What Would You Take on Vacation?

[Vince Lupo]

Okay, I'm having a bit of a dilemma here. My wife and I are going to the Netherlands, Brittany and Normandy very soon, and I'm dithering as to what equipment to take. Most of the film I'm going to bring along is black and white, with a few colour rolls thrown in for good measure. Last year when we went to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France, I took my Leica IIIa with a MOOLY motor, plus a black Leica III and all period lenses. As well, knowing that we'd be going to Dresden, I brought along my Exakta II. This time around, I have my Luftwaffe Leica IIIc with a black MOOLY-C, a Luftwaffe Leica IIIb with a SCNOO rapid winder, plus all period lenses, OR there is the 'M' option which includes an M2, an M5 and 4 M lenses. Another possibility is my Contaflex TLR with two lenses, but that's definitely a 'left of center' choice (plus really heavy!). Since I'm planning on using primarily black and white, should I only take one body? But, if I see something that wold look better in colour, I'm really not interested in having to rewind black and white film mid roll and load colour film. As well, I'm not interested in 'speed', as I'm on vacation and it's a nice respite from all the digital stuff I deal with on a daily basis. Of course, I could just chuck the whole thing and use a cell phone camera....

So, when you go on vacation, what's your philosophy as far as what to take? Do you take a bare minimum for ease of travel and weight? Do you take everything you can 'just in case'? Do you take modern equipment for reliability, or is vintage the only way to go, particularly when traveling to Europe and experiencing all these wonderfully historic sights/sites? I'd be really interested to read what other shooters' philosophies are regarding this subject......

[hexar_hp5]

For the last four years vacations meant my two hexar AFs, a vivitar 2800 (a basic flash) and film, but for the few weekends away this year I've had, a canon digital P&S.

If I were flying out tomorrow for a once in a lifetime, I'd fall back on what I know best, my hexar kit.

I hate scanning and if there's something that will drive to me digital it will be that, but at the moment it's my hexar kit for my 'serious' pictures.

[nikon_sam]

When we have gone on a vacation (as a family) I would take enough gear 1 maybe 2 bodies a slightly wide, normal 50 and a telephoto...I don't go with the thought that I'll get to do "my own photography" but more of normal "family on vacation type photos"...

Once, many years ago took a 1 week vacation by myself just to shoot...
I ended up going to Mesa Verde and Durango, CO.
For this trip I only took & used a 4x5 View Camera...

Be very practical in what you take and make sure what you take will be dependable...

[reuno]

I took a lot of gear this summer for a japan trip (Yashica MF, Nikon F3+35+85, M6+40+50, Trix and colour films). I just used Leica and 40mm ;) I didn't feel in the mood of asking myself what gear to used while hangin out. Just take one camera and one lens (ok, two lens !), and free your mind in my opinion.

[Roger Hicks]

Do you take a bare minimum for ease of travel and weight?
Dear Vince,

Yup.

Bear in mind too that I travel a lot -- as much as I can afford, in terms of time and money -- and that I live in Europe: the church across the square from my house is 800+ years old, the castle on the hill behind the house, just under 1000 years. And I write about it as part of my living. In June, Frances and I took the motorcycle to Krakow.

For some thoughts on travel, see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/travel.html.

Cheers,

R

[chris00nj]

I'm off to Europe soon as well and had the same dilemna. I pondered taking two bodies with me so I could have different film loaded. However, now I decided just to think about my itenarary and plan accordingly. On days that I will be indoors, I will used Portra 400 and outside days, I have Kodachrome lined up.

I plan on taking my Bessa (why risk the Leica) along with a 50/1.5 and a wide angle.

Don't take too much B&W because parts of Europe are so colorful. I took some B&W in Vienna, but was disappointed because the buildings had bright bold colors. Some else may lend itself better to B&W, like the Collesium in Rome.

[Vince Lupo]

Great thoughts from all. The kit that I took last year (not including the Exakta) was really great, particularly using those fantastic Leitz lenses from the '30's. However, I found that I used much more black and white than colour, so the thought about taking only one body arose. But then, if something happened to that body I wouldn't have a back up. The M cameras are so dependable, but not as 'vintage' as I'd like. Ideally, I'd love to take that Contaflex TLR, but that sucker is much heavier than a screwmount Leica, to be sure, plus I only have the 50mm and 135mm lenses for it (they are just a BIT pricey!). So a little more deliberation is required. I can definitely appreciate the sentiment of taking as little equipment as possible, so maybe I just need to get over my own psychological sentimentality and go for the simple and practical....but of course, that's subject to change!

