Medium format vacation

pbromaghin · Jun 15, 2024

We have a vacation coming up and I decided to make it into a festival of medium format. But I need assistance with choosing equipment.

Choice one - simple and lightweight. 1938 Zeiss Super Ikonta in 645 for walking around and 1952 Voigtlander Bessa I in 6x9 on tripod for “art”.

Choice two - flexible but heavy excellence. 2 Mamiya tlr bodies and choice of 55, 80, 135, 180 and 250 lenses.

Opinions?

Dan Daniel · Jun 15, 2024

Where are you going, how are you getting there, and how will you be moving around once there? Big difference between, say, NYC and Yosemite, cabs versus hiking, flat versus hills, etc.

loccdor · Jun 15, 2024

Summer vacation? Test your shorts. I have a 6x9 1938 non-RF Bessa that fits great in my shorts pocket. And an RF one from the same time period that's slightly wider.

If your pockets are too small for your folding cameras, buy new clothes for the trip!

I'm taking a Mamiya 645 SLR with 80mm lens on my summer vacation this year. It fits in a small camera bag. I'm using 220 film with it so I get 30 shots and don't need to reload often, it also means I can fit more film into my bag and can pack lighter. I often don't have lots of time to set up shots on trips because we are moving around quickly exploring places.

Taking a tripod and cable is a nice idea for those night shots, if you can fit it. I don't recommend taking a big medium format telephoto lens on vacation unless you have a big suitcase and camera bag. I reconsidered taking the 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar even though I love the lens.

pbromaghin · Jun 15, 2024

Flying to Orange County, CA, getting around by car. Tripod in both cases. Super ikonta fits in all my pockets- that’s why it’s the walking around camera but I have used Mamiya tlr for that role on occasion.

BrianShaw · Jun 15, 2024

Dan Daniel · Jun 15, 2024

pbromaghin said:
Flying to Orange County, CA, getting around by car. Tripod in both cases. Super ikonta fits in all my pockets- that’s why it’s the walking around camera but I have used Mamiya tlr for that role on occasion.

I choose based on how I see photography fitting into the travels and what I want in shooting. Hand-held 'pocket' camera is more relaxed, on the fly, or short periods devoted to photos here and there. Tripod/larger cameras when there is more time devoted to just photography (and when I will have time to myself; this way of working while someone waits in a car doesn't work for me). It really depends on what mindset or mood I want/expect to be in when using a camera.

Steven Lee · Jun 16, 2024

pbromaghin said:
Choice two - flexible but heavy excellence. 2 Mamiya tlr bodies and choice of 55, 80, 135, 180 and 250 lenses.

I like precise focusing, so medium format rangefinders are out. Your second option is more appealing, but I would simplify it down to a single body and the 55+80 combo. There's nothing heavy about it. A Mamiya TLR fits into what B&H calls "small shoulder bag for mirrorless body and 2 lenses". In my case that's Ona Bowery.

guangong · Jun 16, 2024

Your original choice seems ok to me. I can’t hand hold 69 myself, but if you can, go for it.

Paul Howell · Jun 16, 2024

Depending on what your plans are, family and friends, Disneyland and other parks, beach cities? Do you think you will a longer or wider lens than a the fixed normals of the rangefinders?

Prest_400 · Jun 16, 2024

If the activities allow you some photo time I would do both 2+1.

Likewise I am planning a trip to Asia with medium format, together with a friend that is also a photographer.
GW690 and Super Ikonta. Two formats, more flexibility in film combos. I have had the Fuji 6x9 as main camera but given the amount of film taken and efforts, a backup/second compact option is good. The folder can be carried in Cargo pants where it might not be that good to swing a large pro looking camera

Take the TLR with 2, most 3 lenses and the Super Ikonta 645.

Alan Edward Klein · Jun 16, 2024

Dan Daniel said:
I choose based on how I see photography fitting into the travels and what I want in shooting. Hand-held 'pocket' camera is more relaxed, on the fly, or short periods devoted to photos here and there. Tripod/larger cameras when there is more time devoted to just photography (and when I will have time to myself; this way of working while someone waits in a car doesn't work for me). It really depends on what mindset or mood I want/expect to be in when using a camera.

