Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks to all of you on the LUG who took the time to reply to my plea for advice on mountaineering photo gear. I did a test hike on Mt Ranier this weekend with the gear and bag I intended to carry. Observations: * Didn't use the 70-200 f2.8L much at either extreme. Plus, its weight and size are prohibitive for a trek like this. Don't even think it's worthwhile to carry the much lighter 75-300 IS USM. The fixed 100 f2 would have been fine. * The LowePro "Off Road" bag is too large to carry comfortably on your waist for long periods. For regular travel, it's fine, but for hiking steep hills, it's too much. The smaller LowePro "Off Trail" is perfect for an M6 with three lenses and feels comfortable for long stretches. * The Peace River head is nowhere near as stable as the Bogen QTVR head, but alot lighter. * It is impossible, as far as i can figure it, to find the nodal point for either the Summilux 35 or Elmarit 21 mounted on the M6 for shooting surround videos. Has anyone figured this out? * The poorly-placed and flimsy tripod socket on the baseplate makes it impossible to keep the camera perfectly vertical on the surround head, unless you tape it down with gaffers tape. No, the M grip doesn't help. Bummer. * The Gitzo Mountaineer, made of Carbon Fiber, is a wonderful piece of equipment. So small and light, and so stiff. I hang my pack on the little hook and that keeps it very settled. The Foba mini superball works perfectly. The quick release plate for the Stoboframe is nice and thin, and small with offset screws that works very well for the M6. * The A2E batteries died once while we were up there, which sent me into a mad scramle through the bag in search of a spare. Reminded me of why I like the M6's mechanical design. On the other hand, the M6 battery will die quickly if you stick it in the bag without setting it to B. Why do excellent products like the M6 always have to be so difficult? * The flip polarizer is a pain. It's always getting caught in straps and such while hiking, and can't be fitted to the Summicron 90. Bummer. So, the plan is to shoot the whole thing primarily with the M6 (kept in the small Off Trail waistpack) and keep the A2E in the large suspension pack for shooting surrounds. Here's the gear list. * Canon A2E * Canon 17-35 f2.8L * Leica M6 * Summilux 35 ASPH * Summicron 50 * Summicron 90 * Gitzo Mountaineer 1228 with Foba mini superball and Stroboframe quick release * Peace River Surround video head Jim Laurel Microsoft Digital Television jplaurel@microsoft.com (425) 703-1143 http://www.microsoft.com/dtv