Alas, old age has wearied many of us. Those of us in our 70s (and a few even in their 80s, bless them for their noble effort) find that getting out and about with more than the minimum of essential camera equipment is about as exciting as turning up at the clinic for the dreaded colostomy.
For me, the days of flying off to Southeast Asia with three separate kits - as I did in Indonesia in 1985, with a Nikkormat FTN and lenses, a Rolleiflex, and a Linhof Technika 6x9 with lenses and two film backs - are now well and truly part of my mid life history. It never ceases to amaze me that I was able to haul all this gear around and even travel with it given the airline 20 kilogram luggage policy, but somehow I did.
It may be that my photo needs are nowadays simpler, but when I travel now, I take one camera (a Nikon D700) and at most two lenses. My choices are 28 and 85 but YMMD. I would rarely if ever consider taking more than three lenses, with my last choice likely a 60 micro (which I find adds noticeable extra weight to my camera pack) or a 180 ED (not usually considered, as too bulky and heavy).
If I travel with my partner who is not "camera focused", and part of our journey involves my shooting more than the usual architecture I always do, for B&W I would take a Rolleicord Vb with a few accessories (a lens hood, one or two filters, a 16 exposure kit) and at most 12 rolls of 120 film. Which all goes into my partner's backpack as I find I'm no longer able to easily cope with carrying on my own. I work more slowly with the 'cord and I get more keepers, and every now and then I dream of getting out and about with only this one camera. Not likely, but a nice thought.
Indeed, how the (al)mighty have fallen at 71... but at least I'm still out there and shooting, and hope to go on doing for a few more years as there are a few countries I've yet to visit.
In due time I may dispose of the D700s (I have two) and a few film cameras and pare down my kit to a Nikon Z6 and the 24-70 f/4. The ideal minimalist digikit. For film, the Rolleicord Vb has easily supplanted all my other beloved Nikkormats and Rolleis and will travel with me (rather, us) until I'm no longer able to deal with it. Long may it last!. .
For me, the days of flying off to Southeast Asia with three separate kits - as I did in Indonesia in 1985, with a Nikkormat FTN and lenses, a Rolleiflex, and a Linhof Technika 6x9 with lenses and two film backs - are now well and truly part of my mid life history. It never ceases to amaze me that I was able to haul all this gear around and even travel with it given the airline 20 kilogram luggage policy, but somehow I did.
It may be that my photo needs are nowadays simpler, but when I travel now, I take one camera (a Nikon D700) and at most two lenses. My choices are 28 and 85 but YMMD. I would rarely if ever consider taking more than three lenses, with my last choice likely a 60 micro (which I find adds noticeable extra weight to my camera pack) or a 180 ED (not usually considered, as too bulky and heavy).
If I travel with my partner who is not "camera focused", and part of our journey involves my shooting more than the usual architecture I always do, for B&W I would take a Rolleicord Vb with a few accessories (a lens hood, one or two filters, a 16 exposure kit) and at most 12 rolls of 120 film. Which all goes into my partner's backpack as I find I'm no longer able to easily cope with carrying on my own. I work more slowly with the 'cord and I get more keepers, and every now and then I dream of getting out and about with only this one camera. Not likely, but a nice thought.
Indeed, how the (al)mighty have fallen at 71... but at least I'm still out there and shooting, and hope to go on doing for a few more years as there are a few countries I've yet to visit.
In due time I may dispose of the D700s (I have two) and a few film cameras and pare down my kit to a Nikon Z6 and the 24-70 f/4. The ideal minimalist digikit. For film, the Rolleicord Vb has easily supplanted all my other beloved Nikkormats and Rolleis and will travel with me (rather, us) until I'm no longer able to deal with it. Long may it last!. .
