vacation - what do i/you take (meant as fun thread)

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by photomoof

I carry a iPhone on vacation. Taking a camera along makes a vacation into work. . . now the iPhone is more than enough, plus on bike trips it works as a map, finds food, and lodging.

No, carrying an iPhone makes a vacation into work. People can get hold of me too easily. And food and lodging are surprisingly easy to find without any electronic gadgetry.

My late gaffer, Colin Glanfield, always reckoned that if he couldn't take a camera with him, he wouldn't bother to travel. I think I'd agree.

Cheers,

R.

[paulfish4570]

my latest four day excursion to see my granddaughters - which always involves lots of family photos - i took my new patagonia mini-mass bag with the following inside: om-1n with 50/1.8 mounted, zuiko 28/2.8, konica SIII, x100, film, cleaning items, small scissors for leader cutting (this is how i know for sure a roll has been exposed), small notebook and pen, weston master V and incident dome.

[Gabriel M.A.]

I believe that the decision is as personal as deciding which clothes and underwear to bring.

Personally, and if I can, I bring a bit more than I think I'd use; it's good to have a choice.

[Ronald_H]

A good 35mm camera, either a Leica M2 or a Nikon FM, or an FE if I need long shutter speeds from a tripod. A few primes. Yashica Mat 124 for portable MF and an Olympus Mju-II as back-up. And a Lomography Spinner 360 for fun.

[dave lackey]

For me, less is more. Less can be fewer things. Less can be smaller things. Or any combination. But more and more I prefer simplicity and THAT can be configured in an infinite number of ways to fit the vacation.

For example, when staying in one place for a week, I keep my Leica bag secure in the condo. When I go out, it is with the M3+Summarit, or the X1. That's it, unless I need the R4 SLR +Cron and then will carry it alone. I will only carry one camera+one lens at a time when out and about.

Simplicity is liberating, which is what I tend to think of vacations.

[Rob-F]

You have four camera systems and seven lenses. That is not too much to manage; you could bring it all. However, you sound like you're done with the D40. If you can't get an X100 locally, then how about swapping the D40 for something you can get? I think you could use a small digital point & shoot so that you will have one pocket-size camera you can always have with you. I might suggest one of the Panasonic models on which the Leica D-Lux series is based. You can get the current Panny version of the D-Lux 5 for less than half of what they cost with the Leica red dot added. Perhaps your local dealer has one; if not, there's always Amazon. They ship fast, and the prices are right!

Just noticed your location. I don't know if Amazon could ship in time for your vacation. Perhaps a local dealer has a point and shoot you would like? There are lots of good ones. Enjoy your trip!

[dave lackey]

For the OP...what is the problem with just the D40 and a zoom lens for a vacation? Is it image quality? Never had that with mine for 4 years. Compactness/carry? For me that was dfinitely an issue as small as it was. Image doesn't complement your other images? That was a killer for me and why I decided to sell my D40 last year.

Any camera is very capable of producing great photos especially on vacation. My D40 was fun to use and quite useful when I had it, chasing grandchildren as well as using it professionally.

[thegman]

Depends on your type of shots, but there is no way I'd leave the 'blad behind. If you're staying in one place, it's easy to take a couple of cameras and leave one in the hotel or whatever. I'm paranoid, so I need to take a backup for my own peace of mind, but I don't mind leaving it in my room, to save weight walking around.

[willie_901]

I went on vacation at the New Jersey Shore (Avalon) during the first week of July. I took a Fuji X-Pro 1 with the XF 35/1.4 and 18/2 lenses. Easy to carry and flexible for the type of work I did.

[peter_n]

I usually take two Ms and three lenses and if I'm in Europe the CV 15 as well. Last month's vacation for the first time I took only my DSLR and a big zoom lens. I sold that kit last week.

[Vics]

Through all of the sixties, seventies and eighties, I never once had to decide which photo gear to take when I traveled. I just had the one camera at a time through all that time. Then in '91 I inherited an old Nikon F body. That's when I learned that all the cameras I had always wanted but could never afford (see the list in my signature) were available used for really cheap. Now I obsess over what to take before every trip. I just did a six-week to France with only a Rollei. It was the wrong choice for me, and I pined away for the Leica the whole time. Ugh!

