Las Vegas + Death Valley + Racetrack Playa: What equipment?

[PKM-25]

There will be no need to change the shocks if one is speeding on the road to the Race Track. The shocks will leave on their own, so one will not need to change them.

....30-50 MPH on that road is cake for the right setup....

I built this photo-specific rig just for blasting through roads like the one to the Racetrack and for hanging out on location for weeks at a time. Just drop the tires down to 20 psi, make sure the nitrogen charge on the front and back 2.5" reservoir shocks are 200 psi and let'r rip! I only just rebuilt the suspension three weeks ago, after 90K I had a trace of an oil leak, it is 2" higher now.

Solar keeps my infrared, beer and ice-cream cold...:

 

[PKM-25]

So many great infos. Thank you each and everyone. I will have to make the most out of this trip. The Xpan + 30mm seems the way to go. After all, why do I own a PANORAMIC camera if I'm not going to shoot a PANORAMA?

Now another dilema: TMAX100? Plus-X (my last left)? Tri-X? ehhh boy, this photography thing is surely taking up too much space in my little head.

I should come out and be your guide...

Take TMY400 for the XPan & 30mm F5.6 ( F9.5 w/center filter ) that way if it is a little windy you can get handheld 1/250th at F18-ish and *killer* detail / contrast. You'll get home and print the snot out of those negatives!

Get there hours before sunrise and stay until dark and have a blast! Some from the sand dunes from 1989, 180mm Nikkor, 20mm Nikkor, the light painted rock at the racetrack w/M6 & 35mm 1.4 and Xpan 90mm shot at Badwater from 2008, all Kodachrome...

 

[NB23]

Beautiful shots and very nice Truck, Dan. I am jealous!

Yes, ASA400 for the XPan is a must after 3pm. The Xpan is one of the reasons why I liked tmax3200 so much: even the 45+center filter used to be a strech. I was constantly pushing my 400 films with this combo.

 

[darkosaric]

Byoutiful camera. Byoutiful!

For me the most fascinating thing about this camera is that you can mount non Ai lenses! Kudos to Nikon to think about those details!

 

[DREW WILEY]

I just can't imagine doing any kind of stereotypical shot of the Racetrack rock tracks without a view camera for the plane of focus control, but
I guess you could with very wide angle lenses too. Just don't get disappointed if the true natural tracks are all ruined by offroader jerks leaving
their own tire tracks all over the playa. Death Valley is a big place. The best part of it starts past the Racetracks. Think in terms of how many
spare tires you need (not one), and how many gallons of emergency water to take. Ubehebe Crater on the way to the Racetrack in also
interesting. I've taken zero pictures of either. Fascinating spots, but a bit of a cliche by now.

 

[cjbecker]

It sounds like your going to be spending more time trying to figure out what gear to use in the moment then actually enjoying the moment or even capturing it.

 

[frank]

Different people have different ways of working. Some folks like myself like having a variety of gear to be able to select the best tool for the job. This works for some, and not for others. Once one has figured out what works best, listening to others about what works best for them, is useless.

 

[NB23]

My problem is that any camera works best for me. I havent used the F6 snd R6.2 in 2 years. The Rolleiflex is a forced choice, always. My XPans and MPs are always in the bag. I figured that this time the F6 needs some exercise.
We'll see.
No rolleiflex.

I'll probably skip the racetracks and go to zabriskie point...

 

[DREW WILEY]

Smart move, cause those playas can stir up a lot of fine clay dust in the Spring, even if the drive there doesn't get dust into all your gear first.
Zabriskie is a much more realistic drive, and best at dawn. Just keep tuned for any last minute road condition news. Flashflood damage is always
a possibility in these difficult-to-predict weather patterns lately.