Multi-Format Traveling

rwreich · Apr 25, 2016

I'm traveling to the FL keys at the end of the week and I'm really starting to labor over which cameras to take with me. I am probably going to explore some classic landscapes and documentary-style people shooting. I am going with a group that is counting on me to make some great images.

I have plenty of Nikon 35mm cameras (FM2n, F100) & prime lenses (14 - 400mm, and everything in between). I also have a Nikon S2 Rangefinder with the 50mm f/1.4 and I really love using this camera.

I have a Pentax 645 with the 75mm f/2.8 and three inserts. I also have a Mamiya RB67 with a 65, 127, & 250mm, and two backs.

First, air-travel is not a concern. Second, I don't mind carrying some weight. Third, I really want to bring back some images that are aesthetically and technically special, which is the main reason for considering medium format in the first place.

My gut feeling is this: Take the S2 & the RB67.

Or, what?

anfenglin · Apr 26, 2016

Then do it. I often listen to my gut and it is almost always right.

dreamingartemis · Apr 26, 2016

anfenglin said:
Then do it. I often listen to my gut and it is almost always right.

Especially when it comes to food ;P

Sorry no disrespect, but I couldn't resist making that joke.

Trask · Apr 26, 2016

If that's you in your avatar, you're younger than I am so maybe ready to carry more weight. On my most recent trip I took a Plaubel Wide 67 for the "larger format" work, and a Leica IIIa with a couple of small LTM lenses -- and after walking around with that in a bag for half a day, it seemed to get heavier by the hour. So hauling an RB (and lenses?) would be a burden; if you don't take the lenses, then essentially you'll be carrying a 6X7 fixed lens camera -- maybe there's a better option then an RB-sized fixed lens camera. I've got a Nikon S2 too, and agree that it's a lovely camera to shoot with -- definitely take that.

munz6869 · Apr 26, 2016

You can always leave stuff in your hotel... Every year for the last decade I've dragged a medium format and 5x4" field camera overseas and completely enjoyed the time processing and printing later, outweighing all the inconvenience... except last year, when I scaled down to 35mm and MF, and then wished I'd taken LF!!! If you are happy with the bother, just do it!

Marc!

removed account4 · Apr 26, 2016

if you can fit it in your carry bag, and mule the film in carry on,
no need not to enjoy what you have
sounds like a fun trip, say hi to flipper

ransel · Apr 26, 2016

There is something to be said about minimalism when traveling. I am going to visit my parents in a few days (they live on the Pasquotank River in Eastern NC, about 6 hours away) and I usually labor over what camera(s) to take. I have taken (not all at once) 8X10, 4X5, 120, 35mm, digital. But lately (in my old age) I have come to let past experience dictate what I take, relying less on anticipation. I will most likely take my Mamiya C220 with 80mm and 55mm lenses, a 35mm camera with one lens - probably 35mm, and my pocket digital (Canon Elph). Based on past experience, these will most likely give me what I want...but I'll take a 4X5 just in case

jeffreyg · Apr 26, 2016

If you or any in your group want a great experience and are willing to spend some $$$. In Key Largo (on the East side) there is an attraction where you can interact with a dolphin. The best is with a trainer and one dolphin per two people.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Frank53 · Apr 26, 2016

Take 1 camera, 2 lenses, 1 film. The time you spend changing camera's and lenses is wasted. The more you carry, the more chance you have the wrong camera/lens/film ready. Mamiya 67 with 2 lenses will be fine.
People take too much because they fear to miss pictures. They miss pictures because they carry too much gear.
Frank

BrianShaw · Apr 26, 2016

I seem to recall answering this exact question not too long ago. So many people seem to be asking!

I've always been more of a "get the shot" kind of guy so format is secondary consideration. I take 1 camera with me on pleasure travel. It must be known reliable and the best option for getting the kinds of pictures I'm anticipating. So, naturally, there are trades to consider both before and during the trip.

More often than not I take a 35mm and a couple of lenses, a lightweight medium format TLR, or a folding 35 mm and one lens. Similar with film - I generally take either clot or b&w but rarely both.

But the older I get the more I enjoy looking (staring) and enjoying the views than capturing them on film!

benjiboy · Apr 26, 2016

I agree with Frank, I wish I had £1 Sterling for every pound of weight of Photographic gear I have carried and not used in my 60 + years of photography, and the more stuff you carry the more you have to worry about and protect and by the time you've juggled with all your cameras and lenses your'e lugging, and making decisions on what to use the picture's gone.

mgb74 · Apr 26, 2016

Usually these questions are "I'm going to xyz, what should I bring." However, you say:

rwreich said:
I'm traveling to the FL keys at the end of the week and I'm really starting to labor over which cameras to take with me. I am probably going to explore some classic landscapes and documentary-style people shooting. I am going with a group that is counting on me to make some great images.

