Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/12/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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