Travel Camera - what have you found that works

[Rob Skeoch]

What 120 camera are you guys using for travel? I'm going on a couple trips that are not photography focused but still want to shoot a few rolls of b&w 120. I could take a blad or rollei but am looking for something smaller. I considered the Fuji/Voitlander 667 from a few years back but they're rather expensive. Also considering the Fuji 645 folder, but am concerned about bellows leak because of their age.
What's working for you?
-Rob

 

[NB23]

A pimped rolleicord becomes a full blown rolleiflex in a small and lightweight package.

Pimped rolleicord: proper focusing screen + shutter release button.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

For Japan, I always took the RB, but next time I'm over, I'm picking up my Mamiya Six Folder from my mother-in-law's. I might take my Rolleicord. It's small and quite light. I also bring along a Holga for fun!

 

[Laurent]

Hi Rob,

in my case the Rollei 3.5 is the "default" camera, the one I bring when not sure of the conditions I'll encounter, whether I'll have time for shooting, etc...

In one occasion I flew with my Tachihara, because I knew I'd get a guide, but all my other business trips were with the 'Flex. The fixed lens really helps concentrating on the visit, and not on the technical stuff.

 

[skysh4rk]

Plaubel Makina 67 is my relatively small 120 camera for travel.

When I’m really pressed for space or photography isn’t a main focus of the travel, I take a Holga 120 GTLR or Lomography LC-A 120.

 

[Sirius Glass]

For most travel I take the 50mm and 80mm Hasselblad lenses or the SWC [38mm], the 50 and the 80mm lenses. If I am traveling by car I can load up all or almost all the lenses in a large backpack the take out specific lenses as I need them.

 

[abruzzi]

for me, my ETRSi is ideal. I like the GS1, but is it a bit bulker. I have a shoulder bag--a Domke F-803--that easily carries:

• ETRSi, with WLF, one lens mounted and back attached
• Extra back with different film (usually one back has color and the other has B&W)
• two more lenses
• sekonic 308 incedent meter
• plastic container for 5 more rolls if film
• a place for my iPad mini

I can easily carry that all day. Usually I'll bring more film and maybe another lens or two, depending on where I'm going. I can actually fit more in the bag, but then it starts getting harder to carry, so I'll bring the extra stuff, but only take three lenses and 5 extra rolls at a time. I have most of the ETRSi PE series lenses so I'll pick a selection of focal lengths that are appropriate for the locations--50-75-150, 60-100-200, 30-60-135, etc.

 

[Sirius Glass]

For most travel I take the 50mm and 80mm Hasselblad lenses or the SWC [38mm], the 50 and the 80mm lenses. If I am traveling by car I can load up all or almost all the lenses in a large backpack the take out specific lenses as I need them. Pentax Digital Spot Meter, the Sekonic L-308s as an incident meter, rolls of film in plastic cases to protect for light piping fog.

 

[Alan9940]

My camera of choice when photography is not the primary objective is the Fuji GA645Zi. It has an accurate meter (eliminating the need to carry an external meter), it's light enough to handhold even down to fairly slow shutter speeds, and it's pretty much auto-everything. I can snap a pic quickly and move on without missing a beat!

 

[Maris]

I never travel with just one camera: always take two in case one breaks. Present travel kit is a Fuji GSW680 for wide angle work and a Rolleicord IV for the normal focal length.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I never travel with just one camera: always take two in case one breaks. Present travel kit is a Fuji GSW680 for wide angle work and a Rolleicord IV for the normal focal length.

I thought that you had the wide Rollei, normal Rollei and tele Rollei and you wear all three around your neck when you go out photographing. Talk about Bling!

 

[Paul Howell]

When traveling by car I take my Kowa Super 66 and Mamiya Universal, or one or the other and a 4X5. When flying Yashica D. My car kit fits into a large cooler with foam cut outs, then a backpack for any daytrip. I take the 55, 80, and 250 for the Kowa and 65, 100 and 150 for the Mamiya, filters, Gossen and Weston light meters, Husky tripod, and up to 20 rolls of film. When flying I put the Yashica in checked luggage, suitcase, smaller tripod, and hand carry my 35mm and digital gear. But next trip overseas, may just take digital, worrying about airport scanners, buying film, processing film, sending exposed home, might too much trouble.

