Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/19

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Subject: [Leica] Nepal: gear
From: kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)
Date: Sun Sep 19 10:56:25 2004
References: <414A41BE.6050403@Hemenway.com> <3.0.2.32.20040916204632.01d084b4@pop.infionline.net> <414A41BE.6050403@Hemenway.com> <3.0.2.32.20040918175117.01bba538@pop.infionline.net> <ED8B02FA-0A31-11D9-B310-000A9578C446@ncable.net.au>

I am anxious to see the images. Steve

Alastair Firkin wrote:

> Thanks Marc, I have thought of hiring a troup of porters, but it seems 
> it will be just me and therefore  a more limited array of gear. I don't 
> think we sleep at 5500, only scale that height to capture the vistas. 
> Not that the height of Gorak Shep or Gokyo are to be sneezed at. We have 
> given ourselves an extra 4 days over the rate which was originally 
> proposed, and if we only make it to one of the two main destinations, 
> I'll still be happy and content.
> 
> Cheers
> On 19/09/2004, at 7:51 AM, Marc James Small wrote:
> 
>> At 01:44 PM 9/17/04 +1000, firkin wrote:
>>
>>> Ok, I'm climbing to over 5500 meters, the air is thin and the UV must be
>>> high: now can I use (should I use) a UV filter?
>>>
>>> tips please on mountain photography:
>>> how wide an angle lens will I need?
>>> how much in the telephoto range would be useful?
>>> how can I keep the weight down?
>>
>>
>> Alaistair
>>
>> There are two conflicting realities in this:
>>
>> First, you do not wish to carry a lot of weight with you and, of course
>>
>> Second, you want to have a really good wide-angle lens and a really good
>> long-focus lens for topographic photography, and either a 35mm or 50mm 
>> lens
>> for shooting around your camp and taking pictures of your party in 
>> action.
>> I would recommend a Questar (1300mm), a Viso outfit of the 400, 280, and
>> 200 lenses, and Leica RF lenses -- 3.4/135, 2/90 APO Asph, 1.4/50, and
>> below this your choices are your own.  But that load would require a 
>> party
>> of three Sherpas to tote, so I would probably restrict it to a 3.4/135,
>> either a 1.4/50 or a 1.4/35, and a wide lens to your choice.
>>
>> Third, 5500 meters is 18,000 feet in real terms.  This is pretty much the
>> cutting edge for high-altitude adventure.  If you are going to use 
>> oxygen,
>> make certain that you sleep with your gear in place and operating.  If 
>> not,
>> then go high for a week or tenday, and then go low for at least a week.
>> You ought to then be fully acclimatized.  (18,000 feet is the absolute
>> limit for extended humna existence without oxygen and, even then, this
>> works best with folks adapted to it such as Peruvians and Tibetans.)
>>
>> Smoking helps.  If you are a smoker, light up at altitude and the kick of
>> the nicotine helps you adjust more rapidly to the effects of reduced air
>> pressure.
>>
>> Marc
>>
>> msmall@infionline.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
>> Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>>
> Alastair
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 

Replies: Reply from firkin at ncable.net.au (Alastair Firkin) ([Leica] Nepal: gear)
In reply to: Message from Jim at hemenway.com (Jim Hemenway) ([Leica] Scary Who, Howard, and Wilson)
Message from msmall at infionline.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Scary Who, Howard, and Wilson)
Message from msmall at infionline.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Nepal: gear)
Message from firkin at ncable.net.au (Alastair Firkin) ([Leica] Nepal: gear)