[Leica] How to take gear long-haul

[Henning Wulff]

Hi Adam,

I don't think you'll have any problem.

I don't fly with items as large as those that Jayanand uses, but I also don't fly business class. In the last days of film my carryon was full of bare film rolls in baggies, with maybe a body and a longer lens in there as well, and then a separate camera bag such as the Domke 803. That was good for 3 bodies and 6 or seven lenses.

When we went to Kenya with Jayanand etc., I had a carry-on with clothing and other things and a camera bag that held 3 m43 bodies and lenses that covered 14-600mm, including fast primes. No checked bags needed. In fact, the last significant trip on which we came close to maxing out our luggage was to South America with film cameras, where we hiked the Machu Picchu trail so needed hiking gear and warm clothes, went down the Amazon for a bit (HOT weather clothing) and Galapagos, where we snorkeled and hiked. 100-400 zoom, underwater housing, lots of film, hiking boots and swim fins made for a large load. Since then it's been carry-on only.

In business class you should not have any problems. BTW, if you're considering a super-zoom, I think you should look at the Panny LX1000, which has a 25-400 lens. 400 should be adequate, and the quality from this camera is sooo much higher than that from the tiny sensor cameras that go longer.

Henning


On 2014-11-21, at 7:15 PM, Adam Bridge <abridge at mac.com> wrote:

> Hi LUGers,
> 
> Next summer I’m following a college group on a service trip to Tanzania. Mostly I’ll be documenting their work in several orphanages associated with Benedictine monasteries in the south-west part of the country. We’ll also be doing a bit of sight-seeing in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and finishing up with a week up near Kilimanjaro. It’s a month-long trip.
> 
> I’m honored to be the tag-along photographer!
> 
> I’m also intimidated about how to take a substantial amount of gear along with me on the long flights. Fortunately I’m able to fly business class (Delta/KLM) but I still am limited by carry-on.
> 
> I know there are folks who do this sort of traveling on an almost regular basis. I’d really like to hear your advice on how to pack, what to take, and what to take it IN.
> 
> My focus will be on the students, their interactions with their African hosts, life at the monasteries. I have a reasonable selection of moderate to fast primes. For the safari part I’m thinking of taking a “super-zoom” small camera that can shoot up to 1200mm (a Canon or Panasonic perhaps).
> 
> I’d gratefully value the communities’ help. Maybe there’ll be something on the ‘Claus list!
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> Adam “that’s a long time to hang in the air” Bridge
> 
> 
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Henning Wulff
henningw at archiphoto.com