If you had one week in Cuba, what camera would you take?

alex66 · Jan 20, 2012

If you have a spare M body take the Leica with a couple of lenses plus a spare body. The last thing you want is for the camera to die in the middle of your trip. Of course if you have a spare Nikon that becomes an option too, though a small fixed lens camera could work as a back up. Me I would take a medium format, probably a Yashicamat and a Fuji 645 as the latter weighs less than a lot of 35mm SLR's with an Oly OM1 for speed and fun shots. I can't travel with one camera even though I end up nearly using just one.

EASmithV · Jan 20, 2012

dreamingartemis said:
Next comes the question of what lenses to bring hahaha

If I was going light, using glass I currently own?

50mm f1.8D or 50mm f1.4 ai'd. Probably leave the MF glass on the F.

18-55 DX. It's a "digital" lens but covers from 24-55 focal lengths and is a very sharp, if a bit slow.

That's it.

Not to be too much of an advocate for gas, but you could always pick up an F4 for peanuts nowadays, and use your F3 as a backup with a 24mm or 28mm prime, throw in a cheap AF 50mm for the F4. You'd have compatibility with your lenses, and a more versatile camera to boot.

Then again, I never understood the Leica hype.

BradleyK · Jan 20, 2012

A definite call for the Leicas, me thinks. I would bring my pair of M6s (one as a spare, obviously) and several of my favorite lenses: my 28mm Summicron ASPH, 35mm Summicron, 50mm Summilux ASPH and my trusty 90mm Summicron ASPH. And I would stuff the works in an F2 Domke, filling all available space with a S#*tload of E100G, E100VS, FP4, Tri-X/HP5 and Delta 3200.

kapro · Jan 20, 2012

EASmithV said:
Then again, I never understood the Leica hype.

I was shooting with NIkon whole my life until I tried Leica M6.
Extraordinary lenses (especially the new 1.4 versions),unbelievable bokeh, small, quiet (M7 makes only very quiet "tsss" while shooting), absence of mirror-with steady hand I can use 1/8 and 1/4s with wideangles (with practice I use to shoot even 1/2s hand held) - this is no chance with mirror cameras which make noise and shake like Russian Katyusha.
For large percentage of my shots I use "blind shooting" with camera hanging on my neck or even hidden in the pocket. I took all my shots from inside mosques this way and lot of Cuban shots as well. I tried to shoot a fire of petrol or diesel storage tank in Cuba and I made couple of good shots "from the pocket" while arrested. When Cuban police confiscated the film from me I was able to change it and gave them empty film.. .

Leica M is without doubts absolutely the best camera for street photography ever. It's not a hype, it's holy truth.
Kapro
P.S. I'm not paid by Leica. I had to buy all my gear and had to pay a hell of a lot of money for that..

Soeren · Jan 20, 2012

I love my 25mm lens on my F3 so I wouldn't go without a wide (the 24mm) I my bag I also carry a 50mm (or a 55 f/3,5 mikro) and a 85mm.
So I'd take those focallenghts or maybe a 35mm instead of the 50 (don't own a 35mm) and the matching Camera for them. A backup camera would certainly be a good thing.
Best regards

RalphLambrecht · Jan 20, 2012

Paul Goutiere said:
I get 8 days in Cuba. I've never been there before.

Should I take my M4-P w/ 35 and 50

or My F3hp. with 24mm and 50mm.

a medium-format rabge finder with modest wide -angle and normallens

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

RalphLambrecht said:
a medium-format rabge finder with modest wide -angle and normallens

Yes, I would too. This sounds like the way to go, save for the problem of not having a nice rig like this.
Alas only leica or Nikon.

Vaughn · Jan 20, 2012

I am reminded of what a Yosemite park ranger said when asked what a visitor should do if they only had an hour in Yosemite Valley... "I would sit on the bank of the Merced and cry."

Fortunately a week is significantly longer than an hour. Have a great trip!

Vaughn

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

When I was a young tad I had only a Pentax Spotmatic and a 55mm lens. Back then I knew exactly what camera to take.

canuhead · Jan 20, 2012

Are you going to Cuba to take photographs or to experience the culture and people ?

Maybe it's because I'm getting older but I really don't understand the need for a backup or multiple systems on a short trip. If you're working, yeah, prudent decision but a vacation ?

Bring your Leica, take some photos (b/w to be different, how many photos of colourful old cars do we need to see ?) and if the camera gets cranky, enjoy the place without the filter of a viewfinder.

Chances are, you'll probably go back if this trip is great and then you can finesse the gear selection for that trip.

Have fun and bring lots of things to leave behind as gifts.

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 20, 2012

If it were I, I'd take my Contax G2 kit (G2 body, G1 body, 21, 28, 45, 90 lenses) and all the film I could carry. So in your shoes, I'd take the Leicas. Sure, there will be some shots you can't get with them - closeups of flowers and insects and the like - but there would be plenty of others you'd miss if you dragged along multiple camera systems and were fussing about which system to use for a given shot. The handiness of rangefinders plus the lack of a mirror letting you hand-hold in low light make them the best travel cameras.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 20, 2012

When I travel with my camera, I don't want it to weigh me down. My advice is don't be a slave to your gear. Fatigue from carrying heavy gear can drain you of your creativity. I'm jealous. It's one of my dream destinations. Darn that Helms-Burton law!

