One Camera Setup Around the World? What would you bring?

[baachitraka]

Why? Mechanics can fail too...

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

It's not a matter of if mechanics can fail (which of course they can) but if your camera is entirely battery dependent, and it doesn't use AA batteries (which a LOT of cameras don't), if the battery dies while on the road you could be hauling around a glass and plastic brick for the remainder of your trip. You're dead in the water and not because of anything wrong with the camera.

 

[JW PHOTO]

This is so simple! I have a ton of cameras I could take the trip with and while I prefer medium format it would have to be 35mm. Why??? Film is more abundant in 35mm, size of the outfit is a tad smaller than almost all 120 film cameras. Which camera make? It would have to be Nikon and most likely something in the Nikkormat FT2 or FM2 two style cameras. Why Nikon? 'Cause they and their lenses are almost everywhere in the world. Drop a lens and you can find a replacement much easier than say a Leitz Summicron or a Contax Planar. Plus, the bodies are everywhere in case you have problems. Of course a freshly CLA Nikkormat or FM/FM2/FM2n will more than likely last the trip just fine and maybe even outlast you. I own Canon, Leica's, Pentax and many more, but if I had to depend on a trouble-free trip I'd go with those style Nikon cameras(no battery problems either). My pick is based on performance, reliability and availability. My all-time favorite 35mm is the Nikon F2AS, but it is a little heavy. Lenses could be a 50mm f2H and one or two good Nikkor zooms. That's just me of course, but it's an easy pick. JW

 

[blockend]

Tricky question. It depends on the kind of trip. If it was hotel and motor transport based, I'd probably go digital with something like a Fuji X100s, but it wouldn't be an easy decision. If it was a backpacking trip I would take a little Olympus clamshell or two, one with fixed 35mm lens, the other with a zoom. To some extent it depends how much I expected to shoot, how long the trip was, and whether I could mail stuff home to be processed at a later date or by someone else. I wouldn't take a lot of film to warm climates for an extended holiday, because of worries about deterioration, bulk and concerns about multiple passes through x-ray machines.

On balance I would take a camera I could reasonably expect to lose and replace, rather than a luxury item that would attract attention and might require a heavy servicing bill before or subsequent to the trip.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

blockend - I think you're way overthinking this, or at least projecting fears and allowing them to control you. I took a Hasselblad Xpan, a pair of Contax 167MT bodies, and 50mm, 35mm, 85mm, 35-70 zoom and 80-200 zoom with me to Cambodia for a week. And I brought Kodak HIE as one of my films. End result? Fantastic pictures and no degradation. Same with the Belize trip - Contax 167 MT, 35-70 zoom, 80-200 zoom, 50mm, and a whole bunch of film. Nary a hitch - well, actually, the retaining clip for the focusing screen frame broke, but I was able to fix that with a spot of cellophane tape and carried on. All my photos came out in focus, so life was good. Point being - if you are so worried about what might happen that you don't take any risks, then you'll come back with a bunch of postcards instead of your own images.

 

[blockend]

blockend - I think you're way overthinking this, or at least projecting fears and allowing them to control you. I took a Hasselblad Xpan, a pair of Contax 167MT bodies, and 50mm, 35mm, 85mm, 35-70 zoom and 80-200 zoom with me to Cambodia for a week. And I brought Kodak HIE as one of my films. End result? Fantastic pictures and no degradation. Same with the Belize trip - Contax 167 MT, 35-70 zoom, 80-200 zoom, 50mm, and a whole bunch of film. Nary a hitch - well, actually, the retaining clip for the focusing screen frame broke, but I was able to fix that with a spot of cellophane tape and carried on. All my photos came out in focus, so life was good. Point being - if you are so worried about what might happen that you don't take any risks, then you'll come back with a bunch of postcards instead of your own images.