[oftheherd]

I'll be going to the beach in a couple of weeks. I have decided to take a 35mm SLR kit I put together a little over 4 years ago for an expectant trip to Germany. Didn't make it. It consists of a Yashica FX 103, Zeiss 50mm f/1.4, 18-28mm zoom, 28-70mm zoom, and 75-150 zoom. The Yashica dedicated flash, Luna Pro, and a Yashica FX 3 as backup. All fits in a small bag with room for my Welta 6x6 and film. I have been wanting to evaluate that as a travel kit.

Also, my Zeiss 6x9, and my Balda 9x12. Probably will take my Mamiya Super 23 kit as well.

Sounds like a lot, but it's all pretty compact. Since I will have the Welta, the Zeiss and the 9x12, I might forgo the Mamiya outfit. Beach time, fishing, shopping, all with the wife, all to be recorded in photographs. Maybe some side trips to a brewery, or not.

[Vince Lupo]

Woo, that sounds like quite a bit of stuff. Be careful at the beach with all of that - sand can wreak havoc on nice equipment! This year my wife and I went to the Riviera Maya (Mexico), and I found that my Nikonos III with the 35 f/2.5 lens was great - could go under water, and you could rinse any sand off under a faucet.

[bastian a.]

One camera with one lens is the best choice for me (M6 TTL 0.58 + Lux 35).
If I take more lenses: 21/35(/90) or 35(/50)/90 or 28/50(/90) and one or two M bodies.

B.

[akptc]

...... In June, Frances and I took the motorcycle to Krakow.....

For some thoughts on travel, see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/travel.html.

Cheers,

R
Hi Roger, could you post some photos from Krakow? I love that city, spent a lot of time there a few years back. - Thanks in advance!

[sojournerphoto]

I just came back from a family holiday in Norway. I took two dslr bodies (gin and small!) and a bag of lenses. I used both bodies, but one would have been fine. I used the tripod once and shot with the 35, 50 and 85 lenses as well as using a 'normal' zoom for one trip out on a glacier with my six year old. I maybe changed lens once after leaving the tent in the fortnight.

Next time we go as a family I'll take less - probably an RF with 35, 50 90 and maybe a dslr.

Mike

[Sparrow]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2739409720_d5e42862b8_b.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2739409720_d5e42862b8_b.jpg

[Bingley]

As an amateur photographer, vacations are when I can enjoy concentrated play w/ different camera body/lens/film combinations. But taking too much stuff gets in the way, too. So, for me, it's a balance between the gear I want to use, how I'm traveling (plane or car), and what I expect to shoot.

My wife and I took a road trip in June to the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia. I wanted to street shoot in Seattle and Vancouver, and also do some landscape photography. I took a Canon P, Bessa R, and 28, 35, 50, and 100 lenses (all very small), and used them all (although I often went out for the day w/ just one camera and one lens, with the 35 and 50 seeing the most use). This kit worked really well on this trip. I only missed not having my XA as a pocket cam.

If traveling on vacation by air or train, however, I might pare things down: M2 or Canon P w/ 28 or 35 (but not both), 50, and an XA for the pocket would be a good, light combination. I might bring the 100, too, if I thought I would be shooting landscapes; it's very small and lightweight (Canon 100/3.5).

I don't think the one camera-one lens kit would be much fun for vacation shooting; for a camera carry-along on work travel, it's another matter...

[micromontenegro]

Depending on the trip, I usually carry:

A Rollei 35
As above, plus a Contax IIIa with a 21mm Biogon
As above, plus a Rolleiflex

I used to carry a Minox B too, but haven't for some years now

[FrankS]

If it is the kind of trip that you can repeat easily, then a single body and lens would be fine, if you are confident in the body and the focal length chosen.

If it is a possibly-never-to-be-repeated trip, then a second body is advisable. (Murphy's Law) Two bodies opens up the possibility of using different film emulsions simultaneously, or using 2 different focal lengths without the need to switch lenses in the field.

What you decide to take also depends on what kind of trip you are on. Just how accommodating to your photography are your travelling companions? Keep this in mind when deciding how much gear to take.