[FrankS]

I enjoy thinking about what gear to take on holiday; factoring in the length, location, type of holiday, method of travel, and my current photographic interests. Having a collection of gear makes it possible to select the most appropriate gear for the "task". This involvement before the vacation actually happens, extends the pleasure, sort of like foreplay.

[paulfish4570]

this is straying from the OP's fun intent, it appears to me. nevertheless, when i get to where i'm going with the bag, i use only one cam and one lens for actual roaming. everything else stays put, with the bag.

[Bingley]

I've been on vacation for the past ten days... it's ending soon.

I've been traveling w/ an M4-2 loaded w/ TMax400, CV 50/2.5 and 35/2.5 lenses, and a Rollei 35 w/ color film. And an Oly E-PL1 and Pany 14/2.5 lens for indoors and quick snaps.

[domagojs]

wow, thanks guys for all your suggestions and help, you're the greatest! as paul noted, though, the thread did stray a bit from the fun tone,... as for my vacation, i don't shoot my film gear enough through the year and the vacation is great time to make up for that. since we are traveling by car and staying at a family house (so no transportation or storage problems), i'll simply bring everything along and just use what i please at a given moment/day. like paul, i tend to take one camera with one lens when i'm going out and use it. later on, i'll take another combo...

as for the D40, the thing is that i would feel selfish if i would only shoot film, since i want to have my family "normal" summer vacation pictures, which is digital color pictures these days. but, of course, they have to be to my liking and that's where the kit lens fails to impress, more often than i like. 35mm f/1.8 AF-S, which I also have (c'mon, he who's without sin... ;-)), is a perfect match for the camera and i'll use that as a "family camera". been contemplating to exchange it for a real snapshot camera, small and compact, (checked out x-10 today), but i don't think there's such a camera out there which would satisfy me (it has to be cheaper than x-100, it's just a snapshot camera after all). that lx-5 and canon s100 also sound interesting, but i think d40 it will be this year...

thank you guys for all your support, i'll report back after the vacation

Originally Posted by maddoc

I work in Japan so summer vacations are three days (theoretical, might be less due to work) which means no hassle with thinking about what gear to bring where.

man, that's tough! although it does alleviate some problems :-)

[GaryLH]

Originally Posted by domagojs;

been contemplating to exchange it for a real snapshot camera, small and compact, (checked out x-10 today), but i don't think there's such a camera out there which would satisfy me (it has to be cheaper than x-100, it's just a snapshot camera after all). that lx-5 and canon s100 also sound interesting, but i think d40 it will be this year...

If u have a chance check out the Sony rx100. Bigger sensor then the ones mentioned above, but smaller then apsc size. Check out the rx100 thread in the p&s forum... Originally I was going to upgrade to the x10 from the lx3, but changed my mind after more info and review info came out...

Have fun on your vacation.

Gary

[domagojs]

Originally Posted by GaryLH

If u have a chance check out the Sony rx100. Bigger sensor then the ones mentioned above, but smaller then apsc size. Check out the rx100 thread in the p&s forum... Originally I was going to upgrade to the x10 from the lx3, but changed my mind after more info and review info came out...

Have fun on your vacation.

Gary

the camera did tingle my imagination, i admit, but i couldn't find any to check out here locally. we'll see (there's the winter vacation in 6 month ) and skiing with fm2 in your jacket pocket is not fun. not to mention landing on it on the slope ;-)

thank you and the others for good wishes for the holidays, i wish you all a great summer too!

Domagoj

[Spanik]

Only a Mamiya 645 ProTL with the 35mm, 55mm/L, 80mm and 150mm, lightmeter, 50 rolls of provia 400X and a Fuji G645zi as backup. Used the Fuji a few days. For 14 days in France this worked well. Ideally I'd add a sherpa next year.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by photomoof

You have to learn phone discipline. No one can talk to me unless I let them.

No, you have to lean 'phone discipline. You are a slave to your phone, because you always carry it.

Possibly also a slave to your bicycle? Enslavement by bicycle leading to enslavement by phone: an interesting possibility.

I can walk; cycle on a human scale (I don't think I've ever done more than 30-35 miles in a day, though I used to commute 17 miles round trip); ride a motorcycle; drive; go by train...

As Gabriel said, " I believe that the decision is as personal as deciding which clothes and underwear to bring."

