What DID you take on your big trip?

[darinwc]

There are more than a few threads asking which camera/system/lens/format they should take on their big trip.
I'm more curious about what you DID take on your trip?
What did you take?
How did it perform?
Did something get left unused?
How about some examples?

Any other problems? (getting film through customs, forgetting cable release, etc)

 

[Peter Schrager]

I'm here in korea right now as I'm typing
I got my mamiya 7 with the 80mm lens and a boatload of tmy400...and a pentax digital spot meter...
Makes for no choices...i.e. lenses or camera
I usually use a tripod but I just bumped the Asa to 800 and do handheld...
Have a light filled day ! !
Best Peter

 

[mooseontheloose]

I wish I was a one-camera kind of gal, but I'm not. I can say, over the past 10 years at least, that I always take one 35mm camera (usually my Nikon FE), one MF camera (first was a TLR, then moved on to a Bronica, to Mamiya 6, now back to TLR) and a Holga. Plus extras like filters, cable release, light meter, and tripod. Rarely I'll bring something extra, like a pinhole or polaroid camera. I have sometimes brought a digital camera with me, but more often than not it gets left behind in the hotel so I've just stopped bringing it (I bought it for low light/colour). As you can probably guess, the "extra" cameras get used the least. The worst for me is film - even though I mostly shoot B&W, I always bring some in different speeds, plus colour film.

The problem is know how much to bring of what, in both formats. Sometimes I overestimate, other times I underestimate. That's usually the worst for me, since film and cameras must be carry-one (for me anyway) - it's always a gamble of what I can take and figuring out the best combination of weight and space. Even though I've never had a problem with x-rays, I still worry about it. In then end though, there's rarely anything you can do about it, especially when you are NOT at the airport - shopping malls, museums, etc. really don't know or care about your film.

I think you'll get all kinds of answers for this, as everyone's travel needs are different: How long is the trip? Are people travelling solo or with friends or family? Is the purpose of the trip for photography, or is that incidental? What do people usually shoot?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Easy choice for me, as I always travel light.

Northern Europe and Norway: just my Pentax SP500 with 55/2 and Olympus XA2.

Across the U.S.: Canon AE-1 Program with ATX 35-200, Ricoh GR-1.

No problems.

 

[jspillane]

If traveling for business (minimal time for photography):
Canonet QL17
and/or
Rolleiflex 2.8D

If traveling for pleasure:
Hasselblad system with 60/120/250 lenses
2-3 film backs (100ISO B&W, 400ISO B&W, color)
Small-to-medium tripod

All works great. Far prefer the images I get on MF, but the Canonet I can keep with me at all times (even the Rollei can be a bit of a brick).

Have considered getting an interchangeable lens 35mm rangefinder to upgrade my small travel kit, but it seems excessive as I don't miss anything in particular with it. Maybe if I find a great deal some day.

 

[pentaxpete]

The last @Big Trip' for me was to the Philippines, my Wife's Home Country' We have not been away this year, what with Finances and Kids' Exams. I Took my Cosina CT-1 and two Pentax ME Super bodies, Lenses were the 50mm f2 Cosinon,24mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena, Vivitar 135mm f2.8, Hanimex 75-300mm f5.6, Pentax -A 28-80mm f3.5-4.5
I used all FILM was 'Outdated' -- C41 Kodak Portra 160 VC in Cosina , Fuji Velvia 50 in ME Super and Agfa SCALA in ME Super. I let it all go through the many X-ray machines in Hong-Kong and Cebu and Palawan Islands. Results were all GOOD. I did some 16x12" ExhibiTion Prints from the B&W negs.
Phils 2015 : Back to School ! by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Phils 2015 : In Inayawan Market by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Phils 2015 : Typical Nipa Hut by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

 

[onre]

Two weeks in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. Praktica LTL, 50 mm Pancolar, 35 mm Flektogon and a 135 mm Jupiter for shooting slides. For B&W, a Moskva-2. Moskva fits nicely in pocket and produces really pleasing images. Praktica and the lenses performed really well, too. The exposure meter in Praktica is center-weighted and works very well for shooting slides.

Here's a Moskva-2 shot from a previous trip to Spain.

 

[removed-user-1]

When I traveled as a photographer's assistant, in the mid-1990s, I brought a single medium-format camera and a few rolls of E6 film. My choices were either a Yashica 635 (80mm f/3.5) or a Fuji GS645s (60mm f/4). I usually had down time between shoots, and I'd go explore whatever city I found myself in. (Using the company-owned cameras was out of the question.) Having just the one camera was very freeing; I could concentrate on composition and exposure.

Until recently, I had forgotten that lesson, and most personal trips I've dragged three or more cameras along, with multiple lenses for each. This meant medium format (RB67), 35mm (Nikon), and digital (Canon). Pretty ridiculous!

