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

Paul Jenkin · Jan 26, 2012

I'd suggest the Leica kit and plenty of film.

My wife and I inted to go there before it opens up to the likes of Starbucks / KFC and other junk-food outlets.

When we go, I'll be taking my M6TTL 28mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses, loads of Ektar 100 and Tri-X. I'll also take my Voigtlander Perkeo as a pocketable 120 film option.

vpwphoto · Jan 26, 2012

My Minolta 16 kit and lots of double x loads.

removed account4 · Jan 26, 2012

bring the leica and 1 lens
or if you have vpwphoto's minolta 16
or a penft bring that instead.

vpwphoto · Jan 26, 2012

I keep wanting to get an M4-2 or P but I was "let down" by a malfunctioning Leica, and I keep thinking "fool me once".. but I'm the fool to be fooled twice.

I would also consider a Hasselblad swc. Interestingly my bought new Hasselblad let me down this fall... the main-spring died in the 80, and I have a blank roll of "nice photos". Oh well... it's fixed and good to go another 2 decades.

removed account4 · Jan 26, 2012

vpwphoto said:
I keep wanting to get an M4-2 or P but I was "let down" by a malfunctioning Leica, and I keep thinking "fool me once".. but I'm the fool to be fooled twice.

I would also consider a Hasselblad swc. Interestingly my bought new Hasselblad let me down this fall... the main-spring died in the 80, and I have a blank roll of "nice photos". Oh well... it's fixed and good to go another 2 decades.

i have a few rolls of blank photos, from forgetting to load the film, or it not taking up on the spool.
the blank ones i enjoy the best because the film always looks good

David Henderson · Jan 28, 2012

I've made four photographic trips to Cuba- in aggregate more than a month. I don't believe I've ever shot a landscape. Cuba is a place to go to photograph buildings or people or cars. The countryside is frankly not terribly interesting The only thing I'd say about either of the outfits you can choose is that you have nothing beyond a std lens in either, and that would affect me. Personally I'd take an slr and one short and one medium zoom to minimise lens changing and get me good framing on the street.

Two systems? well I rarely go on a trip without back-up, which may stay locked in my hotel rooms for the entire trip. But as a person who has had a couple of trips badly affected by camera malfunction I find it pays to prepare for the worst. Certainly given all the complexities of organising a trip to Cuba, the idea of settling for a weeks tourism with no camera simply does not compute. Other people may have different motivations but for me, if my only camera broke I'd want to get right back to the airport rather than deal with the frustration of not photographing.

ann · Jan 28, 2012

Mainecoonmaniac said:
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.

There have been changes made recently in the US about travel to Cuba. This was in June, so you need to check on the guide lines.

your passport isn't stamp regardless if one has a license or not I don't know why, as it didn't matter to me and in fact I would have thought it great fun to have a cuba stamp.

I can't image Starbucks and McDonalds on every corner as the people can't afford these types of luxuries, they are barely getting by as it is.

Every one has a job, yes, but the salaries are $15-$25 a month and the only people eating and drinking a various restaurants in old Havana are tourist.

And as someone else mentioned the inter structure is falling apart, beautiful old architectural just decaying.

The people are very friendly, the weather wonderful. Lots of cigars and rum but don't try to bring those items back into the US. Now you have issues.

Paul Goutiere · Jan 31, 2012

Hola Amigo! You want buy good cigar? 5 pesos!

I ended up taking my Nikon F3HP, 35, 50 and 50-135 zoom, as well as my Leica iiif, 50mm Elmar and a 15mm Heliar.

I actually found myself using the Little iiif with the 15mm Heliar (and occasionally the 50mm) almost exclusively in the cities and towns we visited, like Havana, Matanzas, and Trinidad. The streets are narrow
and the buildings are small inside. The buildings are also fairly dark so a tripod and cable release would have been nice.

I will take my Hasselblad stuff (Unless I take a 4X5 ) and a tripod the next year perhaps. Those old buildings are so beautiful they require time patience and a larger format, in my humble opinion.

I'll try to make a few neg scans and post something soon.

Paul Goutiere · Feb 1, 2012

Taken with Leica iiif and 15mm Heliar in Trinidad Cuba.

Old Church, Trinidad Cuba. Leica iiif and 15mm Heliar.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 4, 2012

I just found out I'm going to Cuba either on a trip through my alma mater's alumni association or the Steve Anchell workshop. Anyone here have any actual experience with the Steve Anchell trip to Cuba? I'm on the horns of a dilemma to take the Contax G2 or the Rolleiflex. The Rollei will of course give me big beautiful negatives, but the downside will of course be just the one lens. Any thoughts? I'm leaning toward a portrait-based project.

Steve Smith · Sep 4, 2012

TheFlyingCamera said:
The Rollei will of course give me big beautiful negatives, but the downside will of course be just the one lens.

Whenever I think that my Rollei's one lens is limiting, I take a look at the Work of John Gay then wonder why anyone would need any other lenses.

http://www.englishheritageprints.com/john_gay_collection/photo/9568.html

Steve.

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

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