and 24-70 and leave it at that.

[MIkhail]

Just a suggestion: I would put down all the stuff you are planning to take with you, and think: what can I leave home? Put that aside ans think again. Than weed out something else. And so forth, down to 1 camera an max. of 2 lenses- wide and 50mm.
It looks cool and exciting now to have this lenses and that camera, and so forth, but in real life if you want to get real pictures, you will not have time to fiddle around. Limit yourself in gear and concentrate on pictures.
(Sorry if it goes against the whole premise of gear forum, but it's either pictures or toying with multiple gear, choice is yours...)

[FrankS]

Don't know your gear, but if it were my gear I'd take 21f4, 28f3.5, 40f1.4, 50f2 and 2 bodies, probably 2 M2's.

[kzphoto]

Take a fast 50 and something much wider. 21/24/28.

[Phil_F_NM]

Like said earlier, it depends upon what you have available. If you have two bodies, take both, one with a long lens, one with a wide.

Phil Forrest

[kknox]

Just my 2 cents, a 28mm & a fast 50mm. You will not use the 90 much at all. I took a trip in November for 5 days. Most all of my shots inside & out were shot with my 28. Very few with the 90mm, some with the 50mm. Less is better.

[codester80]

What type of photography do you plan on doing? If it's all documentary work than I agree with most of the others with two bodies with a fast 50 and a 28 but if you're planning on doing some portrait work than a 90 would have to go along as well unless the you're comfortable using the 50 for portrait work.
Twenty-four rolls of film is WAY too little film for a trip like this. That works out to three rolls a day. You could shoot three rolls in an hour depending on what is going on in the operating rooms, etc. I spent 24 hours documenting a Vet hospital a few years ago and burned through 18 rolls of film. After, when looking through the negs I wished I had shot even more.

[mfunnell]

If it were me, and I was taking an M system, and I was working with the gear I have to hand, I'd take my M3 and one Hexar RF along with my CV 28mm/f1.9, 35mm/f2 UC Hexanon, 50mm/f1.5 C-Sonnar and 75mm/f1.4 Summilux. I'd probably take the HX-18 flash for the Hexar RF, and I probably wouldn't use it (somehow I never do).

I have a bag where I can pack those with hoods etc. along with quite a few rolls of film, that makes a nice compact package and isn't a bother to walk around with. I'd probably take (empty) a camera pouch I use that holds a single camera and spare lens, which might come in handy if I didn't want all my gear with me at once.

For film, I'd take mostly Tri-X, along with a few rolls of Reala and a couple each of Portra 800, Superia 1600 (the press-pack stuff) and Delta 3200.

...Mike

[Krosya]

I have taken 21, 28 and 50 with me. I missed longer lens at times. Now I'd take 21, 35 and either 75 or 85/90, or possibly 21, 50 and 135. At least one of these has to be a fast lens - either 35 or 50mm. And I would NEVER go on any trip without 21mm lens - gotta have it!

[srtiwari]

I appreciate so many ideas offered !
I am leaning towards-
My M7 for Color, and the M2 for B+W, and a hand held meter.
I can take my ZM 50/2, and the Summicron 35 (V3), for most of the work.
And then a CV 25/4 for closed spaces. I can add the 90 Rokkor without adding too much weight.
I'm going to try and take 20 rolls of each of Tri-x, and Pro 400H.
Hopefully a Polariser, a Yellow filter, and a small desktop tripod.

None of these lenses have similar "signatures", but oh, well...


I plan to try to have the film "hand-checked" at Airport security in both directions, but no idea how difficult this will be.

Any other ideas, thoughts, tips or tricks I could use ?

[srtiwari]

JSU, thanks for the advice. Actually, I do have the CV 21/4 with finder, but have less experience using it (I was actually thinking of selling it !). Perhaps I should use/try it more since I have a few weeks before the trip yet.

Just a thought about film- most people are recommending more. All of a sudden, my little "stash" of 300 or so rolls doesn't sound like something that will last "for years..."

[Chinasaur]

Less is more...

On the 2nd day, or earlier, you'll be kicking yourself for hauling TWO bodies and FOUR lenses. Take ONE body (unless one is digital) and only two (one preferably) lenses..and make sure you only take your fastest lenses. And leave the 90mm at home regardless.

And double or triple your film amounts if you're going to be shooting non-stop as your only duty. Double if it's not your only duty. Just do it and trust ;)

And take two sets of batteries...for everything...just in case.

[Steve Bellayr]

You did not say what lenses you possess. First, designate one camera for color and one for B&W. Lenses: A wide for the whole scene. A 35mm is probably going to be your standard. Use a fast 50mm for tighter shots. I seriously doubt that you will need anything longer than a 50mm if you are going to be in close quarters. The 75/90mms are for portraits and this situation does not appear to be portrait driven. A 135mm is for when you can not get close at all. I suspect that as part of a team you will very close to the action. Then the standard as part of the team will be the 35mm f2.0 w/400 or more film. As far as backup for 2 weeks a second M is more than enough as a backup. To save space if you are designating one camera B&W and one Color go with 12 of each and 36 exposure rolls to conserve space. That should give to you 864 shots, more than enough to document the mission. Good luck.

[MartinP]

I'd also suggest that is too much stuff, unless your sole purpose on the trip is as photographer - in which case your clients will tell you what they expect, and it will probably be digital!

One metered body, plus your favourite 'normal' length (50 or 35) at f1,4 -ish, plus a wide (maybe 28 or 21, depending on the other lens) plus a small thyristor-flash with tiltable/bounceable head. Also spare batteries as required. Only black-and-white film, think of both how much light you expect and how contrasty it will be in order to decide what exactly. For colour use the little digital to simplify the film-body problem, so you'll need batteries and cards for that I guess.

