Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Francesco, Choice of equipment depends on what you are planning to photograph, but I can tell you what gear I bring for travel, vacation and causal photography: I bring a bag (Billingham Alice or Domke F6) with two M:s and 4 lenses (21-35-50-90) plus meter. This is what I carry on days when I know I am going to do lots of photography. However, in my suitcase, I bring a smaller photo bag, as a reserve. I use this bag for street photography, as I like to walk around in foreign places, taking photos of people I meet. This is a very small bag, that takes only the two bodies with 2 lenses (usually 35 plus 50 mm). The weight is less than my wife's handbag, and carrying it is no trouble at all. The 21 and 90 mm lenses are left at the hotel, but I seldom miss them for this type of photography. I would never bring a SLR on a vacation trip, with lots of carrying and walking around. I have sometimes used a SLR with short zoom (28-70 or 35-70), but the weight is simply too much in the long run, and I prefer the flexibility of two M-bodies and faster prime lenses. Sometimes I will go by car on European trips (I live in Sweden), and this is the only time that I will bring my SLR:s. Their place is in the car trunk, or in the hotel room, and I usually bring 24-35-55-85-180mm lenses, short zoom, flash and tripod. To leave gear in the car trunk is of course a risk, but I have never been robbed, and gear can be insured. But I never leave gear in the car trunk during the night, of course. It is nice to have a SLR when travelling by car on the countryside, and teles and macro lenses get extensive use. But I never feel that I need this gear in the cities. What would I bring to France, in your clothes? I guess I would bring the M6 with 35 and 50 mm, eventually completed with a 21, 24 or 90 mm lens, depending on the type of photography you are planning. A used 90 mm can be picked up relatively cheap on the used market, and would be nice for your HM. If you trade it for the new Summicron 90 later on, you will not loose to much money, maybe you could make a deal with your photo shop too, if you sign up for the new lens now. The alternative is to complete your R-gear, but this will be more expensive. I guess you will do it sooner or later anyway. But I think that the M-system is the ultimate gear for travel (and carrying). Two weeks in France sounds wonderful! Hans Mail: hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/5799/