The Perfect World Traveller M Kit?

[kemal_mumcu]

The senario is this, what would you take as a film M kit if you went on a long photo journey (months)?

The idea is to travel as light as possible. Shoulder bag maybe?

Here's my idea:

- Leica M2 + 50 Sonnar (possibly a second lens if I owned a small one)

- Exposure chart

- Minimalist M repair kit including small screwdrivers and brass wrenches

- bunch o' b&w filters

- only 10 - 15 rolls of film at a time

The idea would be to buy film locally as you travel replenishing as you go. The film you would package every 15 - 20 rolls and then ship it off home via UPS whatever. No backup camera but - what I couldn't fix with my own repair kit I would try to source a camera repairman in a bigger city. If that failed one would pick up a cheap servicable slr or rangefinder from a shop and continue the trip with that.

What do you think?

What would be your kit?

[furcafe]

I would strongly recommend an extra body for both backup & a different focal length. Ideally, another M-mount body, but even a good film or digital point & shoot can serve the same purpose.

[Phantomas]

Anything and a 35mm lens.

But if allowed to stray away from minimalism a bit than 2 M bodies and two lenses. Reasons: (a) backup; (b) one body would hold ISO 100 the other 400 and/or (c) one body would hold 35mm another 50mm or 21mm.

[back alley]

today it would be the x100...

or the rd1 with 40 and 75 lenses.

[back alley]

and yes, i realize this in not a film kit...if i had to stick with film it would be my oly rc35...only film camera i still have.

[ktmrider]

Leica M2 with 35 and 90 and small incident light meter.

[kshapero]

I am leaving for New England Mountains this week. My kit is CV R4A w/CV 21/4 lens and a ZI with a CV 35/1.4 and a Leica 90/2.8. Lots of film. I'm set. Oh and a three compartment A & A bag. sweet.

[ctham]

I'd go for two M2 bodies, fitted with a 35 and a 50, a 15 in the bag, and a mix of Tri-X and Provia. Not that I have two M2s...

[KM-25]

I spent hundreds of days on the road shooting Kodachrome with the following Leica kit in an AA "Oskar's One Day Bag":

M6TTL, MP upgraded RF.
M3 Black

28 Summicron asph
35 Summilux asph
50 Summilux asph
90 Tele-Elmarit

Now I have just the M6 and a chrome M3 with a 28 3.5 CV, 35 Summicron Asph and chrome ZM 50/2 for the M3. I wish the Tele-Elmarit did not flare and was as contrasty as my other three lenses, but it is not and I hardly used it for that reason, so I sold it. I would love a tiny 90 like the Hex 2.8 to fill it's shoes, better yet would be a tiny Zeiss 90/4, I would add that to the kit and be set for global travel...

[Juan Valdenebro]

R4M with 28 3,5 and T with J3. XA for color. Vest and no bag.

Light!
Powerful!
Fast!
Reliable!
Ready for any light and place!

Cheers,

Juan

[shyoon]

One metered body, one mechanical body, a 28mm and a fast 50mm. Done.

[ferider]

2 x M4P, 28/1.9, 50/1.4. Iphone & 2 screwdrivers.

[filmfan]

M6 + 28mm + 50mm

[Leica0Series]

Your kit sounds about right to me. Maybe a small 28 if you had one, but if not, no problem.

[rover]

M6, 35 and 50, spare set of batteries just in case. Maybe my R4a with 21 if I can't win the minimalist war

[Tom A]

Having done multiple trips over the years (Around the world twice - 12-18 month each time) and even more trips ranging from two weeks to several month - I think I have my kit "tuned" pretty well.
In the past, mainly M2/M6 - always 21/35 lenses, a 50f1.4 and a 75/90.
Today it would be a R4M for the 21 and the built in meter, a M2 for the 35/50 and either a R3m/ MP/M6 for the 75. One body would be a back-up (probably the R3/M6/MP) and unless I knew in advance that I would need it - left in safe storage at accommodations.
Film would be Tri/Arista 400 or Neopan 400 - usually calculated as 3 rolls/camera/day. I would try to either get access to processing somewhere during the trip and also stock up points for more film if needed.
This is of course the beauty of electronic "post" - Rf members or Flickr members would be able to steer me in the right direction at key-points.
Minor tool kit due to the "security" aspect of flying. Couple of feet of gaffers tape to hold things together when needed, no screwdrivers/knifes etc - just buy what you need when you need it and give it away after use, rather than trying to get it through an airport. Note pad and pen of course!
Minimum clothing - you can always pick up locally - only exception are the shoes - buy the best you can find and wear them in prior to the trip. Some lens cleaning kit - to remove dust etc - but again nothing fancy ( again "liquid" through security).

