Just a Nocti for travel?

[Guest maddoc2003jp]

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I have a quick question now that we're on the subject: What's it like to carry an M + Noct combo around during the day when it's strapped around your neck? Does the weight of the lens force the front of the unit down? I've noticed this action before with lenses much lighter than the noct and it tends to annoy me. Lately I've taken to having the camera around my neck instead of over my shoulder but a dipping lens on the M makes this uncomfortable.

 

 

The weight of the lens force the front of the unit down, which is a good thing. This way, during daytime, the risk of burning a hole in the shutter is reduced and also the risk to bump with the huge front-element into something.

 

I would recommend using a good neck-strap with a shoulder-pad when carrying the combo for a whole day. The original Leica neck-strap is definitively not suitable for this.

[lars_bergquist]

Brett,

I has always wanted Billingham to make a camera strap in the style and design of their bag straps -- quickly adjustable for length, which is a problem with most modern straps, and with the same width of webbing, so we could add their standard shoulder pad.

 

In fact, I told them so. No response. Brett, you seem to be a local. You are also a Name. Maybe your voice would carry better, if you would agree with me?

 

The old man from the Age of Plastic Camera Straps

[Samir Jahjah]

I'm going to the Netherlands for a 2 week vacation, in particular Amsterdam, Bruges etc. Has anyone only traveled with a M9 (or other M camera) and a Noctilux?

 

I'm vacillating about leaving my 28/2 and 90/2 at home to lighten the load (I won't leave them in the hotel room). Bad idea? I appreciate your opinions.

 

The 28 and 90 are sufficiently small and light. Take it. Besides you will need that wide angle for the street scenery, and the 90 for those wonderful details found on churches and other landmarks. If anything, I would leave the 50 home.

 

Enjoy your trip!

[peter_n]

I have a quick question now that we're on the subject: What's it like to carry an M + Noct combo around during the day when it's strapped around your neck? Does the weight of the lens force the front of the unit down?

Yes the lens points down a bit. I've taken to wearing it bandolier style with a very long 1½ inch strap. It hangs on my left hip and I can carry it all day without discomfort like that.

[bybrett]

Brett,

I has always wanted Billingham to make a camera strap in the style and design of their bag straps -- quickly adjustable for length, which is a problem with most modern straps, and with the same width of webbing, so we could add their standard shoulder pad.

 

In fact, I told them so. No response. Brett, you seem to be a local. You are also a Name. Maybe your voice would carry better, if you would agree with me?

 

The old man from the Age of Plastic Camera Straps

 

Lars, I can pass the message on. I do know that the Billingham's are always incredibly busy fulfilling their current order book for bags etc. I personally don't use a neckstrap but the market must be huge with DSLR's included.

[scc]

I would take the 28 with you, it won't weight you down that much and should easily fit in a jacket pocket as you walk around.

[JosefSchachner]

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Second to adding some wide-angle to your kit, some streets here are very small and narrow, so the step back wideangle with the 50 might lead straight into a canal ;-) The days are getting longer now, depending on when your trip is there might be ample chances to get some blue-hour light in for the nocti.....

[peter_n]

I has always wanted Billingham to make a camera strap in the style and design of their bag straps -- quickly adjustable for length, which is a problem with most modern straps, and with the same width of webbing, so we could add their standard shoulder pad.

Missed this comment earlier. My two 1½ inch straps are made from old Domke bag straps and stitched by a local cobbler for this very purpose. The same strap that when worn bandolier style hangs the camera on my hip can be adjusted to hang it high on my chest around my neck. Very flexible, and I can use a Safrotto shoulder pad with them if necessary.

[Tim B]

Another vote for the 28mm. In fact I would hardly ever travel without one, although for many years I used only a 50mm - when younger I couldn't afford more lenses! My discovery of 28mm was very liberating and for years it has been my "standard."

 

Recently the 50mm has returned to favour with me, but I still take the 28mm.

 

I've just come back from a trip to Bruges/Brugge and took an MP with B&W, and M6ttl with colour neg, a 50mm, 28mm and 21mm. Most used was the 28mm.

 

Never really found the need (or the cash!) for a f/0.95!

 

Have a good trip.

 

Tim

[sm23221]

Another vote for the 28mm. In fact I would hardly ever travel without one, although for many years I used only a 50mm - when younger I couldn't afford more lenses! My discovery of 28mm was very liberating and for years it has been my "standard."

 

Recently the 50mm has returned to favour with me, but I still take the 28mm.