Example: one trip, staying in a very small room at the beach, for a weekend, my wife observed that I had more camera bags than clothing; they covered the bed!

Most of the time I'd only use one camera anyway. So I sold a lot of gear and I'm back to that now. One 35mm body, two or three lenses, must fit in one carry on bag (especially if we're flying). No exceptions.

 

[Paul Howell]

Last trip to France,Minolta 600SI 50mm 28mm 35 to 70, and 75 to 300 and a Pentax weather resistant point and shoot along with one of those other cameras we dont talk about. If driving I will take Minolta 9, and 7, add 400mm and either a MF or MF kit.

 

[BMbikerider]

This last year on a motorcycle tour to southern Europe, a Nikon F6, 20/35 AFD, 28/70 AFD, and a 70/300AFD. About a dozen cassettes of colour negative film, 2 sets of batteries, table top tripod and a remote shutter release. I actually used 7 cassettes of film and out of the lot I suppose I had 6-7 failures and that was down to me, not the equipment..

 

[narsuitus]

What did you take?
How did it perform?
Did something get left unused?
How about some examples?

Any other problems?

Here is what I took the last time I shot a wedding in Jamaica with film:

Photo Case A (carry-on)
Nikon F2 with motor drive & power pack
85mm f/1.8
35mm f/1.4
24mm f/2
Vivitar 283 with remote sensor sync cord and WA flash lens in lens/filter holder
Vivitar AA battery holder (1)
AA Batteries (4)
Flash to camera mount (1)
Film (4 rolls 160NC, 5 rolls VPS 160, 6 rolls ISO 100 slide film)
X-Ray shield
Light meter
Table Top Tripod
Gray Card
Cable Release
Plastic bag (2)
Airline Tickets
Wedding Checklist

Photo Case B (carry-on)
Nikon F2 with motor drive & power pack
35mm f/2 (backup lens)
Vivitar 283 with WA flash lens in lens/filter holder
Slaves (2 optical)
Slave (Radio Slave receiver & transmitter)
Sync cords (Camera to Vivitar 283)
Sync cords (Radio Slave to Vivitar 283)
Flash to camera mount (1)
Soft focus filter
Tiffen Vari-burst
A1 warming filter
Polarizing filter
Nikon Motor Drive Cords
Plastic bag (2)
Vivitar AA battery holder (2)
AA Alkaline batteries (8)

Photo Case C (checked baggage)
Heavy tripod
Light stand
AA NiMH Batteries (8)
AA Rechargeable Alkaline batteries (8)
AA Alkaline batteries (8)
9-volt Batteries (3)
Reflector
Flash to light stand mount
Lens cleaning fluid
Lens cleaning paper
Air Bulb
Leatherman type utility tool
Electrical tape
Knife
Flashlight
Toothbrush for removing sand from equipment
Jeweler’s screwdrivers (5)
Pliers
Rubber Bands (3)
Metal clips (2 small)
Metal clips (2 large)
Handkerchief
Clothes
Power Bars
Travel pack (personal items)
Suit (2) beige & brown
Shirts (2 dress)
Shirts (4 casual)
Ties
Pants
Belt
Shoes (brown dress)
Shoes (shower)

The problems I encountered were:
1. Convincing airport security to perform a hand search of my film instead of x-raying it.
2. Condensation forming on camera and lenses as I moved between cool air conditioned rooms and the warm/humid outdoors.
3. Tripped while climbing stairs on a cruise ship. A wrist strap prevented my camera from falling into the water.
4. Cleaning women walking into the men's restroom while I was using it.
5. Rained during the outdoor wedding ceremony.

The things I took but did not use were a small tape recorder, a backup compact digital camera, and all the filters.

 

[removed account4]

the last big trip in went on ...
3x4 graflex slr and 1 lens
i brought a m3 and a 50mm lens,
and a nikon d200 ( for paper negatives ) for waxing & cyanotypes .
.probably next time 1 camera and 1 lens, probably the nikon .. or the 1/2 frame

 

[DWThomas]

My last big trip was a meandering drive, only semi-planned and scheduled, from here (SE Pennsylvania) out through the midwest and into southern Utah, northern Arizona, a bit of New Mexico, Colorado, and up to Vermilion SD (National Music Museum at USD) among other places. No passport problems (at least under the current administration ). Took my Yashica TLR and Ercona II 6x9 folder for film, and two other-technology devices (Canon G15 and an Elph something or other as a backup of sorts) (plus my phone and tablet also capture images). Took the Gossen DigiSix (and I do have lightmeter apps on the phone). I took a tripod and a monopod, but never got either out of the car! I took about fifty or so rolls of film in a pair of insulated lunch containers but only shot 13. In hindsight, having seen the results I wish I had shot more, but this was a pretty fast paced affair, on a few occasions involving others, and yep, I weakened, fell into the slothful route ....

