I think you should take as much camera equipment as you can possibly carry. I like the idea of going out and buying even more equipment before you leave. Of course, you may need a larger camera bag or backpack, but you probably need a new one of those anyway. I recommend the ones whose straps can also be used as a cilice. For a one week vacation to Poland, five rolls of black and white and five rolls of color are more than enough. In fact, you might want to cut back on film to save weight.
I mean, it's not uncommon for me to take 2 cameras out (three if you count a small ps camera), but coupling that with a video camera, then that's way too much.
My best travel photos came from an old Konica C-35 rangefinder camera. It had a sharp 38mm 2.8 Hexanon lens w/ AE and a meter readout in the VF. Being so small and light meant it was w/ me every place besides the hotel bathroom or bed. Easy to tuck away if you're in a dodgy area too. It also had exposure lock w/ a half press of the shutter button, so it was very quick to shoot and nail the exposure every time. One little camera means more room for film.
The one time I deviated from that and brought a Nikon n80 w/ a 28-200 GED lens (which is a great lens and very small and light) turned out to be my worst travel photos. I seldom needed anything w/ that reach, and the more it was zoomed the more light I needed. Since I also needed a higher shutter speed for longer focal lengths and didn't always have it, combining that w/ boat or car movement gave me quite a few less than stellar pics.
I mean, my ricoh is probably the camera I enjoy using the most- it wouldn't be too much different if I decided to bring my nikon ft3 instead (besides the different lenses). But I don't think my friend is going to take me to sketchy areas...
Just recently spent time in Dublin. I was concerned about the scanner issue, but at the airport (Newark) the TSA people agreed to hand inspect my film and did it fairly quickly. (They were a little bit flummoxed--I've had a smoother ride at SeaTac, but never mind that; they did the job.) I took the film to Conn's Camera in Dublin where they souped, scanned and uploaded to a google drive for about 12 euro. I ran out of film and they didn't have any Portra 160 so I went up to John Gunn's camera shop and he had loads of it. So I can verify that film shooting and processing is alive and well in Dublin.
I used to take my F2 when I travelled but having been warned not to check any baggage, I decided to travel light and took my Rollei 35. Turned out to be a great choice--I'd forgotten what a sharp lens it has and how easy it is to use, especially for street shooting.
The only hassle was on the return flight, which took me through Heathrow. For some reason they made me go through two scanners, so I was glad that I didn't have any film in the duffel bag.
The best advice I can give is to travel as light as you can and don't check your bags.
I've done film on continental US flights, and the tsa agents were pretty much fine with my film. it was my cameras that scared them...
first, I missed a flight because of a long line, then leaving my c220 in my bag and tsa not knowing what it was under the x ray.
second, on my return trip, I had a disc camera fail an explosives test and they had to run it under the scanner, but they at least let me take the film out...
Now different airports may be afraid of my gl2...
I went to Italy for about 2 weeks last May with some fellow art students. Since I was our documentarian, blogging everyday, I used my phone for that. But I wanted to do some street photography and took along my Minolta SRT-201, the 50mm lens, and a half dozen rolls of B&W film. I guess it depends on what you plan to photograph.
modern smartphones have reasonably decent cameras, but no real manual control. good for stupid snappy stuff, but doesn't fit my aesthetic.
Travel by airplane:
- Hasselblad with the 80mm and 50mm lenses plus the SWC with multiple backs with a choice of films or
- Two 35mm Nikon SLRs, one for color and one for black & white, 20mm to 35m AF zoom lens and 28mm to 300mm AF zoom lens, 28mm PC manual lens
Travel by car - I just take everything and pull out the lens or lenses that I need for a location
wish I had an mf camera with changeable backs
If I travel with family and wanted to enjoy vacation, I only take one 135 camera body and one lens. This summer I did a month long European family vacation with Nikon FA body and 50/1.2 lens. I did about 10 rolls of film: mostly color negatives, plus some slides and B&W. Now we all have smartphones with very capable cameras, quick snapshots and indoor shots are often better with the phone.
When I was traveling with my wife alone, I took just a Rolleiflex. Large negative size, no choice of focal length, and max quality.
When I was doing photo trips with friends in my younger years, I traveled with two bodies (one with wide angle, one with long zoom) plus one 50mm lens. And tripod even. I was shooting almost entirely on slides.
my last few big trips were all about taking pictures, so I was fine with hauling a couple cameras through the wilderness. the most fun one was using a studio 4x5 camera to do landscape shots
Dang it, I wanted to guess!
I take one camera, one lens and make it work. As for film, I think about 1 roll for every two days. Sometimes it's enough, sometimes it isn't. I like that the constraints make me really think before taking a picture.
I want the discipline for sure- just want to find the right balance.
While the C220 is more camera than a Rolleiflex, I would heartily recommend bringing it - I've hauled my Rolleis around with me to France, Italy, and Mexico and gotten some of the best shots of my life with them. But I would keep it simple- just the C220 with a normal and maybe a wide lens, and as much film as you can carry. It is almost impossible to bring too much film, especially when going on what may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The good news is, if you do run short, you should still be able to get more in Poland. It's not like you're going to Africa or Latin America where film is hard to come by.
well I don't know about once in a lifetime...
but yea, I've only got two lenses for my c220 (105 and 55), but my 35mm stuff tends to turn out better than my mf stuff. besides, 35mm has more variety of film stocks available.
THIS IS THE TRUTH.
Unless you have specific shots or events in mind, keep your kit small.
(Also, airport security staff in some backwater places (like, say, Dallas) have never even seen roll film, and might demand to open it, especially when you come along at the scanner with gallon-sized ziplocs full of exposed treasure)
well, I'll be flying somewhere out of Chicago, so I don't know if that's backwater or not. but yea, the whole point is to keep the gear lighter, but still have some variety.
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