How much gear to lug on my (hopefully) upcoming vacation

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

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.

also... I've got a couple 35 rolls I've specifically been saving for some sort of special occasion.

 

[jvo]

... 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.

+++++++++++++++++++++

best advice - without a doubt.

load up on film... especially if it is your first trip to Europe!!!

 

[runswithsizzers]

I'm doing a 10 week walking tour in France later this year. At the moment I'm leaning toward 85mm f/2 on a nikon f2. If the weight of that pair doesn't frighten me too much, I'll probably add a wide angle. My 28mm is a *nice* lens, but the 24 is lighter. On this trip, weight matters and I still have the OM-1 and 100mm...

@mrosenlof, France is wide and varied country, and I have no idea whether you plan to spend more time in the open countryside, or in the cities, but...

If you are at all interested in visiting any historical cities, I would strongly recommend taking the 24mm! After walking in the Dorgogne / Perigord for month, where we spent a lot of time in the old medieval parts of town -- the idea of having only an 85mm or 100mm lens makes me feel very anxious and claustrophobic. Can I assume your interest is limited to a very specific subject / style rather than wanting to take more general travel-style photos?

 

[mrosenlof]

It's partly personal style. I find 75mm to 100 to be the sweet spot for a lens that matches how I see things. I will be walking mostly on the Grande Randonnee trail no. 65, sometimes known as "Le Chemin du Puy" and goes from small town to small town, some dating back several centuries. Uncertain yet if I will actually make it "one lens". It would sometimes be limiting, but I could work with it.

 

[runswithsizzers]

It's partly personal style. I find 75mm to 100 to be the sweet spot for a lens that matches how I see things. I will be walking mostly on the Grande Randonnee trail no. 65, sometimes known as "Le Chemin du Puy" and goes from small town to small town, some dating back several centuries. Uncertain yet if I will actually make it "one lens". It would sometimes be limiting, but I could work with it.

Interesting. It sounds like a great trip!

 

[bjorke]

A few months before covid we were in France for a month or so, working but also traveling to visit relatives around the country & my own old home in Paris.

Because I knew that there would be lots of the expected photos from my fellow travelers, I was happy to just ignore all such pictures and took a minimal, one-lens tack -- something different -- and found the results satisfactory. Pick a point of departure and stay true to it.

A small write-up and link to pics. (Actual pics here)

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

This is how I travel.

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.e4Y7Utiwi98srmBAuMwbuwHaE6?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

 

[guangong]

Traveling by car: unlimited choices
Domestic flights: A film camera(35mm or 120) and Minox
Foreign flight to Europe: digital
Traveling with family or friends: Contax T3 and Minox

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

as of this moment, I'm now thinking I'd want to do exclusively color on 35mm, and exclusively bw on mf...
but I'd need a bigger camera bag to also carry my gl2 and (hopefully) 116 folding camera

 

[faberryman]

as of this moment, I'm now thinking I'd want to do exclusively color on 35mm, and exclusively bw on mf...
but I'd need a bigger camera bag to also carry my gl2 and (hopefully) 116 folding camera

Well, there's a long time to go until May/June, so let's see how your thinking evolves.

 

[munz6869]

Tee hee! I must be bonkers: for the last 15 years (minus Covid years) I've been carting my Wista 4x5 and a medium format camera (either Rolleiflex or Fuji 6x8 rangefinder or Mamiya 645) on trips to Europe and Asia (from Australia). Managing the film is a bit epic but it's all fun and adventure (and I'd really miss it if I didn't). If I'm roaming around the countryside I'll attempt 4x5, otherwise I just have my MF with me and it's not a bother if you plan but are relaxed about it... This year I'll attempt a trip to Switzerland & Slovenia and might buy film there $$$ for the first time to avoid the modern film-destroying airport scanners...

Marc!

 

[abruzzi]

one camera, three prime lenses, and twice as much film as I need. On rare occasion I'll add a second camera but only if it's tiny and can shoot the same film as the main camera. So medium format, I might also bring a Konica Pearl III; or 35mm I might bring a Olympus XA.

for the main camera, the choice of lenses really depends, but its usually the wide-normal-long triumverate.

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

update time again.
So it's looking like my trip (flight time included) will most likely be may 5-15 (Leave the 5th, arrive the 6th, spend the 7th beating off jetlag), thus giving me about six days to see the sights.
My color 35mm list (ricoh xr2s with the four prime lenses I mentioned previously) as of right now:
My last Velvia 100
My last color mission 200
My last fuji it-n
2008 expired portra 400 vc (lot tested)
Orwo nc400
Film Washi X
(was going to bring a 2006 expired fuji npc 160, but just psyched myself out of it because I don't know if it was frozen stored or not).