Two shoulder bags, one small "daily" for cameras/film/maps/dictionary - and a slightly bigger one
for 1 change of clothing and filmstock/reading material etc. Photovest - if you can get away with it. In some places you can become a target - then just wear a jacket with a good supply of pockets (mainly inside ones) and velcro closures - pick pockets hate them - the ripping sound is disturbing to them.

With time and experience you will shed stuff - my theory is that you should be able to carry all your stuff - without any inconvinience for at least 6-8 hours - and, most importantly, be able to put it down and keep track of it without overstressing. No fancy bags either - I use a Brady fishing bag for cameras/and "daily" film quota (small plastic bag) and usually 5-10 rolls in vest/jacket pocket and a cheap looking grey shoulderbag (paid $10 for it 20 years ago and it is still holding up well) for clothes and extra film (possibly back-up camera).
If you add up what a trip around the world costs today and factor in your interest in photography - film/cameras etc are cheap and as we all know - there are no re-shoots.

[KM-25]

Originally Posted by KM-25

I spent hundreds of days on the road shooting Kodachrome with the folloI wish the Tele-Elmarit did not flare and was as contrasty as my other three lenses, but it is not and I hardly used it for that reason, so I sold it. I would love a tiny 90 like the Hex 2.8 to fill it's shoes, better yet would be a tiny Zeiss 90/4, I would add that to the kit and be set for global travel...

Looks like I just solved my 90 problem, just ordered a silver 90 Apo-Lanthar and adapter from Cameraquest for less than a used 90 TE. World travel kit complete...

[ramosa]

M9 + 35mm + 90mm

[swoop]

Not factoring in clothing and other travel necessities.

M9, 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm.
6 batteries, M8 charger
An 8GB eye-Fi card, and 2 8GB SD cards. 500GB Colorspace drive.
iPad w/ camera connection kit. If I'm interested in sending images out while on the road.


That's how I'd do it now. When I went to Germany & Hungary in '08 I brought along an M7 with the same lens set and about 30 rolls of film. And when I bicycled across the country the 2nd time I had an R3a with a 40mm lens and a bag of film.

[efirmage]

I'm getting pretty close with my own kit which is:

M6
28mm Biogon
50mm Summicron
Canon S95 (digital P&S for snaps)

My ideal would be this:

M6 + M9
28mm Biogon
35mm Summicron ASPH
50mm Summicron

I don't do filters or have much variation in films, so this would still be an extremely compact kit. Someday...

[maddoc]

At the moment it would be ZM 28 Biogon and ZM 50 Planar, the M4-2 and my Iphone (light meter and back digital P&S). However, depending on which part of the world my travel would go, I might be tempted to bring the 21/3.4 35/1.4 and 90/2.0 instead. About 30 rolls 135-36 aka Tri-X sound right if I can stock up somewhere and also sent films back or have them processed.

[RFH]

I've done months in India with the M6, 35mm and 50mm lenses. Last time I also brought my Ricoh R1 as a pocketable backup camera. All of this fits into a small camera bag about 20x10x15cm in size. Wonderful.
I'd prefer not to bring a digital as my main camera. You never know when the power is on. With a mechanical camera, you don't need to worry about that.

[FrankS]

A Leica M with 50, 28, and 21mm lenses, plus a good P+S back-up, like a Yashica T4 Super with Zeiss Tessar 35mm lens. (available in classifieds!)

[raid]

I am considering an M6 plus 35mm 1.4 Summilux. The lens is tiny.
Then,add two very light bodies,such as a Bessa T with a 50/1.5 and an L with CV 25/4.
This could be a "perfect travel set"

[Instantclassic]

Originally Posted by kemal_mumcu

The idea is to travel as light as possible. Shoulder bag maybe?

Here's my idea:

- Leica M2 + 50 Sonnar (possibly a second lens if I owned a small one)

- Exposure chart
...

What do you think?

What would be your kit?

I think your idea is great. I do not like travelling with a lot of stuff. Usually my M2 and one lens follow me in a Billingham L2. Its a small bag but just one M2 and a J-3 or the Summicron 35 with the Digisix does it for me.
The weight of one M camera and one lens is juuust right. Lately the J-3 is the preferred lens. My setup is fancy in a simple way and I would go around the world with it. Again and again.
Film? B&W is my emotional choice. Slow B&W