Are you right? No. Am I? No. But at least the OP is getting (reasonably) light-hearted and thoughtful responses.

Cheers,

R.

[Matus]

caveat: 2 glasses of vine with Cassis in my veins

I learned that more than 2 systems may be hard to handle (even if all the stuff is carried by a camper van. It was just not easy to make a decision when I was to take a shot ...

Since I got my Mamiya 6 I have hard time to leave it behind. I used to have Rolleiflex T and it was a pure joy. I got recently a Minolta Autocord to fill the void and now I often face the dilemma 6x6 versus 6x6 ...

And things get even more complicated when it comes to 4x5". Took it last time to Italy and took 4 shots in 3 days. One of them seems worthwhile to print.

So I am completely scared to get some of the great digital cameras that can do pretty much everything Ricoh GXR seems right, Olympus OM-D does great video is small and had great lenses, Sony RX100 is sooo small.

So it is actually a TOUGH job to choose photo-gear for a vacation. What it will be next time - GW690, RF645, Contax 645, 5x12" or Zeiss Ikon? How should I know?

[3rdtrick]

I take everything!
Photography is my hobby and vacation is one time I get to really enjoy my hobby. I usually travel in my large SUV so I have plenty of room. Well maybe not quite everything but I carry my M9 system with 4-5 lenses, my Nikon system with telephoto and zoom lenses, tripods, window pods and plenty of other accessories. Sometimes may throw in a film camera but I have been toying with Polaroid lately so I will probably take one of them. I have a nice locking box mounted inside that I keep everything in so there is plenty of room for luggage. Of course when I go out for day excursions and visiting, I only carry a small kit with what I think I will need or maybe one body and lens. I also bring my laptop so I can download and view the days photos. The family really enjoys the evening presentations.
Pete

[amateriat]

Originally Posted by Matus

I learned that more than 2 systems may be hard to handle (even if all the stuff is carried by a camper van. It was just not easy to make a decision when I was to take a shot ...

This is but one reason why I decided decades ago to stick with 35mm: with just one format, I've eliminated one source of frustration when packing for a trip.

For the last decade, my "traveling" system has been pretty much the same: a pair of Konica Hexar RF bodies; my trio of M-Hex glass (28, 50, 90); one or two flash units (Konica HX-18 all the time, sometimes accompanied by a Nikon SB-20); Glottos mini-tripod; cable-release; spare batteries for cameras & flash; lens brush and cleaning cloth; Sharpie pen; and roughly 12-20 rolls of film. All fitting in my now-quite-shopworn Domke F-803.

The cameras, lenses, and smaller of the two flash units, in fact,
never leave that bag: the kit is always ready to boogie...just add film and go. Bu, on the last few trips I've added one or two things: I can just barely slip in my Contax Tvs, which is a great accompanist to the Hexen; and on my last two trips (Seattle and Montreal), I threw my Nikon P6000 and SB-400 flash in my duffel. That's about as "loaded" as I care to get with gear these days. And I can do just about whatever strikes my fancy (and eye). Less can really be more.


- Barrett

[Pherdinand]

Originally Posted by seakayaker1

On vacation at the moment and brought with me a M6TTL, MP, and M9 with a 24/3.8 Elmar, 35/2 Cron, 50/1.4 Lux, 75/2 Cron, 90/2.8 Elmarit. So far have only used the M6TTL and MP and have shot 10 rolls of film over the last 10 days. The 35 and 50 have gotten the majority of use with the 75 used for about a roll and 1/2. With a couple of days left to go I will most likely stay with the two film cameras and the 35 and 50.

Lazy, Hazy days of summer!

jeez dude. You probably had a camera bag worth more than the whole airplane (if you were flying).

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by dave lackey

For me, less is more. Less can be fewer things.

Sure: if I have three cameras but only decide to use one, I have more cameras available by virtue of using less. But if I had only one and would have wanted a different one instead, I have one more than I didn't need, and one less than I did.

Fewer can be (and usually is) less.

[Ibon Recio]

I go to Patagonia next week and I'll take 1 Leica M6 with CV 35/2.5 and M-Hexanon 50/2 lenses, many HP5+ and one Minox 35 or Olympus mju-II with some Kodak Portra 400.
I think it's not a good idea travel with a heavy equipment (at least on holidays).