I took a medium format folding camera with me to the Balkans last month and the film was fine. Like you, I was away a week. The OP is talking about a round the world trip, which I assume is something like 6 months to a couple of years. A completely different mindset is in operation. It was an issue when film was sold and developed on every street corner - now it's close to exotic status I can see problems, not insurmountable ones perhaps, but issues nonetheless. Assuming a minimum of six months and a very modest 1 x 35mm a week, we're looking at 26 boxes, to be carried and disposed of. Is someone home we can mail them to? I faced exactly this decision twenty years ago and it wasn't easy then.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I went to Paris last October. I brought my Rolleiflex with me and way too much film, but hey, it's Paris - no such thing as too much film. I managed to average 3 rolls of 120 a day while there for 10 days. If I had to deal with film availability issues, I'd either just haul that much more with me (fill my carry-on bag), or pre-arrange to have film shipped to specific locations, like hotels where I had reservations. I'd either bring powdered chemistry with me and soup it myself or ship film home periodically if I were going to be on the road that long.

 

[Ap507b]

I won't pick from anything that I don't have.

Nikon F3.
Nikkor 35mm F2.8 AIS
Nikkor 85mm F2.0 AIS
Nikkor 135mm F2.8 AIS

 

[RalphLambrecht]

If you could bring one camera setup with you around the entire world in a year or two, what camera would it be? You can also bring three lenses. In this scenario, money is no object.


What's your setup? GO!

option1: Mamiya 6 with 50,75 anfd 150mm lensesreasonortability
option 2Hasselblad501c with 50,80 and 150mm lensesreason:reliability

 

[BradleyK]

One of:

1. 500c/m w/50, 100 and 180mm lenses
2. F2AS with 28mm F2, 50mm F1.2 and 105 F1.8 lenses
3. M6 with 28 F2 (pre-Asph), 50mm F1.4 Asph, and 90mm F2 (pre-Asph).

And also, depending upon system chosen, either a s******d of PanF+ or HP5+/Tri-X...

 

[FoidPoosening]

Briefly, no.

I would simply urge that you try a camera before you commit to shooting with it solely for two years -- even for a hypothetical. While you might love it, you almost might hate it.

Not that there's anything wrong with a Leica. And many would argue that the M2 is the better camera. Or the M6. Or the M4-2.

But you simply can't assume that because a camera has reached cult status that it will be a camera that you'll also enjoy.

Just to stir the pot, I would take a Contax IIa and 35-50-135 lenses. I shot with this for about 75% of my photos for about 2 1/2 years and have always enjoyed using it. This was my travel setup, as well. Love it. Never let me down. The entire setup cost me about $850 - a fraction of the cost of the Leica setup but still a large investment.

Of course, I bought all of this during the "dump film, go-digital craze." That was a very nice time to buy cameras.

Thanks for the advice! But yeah the Leica is just a dream if money was no object. Like I said, if I was ever to take a trip like this I'd take a canon AE1 program and three lenses as I'm very familiar with it. The contax setup sounds awesome!

 

[FoidPoosening]

I took a medium format folding camera with me to the Balkans last month and the film was fine. Like you, I was away a week. The OP is talking about a round the world trip, which I assume is something like 6 months to a couple of years. A completely different mindset is in operation. It was an issue when film was sold and developed on every street corner - now it's close to exotic status I can see problems, not insurmountable ones perhaps, but issues nonetheless. Assuming a minimum of six months and a very modest 1 x 35mm a week, we're looking at 26 boxes, to be carried and disposed of. Is someone home we can mail them to? I faced exactly this decision twenty years ago and it wasn't easy then.

That's a really interesting perspective. Stuff like this would be things I might not consider IF I was going on a trip like this. One can always dream, but having someone at home to send film to would be a plus.

 

[Michael Finder]

I'd pack stuff I have got. M2 Leica with 5cm f1,5 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar. No batteries, no worries.

 

[Marc Akemann]

While I can still carry it: Mamiya RB67 ProS, 50/90/180 (if I can take a tripod along).
Otherwise, a Nikon F2, 28/2.8 Ais Nikkor, 50/1.4 Ai Nikkor & 105/2.8 Kiron 1:1 Macro.
Tri-X

I chose this equipment because I'm very familiar with it all. The Kiron lens is tremendous from near to far.

