[Leica] Italy: Camera/lens advice

["Michael Darnton" <mdarnton@hotmail.com>]

I just did Venice, Florence, and Milan, and went through almost exactly the 
same thing you did. I left the Olympus home (usually it's what I take on 
vacation, for the reason of possible loss), and brought my M4-2, 50/2 and 
Voigtlander 25. I opted to leave my Canon 85/1.5 home, after considering the 
two pounds it would add and didn't miss it. I did, however, wish I'd brought 
my Voigtlander 15. Venice and Florence were both very tight, and 
simultaneously very high. I don't remember Rome being quite as tall from my 
trip there. I can't say what I would have done for countryside--maybe I'd 
have taken the 85, too, but I think not. I'd actually considered, the day 
before leaving, picking up a 90 Elmar, but then realized I wouldn't have 
been able to test it, so I guess if I were you I'd certainly throw it in. In 
Venice and Florence, however, there was no use for it.

I have never had theft problems on trips, but I tend to carry my camera 
under my jacket on my shoulder (why the Leica this time instead of the Oly, 
which doesn't fit), and I made certain to do it all the time on this trip, 
instead of carrying it out as I sometimes do. I also opted for pockets and 
fanny pack, but usually used pockets (are we twins separated at birth or 
something????) A friend of mine tells of being covered with gypsy kids at 
the train station in Rome who were attempting to empty his pockets, but 
nothing even remotely similar happened to me on this trip, or ever, in fact. 
I usually try to be completely inconspicuous and unfashionable, so I guess 
that helps.

The place I messed up was exposure. I never use a meter at home, and never 
need one. Turns out I should have had one in Italy, and today I received my 
new Voigtlander teeny meter from Stephen Gandy. Wish I'd had it for the 
trip, so I wouldn't now be tweaking stuff so mercilessly in Photoshop to 
correct my consistent underexposures (Shall I say it again: Venice and 
Florence are narrow and tall: not much light gets in, apparently, even when 
the sky's bright. :-(

- --Michael



>>Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 11:44:17 -0800From: "Peter A. Klein"
My wife and I plan to vacation in Italy this spring.  We'll visit Rome,
Sienna, Florence, and Venice, with side trips to Pompeii and the
countryside around Sienna.   I'm already thinking about what camera and
lenses to take.
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