Potential 120 bw films (only have a 105mm and 55mm for my c220):
Ilford delta 100
Shanghai gp3
Cinestill double x
FPP Xray
potsdam 100
Catlabs X film 320
film washi f
(I HOPE P30 will be available in 120 before this point).

I am also intent bringing my 1946 expired Verichome as a side project
Also, one fuji mini dv tape for my Gl2

outside of devising a means of carrying a tripod and the gl2, this should be an efficient and lightweight setup.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I walked around San Francisco with my Hasselblad 503 CX with the 30mm Fisheye lens and the Hasselblad 903 CX for several days. I found that the Hasselblad 503 CX with the 30mm Fisheye lens got really H E A V Y!

 

[Craig]

If it was me, I'd simplify to at least a single speed of film, if not a single type of film. With carrying different speeds of film you risk forgetting to reset your meter and exposing the film at the wrong speed.

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

If it was me, I'd simplify to at least a single speed of film, if not a single type of film. With carrying different speeds of film you risk forgetting to reset your meter and exposing the film at the wrong speed.

I like shooting a different roll every time so adjusting my light meter has become second nature

 

[faberryman]

What are you hoping to accomplish photographically using so many cameras and types of film?

 

[Frank53]

update time again.
So it's looking like my trip (flight time included) will most likely be may 5-15 (Leave the 5th, arrive the 6th, spend the 7th beating off jetlag), thus giving me about six days to see the sights.
My color 35mm list (ricoh xr2s with the four prime lenses I mentioned previously) as of right now:
My last Velvia 100
My last color mission 200
My last fuji it-n
2008 expired portra 400 vc (lot tested)
Orwo nc400
Film Washi X
(was going to bring a 2006 expired fuji npc 160, but just psyched myself out of it because I don't know if it was frozen stored or not).

Potential 120 bw films (only have a 105mm and 55mm for my c220):
Ilford delta 100
Shanghai gp3
Cinestill double x
FPP Xray
potsdam 100
Catlabs X film 320
film washi f
(I HOPE P30 will be available in 120 before this point).

I am also intent bringing my 1946 expired Verichome as a side project
Also, one fuji mini dv tape for my Gl2

outside of devising a means of carrying a tripod and the gl2, this should

If youre there for only 6 days, you’ll be 5 days busy changing film, lenses and camera’s, ending up with the wrong film or lens in the wrong camera at the wrong time.
So don’t! Take 1 camera, 1 film and enjoy your holiday

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

What are you hoping to accomplish photographically using so many cameras and types of film?

that's just how I work. I just like having a lot of cameras and like using a different film each time.

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

If youre there for only 6 days, you’ll be 5 days busy changing film, lenses and camera’s, ending up with the wrong film or lens in the wrong camera at the wrong time.
So don’t! Take 1 camera, 1 film and enjoy your holiday

OK, maybe the Gl2 would be a bit much, but, my thought being I use 35mm for color, and mf as a bw backup. the ancient 116 would just be a fun side thing.
I did something similar my last major vacation (though it was bw 35 and mf color), and I was ultimately satisfied with my end results.

 

[faberryman]

that's just how I work. I just like having a lot of cameras and like using a different film each time.

What do you plan to do with your photographs when you get back from vacation?

 

[Wallendo]

My general travel kit is two 35mm cameras, one for color and the other for B&W. I prefer both to have the same mount so lenses can be shared. This works easiest with Nikon since manual focus and autofocus lenses are mostly compatible. If I take a digital camera, I will also take a F-mount adapter.

I have a waterproof camera for beach trips.

I take a wide-angle lens (usually 24mm), a 50mm lens, and a telephoto zoom.

I tend to shoot one roll of B&W film a day. The amount of color film I take varies, but I would allow a roll for every two days (this quantity varies with how colorful the destination is).

If travelling by car, I tend to take more equipment.

If shooting Velvia 100, can you get it developed at your destination?

 

[koraks]

this should be an efficient and lightweight setup

I like the irony of that statement

I wouldn't want to trade places with you lugging all that kit around. To each their own, I guess. A single 35mm body with one or two lenses would do for me.

Have fun, though!

 

[Sirius Glass]

What are you hoping to accomplish photographically using so many cameras and types of film?

Color
Black & white
Infrared
...

 

[Craig]

I like the irony of that statement

I wouldn't want to trade places with you lugging all that kit around. To each their own, I guess. A single 35mm body with one or two lenses would do for me.

I was thinking the same thing. At most, when I go to Europe and I have a car my travel kit is one 35mm digital SLR with a 24-120 lens and my MF Fuji GW690 rangefinder for B&W. If I'm on foot walking around a city that usually gets reduced. It just becomes too much weight and bulk to carry all day.