To shoot cuba; Nikon or Leica?

[sharperstill]

what about a pentax? I've heard they're great in Cuba...

 

[MartinCrabtree]

So are Americans not allowed to go to Cuba?


Steve.

Nope. Cold war BS.

 

[David Henderson]

"So are Americans not allowed to go to Cuba?"

Though I suspect that the question may have been a tiny bit disingenuous, I need to say that if Cuba were open to a rich, populous culture only 90 miles away then it would be very different, and many of the factors that have made it an interesting photographic destination would not have survived as long as they have. The rate of change in Cuba is pretty high anyway and the changes since I first travelled there ten years ago are enormous. You don't need to think very hard to work out that if the place were to get a huge influx of dollars that the delightful decrepitude and glimpses of days gone by that have characterised the place would be submerged very quickly. Cuba is changing very quickly. On my last visit in 2009 I could not re-take any of the nicest dozen photographs I took when I first went in 2001. Every one has either been demolished or reapainted with modern paints that look wrong. If you want to go, then go soon and hope that the US government stay p----d with Cubans for a few years yet.

 

[Steve Smith]

Nope. Cold war BS.

Land of the free to do as you're told then!

That cold war (or non-war) was a long time ago. Perhaps it's time for a rethink.


Steve.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Land of the free to do as you're told then!

That cold war (or non-war) was a long time ago. Perhaps it's time for a rethink.


Steve.

As David pointed out, that is what's keeping it unique.
The risk is that Havana could turn into Las Vegas II...

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Land of the free to do as you're told then!

That cold war (or non-war) was a long time ago. Perhaps it's time for a rethink.


Steve.

Why would you turn this into a shot at me? A cheap one at that.

 

[Steve Smith]

Why would you turn this into a shot at me? A cheap one at that.

I didn't.


Steve.

 

[eddym]

As David pointed out, that is what's keeping it unique.
The risk is that Havana could turn into Las Vegas II...

You mean back into Las Vegas. Havana was "Las Vegas" before the one in Nevada even existed.

 

[Willie Jan]

"To shoot cuba; Nikon or Leica? "

I would take a bazooka.

 

[bblhed]

It sounds to me like you are restricting yourself due to either space or weight requirements, here is my advice. If you can beg or borrow a 18-200 lens for the Nikon that would be my choice for the trip. There are several companies that make that lens, Tamron, Nikon, etc. the Nikon with a Tamron 18-200 is what I find in my hands most often when I go on any kind of trip where I am not exactly sure what I will be shooting. If you are worried about a huge ding in your travel budget, I will tell you I got my Tamron 18-200 Macro (the no IS/VR, budget version) on E-bay for under $100 USD, even new they are selling for around $200. People that are unwilling to sacrifice depth of field in low light, or bought a camera without a focus motor in the body are selling 18-200 lenses to get the Vibration Reduction motor in the lens versions so you can pick up the "less desirable" ones cheep right now. If you can't carry a "bag O' glass" that may be the lens you want. Don't get me wrong, I do love my Nikon 28mm, and it is a better 28mm lens than the 18-200, but for vacation, it's wide zoom all the way for me. Enjoy your trip!

 

[clayne]

18-200 is a great way to alienate any human subjects you come across. Not to mention satisfying the tourist with big camera look.

As someone who photographs in foreign environments I can tell you 100% that a big camera is the last thing you want to bring.

Short primes on the wide side, get close, talk to people. If you can see, you won't go wrong.

 

[Markok765]

18-200 is a great way to alienate any human subjects you come across. Not to mention satisfying the tourist with big camera look.

As someone who photographs in foreign environments I can tell you 100% that a big camera is the last thing you want to bring.

Short primes on the wide side, get close, talk to people. If you can see, you won't go wrong.

I suppose the leica's out of the question, with only a 50mm?

 

[clayne]

I suppose the leica's out of the question, with only a 50mm?

I don't see why not. Other than 50mm being slightly long it's a classic and perfect combo.

 

[Markok765]

I don't see why not. Other than 50mm being slightly long it's a classic and perfect combo.

I'm simply not used to color film and normal\long lenses

 

[clayne]

I'm simply not used to color film and normal\long lenses

Enjoy the color of black and white then.

 

[Markok765]

Enjoy the color of black and white then.

<3

Sadly, I'm out of money for BW and have a stockpile of color