 

[analoguey]

Everywhere across the world would only mean a 35mm setup. Something easy to replace, get film for.
I'd pack up 2 Nikon F5s, the 15mm wide angle, a 35mm or 50mm f1.4 AIS/AF and probably a tele (300mm?) - although I have rarely used one in a while.

 

[naaldvoerder]

The Aria was always a little too petite for my hand, otherwise a great camera. I had 167MT bodies for a while, with the AA battery grip extender, and then also an RX. After selling off my 35mm SLRs, I finally got back into it with an RTS III (NOT a great travel camera, just too bulky and heavy for that, but it was an opportunity to scratch an itch I couldn't afford back when they were new).

How is your itch coming? I have a similar affliction

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

How is your itch coming? I have a similar affliction

I scratched the itch about 2 years ago. I picked up an RTS III with 50 1.4 for less than half the original retail for the RTS III alone.

 

[Jesper]

I would suggest a Hasselblad xpan with 30, 45 and 90mm. If you are going to travel a lot it needs to be a light setup and though the xpan is not the smallest of 35mm cameras it is not that big and the option to choose between 24x36mm and 24x65mm is very useful. Very sharp and easy to use and 35mm film is still available at most destinations.

 

[RDWestPR]

This depends on what your preferred subject is and what you intend to do with the images when you get back home. Travel: K.IS.S.- For me, a Fuji GSW 690III with 65mm lens (or the 90mm if you are not into the wider view), a Minolta spot-meter, tripod and cable release. Along with as much of 220 C-41 as I could carry. Then I could go color or B&W with the final image. It also depends on the method of transportation. Are you walking or riding? What are the security concerns? Are you traveling alone? I have a friend who was in the middle of his 'round-the-world' trip and had EVERYTHING stolen while in Honduras a couple of months ago. A back-up set you could have sent to yourself while still in the field would be a good idea.

 

[RDWestPR]

OR... 3 brand new Zeiss manual focus lenses. The 21mm F2.8 Distagon (very wide), 35mm F1.4 Distagon (normal to me) and 100mm F2.0 Makro-Planar (short tele). Match those to a late model Nikon F2 Photomic with monopod and the finest grain film I could find, regardless of speed or type. Then pray I don't get ripped-off while in some exotic location with no back-up.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I would suggest a Hasselblad xpan with 30, 45 and 90mm. If you are going to travel a lot it needs to be a light setup and though the xpan is not the smallest of 35mm cameras it is not that big and the option to choose between 24x36mm and 24x65mm is very useful. Very sharp and easy to use and 35mm film is still available at most destinations.

Great setup if you already have it - but going out and acquiring it from scratch is NOT cheap, even if you're getting the Fuji TX-1 instead. The real killer is the 30mm lens for it.

 

[Axle]

Nikon F4 - 24, 35, 50, 105.

With Tri-X and Portra 400.

 

[Jesper]

Great setup if you already have it - but going out and acquiring it from scratch is NOT cheap, even if you're getting the Fuji TX-1 instead. The real killer is the 30mm lens for it.

Not cheap, I know, but the OP said "money is no object" so I allowed myself to dream a little. I got everything except the 30mm (ofcourse) and it is what I travel with (with a Widelux instead of 30mm).

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well if we're truly going price-no-object, I'd get an Ebony 16x20, a dozen film holders, enough film to choke a blue whale, and a personal Sherpa or three to carry it all around.

 

[analoguey]

Well if we're truly going price-no-object, I'd get an Ebony 16x20, a dozen film holders, enough film to choke a blue whale, and a personal Sherpa or three to carry it all around.

Not quite imaginative enough.
Money no object, I would have the film transported to all the places I'd visit to, ahead of me, as well as the holders
Even get the processing bit made in.

But not every place is accessible with a LF, I think.
(one of the reasons I was thinking an f5 is a better bet)