So, given that documentary suggests (to me) traveling light and fast lenses, and given that you like the Nikon S, then go with it. And since classic landscapes suggests (again to me) wider angles, I'd take the RB and the 65. And a tripod.

Looks like your gut may be more analytical than you think.

But if you also wanted wildlife (the 4 legged kind), I'd swap the Nikon S for a SLR body with wide and long lenses. And you may want to caution your group that great images take time, especially the landscapes.

jeffreyg · Apr 26, 2016

I would take the RB67 with the 65 and 127 plus the two backs (one for color and one for b&w). For the b&w a yellow and/or orange filter to accentuate the clouds. The wildlife in the Keys will be two-legged and not a great deal of landscape. For landscape try the Everglades National Park West of US1 before the Keys.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

rwreich · Apr 26, 2016

Thanks, everyone, for voicing your thoughts! I do think that I will definitely take the RB67 and at least the 65mm with a tripod. The decision about what else to take will depend on what kind of configuration I can manage in the bag. I'll do a mock-pack and see how that turns out...

Doc W · Apr 27, 2016

I have no experience with the 35mm stuff you have but I take my RB67 on trips and love it. It is heavy, as you know, and I limit myself to one lens or two at the most, two backs (colour and b&w), and a tripod. I pick subjects that fit the format rather than trying to cover every situation. If I have too many accessories, I get bogged down and shooting becomes more of a chore than a joy.

rwreich · Jun 15, 2016

Okay - leaving for another weekend of traveling and this time I'm taking:

Mamiya 7ii & 80mm f/4
Nikon FM2n & 14mm f/2.8 + 105mm f/2.5Ai-s
Nikon S2 & 50mm f/1.4

And plenty of Kodak/Ilford film.

Why take the S2 and not just a 50mm for the F-mount? Well... They both take up about the same amount of room in the bag, and it'd give me a way to shoot color & B&W 135 format at the same time.

Now to pack some clothes...

Vaughn · Jun 16, 2016

You have done some thinking since April! And perhaps spent a few bucks...seeing how the Mamiya 7ii has shown up!! LOL! That is a great traveling camera! And what a great choice for the FM2n! The 14mm will be fun!

rwreich · Jun 16, 2016

Vaughn said:
You have done some thinking since April! And perhaps spent a few bucks...seeing how the Mamiya 7ii has shown up!! LOL! That is a great traveling camera! And what a great choice for the FM2n! The 14mm will be fun!

Yes! There was no possibility of bringing a tripod, this time. I am also limited in my bag dimensions for this trip as I am going to a Cubs game while away.

I got some realy good pictures with the RB last time:

http://www.sunsethillsphotography.com/Travel/Little-Palm-Island-2016/

But, this trip requires a lot more walking.

I've had the FM2n for a long time, but don't always choose it. There's nothing wrong with it - I've even photographed a wedding with the FM2n! It is definitely the lightest way to get an F-mount in the bag.

rwreich · Jun 16, 2016

Much lighter, and less than the 16"x16"x8" required to get into the Cubs' game!

daleeman · Jun 16, 2016

Go with your gut decision.
Enjoy the trip, I know you said you did not fear weight of the equipment, but your initial choice is proabily the best with out compromising.

Down Under · Jun 16, 2016

Going on vacation and traveling with an RB67, lenses and a tripod? You, sir, are a first-class masochist!

Your partner may divorce you one day, and cite that Monster Mamiya as co-respondent in the legal proceedings...

In the 1980s when I was young and foolish, I once went to Southeast Asia for six weeks with a Nikkormat outfit, a Linhof 6x9 kit, and a Rolleiflex. Oh, and yes, a tripod. Bucket loads of film. Surely my bags must have been way, way heavier than the 20 kilos airlines allowed on flights at the time. The two friends I was traveling with were sufficiently wise, that they refused to help and made me lug all that heavy gear on my own. As I recall, I used mostly the Nikkormat EL and a 35mm f/2 lens with Ektachrome and Plus-X, and shot many brilliant images. Next the Rollei, for equally lovely but more static shots. I used the Linhof to shoot maybe 2-3 rolls at most. As said before, my best images were made with the Nikon and the Rollei. I sold the Linhof not long after that trip. And I learned my lesson, well and truly.