For film shots, I might have preferred my Canon A-1 and 35-105 on the steam train excursion we rode, but that whole episode was unplanned until we were out west. And I did get some decent stuff with the TLR in "sport finder" mode.

All in all there's more than 3000 frames, but a significant portion of those are informational signs on the road, in parks, and in museums, electro-shot in lieu of taking notes.

Anyway, some of what I came home with I really like, but alas, am having trouble getting it organized and viewable!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Went on big trip this September-October. One film camera, one lens, ten rolls of same ISO 400 bw film for two weeks. Used camera every day, exposed six rolls.
No problems (it is Leica RF), printed about hundred of 8x10.

 

[tron_]

I've come full circle to shooting with minimal gear. Last trip to NYC I took my Zeiss Ikon ZM, Zeiss 35mm Biogon, Acros 100, HP5+, and Portra 160.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have two types of big trips:

• Flying to Europe: Hasselblad with the 50mm and 80mm lens in a carry on and a carbon fiber in the suitcase because I knew that the hotel room would have a view of the Eiffel Tower and I wanted to take night photographs.
• The typical driving trip I will take a pack with all my Hasselblad or 35mm equipment and just take out the equipment that I need for each stop.

 

[Bob Carnie]

There are more than a few threads asking which camera/system/lens/format they should take on their big trip.
I'm more curious about what you DID take on your trip?
What did you take?
How did it perform?
Did something get left unused?
How about some examples?

Any other problems? (getting film through customs, forgetting cable release, etc)

holga and leica digital point and shoot ... enjoyed my trip to the max

 

[Leigh B]

"Our" "biggest" trip was the wife's visit to Antarctica a few years ago.

Nikon F2SB that I had climatized plus a couple of fixed-focus lenses.
Everything worked flawlessly.

My biggest trip was Honduras, working on the Mayan ruins.
Nikon FA with a couple of lenses worked perfectly. Of course, no climate issues (dry season).

- Leigh

 

[guangong]

My BIG BIG trip was to North Korea in the early 1970s. No stores for supplies available. Also, difficult to take "unofficial" pictures when under constant surveillance. Used Leica m5 and m4 with135mm to 21mm lenses.An extra long cable release from camera through jacket sleeve to fingers along with quiet shutter release made life easier.
Now, if must travel by plane I limit myself to a contax t3. If by auto...whatever I feel like...35mm...120...4x5 (but even this depends on where the car will be parked. One of my best friends was presented with a special personalized Leica by Leica USA and he was heartbroken when it was stolen from a motel parking lot, never to be seen again.

 

[jscott]

Two weeks in Iceland... Hassy SWC and Rollei SE 35 as a backup.

 

[Eric Rose]

Last big trip I took my Nikon D700 with 16mm, 24-120mm and 80-200 f2.8. when shooting film it depends on what I'm doing and how rough the conditions will be. Varies between Leica M4 or M5, Nikon F5 with above lenses or Nikon N90s. This is for holiday trips not working trips.

 

[fdonadio]

Last big trip was to Chile, last year. I took a Mamiya Press Super 23 with a 6x9 back and Mamiya-Sekor 100mm, some T-Max 400 and Portra 400. Didn't need anything else.

Spent a weekend in the mountains a couple of months ago and took my Sinar 4x5 with 150mm Caltar-N and some Fomapan 100. Strangely, I didn't find that many sightings that would deserve to be registered on such a big negative.


Cheers,
Flavio

 

[trythis]

I end up in Europe every year or so but travel with my family so lots of gear is a problem. I end up taking a Fuji GA645 and an autofocus (w/built in flash) 35mm SLR. Since I have the nikon stuff, it ends up being the N70. It meters with manual and autofocus lenses and despite its wacko controls is easy to use one handed which is very important with two small kids. I also don't care if I drop it, the kids poor juice on it or whatever, they can be had for $5 or $10 at a flea market. (the N70, not the kids ;-P) I take about 4 lenses and half are manual. If I only used AF lenses then it would be the N80. If I can, I will tuck the FM2 in the bag for backup or in case I get some time to myself. I also toss in a filter bag and some tools.

I always try and pick up a cheap medium format camera on trips and look for more lenses. I am considering bringing just a cheap 28-80 af zoom next time, but would want to bring some faster film.

 

[Drew B.]

F100. Scotland and Ireland. Everything worked out well.

 

[benjiboy]

My last trip was to Amsterdam for a long weekend in July I took two Canon F1-AE bodies and these lenses:- Tamron SP 17mm f3.5, Canon FD 28mmf2.8, 50mm,f 1.4, 75-150 f 4.5 zoom all in a Domke F2 bag. I had no problems the weather was fine and I shot eight rolls of slide film.
The previous time I was in Amsterdam was in an October a couple of years ago and it was very cold and windy because Amsterdam is s seaport and the wind comes straight off the North Sea.