 

I've just come back from a trip to Bruges/Brugge and took an MP with B&W, and M6ttl with colour neg, a 50mm, 28mm and 21mm. Most used was the 28mm.

 

Never really found the need (or the cash!) for a f/0.95!

 

Have a good trip.

 

Tim

 

Thanks for the tip. The M9 and 28/2 should then be perfect in Brugge. I don't use the 0.95 aperture because of poor light. I often shoot at 0.95 with a ND filter in bright daylight because I like the rendering at that aperture. It can't be duplicated with any other lens.

[SteveYork]

In a word -- heavy.

[Colin Barnes]

But Brugge /Bruges is part of the 'Southern Netherlands' - historically north and south have been together longer than they were separate.

--------------

F

 

ahh..every days a school day!...just like england is really just part of southern scotland:D

[JHAG]

Well, you can take it as an exercise, like Georges Perec suppressing the letter "e" from his novel, and calling it A Void.

Surely, with a Noctilux, you'll impose yourself quite a restraint, but it can be rewarding.

I'm also a 50-er, and I have 5 of them. Personally, I always take the Noctilux with me when travelling, with another lightfoot 50 and/or a 75.

In Bruggen, you have marvellous details to shoot (walls, doors, windows, etc.) with a longish lens and moody streets

at night (or hazy at dawn) a Noctilux will render beautifully.

[sm23221]

5, 50's? You win the prize for owning the most 50's. I've carried the Noctilux around all day in the past and the weight does not become an issue if one considers the lens' 0.95 rendering capability. I'm giving up taking my 90/2 to lighten the load.

[JHAG]

5, 50's? You win the prize for owning the most 50's.

I love the 50 frame, but the truth is I never sell anything so I first bought a 50 Cron, then a 50 Lux, then a Noctilux, then a 50 ASPH, then a 50 Zeiss. I need a good shrink…

[sm23221]

So do I!!

[Jamie Roberts]

{snipped} This idea that you must have a wide lens to do old European towns is camera club mentality.

 

Might be, but it's still nice to have IMO Do you *need* it? Nah. Only need one lens, whatever that might be, between 28 and 75...

 

Personally I'd take a 35 Lux if I was just going to take one lens. But that's just me.

 

@Lars and Brett--I'd order a couple of Billingham straps like that those described in a second if I could get them

[Jamie Roberts]

I love the 50 frame, but the truth is I never sell anything so I first bought a 50 Cron, then a 50 Lux, then a Noctilux, then a 50 ASPH, then a 50 Zeiss. I need a good shrink…

 

Nah--50s rule--you don't need a shrink, you just like your standard FOV

 

Anyway, 50s are generally abundant and easy to collect (if not altogether cheap when we're talking Leica). My M collection only has 3 right now--an old cron, a Lux ASPH and a Nocti 1.0, but once we start including other systems I'm going to beat your 5 and raise you by a few.... but then don't you have a set of R lenses too?

[JHAG]

Nah--50s rule--you don't need a shrink, you just like your standard FOV

 

Anyway, 50s are generally abundant and easy to collect (if not altogether cheap when we're talking Leica). My M collection only has 3 right now--an old cron, a Lux ASPH and a Nocti 1.0, but once we start including other systems I'm going to beat your 5 and raise you by a few.... but then don't you have a set of R lenses too?

 

Standard FOV ? I really need a shrink, now.

 

I don't have R lenses ? No, I swear I don't, er, wait a minute, you mean Leica R,

just a sec, I must have a… let's say 180/2.8, mmh, a 60 and a Macro 100. Until

I find a 80 at a decent price… Love the 180 for portrait. Am I bad, doc ?

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[Jamie Roberts]

Standard FOV ? I really need a shrink, now.

 

I don't have R lenses ? No, I swear I don't, er, wait a minute, you mean Leica R,

just a sec, I must have a… let's say 180/2.8, mmh, a 60 and a Macro 100. Until

I find a 80 at a decent price… Love the 180 for portrait. Am I bad, doc ?

 

You'll be worse when you get that 80R...and then realize that the 50R Lux (latest) is like the perfect marriage between the M50 ASPH and the 80 R Lux .... Sigh. I so can't sell that stuff.

 

The 180 2.8 APO is superb. When I win a lottery and can afford well-paid sherpas to cart stuff around for me whenever I want, I'll get a 180R f2 APO. Lord knows what I'll put it on, though.

 

How's *that* for crazy?