Backpacking with a TLR?

samhuwyler · Dec 14, 2015

Hello everyone

I'm planning a backpacking trip to Laos.

Naturally, the first question that popped to my mind, was what camera i should take with me.
I'd love to bring my Yashica mat 124g but I'm not so sure if that's a good idea since we're backpacking.
And on top of that, I'm planning to go during rainy season, so lots of rain and mud.

Did someone do something familiar and has some wisdom to share? Or should i leave the TLR at home and just go for an 35mm SLR?

PS: I plan to bring along a 35mm rangefinder for casual shooting.

Cheers and greetings from Switzerland

crumpet8 · Dec 14, 2015

I'd take it! What's the point if you can't use it right. Just get a nice padded case for it and no worries Also, maybe you should think about getting a Nikonos, then you don't have to worry about weather at all!

gzhuang · Dec 14, 2015

Just pack some 2 for $5 Optech Rain Covers and you're good to go.

Laurent · Dec 14, 2015

Or pack free shower caps, as found in almost every hotel. This is what I use when I need to protect the camera while on the tripod.

trythis · Dec 14, 2015

Take TLR and Olympus MJU II. Its weatherproof and small enough to where you can use it anytime if the TLR it's just not right for the moment.

Heck add a Olympus stylus zoom 80 to the mix. Can be had for $5

Sent with typotalk

bdial · Dec 14, 2015

It would probably be fine with less protection than the rangefinder would need.
Just protect it from the wet. Since you will (presumably) have clothes and other soft stuff packed you only need minimal padding for it. You will also need a good selection of zip lock bags for the film.

Rain there can be intense though, so don't scrimp on rain gear.

There is a lot to be said for keeping things simple for backpacking, however, so ditch the rangefinder and just take the TLR

Paul Howell · Dec 14, 2015

A company called Baracuda Housing made an underwater housing for the 124, not compact as I recall, a copy of the Rolli underwater set up, but will keep your camera dry in a monsoon. I have seen them on Ebay over the years. I would also take a Minolta Weathermate, has twin lens, a 35mm and 80mm.

BrianShaw · Dec 14, 2015

I traveled for several years in wet climate (UK) with a TLR. If it is raining hard then you may not be likely to be shooting much anyway, except from under an umbrella. The "secret" I found was two-fold: a bag that easily opened and closed so I could take the camera out, shoot, and put it away quickly, and a slightly oversized coat so I could keep the camera inside the coat until ready to shoot and the n get it back into the coat quickly. I tried the shower cap method and it was OK but slower than the other options.

ToddB · Dec 14, 2015

Take it and be quick about taking the photograph. Should get some amazing images with rain, umbrella's, fog and the tropics that you should see.

Todd

Blighty · Dec 14, 2015

Go for it - I used to lug a Mamiya TLR up the mountains of the Lake District in all sorts of shitty weather, but I was strong(er) back then !

samhuwyler · Dec 14, 2015

Thanks everyone for the advice.

You convinced me to bring my TLR along.
I'll probably bring a Rangefinder too. Just so my friends don't have to wait for ages everytime I'm shooting. ^^

Cheers
Samuel

Harry Stevens · Dec 14, 2015

I would take a simple Olympus 35mm AX2 and leave all my other gear back home,hell I would want to enjoy the holiday and not bother worrying about taking high end pictures and boring the world with them. Best example are people who watch concerts through their I Phones and miss the concert.

Just my humble opinion of course.

frank · Dec 14, 2015

Nikonos with 35 lens. Then you can laugh at the rain!

Vaughn · Dec 14, 2015

Taking the TRL is a good choice! Once at camp, I wander around with the Rollei on the tripod -- meter, film, snacks, and water in a shoulder bag. I have a small waterproof stuff sack that can go over the camera on the pod (protects it from rain, wet bushes and branches). If the going get very rough, I can take the camera off and put it in the shoulder bag.

I do the same thing with my 4x5 when I take it backpacking.

frank · Dec 14, 2015

I don't know about Yashicas, but Rolleiflexes benefit greatly from the Rolleifix accessory to keep the film door from bending under the stress of the tripod connection.

grahamp · Dec 14, 2015

I used to take my Yashicamat cycle touring (on a Brompton T5, no less), and it worked out well, especially with a monopod. A muslin bag and some rice will make an emergency desiccant if things get too damp. Keep your film dry, too.

mooseontheloose · Dec 14, 2015

I haven't been to Laos during the rainy season, but I have been to Cambodia during that time, and I found that generally it just rained in the afternoon - mornings were usually fine, if overcast. Maybe Laos will be similar. I also brought two cameras, my Nikon FE and a TLR (Autocord) and got great shots with both. The kids in particular were fascinated by the TLR and loved looking through the ground glass but couldn't understand why they couldn't see their photos afterwards (this was in 2001). Actually, I've had that same response in almost all the SE Asian countries I've travelled to. So yes, definitely bring the TLR.

ToddB · Dec 14, 2015

I took that same kind of kit with me last summer to Greece.. my Rollei and Leica Rangefinder. Glad I did.. Got all kinds of great photos.

Todd

Terry Breedlove · Dec 14, 2015

Last year I spent 5 weeks in Vietnam. Made a huge mistake and only had my 50 mm with my f 100. Next time I will bring my 80-200 as well because I missed so many shots of families on the river in their boats full of rice and bananas etc. this shot was TRI-X 400 with the 50 mm 1.8 D Nikon f100

Bill Burk · Dec 14, 2015

Terry Breedlove, That's a beautiful shot!

palewin · Dec 14, 2015

Think about which format negatives you like to work with. I enjoy printing from 120 negatives a lot more than I do 35mm, so I would just bring the TLR.

Ken Nadvornick · Dec 14, 2015

PDH said:
A company called Baracuda Housing made an underwater housing for the 124, not compact as I recall, a copy of the Rolli underwater set up, but will keep your camera dry in a monsoon. I have seen them on Ebay over the years.

As an owner of a 124G, I was intrigued by this, having never before heard the reference. So I looked it up and found these pictures. That's an impressive waterproof housing, even if not a very portable one:

Yashica MAT 124 G with Baracuda Housing

:w00t:

Ken

adelorenzo · Dec 16, 2015

Yes!

I use a chest pouch for carrying it for rapid deployment.

Aleksej6 · Dec 17, 2015

In my opinion, it is better to use only a 35mm with one or two lenses, and have a second body in case of troubles with the first one.

DREW WILEY · Dec 17, 2015

?? I'm a lot closer to 70 than I am to sixty, and I still routinely backpack with full view camera gear. I've never been anywhere with something as light as a TLR in my entire life!

Backpacking with a TLR?

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