Viet Nam trip; Film or Digital?

[earleygallery]

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As others have said it partly depends on what you want to do with your photos when you return.

 

If it's for personal consumption only I'd go with the R8 and a couple of lenses, and Dlux4.

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[symmetron]

That's a possibility. Or even the D2 with the DL4 as a backup? That would really be traveling light!

[MPJMP]

A few years ago I travelled from the US to Spain and Portugal and chose to take only my film M camera system and a whole bunch of Fuji Provia 100F. Everything was in my M-Classics shoulder bag and it probably weighed around 7 pounds (one MP body, three lenses, table top tripod, a flash that I never used, all film and accessories). Travelling with film was a minor hassle, but not so much so that I would never do it again. I put all of my film (exposed and unexposed) in a clear, plastic Zip-Loc bag. I always requested hand inspection, but it did no good. Once they determined I had no high-speed film they ran it through the X-ray machine, anyway. Luckily, it seemed to have no effect on my film (a total of 3 or 4 passes over the course of the trip). TIP: If you decide to take film you might consider grabbing a few rolls of 1600 B&W film and mixing it in with your other stuff just so you have that one extra excuse for a hand inspection. I waited until I got back to do all processing. Sorting and scanning took a long time, but back then I was single and had free time to burn.

 

All of that being said, I think if I were going on your trip I would take something even less cumbersome than before, like just my D-LUX 4 and a couple of extra cards/batteries. The less equipment I have to travel with the more I can focus on enjoying the experience. I travelled extensively in the mid-late 90's with only a Leica minilux and never once wished I had something more. The thought of returning to that paradigm of a small, simple and light camera to document my life experiences is more attractive to me now than ever before. So, my vote is to go for the most compact, lightweight, uncomplicated kit you feel you can get by with. If that's the D2 + D-LUX 4, then I'd go with that, unless you feel you absolutely have to have long tele-zoom capability from one of the SLRs.

[hamey]

Landscape and general views, Slide film.

Happy snaps, Digital.

 

Good Luck and a safe trip.

 

Ken.

[NZDavid]

I'm just a little confused: Is D2 a Leica Digilux 2, or some other beast like the weighty Nikon D2? In which case I would still take one film camera, the R8 plus the DL4.

[stuny]

David -

 

The D2, actually Digilux 2, is now a cult camera, styled much like an M and around the same size, though lighter, and treasured for its analog controls, terrific 28-90 f/2 zoom lens, and good processing, as well as usable from fully auotmatic to fully manual. They were available in the US in March 2004 and were sold for about two years. Pix below.

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[andym911]

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Here is my 2 cents...

 

Whether you are going to a distant country East or West, Vietnam or Argentina the choice of Digital or Film should be entirely personal preference.The country you visit has no bearing on that decision IMO.

 

Now you are considering between a 10lb or a 18lb 'system'.......WOW!

Maybe I am worng in my assumption but if you are there on vacation and want to shoot photographs for your own personal use, share with freinds and maybe enlarge one or two to print then I would scale down a bit.

 

A semi wide and a medium range lens is enough IMO, e.g 35mm and 90mm or a zoom that covers that.This will cover 90% of all situations.

 

From my gear I would take manual M2/M6 with 35 & 90 or digitally probably my trusted old (but great) Canon 350d with zoom.

 

For sure I would not schlepp 10 or 18lb but rather 2-3lb

 

anyway have a great trip

 

andy

[NZDavid]

Thanks Stuart, I thought that's what it was (so many models all sound the same, it's hard to keep up!). I remember the Digilux 2 and its Panasonic cousin. Great design, a shame Leica didn't develop it more.

 

Absolutely agree about keeping it light. Camera on neckstrap, waist pouch for a couple of extra lenses, often works well for me.

[wda]

I strongly endorse the 'keep it light - keep it simple' advice. A Digilux 2 and D Lux 4, possibly with the addition of the famous little Leica table tripod, would cover a vast range of subjects, both indoors and outside. In harsh sunlight, fill-flash can be most useful. Do let us know your final choice.

[symmetron]

It's looking like the D2 with the DL4 as backup.