Which camera to take on vacation???

[Sirius Glass]

I was actually once on a vacation with someone who had brought a Hasselblad.

Whenever it was with him, it was always subtly or not so subtly about where to set it down, where to place it on his torso, so as to not get it bumped. And changing magazines and reloading them always required a sit down at a table.

Actually taking a photo was a dance and a song. Never under thirty seconds, often more.

How hard is it to carry a Hasselblad around ones neck? Of course a wide Rollei, normal Rollei and tele Rollei around ones neck as bling.

 

[Huss]

. I don't consider any camera a fashion accessory or status symbol so the Leica doesn't appeal to me in that way. Cameras are just tools. Period.

And I got rid of my Bessas because my Leicas are much better tools. I just don't understand wanting to use the poorer tool.
I get it if you only had the Bessa. But to also have Leicas and pick the Bessa? Does not compute.

 

[Helge]

How hard is it to carry a Hasselblad around ones neck? Of course a wide Rollei, normal Rollei and tele Rollei around ones neck as bling.

Whole days in Rome? Not fun.
It’s not like a bag where you can shift it around, and let it fall wherever it might.

 

[DonW]

And I got rid of my Bessas because my Leicas are much better tools. I just don't understand wanting to use the poorer tool.
I get it if you only had the Bessa. But to also have Leicas and pick the Bessa? Does not compute.

Each to their own. On this trip the "job" is not critical. The B team gets to come out and play.

 

[DonW]

Whole days in Rome? Not fun.
It’s not like a bag where you can shift it around, and let it fall wherever it might.

I had a fly fishing jacket that was perfect for holding lenses, backs and film. I never carried a blad around my neck. Always on the shoulder.

When I got to a vehicle or my hotel room, off came the jacket. Nice and easy, great weight distribution.

 

[Helge]

I had a fly fishing jacket that was perfect for holding lenses, backs and film. I never carried a blad around my neck. Always on the shoulder.

When I got to a vehicle or my hotel room, off came the jacket. Nice and easy, great weight distribution.

But not something to wear on a regular vacation. Unless you are… special.

 

[warden]

My first thoughts were to take my Bessa-R with Jupiter 8 50mm lens...

If I were taking this trip I'd stop right there. That's enough. One camera and one lens, and not your best.

I have spent a lot of time in Mexico doing photography so it's not like I will be burning up a lot of film on this trip. Mainly people stuff around the resort.

Another good reason to not overdo it with gear on this trip.

 

[DonW]

But not something to wear on a regular vacation. Unless you are… special.

I am "special" lol

 

[mshchem]

Leica M2

 

[MattKing]

Whole days in Rome? Not fun.
It’s not like a bag where you can shift it around, and let it fall wherever it might.

I had a fly fishing jacket that was perfect for holding lenses, backs and film. I never carried a blad around my neck. Always on the shoulder.

That fly fishing jacket would work, but it would make you look like a tourist from Alberta in Rome.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Whole days in Rome? Not fun.
It’s not like a bag where you can shift it around, and let it fall wherever it might.

Rome would be the 80mm, Normal, and 50mm, Wide Angle. Besides the camera bag allows you to carry small purchases.

 

[DonW]

That fly fishing jacket would work, but it would make you look like a tourist from Alberta in Rome.

Haha

 

[Huss]

Careful for being a target for pickpockets...

 

[DonW]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! My decision is made, well as of this minute lol. Once I get back I will share some images and see if you can guess what camera and lenses I used. Should be fun.

 

[DonW]

Careful for being a target for pickpockets...

I had a guy in Havana try and pickpocket me. It didn't go well for him.

 

[Radost]

Because a typical vacation is a very hard milieu for a camera to live in.
Unless you have a space suit harness that you can strap your Hasselblad to and a magazine for thinned down non-backed film, then bringing a Hasselblad on a vacation, it becomes as much about managing the Hasselblad as it becomes about enjoying your vacation.

If you are not there to take photos first and foremost, then bring something good, but small and carefree.

Some cameras are mostly near field cameras. That you can take out from a secure base like a car, a well stocked big camera bag, or your home.
Rolleiflex mostly fits in that category.
And all large format gear too.

Just as there is cameras mostly suited for the studio work like Mamiya RBs or large format rail.

It’s just not worth wearing a Rolleiflex down to the bone for a week or two of vacations shots. Running unnecessary risks too.

There is over 350 others days of the year you can use it. And for stuff that is ultimately probably more meaningful and well considered.

6x6 folders for the win.
I have my Minolta CL with 40mm F2, Rollei B35 and voigtlander Perkeo II or III always with me.
My current trip to LA I replaced the perkest for funos for a Certo Six. Just for fun.
But Honestly if I could get one camera only it will be the perkeoII

 

[Radost]

I was actually once on a vacation with someone who had brought a Hasselblad.

Whenever it was with him, it was always subtly or not so subtly about where to set it down, where to place it on his torso, so as to not get it bumped. And changing magazines and reloading them always required a sit down at a table.

Actually taking a photo was a dance and a song. Never under thirty seconds, often more.

Plenty of small medium format cameras. I have traveled in Arizona with a Mamiya 645tl pro II and got some great pictures. But nothing really that I could not get with the perkeo

 

[Radost]

My current travel. Sometimes I just like the CLE with 28mm instead of the CL

 

[Radost]

 

[Huss]

My current travel kit

 

[Radost]

My current travel kit

Where do you get the film?

 

[Huss]

Where do you get the film?

B&H, Adorama, Freestyle, BlueMoon, Lomography, Amazon, Moment, UniquePhoto, Retrospekt, SpartanPhotoCenter, TuttleCamera, Samys, PaulsPhoto, MikesCamera, MidWestPhoto, ebay, ColonialPhoto, lincolncamerashop and a few other places.

 

[Radost]

B&H, Adorama, Freestyle, BlueMoon, Lomography, Amazon, Moment, UniquePhoto, Retrospekt, SpartanPhotoCenter, TuttleCamera, Samys, PaulsPhoto, MikesCamera, MidWestPhoto, ebay, ColonialPhoto, lincolncamerashop and a few other places.

Do I need special rolls for processing?

 

[henryvk]

On my last trip, which was not quite a vacation but more like a family.. thing, I took a FED rangefinder with a 35 mm and 55 mm lens, Lubitel 166+ TLR and a Zeiss Box Tengor.

Personally, due to the fact that there were limited opportunities for photography to begin with, this made it much more difficult for me to decide which camera to take out. Even though I ended up taking a decent amount of pictures with all three cameras, on the next trip I only took the Lubitel. This was partially due to it's low weight of 550g as well as to prevent me from agonising over which camera to pick on a given day. I don't think I'll be taking more than two cameras (one small and one medium format) on future trips.

 

[Huss]

I had a guy in Havana try and pickpocket me. It didn't go well for him.

No money in your wallet?