I've grown to that as well. The wife is happier as well.

blee1996 · Jun 16, 2024

+1 on @Dan Daniel suggestion to fit your camera into the vacation/family schedule. When I don't have dedicated time to just do photography by myself, I choose the simplest camera that I can whip out, take a couple of shots and move on. Recently I took just a Lomo LC-A Wide medium format camera with me for a Chicago trip. Despite its limitations, I got some good shots without becoming a burden on my fellow travelers.

Steve Goldstein · Jun 16, 2024

This was a very timely thread for me, and Dan's answer was right on point. Instead of taking my Mamiya 7 with 50/80/150 lenses and various accoutrements, my trusty Ercona II will accompany me on my upcoming 4-day trip to Toronto. Maybe I'll even take a filter.

Come to think of it, that's the same camera I took the last time I went to Toronto!

Axelwik · Jun 16, 2024

For a medium format all-day carry my Rolleiflex 3.5 Tessar Automat works well - spent a week in Washington DC with that camera walking and taking the Metro everywhere. The f3.5 versions of the Rolleiflex are light and relatively compact, and easier to use than most folders.

For a wider perspective I use a Hasselblad SWC/M which is lighter and more compact than many 35mm SLRs.

Because I tend to print wide-angle photographs bigger than those with a normal to narrow angle of view I've gone back to using a 35mm camera with normal and longer lenses, and the SWC for medium format. For 35mm usually a rangefinder (M2 or iiif), or sometimes SLR if I need long lenses (SL2).

RalphLambrecht · Jun 17, 2024

pbromaghin said:
We have a vacation coming up and I decided to make it into a festival of medium format. But I need assistance with choosing equipment.

Choice one - simple and lightweight. 1938 Zeiss Super Ikonta in 645 for walking around and 1952 Voigtlander Bessa I in 6x9 on tripod for “art”.

Choice two - flexible but heavy excellence. 2 Mamiya tlr bodies and choice of 55, 80, 135, 180 and 250 lenses.

Opinions?

Mamiya six with one or more of its 50,75 or 250mm lenses.
your choice of Hasselblad equipment.
any MF folder.

pbromaghin · Jun 17, 2024

RalphLambrecht said:
Mamiya six with one or more of its 50,75 or 250mm lenses.
your choice of Hasselblad equipment.
any MF folder.

Well, I am limited to the equipment I already own. But I do wonder what your reasoning is for the wide gap between the 75 and 250? It would certainly be doable.

dokko · Jun 17, 2024

pbromaghin said:
Well, I am limited to the equipment I already own. But I do wonder what your reasoning is for the wide gap between the 75 and 250? It would certainly be doable.

that's likely a typo. the Mamiya 6 has 50mm, 75mm and 150mm lenses available, but no 250mm.

fantastic travel kit, planning to take the same to my next travel vacation (plus a Mamiya 7 with a 65mm). Compact, lightweight, easy to focus, and the highest resolution medium format lenses out there.

pbromaghin · Jun 17, 2024

It's been many years since I made my wife wait around while taking a photo. She has no patience for this at all. I sometimes don't even carry a "walkarounder" when we're together. She has a chronic medical condition that makes her wake up very early and then crash around 9am for a couple hours. On vacation this time, and only this time, is dedicated to my "serious" photography.

I really like the idea of taking the Zeiss and one TLR body with a couple of lenses.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jun 17, 2024

pbromaghin said:
It's been many years since I made my wife wait around while taking a photo. She has no patience for this at all. I sometimes don't even carry a "walkarounder" when we're together. She has a chronic medical condition that makes her wake up very early and then crash around 9am for a couple hours. On vacation this time, and only this time, is dedicated to my "serious" photography.

I really like the idea of taking the Zeiss and one TLR body with a couple of lenses.

+1 on the Zeiss and one TLR. I would take the 80 and 55 mm, unless you expect to do some portraits. No reason to bring the 2 Mamiya's unless you plan to shoot color and b/w.

RezaLoghme · Jun 17, 2024

Mamiya TLR (which?) but only one (pair of) lens(es) - 80mm. That way you do not get distracted by gearchangingitis.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 18, 2024

pbromaghin said:
Well, I am limited to the equipment I already own. But I do wonder what your reasoning is for the wide gap between the 75 and 250? It would certainly be doable.

typo on my side. I meant to write: 50, 75, and 150mm; the three lenses available for that camera, which are all excellent BY THE WAY,

Medium format vacation

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