I'm of the pack heavy and then decide what you need on a day to day basis mind. Also, what's the point of owning great camera gear but being afraid to take it anywhere? It's meant to be used. I disagree with the "save the Leica" view, unless one is going into very extreme conditions abusive to camera gear.

Last July I travelled with my (understanding) family to England and France. I packed "heavy" and then decided what to take out on a daily basis. I took 2 RF camera bodies for B+W with 28/35/40/50mm lenses, a 35mm zoom P+S camera for colour negs, and 2 compact/folding fixed lens medium format cameras for the possibility of large B+W enlargements. Most days I carried everything.

If my trip were more of a backpaking nature, of course I'd take less gear, but there was always an apartment or hotel to leave anything I did not want to carry that day.

YMMV

[pesphoto]

I dont take cameras with me on vacation. Its a vacation after all......

[feenej]

I thought we all just took an Olympus XA.

[Steve Bellayr]

I always take what is appropriate to the vacation. For example if it is a beach/water vacation a Nikonos is appropriate. On the other hand if I am photographing buildings/architecture 24/28mm lenses are best or MF. For street work 35mm is best. Now what kind of streets will you be visiting? That will tell you what camera you will carrying. Most of all have a wonderful time.

[Quinn Porter]

My bag gets smaller and lighter with each trip I take. I always find I am happy with the shots I get. Maybe one day I'll travel with just an Ikon and a 35mm lux.

[raid]

I take different outfits for different trips because I want to extensivly use most of what I own. In my last overseas trip to Syria and Jordan, I took the following:

1. For family snapshots and easy of carrying it around: Contax T2
2. For street and crowd photography: Canon P + 28mm/3.5 + 50mm/1.4 + 90mm/4.
3. For specific interior shots: Graflex XLSW + 47mm/8

Quite often, I had the T2 in one pants pocket while I had the P around my neck. For "undercover", I placed the P in my small camera backpack, and the T2 stayed in my pocket. No camera was in sight.

[FrankS]

I dont take cameras with me on vacation. Its a vacation after all......

Vacation = photo opportunities for me

Now, if you work in photography on a daily basis, I can understand "getting away" from it while on vacation.

[Sam N]

I recently got back from a trip to the Netherlands and Germany. I took an R-D1 and a ZI, and 4 lenses. I also took a flash, but I used it so rarely that it was not worth taking. I'd also take only three lenses next time and maybe only one RF body + a digital P&S. I'd rather miss a couple of shots and not have to feel weighed down the whole time.

I think you should take only one body (M or LTM), no more than three lenses, and a digital P&S. Make sure you have a nice comfortable shoulder bag that you like.

[Vince Lupo]

Yikes - don't know what I started here!

I work as a commercial photographer, so much of that time is either spent with a digital Nikon, or sitting in front of my computer. Vacation - especially a European vacation, for me - is a great opportunity to use equipment that I truly have a bond with, like my screwmount Leica's and other vintage equipment. And, it seems appropriate (for me anyway) to be using equipment like that in the unique and historic surroundings of Europe (I live in Baltimore, MD and am originally from Toronto, Canada). Last year I brought my 35mm Summaron, a 50mm Xenon, a 73mm Hektor, a 90mm Fat Elmar, and a 21mm Voigtlander (for all those handheld self portrait shots with my wife). As far as what I shot and plan to shoot, it's the usual combination of landscape, people/street stuff, old cityscapes, cathedrals, castles, that kind of thing. My wife is fairly patient, and she has her own digital camera thingy for taking photos, plus we don't necessarily need to be joined at the hip 24/7. It's just the two of us going, and we're renting a car and driving as we've always done.

So we'll see....What I'd love is to be able to take the Contaflex TLR with the 50 and 135 if I get it back from Frank at Camera Wiz before we leave, and perhaps a screwmount Leica with a three lenses (35-50-90, or 21-35-90). If that doesn't pan out, then it's possibly a screwmount Leica setup or the M stuff. Or, I could just bring my Voigtlander Bessamatic with the 36-82 Zoomar and wouldn't have to worry about additional lenses - but that sucker's pretty heavy around the neck too!

[Bingley]

Yikes - don't know what I started here!
....


LOL!! You started a "what should I take on vacation" thread, a perennial favorite around here! :D

[Matt(1pt4)]

I'd take whatever you think you will have the most fun shooting with. If that's the vintage gear, by all means, take it. Don't worry too much about equipment failures. If something breaks and you have no backup, you either have more time for drinking beer and chatting with the wife or an opportunity to buy a camera in a foreign country.

[Roger Hicks]

Hi Roger, could you post some photos from Krakow?

Dear Andy,

'Fraid not. That was my turnaround point; couldn't get a hotel room because there was an arts festival on. Shot a LOT in Pszcyna over the next two days, though. I'm currently waiting for my web-master to do a major extension to the site and there'll be details of that trip in due course.

Cheers,

R.

[Roger Hicks]

I plan on taking my Bessa (why risk the Leica) along with a 50/1.5 and a wide angle.

Dear Chris,

Why own a Leica if you're not prepared to 'risk' it taking pictures? What risk are you thinking of?

Cheers,

R.

[sfb_dot_com]

Dear Chris,

Why own a Leica if you're not prepared to 'risk' it taking pictures? What risk are you thinking of?

Cheers,

R.

I live in Cornwall and went as far as the North Norfolk coast this year on the motorcycle HD Dyna). Didn't take the Leica as I was visiting Cropredy pop festival too and was worried about dropping it in the mud. My fears were substantiated as the camera I did take; a Yashica Minster 700, was dropped in the mud. Although it survived ok, I wouldn't have wanted that fate to have happened to my Leica III which I'm very attached to. That being said, I missed it terribly and although the f1.7 lens of the Yashica is sharp, I hate that linked EV system on it. I still got lots of positive comments about it from the younger generation 'Old Skool' was one term used.

Earlier in the year I did take the III to Guernsey, and photographing the underground German military hospital with it gave a real chill when thinking that my very camera could have been there in the kit bag of a soldier or medic.

Regards to all

Andy

[Rayt]

Traveling with the family and taking snaps I usually choose a kit I don't otherwise use much and the trip provides an opportunity for me to test or get to know the equipment. I know a guy who takes his 8x10, tripod, and all the bits, and the Canon DSLR and then makes his wife carry half of the stuff.

[projectbluebird]

Why not take the SM kit. You have two bodies; one for color, one for B+W. Then the question becomes which lenses. Just how many do you have? You might be able to get away with just three (or maybe four) A wide, a long, a normal, and maybe one more. (a fast normal, or just your favorite lens) If you stick with three lenses, you'll only have one to carry. (with the other two mounted, that is)

With all that, my personal choice would be one lens, one film, one camera.
I took a trip a few years ago with my M3, the summilux 50, the 90 'cron. A bag of HP5+, and a brick of P3200.

The 90 stayed in my bag, I never opened the brick and I shot over 1000 frames of HP5 in a week and a half.

FUN!

[Vince Lupo]

Yeah, I'm kinda leaning in that direction. I have several screwmount bodies, so in that regard it's just a question as to whether to take a black or chrome body, SCNOO rapid winder, MOOLY motor, or keep it simple. Lenses - I have a 21/4 Voigtlander, 35/ 3.5 Elmar and Summaron, many 50's (Summitar, Summar, Elmar, Xenon), a hazy 73/1.9 Hektor, 90/4 Elmar ('Fat' and chrome versions), a 105/6.3 Mountain Elmar (sweet!), plus a 135/4 Elmar. Thoughts are to take the 21, a 35, a 50 and a 90.

Other alternative (if it comes to pass) would be the Contaflex TLR with the 50 and 135 lens, and a screwmount Leica with a 21 and 35 lens. That Contaflex is such an unbelievable camera (some may say in a good way, others in a not so good way), and I'd really love to take it, but the downside is that it's heavy as hell. Film would be Tri-X and a some 400 colour print film.

As far as a bag goes, I've had really good luck with those khaki canvas 'National Geographic' ones - seems to me after using them that a real photographer designed those bags, as they're very well thought out and can store a lot of stuff in a relatively limited space. Wish I could take that NG logo off though!

[literiter]

In 1966 I only had one camera, a Pentax Spotmatic and three lenses. There was no question which camera to take, assuming I was going to take a camera.

Now with age, affluence and accumulation, I've got all this "stuff" and will spend too much time deciding what to take.

Travel by our own vehicle means I can take a lot of stuff, if I want, perhaps the whole kit.
Travel by air means I must trim things down a bit. Perhaps I'll take my Nikon F3 and two lenses and a Super Ikonta B, on a trip to Florida. To Europe I'd consider a Hasselblad SWC and a 500cm or such like.

[Roger Hicks]

I live in Cornwall and went as far as the North Norfolk coast this year on the motorcycle HD Dyna). Didn't take the Leica as I was visiting Cropredy pop festival too and was worried about dropping it in the mud. My fears were substantiated as the camera I did take; a Yashica Minster 700, was dropped in the mud. Although it survived ok, I wouldn't have wanted that fate to have happened to my Leica III which I'm very attached to. That being said, I missed it terribly and although the f1.7 lens of the Yashica is sharp, I hate that linked EV system on it. I still got lots of positive comments about it from the younger generation 'Old Skool' was one term used.

Earlier in the year I did take the III to Guernsey, and photographing the underground German military hospital with it gave a real chill when thinking that my very camera could have been there in the kit bag of a soldier or medic.

Regards to all

Andy

Dear Andy,

Fair enough: there are always specific occasions for using less precious cameras. But equally, I'd have thought that unless you can use your Leica on a trip to Europe, when can you use it?

The Guernsey story is indeed food for thought.

And as a BMW rider, I have to say: that's not a motorcycle, it's a tractor...

(Sorry, couldn't resist. But I like Enfield Bullets, which are only slightly more modern than Harleys...)

Cheers,

Roger

[Frankie]

My ideal has always been one-camera/one-lens.

I used to carry a plain Nikon F2 with a 35mm and a TC-14 extender; later a lighter FM3A with a 35~70mm zoom...and the TC-14 in a pocket.

Now I carry a Zeiss ZM with a CV 40mm/1.4 (modified to bring up the 35mm frame line, a tight 95%+ coverage). Hopefully one day soon, someone will make an extender.

In real life, the 35~70mm range handles 90% of what your eyes can cover and resolve. Wider view angles requires eyeball panning if not also your head. Long telephoto lenses magnify details you normally cannot see.

So do you photograph what you saw...or what you imagine you could see?

The camera you have (or bother to carry) is the one you use. Heavy gear is counter-productive.:)

[oftheherd]

I take different outfits for different trips because I want to extensivly use most of what I own. In my last overseas trip to Syria and Jordan, I took the following:

1. For family snapshots and easy of carrying it around: Contax T2
2. For street and crowd photography: Canon P + 28mm/3.5 + 50mm/1.4 + 90mm/4.
3. For specific interior shots: Graflex XLSW + 47mm/8

Quite often, I had the T2 in one pants pocket while I had the P around my neck. For "undercover", I placed the P in my small camera backpack, and the T2 stayed in my pocket. No camera was in sight.

Sheesh Raid, Just because you have all that neat stuff and took a trip to an exotic place, you can bragg?

And I suppose just because you came back with some of the most interesting and intriguing photos, and started one of the most interesting threads because of that trip, that we will excuse you? :p

Be sure that is meant as a left handed compliment. I don't envy you your equipment as I am happy with mine. I sure envy you that trip and your personal good fortune to have relatives there and be able to fit in. It allowed you go understand what would make good photos, and then get them.

Hopefully the OP will have such good fortune on his upcoming trip. I also hope you will show us some more photos of your trip.

I now return the thread to the OP. :D

[photogdave]

Going through this as well but I'm taking two trips in one: Galapagos Island cruise and Inca Trail trek to Mach Pichu.
I want to bring some sort of SLR setup to shoot macro and tele for the Galapagos but on the trek and for the stays in the cities I'm bringing M6, 35 1.4, 21 4.0 and CL w/ 40 2.0. May squeeze a 90 in there.
Last time I went trekking I was in Nepal and happy with Nikon F100 and FM2, 20 2.8 50 1.4 and 24-120 (didn't use this one much).
So now I'm going on a shorter trip but looking at twice the gear! Maybe I should just bring one SLR system and leave the RFs at home? But I don't want to do that!

[Haigh]

I'm going to Paris for a couple of weeks and will take the old M4 and 35 f/2 lens. I will for the first time take a dslr with one zoom. I will use one camera at a time, depending on the whim. I'll walk and work with what I have on me at the time and always in an easily accessible down market bag just and enjoy the city in October. "I" seems to be my favourite letter of the alphabet. Sorry.
Hope this helps.

Bon voyage.

[tmfabian]

i only take 2 cameras...m8 and m7 packed snugly into a bag with a 28 and a 50 lens. this gives me the option of 4 lenses depending on what body they're attached to as well as giving me the option to not worry about the battery, should I not be able to charge the m8's batteries.

It's light and simple...they fit together into a small bag that gets wedged into a backpack.

[Vince Lupo]

Okay, I've dithered again. I'm going back to the M2 and M5 with 21, 35, 50 and 90mm lenses, plus I have one of those M lens carriers that mounts on the baseplate of the M2 and have found to be quite handy.

HOWEVER, if the Contaflex TLR comes through then it's that with the 50 and 135mm lenses, and my Leica I/IIIf conversion with the 21 and 35mm lenses. :eek:

Have I confused you yet? :confused:

[sirius]

I've debated this with myself a lot for past travels. It depends on why you are photographing. If you want certain types of photos that only certain lenses and equipment can do, then you have to bring those. If you love your equipment and want to try it all out, that's ok too. If you only want to document your travel, then the equipment should not get in the way of the travel (i.e. heavy, bulkly, awkward). In which case I would bring only one really good camera with only one lens and a lot of film, you can improvise on the spot if something goes wrong. Limitation is little known artist's secret. Most artist who paint or sculpt self-impose limitations and it gives creative focus to your work. You'll know your tools so well that you'll forget them and think only about the creative aspects. That is my sincere advice.

[Vince Lupo]

Yes, very good point indeed. I definitely know about being bogged down by one's equipment - both physically and creatively. Maybe I should rethink this.....

[Benjamin Marks]

Aw shucks - the answer is "usually too much." I keep telling myself, one camera, one lens. Yeah, 14 pounds of gear later, it's like "why does my back hurt so much?"

Next time, I swear it will be an M3 and a 50. Sigh.

Ben Marks

[totifoto]

I´ve always had alot of stuff with me :bang: I travel at least 1-2 a year with my family and last month we went to spain. We had a new family meber with us now that is only 3 monts old so I said to myself" I have to take as litle as possible of photography gear". I took my Pentax k1000,28mm ad 50mm and about 10 rolls of tri-x and 3 rolls of Superia 200. I´ve never had so mutch fun shooting while traveling like then. In the future I will always travel light on camera gear, hopefully with a Leica and 35 and 50 lenses :rolleyes:

[filmfan]

I am going to Paris for a semester of school next fall.
I am bringing a bessa r2, color-skopar 35, and a summitar 50.

[sepiareverb]

Just back a few weeks ago, I brought a pair of T2's (one for slides & one for neg.) and a D-Lux3. But I wanted a vacation.

[Sonny Boy Havidson]

Last summer I took with me a Rollei 35 and an Agfa Isolette (and the help of a Watameter rangefinder). Maybe the Hi-Matic 7s for the next time.

[filmfan]

I like to travel light, so I would take only one camera:
Bessa R2 w/ Color-Skopar 35/2.5
I would use the rest of the space for Provia 100F and Tri-X 400.

[Peter Klein]

If I shoot film, one RF body, and 21, 35, 50 and 90mm lenses. If that's too much, leave the 21 home.

If I shoot the M8, 28, 35, 50 and 90mm lenses. If that's too much, leave the 28 or the 50 home.

Since I travel with the 21/4 and 28/3.5 VC lenses (tiny), and my travel 90 is the small 90/3.5 VC, they really don't add up to that much more in the bag.

Take at least one fast lens, at least f/2, preferably f/1.4 or 1.5.

Though I avoid flash whenever possible, it sometimes comes in handy. I wouldn't travel with a big flash, but a little auto-thyristor flash might get you that obligatory restaurant photo of you and your loved one. Note: The flash should be significantly smaller than the camera(!)

A spare body on a trip is not a bad idea, although if you don't mind buying a body somewhere if the first camera fails, you can dispense with a spare on a trip to major cities. Or take a good quality film camera--even a decent P&S can get you by until you can find a shop with a clean used Bessa... ;)

--Peter

[Vince Lupo]

Just got back from the 19 day trip to the Netherlands and France (passing briefly through Belgium), and everything worked out great. We landed in Amsterdam and picked up the car, stayed just south of Rotterdam for a few days, drove throughout Normandy and Brittany, ended out at Pointe du Raz (the western most point in France), over to Chartres, and back to the Netherlands.

I ended up bringing the M kit - M5 and M2 with 21/4, 35/1.7, 50/2 and 90/4 lenses, the M baseplate lens carrier, small Leitz tripod, and a bunch of b+w and colour neg film (all ISO 400). I think I shot about 22 rolls total, the majority of which was b+w. The nice thing about this kit was that it fit into a small canvas National Geographic bag (love it except for the stupid stitched logo), and I only needed to carry a few extra rolls with me while the rest stayed in the trunk of the car. Plus, it felt like I could cover most situations that might arise without feeling overburdened with stuff.

I'll try to post a few shots when they're processed.....

[Doug]

Welcome back, Vince... Two M bodies with four lenses... What did you use the most, and what was the second essential bit of gear you had along or wished you had?

You shot about as much as I usually do, averaging about a roll per day, and I too usually have a couple rolls in my pocket in case I run across something that really demands it. Never had any problems with film inspection or x-rays.

In a bit we'll be off to Hawaii for a few weeks, and of course I'm wondering what to take. Last time, to Malta and Sicily, I had an M with normal and wide lenses, really a minimal kit, and it worked out very well. This trip, I think it'll be a Pentax kit... either the P645 with 45, 75, 120... or the LX with three new Zeiss primes 28, 50, and 85mm. I've never had the P645 on a trip, but then I'm eager to exercise the Zeiss glass too...

[Johann Espiritu]

I like to keep it light and simple. I bring two cameras, but take only one per day, depending on my mood. It's either:

1. M7 + 28mm + 50mm (with the Leica M Lens Carrier). I use the Carrier a lot when I travel because it eliminates the need for a bag, and makes switching pretty easy and quick.

2. Leica Minilux

[Vince Lupo]

The one thing that I didn't use very much was the tripod, but it was small enough that it really didn't matter too much. I wished that I had brought along more black and white film, as I ended up using more of it than I anticipated, and I bought an additional 7 rolls of colour film while I was over there (I ended up shooting 25 rolls total, after adding it all up at the lab yesterday). As far as lenses went, I think I pretty well used them all equally, and there wasn't any feeling that I was limited. I had originally planned on bringing my 90/2.8 Elmarit lens, but it is kinda big so I chose to bring the small 90/4 screwmount Elmar and just used an M adapter on it. Not sure how the shots with that 21/4 Voigtlander lens are going to be, as I used that quite a bit for landscape shots and some interiors.

It was nice to reconnect with these M cameras, as they've been sitting for a while, yet when I use them I find them to be quite 'intuitive' which, when on vacation, is not such as bad thing!

[gavinlg]

I thought we all just took an Olympus XA.

How I'd love for that to work with me however I've never had an XA last for more than a few rolls without breaking.


Perfect travel camera when good though.

[locus]

I'm heading to India for a month in November and taking my two M6 bodies, 35mm and 50mm summicrons, 15mm heliar, tri-x 400 and fuji pro 160s films :)

[Vince Lupo]

Finally a few shots from the France/Netherlands trip. I'm going through them slowly....

[Vince Lupo]

A few more....

[Vince Lupo]

And a couple more....

[ChrisPlatt]

On my last trip I took only my Hexar AF.

Chris

[peter_n]

I've got mine down to my two MPs with a 35 on one and a 75 on the other, and a 24 for wide stuff. Absolutely tons of room for film and I use my smallest satchel - an F-803 clone.

[35mmdelux]

Historically, one camera and one lens.

In the past few years taking two cameras -- which can be a Stylus Epic PS or a second Leica.

[literiter]

The Wife and I just came back from a 4 day holiday to a mountain retreat. Fly in by helicopter and allowed 30lbs luggage. (all food, beds, etc. provided) What you wear is not included.

Luggage has weight as I found out, as does clothing so not much weight left over for tripod and cameras. I managed a SWC, three backs, a small metal Gitzo and film. Around my neck I carried my 501CM.
The wife managed a F3, film and a digital thing, then her art supplies.
I would have liked to have taken my camera pack but the thing weighs about 9lbs empty.
Traveling light is tricky.

[Vince Lupo]

A few more shots with the M combo....

[Vince Lupo]

Managed to go through a few more shots from France/Netherlands....

[Vince Lupo]

A few more...

[Vince Lupo]

Last ones for now. I'm noticing a bit of a pattern as I post these. A few of these shots show little people in big spaces, plus I seem to have been more interested in the 'big picture', as opposed to closeup details. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing (or maybe it is?), but just interesting to notice as I see these shots together.