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

Mainecoonmaniac said:
When I travel with my camera, I don't want it to weigh me down. My advice is don't be a slave to your gear. Fatigue from carrying heavy gear can drain you of your creativity. I'm jealous. It's one of my dream destinations. Darn that Helms-Burton law!

I hear you, loud and clear. I'm gonna go light one way or another.

Apparently about 100,000 folks a year, from the US, go to Cuba from Canada or Mexico. Just ask to not have your passport stamped by Cuban customs and take cash, don't even try to use a credit card.

Our travel agent said that many believe Cuba will be open to the US in the very near future and if this should ever happen the prices in Cuba will skyrocket. She suggested to go now!

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 20, 2012

Coin toss.

It isn't so much about the camera as it is about seeing the shots. If you have too much gear to choose from, you'll busy your mind with thinking about what camera or lens to use, which in my opinion is counterproductive. My best results always come from sticking one lens on one camera, and force myself to work with what I've got. It allows me to let my imagination work full time, and to be ready when the moment approaches.

Steve Smith · Jan 20, 2012

Paul Goutiere said:
Our travel agent said that many believe Cuba will be open to the US in the very near future

So the land of the free still doesn't give you the freedom to go where you like without being sneaky about it?

Steve.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 20, 2012

Thomas Bertilsson said:
If you have too much gear to choose from, you'll busy your mind with thinking about what camera or lens to use, which in my opinion is counterproductive. My best results always come from sticking one lens on one camera, and force myself to work with what I've got. It allows me to let my imagination work full time, and to be ready when the moment approaches.

Ditto.

My favorite two MF lenses are a 50mm and a 110mm macro. You can cover a lot of ground with one wide angle and one normal lens. Real easy to carry, too.

Am I really the first person in this thread about Cuba to use the word cigar?

ann · Jan 20, 2012

or rum

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
Am I really the first person in this thread about Cuba to use the word cigar?

Yes, you are. No one has mentioned rum either.

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

ann said:
or rum

Well, there ya are!

SuzanneR · Jan 20, 2012

RalphLambrecht said:
a medium-format rabge finder with modest wide -angle and normallens

Yup, couple of Mamiya 7's with the 80mm and 65mm, one body for color film, one for b/w. I'd save the most amount of space in my bags for lots of film!! Have a great trip.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 20, 2012

Canadians are so lucky

Paul Goutiere said:
I hear you, loud and clear. I'm gonna go light one way or another.

Apparently about 100,000 folks a year, from the US, go to Cuba from Canada or Mexico. Just ask to not have your passport stamped by Cuban customs and take cash, don't even try to use a credit card.

Our travel agent said that many believe Cuba will be open to the US in the very near future and if this should ever happen the prices in Cuba will skyrocket. She suggested to go now!

My world travel friend and former swim coach told me that I can travel through Canada or Mexico. He warned me that I should have my US passport stamped in Cuba or else I can be fine for traveling there. It's so stupid. But shoot a lot of pictures because as soon as it's the country is open to the Yanks, the country will be ruined by all the Starbucks and McDonalds on every corner to accommodate them. Photograph Cuba while it's still beautiful.

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

SuzanneR said:
Yup, couple of Mamiya 7's with the 80mm and 65mm, one body for color film, one for b/w. I'd save the most amount of space in my bags for lots of film!! Have a great trip.

I have a Super Ikonta B which works like new, so I may consider this stuffed into my carry on. I'll see at the last minute if it fits in with the rest of the stuff. My Hassy cameras will be staying home I'm afraid.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 20, 2012

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Photograph Cuba while it's still beautiful.

I don't know if you've seen Robert Polidori's photographs of Havana, but the country is in ruins. Compare those images to Andrew Moore's photographs of Detroit and see if you can detect any philosophical/political affinities that may have led both cities to their present state of disaster.

The coming McDonald's/Starbucks invasion of Cuba doesn't excite anyone, but for the Cuban people, that would qualify as an upgrade. If by beautiful you mean the type of photogenic decay that photographers love, I guess it is quite beautiful. If you actually have to live there, well it sucks to be you.

tomalophicon · Jan 22, 2012

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
The coming McDonald's/Starbucks invasion of Cuba doesn't excite anyone, but for the Cuban people, that would qualify as an upgrade. If by beautiful you mean the type of photogenic decay that photographers love, I guess it is quite beautiful. If you actually have to live there, well it sucks to be you.

Yes, having no McDonald's or Starbucks must really suck. I feel sorry for those Cubans.

walbergb · Jan 23, 2012

Paul Goutiere said:
I get 8 days in Cuba. I've never been there before.

Should I take my M4-P w/ 35 and 50

or My F3hp. with 24mm and 50mm.

If the choice isn't clear, then it doesn't matter which one you take. Of course, hindsight will always be 20/20

Enjoy your trip

If you had one week in Cuba, what camera would you take?

alex66

EASmithV

BradleyK

kapro

Soeren

RalphLambrecht

Paul Goutiere

Vaughn

Paul Goutiere

canuhead

TheFlyingCamera

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If you had one week in Cuba, what camera would you take?

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