I'm now thirty years older, and (I like to think) wiser. My film travels are better planned, and I involve my partner in my planning, to ensure equality in where we go and what we do. I nowadays shoot mostly B&W with a Nikon or a Contax G and at most two lenses. Usually 28 and 85, or 35 and 55 macro. That other medium we know and mostly hate is exclusively for color, with again one Nikon and at most two lenses. Occasionally I travel with a 120 camera, a Rollei or a Fuji GA645. I shoot fewer 120 film now due to cost and inconvenience, but when I take out a MF camera, nine times out of ten it's the Rolleiflex no better film camera was ever built in my opinion.

Used with care, your Nikon FM2n or S2 (if it has been properly serviced) and the right film(s) should easily produce enlargements of as fine a quality as my Rollei. (I'll spare you what I thought of my Linhof images, tho' with the passage of time I now realise the camera cam was likely incorrectly set for the lenses I used). The Mamiya 7ii with one lens is also a brilliant choice.

Gear is fun, but the photography and the journey itself should come first. Also never overlook your partner's wishes, if you travel together. Divorce is too expensive (and traumatic) to allow cameras or photography to come between you...

jeffreyg · Jun 16, 2016

Just curious... what did you end up taking on the Florida trip and how did your decision work out?

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

rwreich · Jun 16, 2016

ozmoose said:
Going on vacation and traveling with an RB67, lenses and a tripod? You, sir, are a first-class masochist!

Your partner may divorce you one day, and cite that Monster Mamiya as co-respondent in the legal proceedings...

In the 1980s when I was young and foolish, I once went to Southeast Asia for six weeks with a Nikkormat outfit, a Linhof 6x9 kit, and a Rolleiflex. Oh, and yes, a tripod. Bucket loads of film. Surely my bags must have been way, way heavier than the 20 kilos airlines allowed on flights at the time. The two friends I was traveling with were sufficiently wise, that they refused to help and made me lug all that heavy gear on my own. As I recall, I used mostly the Nikkormat EL and a 35mm f/2 lens with Ektachrome and Plus-X, and shot many brilliant images. Next the Rollei, for equally lovely but more static shots. I used the Linhof to shoot maybe 2-3 rolls at most. As said before, my best images were made with the Nikon and the Rollei. I sold the Linhof not long after that trip. And I learned my lesson, well and truly.

I'm now thirty years older, and (I like to think) wiser. My film travels are better planned, and I involve my partner in my planning, to ensure equality in where we go and what we do. I nowadays shoot mostly B&W with a Nikon or a Contax G and at most two lenses. Usually 28 and 85, or 35 and 55 macro. That other medium we know and mostly hate is exclusively for color, with again one Nikon and at most two lenses. Occasionally I travel with a 120 camera, a Rollei or a Fuji GA645. I shoot fewer 120 film now due to cost and inconvenience, but when I take out a MF camera, nine times out of ten it's the Rolleiflex no better film camera was ever built in my opinion.

Used with care, your Nikon FM2n or S2 (if it has been properly serviced) and the right film(s) should easily produce enlargements of as fine a quality as my Rollei. (I'll spare you what I thought of my Linhof images, tho' with the passage of time I now realise the camera cam was likely incorrectly set for the lenses I used). The Mamiya 7ii with one lens is also a brilliant choice.

Gear is fun, but the photography and the journey itself should come first. Also never overlook your partner's wishes, if you travel together. Divorce is too expensive (and traumatic) to allow cameras or photography to come between you...

It may surprise you to know that my wife is very supportive of my photography. I'm very grateful and I'm careful to never complain about the weight or bulk of the gear. I can also carry my bags and her things, as well, so it's not too much of a burden!

I recently developed rolls from all three cameras and they seem to be in excellent order. On this trip, I'm packing everything into a Domke F2... Seems perfectly reasonable to me!

rwreich · Jun 16, 2016

jeffreyg said:
Just curious... what did you end up taking on the Florida trip and how did your decision work out?

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

The trip to Florida was fantastic. I am really glad that I took the RB67 on that trip and I made some nice images with it. Here's a link to see some, if you want:

http://www.sunsethillsphotography.com/Travel/Little-Palm-Island-2016/

Now, in the end, I decided to take the Pentax 645. I think that was a mistake, even though I got pictures from that system that I really like. The reason why I feel it was a mistake is that I really missed having a lens faster than f/2.8. In hindsight, I should have taken the S2, like I had originally intended. Live and learn!

Jeff Bradford · Jun 16, 2016

I always bring my whole Pentax 645 kit, plus a Kodak Medalist 6x9, a 35mm, and a tripod. Now that I have a Koni-Omega Rapid, I'm rethinking how to carry it all.

Multi-Format Traveling

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