Ecaton Posted March 3, 2012 Share #1 Posted March 3, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Next week I'll spend 4 days in Marrakech. My plan is to travel light with one body and two lenses only. For those who already visited the city, old and new part, which two focal lengths would you recommend. I assume a wide lens is useful for the old part of town. The widest I have for the M9 is 24mm (I have a CV 15, but use it on the GXR only). I was thinking to take the 24 Elmarit and 50 asph Summilux with me. I'm just not sure whether I won't regret having left the Summilux asph 35 at home. Thanks for your input. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hi Ecaton, Take a look here Focal lengths recommendations for Marrakech. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted March 3, 2012 Share #2 Posted March 3, 2012 Personally I'd take the 35mm and 50mm. I've never bought into the idea that if streets are narrow a wide angle lens will be better. Wide angle lenses may fit more in, but that doesn't mean that they'll be interesting photographs. If I wanted to travel really light I'd just take the 35mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPH1962 Posted March 3, 2012 Share #3 Posted March 3, 2012 Why not traveling even lighter and taking only the 50? .. depending at what kind of photography you do, the 50 would be enough if you like to keep some distance between you and the people... or a 35 if you prefer to be much closer to them. If you don't take so much alive subjects you can well afford having as you mentioned the 24/50 setup... time to look, time to change lenses.... Anyway - enjoy the time there, the people and food are lovely, should you miss american food - go to the central train station, in the main hall you find a Mc Donalds. Be a bit careful around the Busstation near Jamna el fna, some women or men with bad intentions lurk around there.... have a nice trip JP 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 3, 2012 Share #4 Posted March 3, 2012 I vote for the 24/50 combination. Have a good trip! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank_W Posted March 3, 2012 Share #5 Posted March 3, 2012 I was there in January, 50mm is what you need most of the time! Second 35mm. That's it. Regards Frank 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghosh9691 Posted March 3, 2012 Share #6 Posted March 3, 2012 I'd go wide and normal/tele...i.e. 24mm with either a 50mm or a 90mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manolo Laguillo Posted March 3, 2012 Share #7 Posted March 3, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the famous market place, the suk, I would need a wide angle, and a 24 is better than a 35... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted March 4, 2012 Share #8 Posted March 4, 2012 Hello Ecaton, Instead of a 2d lens I would take 1 lens, a 35, & a small, solid, table tripod w/ a large ball head & a cable release. You will be surprised how many places there are to use it once you start thinking about it. Walls, doorways, rocks, trees, etc. Against my chest it gives me 2 stops. Better than a 2d lens. Best Regards, Michael Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted March 4, 2012 Share #9 Posted March 4, 2012 12 and 135 should cover the range. Why do we continue asking these questions? I don't understand. You need something wide-ish for indoors, narrow streets, people in places etc. 21-35 ballpark, also depending on your personal preferences. For me 35 (FF) or 28 (M8) is fine. Something long-ish 75/90/135 (FF) or 50/70/90 (M8) for portraits & similar. I could live with 28 and 50 for any location and circumstance, possibly taking a 90/2.8 for special occasions (all on M8, so 35, 75, 135 on FF). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delcredere Posted March 4, 2012 Share #10 Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) Just a thought but Marrakech was very dusty when I was there a couple of years ago and I suffered from spots on my sensor which resulted in a lot of post production touch ups. So it could be best to take just one lens, either a 24 or a 35, and not change it... Maybe you already know about it but the garden owned by Yves St Laurent (sorry the name escapes me) is wonderful. Edited March 4, 2012 by Delcredere Spelling mistakes caused by auto spellchecker! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WPalank Posted March 4, 2012 Share #11 Posted March 4, 2012 VERY difficult too do people shots in Marrakech. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted March 4, 2012 Share #12 Posted March 4, 2012 Why take only one or two lenses if you're unsure what focal lengths you will need? A lens left behind in the hotel safe can be used the next day, whereas a lens back home is useless. Leica glass isn't that big or heavy to travel with, and while I do believe it's a good idea to not change lenses often, and to carry a light weight kit for mobility, I do not feel the same way about what I bring along on the journey. "Be prepared", as my old Scoutmaster used to say. With 4 days I would definitely bring the 24,35 and 50, and adjust my daily kit as the experience unfolds. Travel safe and good luck. Sounds like a wonderful adventure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveclem Posted March 4, 2012 Share #13 Posted March 4, 2012 I tried in the souk but got a lot of negative from the subjects and/or demands for money. That along with the pickpockets, fleecers, kids spitting at the girlfriend and one peasant slapping her arse in front of a policeman did it for me, never again. Later that day we 'hired' a local as a guide and he did keep the pests away and we paid him for his trouble so all in all, not so refreshing an experience. Who knows how it is now, if your approach is better than mine was then you may well have a good time, we left with mixed feelings. It was a heck of a lot easier sans camera, just the hard sell market traders grabbing your arms and trying to drag you into their stalls was a tad grievous at times. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jippiejee Posted March 4, 2012 Share #14 Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) I was in Fez last winter, and it's good to remember people are very camera-hostile in general. Good thing about a good wide angle lens is that you point it slightly off, and nobody will notice they're still in the shot. In the busy narrow streets of the Moroccon medinas, wide angle is all you really need to capture anything at all. I vote for 24mm as standard walk-around lens and maybe a 50mm in your pocket for the occasional tight shot. Edited March 4, 2012 by jippiejee Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks for all your input. I'll be taking M9 with Elmarit 24 and 50 asph Summilux with me. From the 4 days in Marrakech I plan to use 2 for day trips outside of Marrakech. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share #16 Posted March 5, 2012 Why do we continue asking these questions? I don't understand. Because places differ and those who already visited will share their experience. I would not take the same focal lengths with me for e.g. Mexico City as compared to NYC etc, based on personal experience. Now with the input of people shots being a challenge in Marrakech, I do not see much use for a 35mm for my shooting style. You might know it "all", but for me it was worth asking the question. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhsimmonds Posted March 5, 2012 Share #17 Posted March 5, 2012 My daughter is in Marakech at the moment, taking her Canon G2 and it sounds like a good choice after reading some of the comments here. She should be back on Wednesday so I shall be interested in what she thinks. As for me, it seems as if my little Fuji X100 would do very well indeed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted March 5, 2012 Share #18 Posted March 5, 2012 Key word; stealth. Something wide to shoot from the hip set to hyperfocal (which also helps in cramped quarters) and something long to get shots from afar where you can be more discreet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redridge Posted March 12, 2012 Share #19 Posted March 12, 2012 I would def bring the widest lens you got.... lots of cool architecture there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 12, 2012 Share #20 Posted March 12, 2012 Next week I'll spend 4 days in Marrakech. My plan is to travel light with one body and two lenses only. For those who already visited the city, old and new part, which two focal lengths would you recommend. I assume a wide lens is useful for the old part of town. The widest I have for the M9 is 24mm (I have a CV 15, but use it on the GXR only). I was thinking to take the 24 Elmarit and 50 asph Summilux with me. I'm just not sure whether I won't regret having left the Summilux asph 35 at home.Thanks for your input. I would take a 28 or 35 and 75 myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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