Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/12/27

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Subject: [Leica] Best camera/lens choice
From: jkoplen at mindspring.com (Julian Koplen)
Date: Mon Dec 27 06:31:08 2004

Dear All,

I'm looking for advice based, preferably, on experience.

I will be booking a guided group tour of Israel for the spring/summer.  I'm
a Leica fan with M and R film gear, but no zoom lenses.  I wish to have two
camera bodies with me, in order to have a back-up.  In a group, there will
be no time to try to get too artsy.

Am I better off traveling from the U.S. with two M bodies and, say, three
lenses, or with two R bodies and a zoom (such as 35-70 f/4) plus a prime
f/2?  My thinking is that if I travel with the M's, I will carry them both
daily, one with a 35 or 50, and the other with a 90.

If I go with R's, I will carry one daily, depending almost exclusively on
the zoom in good light, but probably toting the prime for dim situations.

My concerns are balancing weight, bulk, and convenience.  I am in my early
70's, so focusing may also be a factor.  I have never tried the focusing
with the 35-70 f/4 zoom.

Any advice will be appreciated.  Money is not the object here, since one
decision will necessitate the purchase of a used M6 to match the one I have,
and one will dictate the purchase of the zoom.

I did a similar tour 30 years ago with two M5's and got lots of happy
vacation snap/slides.

Happy New Year to everyone.  Reading this list has not only been informative
and entertaining, but served as a soothing balm when I was homebound as
caretaker for my desperately ill wife a couple of years ago.  I am grateful
to Brian and to you all.

Julian



Replies: Reply from lmc at interlink.es (Luis Miguel Castañeda) ([Leica] Best camera/lens choice)
Reply from jefferys at gmail.com (Jeffery Smith) ([Leica] Best camera/lens choice)