A week isn't very long, and you also have arriving/leaving within that week ? You could be too busy for pictures! I'd further suggest putting all this hardware in a (small) bag and take it everywhere with you - hygiene rules permitting. How are you going to get an 'outside' camera in to an O.R. ?

[Roger Hicks]

Basic kit: 1 body + fast 'standard' (35/1.4 for me)

Second body for backup (even Leicas can go wrong) AND to work faster (2 bodies + 2 lenses is far quicker and more efficient than 1 body + 3 lenses):

On the second body mount one of the following lenses

Real wide-angle (15-18-21)

Slightly long lens(75 or 90), also good for close-ups (about 1/10 life size).

Cheers,

R.

[35mmdelux]

21/35/75 would be my initial choice. Second choice 28/50. I would stick with one kind of film and take more than 24 rolls.

[dleyva2]

28 + 50..work great together...as stated before....less is more....

[Chuck Albertson]

Take the fastest lens you have for OR photography. Ted Grant shoots a lot of OR photography with a Noctilux. See his book, "This Is Our Work," if you can find a copy. Some other examples here: http://tedgrantphoto.com/Medical%20page%20-09.htm I'd take more film; it may be hard to find what you're used to shooting in the DR, and you can always bring the surplus back. Ask for hand-inspection of film at airports if you have the time, but a couple of scans isn't worth worrying about.

[wgerrard]

If you're job is to document the trip -- meaning you will be shooting all the time -- I'd take pretty much everything I think I might need, and put up with the inevitable hassle.

If your primary assignment will be something other than photography, I'd take as little as possible. In fact, I might dump all the film cameras and take a small digital.

If you do take film use 400 and below and you won't have any issues with airport scanners. I agree with taking a fast lens for the OR, but wonder why a room bright enough to perform surgery wouldn't also be bright enough for photography.

[Peter Wijninga]

If you do take film use 400 and below and you won't have any issues with airport scanners True in modern airports. Not so true in airports, including regional airports in lesser developed countries where the equipment is outdated and/or not maintained.

[pagpow]

Haven't been part of a medical team, but have traveled in numerous situations where photography was not my only purpose.

Two camera bodies (in use, rather than one as a back-up), four lenses, and both color and B&W is something I have taken but hardly ever used. Too many changes to manage.

Fast 35 as standard, wide as second (I've often felt a 24 was too long in some alleys and rooms), and, if you want a third depending on the shooting you expect.

If, if you take both color and B&W film, I agree standardizing on 400, and carrying, 4x ND to give you flexibility.

Unless you are talking many interior low light shots -- in which case 400 is likely too slow -- plan to push or take faster.

All that said, your original set of choices really screams digital -- you can change both speeds and color/B&W with just one body w/o finishing a roll. You can shoot w/o carrying the bulk of the film.

If you're open to that option, you have the Epson RD1, and Leica M8, M9.

How will your output be used/displayed? Will you have regular access to recharge?

Good luck.

Giorgio

[srtiwari]

Wow ! This thread seems to have come back to life after 2 weeks !
Thank you all. Here is what I can pick from-

Leica M6 and M7 bodies- (I need both metered for - indoor light - and able to work if meter fails)

ZM 28/2.8 and 50/2 OR
Rokkor 40 and 90 OR
CV 21/4 and 50/2.5 OR
'Lux 35/1.4 and 'Lux 50/1.4

About film- I love Tri-x, and can shoot upto ISO1000 (for Diafine). I also have 10 or so rolls of Neopan 1600. For color, I like Pro 400H, but wonder about Fuji Press 800 to.
I guess I could shoot in color and convert to B+W later.
About 40 rolls total, I think.

A Lumix G1 digital, with its 20/1.7 lens. The legacy lenses are not as easy to use, though I'll take the adapter. Who knows, if I can sell more gear- maybe get a X100 ? (It may not be available, though)

Any thoughts about tripods/beanbags/gorilla pods etc. ?

Dominican Republic has the US type power supply and sockets, so I should be fine.
With the digital, I might be able to upload to a storage device, or possibly a cloud server.

And finally, my role in the trip. Being a Physician, I do have some clinical duties, but this is largely a surgical team. The trip photographer has (in the past) been someone with a digital P&S, who would get about 50 pictures to put in the hospital's monthly publication, and to distribute to friends and family. I am hoping to raise the bar a bit !

[Matus]

While this is different type of work than I am used to, I would keep the M2 as a back-up body (not hanging around neck) and use the M7 only - AE will allow you to shoot faster.

I would carry 2 lenses - one on camera one in pocket. Probably 21 + 35 , or 28 + 50 - depends on your preferences. I agree that a long lens would get little use.

Just one word on the Color->to->BW conversion - if you are used to orange or red filtering, than you may find it hard to keep the banding (e.g. in sky) from appearing. Otherwise you will be fine. I would probably opt for the new Porta 400 to keep things simple as it seems to be an excellent film (or maybe take the Provia 400X which I like very much) - of course unless you do not decide on BW only.

If you plan to take digital camera on top of the film than have a look at the Ricoh GXR with 28 and 50 lens modules.

One more possible modus operandi would be using the film for BW only and the digital for color. Just thinking loud ;)

Whatever you choose please post some results once you are back!

Have a safe trip.

[myM8yogi]

Take the CV21/4, 35 Lux, 50 Lux.

[Instantclassic]

Just my 2 cents, a 28mm & a fast 50mm. You will not use the 90 much at all. I took a trip in November for 5 days. Most all of my shots inside & out were shot with my 28. Very few with the 90mm, some with the 50mm. Less is better.

Words that resonates with insight. :cool: