India - film advise

[taskoni]

I am planing to visit India for a month an a half next January-February, photocentric trip. I will be going after portraits and interviews - i'll be putting together a sort of a photo diary and I rather go off the bitten tracks. I know Roger spent some wonderful time in India so I am looking for some tips

I'll be carrying 2xM2s with 28mm hexanon, 50 dr cron, 90 C elmar along with my R7 with 24 elmarit, 60 Marco and 80 lux.
I was thinking to take 100 ASA Delta, Tri-x 400 and Tmax3200 film.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Boris

[Colin Corneau]

I've faced this dilemma many times, when travelling to China and (recently) Nepal.

I'm a die-hard black-and-white fan but on my last trip, to Nepal in April, I took along some Kodak Portra 400.

I was really impressed. Enough speed to cover a wide variety of situations, but very impressive grain. The colour rendition was very realistic too -- not saturated and odd-looking, and not faded or cheap looking.
In fact, my opinion was that it was very close to the 'look' of Kodachrome -- a very realistic portrayal of colour.

I think if you are looking to colour film, this would be very high up on your list.
If you prefer black-and-white, I'd still stick with 400 speed -- modern emulsions have very good grain and tonal range.

[Nigel Meaby]

I would say you just about have all your B&W bases covered with those three speeds of film. I've found myself shooting more 100 than 400 in India but you can always rate the TRi-X at 200 if you find there is too much light.
Where are you planning to go as I plan to be in India during those months too?
Have you been before? I personally would travel lighter, with just two bodies and a few lenses as when moving from place to place with all your other stuff too it gets a bit draining in the heat lugging loads of stuff around.

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Boris,

Well, I'd go for mainly HP5, with some Delta 3200. Frances would go for half and half Tri-X and Delta 3200. Neither of us normally uses slower films, so we can't advise you much there. Certainly, Delta 100 is excellent, and very fine grained, but I prefer the tonality of Fomapan 200 at 125, even if it's a lot grainier and less sharp.

Three bodies and six lenses is about at the limit of what I'd carry, but I don't think it's all that excessive. Of course, a lot depends on what you're shooting. I've been happy with 21, 35, 90 on two Leicas and 200/3 Vivitar Series 1 (which focuses to about 1/3 life size) on a Nikon F. The R7 focal lengths seem too close to the M lengths to me, but as I say, it depends on what you're shooting.

Cheers,

R.

[rxmd]

If you want some of your black and white film developed while you are there, you might be putting some XP2 in the bag as well.

[thegman]

I think for a "photocentric" trip, the amount of gear is no problem, that's is what you are there to do after all. I'd second the advice to take colour film, never been to India, but my brother had, and on looking at his photos, all colour, I though it would be a shame to not capture that.

[menthel]

Have to agree with the colour thing. I only shoot B&W film but if I took my kit to india a few rolls of portra would be included. I go to India every year (my wife's extended family are there) and usually shoot digital for ease but the place is so colourful that it would be a real shame not to capture that! B&W will work for portraits etc but street scenes, saris and other fabrics are so bright and colourful they really are worth capturing.

[Roger Hicks]

Certainly, I've never shot ONLY B+W, but I always used to shoot slides for colour. Today -- and I hope to be in India later this year/early next -- I'd use the M9 for that. But if I were shooting colour film, it would be Portra 400, no question.

Cheers,

R.

[pixelatedscraps]

I was in India for two weeks over Christmas 2 years ago and I am so glad I decided to bring some slide film with me. I ended up doing most of my favourite photography in colour. To put it another way, it would be heartbreaking to look back on your time in India and realize you didn't manage to capture any of the beauty that comes from the verdant colours of that beautiful country.

I'm a diehard B&W fan but sometimes you can't just restrict yourself, right?

My picks would be:

Kodak Ektar
Kodak Portra 400
Fuji Velvia 100
Fuji Reala Ace (120)
Fuji Sensia III (135)

[menthel]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Certainly, I've never shot ONLY B+W, but I always used to shoot slides for colour. Today -- and I hope to be in India later this year/early next -- I'd use the M9 for that. But if I were shooting colour film, it would be Portra 400, no question.

Cheers,

R.

I always end up shooting digital in India. Its a family trip for me and carting around film kit, changing film etc in the dusty streets etc just make it too much hassle with family (including small child) in tow for all that. This year it will be my 7D, 17-55 and 70-200. If only I could justify buying an M9!

[kshapero]

Yechs! I just got back from 10 days in the mountains. Brought a Nikon F and a D7000 with a CV 20 and 40 and a Nikkor 105. Never used the F. I am ashamed of myself

[dave lackey]

Hi, Bobby...

You had asked me before about film suggestions, and, after thinking about it periodically, I have come to the conclusion that the above recommendations for B&W are fine. Color is subjective for sure. I tried the Portra 400 with the R4 and my lab screwed up the processing. So, I don't know...but I do know that I would use it in the R body, not the M body just because of the meter, and the lenses you have (80 Lux!) already.

I was leaning toward the slide fillm but in my experience, I have had no really good results from slide scans. Others seem to have terrific results. Your choice.

I hope to see some creative photos like you normally do...rather than the normal wide snapshots most people usually come back with. Your portraits will be something to wait for! Hint: 80 Lux...80 Lux...80 Lux...

Here is my inspiration:

http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_80_summilux-R_14.html

[taskoni]

Thank you guys for the advises, all is really helpful. I am planing to drag the R7 only because of the built in meter if I decide to shoot in color which is unavoidably stupid to me not to do in India However, I am with Dave that I rarely shoot color or slides and yet with poor results I never tried to shoot color with my M2s because I don't use light meter. I might get the R7 with the 80 lux only for it's speed and leave the other R lenses home.
Thank you again for your input!

Regards,

Bobby

[taskoni]

Ah, and I am planing to save two days at the end of the trip to process the 3200 film in the hotel... Any thoughts on this?

Regards,

Boris

[boomguy57]

I would throw some Ektar in the bag as well, but that's just me.

If you are set on all BW, then you may be set!

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by taskoni

Thank you guys for the advises, all is really helpful. I am planing to drag the R7 only because of the built in meter if I decide to shoot in color which is unavoidably stupid to me not to do in India However, I am with Dave that I rarely shoot color or slides and yet with poor results I never tried to shoot color with my M2s because I don't use light meter. I might get the R7 with the 80 lux only for it's speed and leave the other R lenses home.
Thank you again for your input!

Regards,

Bobby

Dear Bobby,

Wouldn't it be easier to get a meter and leave the R7 behind?

Cheers,

R.

[menthel]

Originally Posted by taskoni

Ah, and I am planing to save two days at the end of the trip to process the 3200 film in the hotel... Any thoughts on this?

Regards,

Boris

Why waste 2 days of the holiday? I know you are porbably worried about fogging of the film going through scanners but 2 days from a holiday would be folly if you ask me. If you are really concerned develop as you shoot. It only takes an hour to dev a tank's worth of film and you could leave it to dry and cut it the next day. Dust may be a problem though!

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by taskoni

Ah, and I am planing to save two days at the end of the trip to process the 3200 film in the hotel... Any thoughts on this?

I wouldn't do that. Either trust the x-ray machines (hand inspections to ease your mind), or process films on the go in the evenings as you finish them, or try to find someone in Delhi or from wherever you fly to do the processing for you. Maybe some RFFer can help. At any rate it would be a waste to spend two days in a hotel for this.

[Wetzlarfan]

Hi, I was in India FEB 11. I carried two digitals and my MP with various B&W and Portra 400. I never used any B&W - and I usually shoot it at home . The Portra went through four or five x-ray checks and came out beautifully. Some pictures were published in LHSA's Viewfinder. The latest Portra is fantastic stuff. You can probably get some great B&W shots in India, but India is all about color! David

[Nigel Meaby]

"......but India is all about colour"

I think there is room for both



Haridwar by Nigel_Meaby,

[lawrence]

I'll be in Rajasthan first week in Jan and will shoot just b&w -- I find it too difficult to switch from b&w to colour and back again, both mentally and physically.

Will probably take:

* Bessa R4A with 28mm Color-Skopar & 21mm C Biogon
* Leica M6TTL with 50mm C Sonnar & 35mm C Biogon

Film will most likely be TMY2.

It might be fun to put some photos from our trips together in a thread. I'll be in Delhi on 6/7/8 Jan if anyone would like to meet up.

[Glenn2]

I've done a fair bit of India travel over the years and the main thing I can suggest is keep it simple! DON'T take too much gear!

My first trip to India was 42 years ago with a couple of M4's and 21, 50 and 90mm lenses. Found this a bit heavy so used a Barnack for trips in 71, 72, 73, 76 and 77.
In 2005 I spent time in the south using nothing but a tiny 2MP Canon P&S. Missed the Leica on that trip and swore I'd take it next time. February and March of this year I was finally back in India with the same M4 and 21,50,90 lenses I started with in 1970.

Four decades ago I shot too many different kinds of film, Plus-X, Tri-X, Kodachrome 64, and Agfa CNS (80 iso). For this years trip I only took Tri-X and Fuji 400P, rating both at 400. Film got carry on X-rayed five times and showed no difference to a couple of control rolls I left at home. I avoided using the subway system In Delhi as they were doing x-ray inspections at all stations and didn't want any more x-ray exposure. After developing back home in Canada I scan with CS-5000 and print using Epson 3880. Results are comparable to good wet prints and grain is well resolved in the print (ie sharp).

I was revisiting some of the same places visited in the seventies, and in some cases using the exact same camera. It was quite an experience seeing and photographing friends I'd not seen for 35 years. I considered buying an M9 for the trip but decided against it for several reasons. I don't like carrying gear that's too valuable as my travels are usually alone and via public transport.
To figure out if you've got too much gear try carrying it everywhere you go for a week, and I do mean everywhere. On Indian trains my camera gear goes with me to the loo every time I need to pee. I know of people who have lost expensive gear on Indian trains so this is not excessive paranoia. Fortunately I've never had any losses. On last trip I had a bit of a fright on a train, was dozing in my side berth next to the aisle when an arm came through the curtain and reached towards camera bag covered with jacket. Did the only thing I could think of, grabbed the arm and held on. Turned out it was the man in the upper berth, he wanted his night light turned off and both switches were located by the lower berth.

Besides the Leica I took a Fuji X-100 for backup and low light work. Must say that I'm very impressed with the Fuji, silent shutter and high ISO were very useful. I like to get close to subjects so wide angles tend to see the most use. Had I not brought the Fuji would probably have carried 35 Summilux or 40 Nokton. Here's a link to a few with the Fuji... http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1029029

A useful resource for India travel is the IndiaMike site.... http://www.indiamike.com/

Have a great trip.

Glenn

[lawrence]

Many thanks for your extensive reply. I do tend to travel light for the reasons you give. I mean, if HCB and Frank managed with a couple of bodies and lenses why take much more?

I love the story of the arm and also the dog graffiti -- hilarious. The guys on the cot in the village remind me of the Satyajit Ray films -- beautiful light.

I'll let you know how I get on and thanks again for the tips.

[FrankHoltion]

India is a land which produces the higest movies in world.Banks give the loans to make the movies.So there is a lot of potential and margin there to learn the ideas and skills.So i must say that your jouney will be really helpful for you.