 

[DWThomas]

For several years now I've been taking a Yashica Mat 124g,and either a Perkeo II or Ercona II folder for backup. But hardly any trip seems to be the same in terms of wants and needs.

And that's all for B&W, I lately go with an EOS M5 mirrorless and Canon G15 backup to do reasonably compact digi-color.

 

[Collin Orthner]

Used to be a Plaubel Makina 67, but I no longer have that camera. Now it is usually an Agfa Isolette III with a Solinar lens and I sometimes add a Hasselblad SWC in the mix.

 

[cobbu2]

For me, hands down it’s the Bronica RF645 with the 65 and 45mm lenses. Great ergonomics, great lenses, great metering, that can all lightly fit into a Lowepro Messenger 100 bag.

 

[Besk]

Rolleiflex 3.5 in the past. Now a Agfa Record II has been serviced, tested and ready to go. I-phone has a meter app.

 

[grahamp]

For trips where photography is secondary, I usually choose either the Fuji GS645s (the 60mm lens one), or the Mamiya 6 (if I want to travel light, just the 75mm, otherwise add the 50mm and 150mm), and if there is space I will drop in my YashicaMat and a lightmeter. I have a 6x6 Zeiss Ikonta, but it is a toss up for weight against the Fuji or the minimal Mamiya 6.

I have also been happy with just the YashicaMat.

I tend to favour the rangefinders when I may need better situational awareness, and the ground glass composition of the WLF is of less value. Having a choice of camera isn't really a help!

 

[toulcaz31]

What 120 camera are you guys using for travel? I'm going on a couple trips that are not photography focused but still want to shoot a few rolls of b&w 120. I could take a blad or rollei but am looking for something smaller. I considered the Fuji/Voitlander 667 from a few years back but they're rather expensive. Also considering the Fuji 645 folder, but am concerned about bellows leak because of their age.
What's working for you?
-Rob

I have traveled few times with a Super Ikonta 6x6 (Tessar lens) and the Bessa II (Color Heliar lens); great cameras. I recently acquired a Hasselblad SWC that has a nice form factor too and a crazy sharp, no distortion, wide lens.

 

[warden]

What 120 camera are you guys using for travel? I'm going on a couple trips that are not photography focused but still want to shoot a few rolls of b&w 120. I could take a blad or rollei but am looking for something smaller. I considered the Fuji/Voitlander 667 from a few years back but they're rather expensive. Also considering the Fuji 645 folder, but am concerned about bellows leak because of their age.
What's working for you?
-Rob

Another Plaubel Makina here, but more often I just stick with 35mm for the size and simplicity.

 

[Trask]

Plaubel Makina 67 Wide for me, too, along with a small Leica IIIa LTM kit — those LTM lenses can be so small. I also could make do with an Agfa Isolette with an Apotar lens, which is sharper than you’d think! I’ve also been having fun lately with a Voigtlander Focusing Brilliant TLR with Heliar lens, which is so lightweight and produces images full of character.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Another vote to recommend a 120 TLR (Rolleiflex, Yashicamat, Minolta, etc.):
1. Compact for the 6x6 film size.
2. Quiet and subtle in use.
3. Filters and hoods are compact in your travel kit.
4. At least for the Rolleiflex, in its leather case, the package is reasonably well-protected and you can just place it in your backpack (maybe wrap it in some clothing for a bit more padding).
5. People either ignore you totally or smile to see an "obsolete" twin lens camera

I like my Rolleiflex because of its square base. I sometimes place it on a shelf, concrete beam, or windowsill, look down through the viewfinder, focus, and use the self-timer for vibration-free long exposures. Here are some examples of this application from an abandoned TB sanatorium in Greece:

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-tb-hospital-on-parnitha-greece.html

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Zeiss Nettar - Prontor shutter, f4.5 Novar lens, 6x6 & 6x9. The Ikonta brings a Tessar lens to the party.

 

[Arthurwg]

For years I traveled exclusively with a Mamiya 6 with 50mm lens. Perfect and great for hand-held low light pictures.

 

[RAY WILSON]

I’m traveling right now with a Yashica 124G. Even brought some 220 film.

 

[Autonerd]

I tend to travel with 35mm, but for MF the Mamiya 645 is the only MF camera I've used that was small and light enough... the only others I have access to are a C330 (pretty bulky for travel) and RB67 (requires its own truck). I'd love a 'Blad for travel but can't afford one.
Aaron