What lenses to take..again!

[fursan]

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Hi folks.

 

Was leaving for China and Tibet. But our travel agent has suggested delaying the trip by a couple of weeks due to the earthquake in Nepal.

 

I intend to take the ME along with the 28/2 asph, 50/1.4 asph and the 90/4.

 

I do have the 35/2 and the 75/2 and the elmarit-m 90.

 

I want to travel light. Hence the Nikon Df stays home...but that sensor..I will miss it.

 

As a spare, I was thinking to take my Fuji XT-1 along with the m- mount adapter. I have the X100S.

 

Does anyone with China travel please chime in with any suggestions or alternate lens/spare recommendations from what I have as mentioned above.

 

Kindest regards.

[Jeff S]

Unless your lenses speak or see differently in Chinese, use what suits you.  You're talking about whole countries here.  

 

Your title says it all…."again"…and again.  What will you do after you read hundreds of different opinions from this and all the other threads…average them?  You might just as well ask bystanders when you get there what pictures to take.

 

Sorry, but I just don't get these type of posts, however kind and well intended.  A mystery.

 

Jeff

[fursan]

Guess you should not have bothered to respond. Please keep your high and mighty attitude to yourself when replying to my posts.

 

and I definitely intend to ask courteous people in China where to make images. I do not take pictures. Seems you do. I try to make images.

 

Thanks for your response, however condescending it might seem.

[Jeff S]

Thanks, I'll stick to my simple pictures and prints.  BTW, you've mastered the art of condescension, without my help.

 

Jeff

[fursan]

And you have mastered the art of being unhelpful and rude without anyone's help.

[Peter Kilmister]

@fursan: Take no notice on forums of people's words ... they don't bite. It's just a bark.

 

Someone once said that the best camera in the world is the one you have available at the time, whether it be a smartphone, a compact camera, a Hasselblad, or a Leica S.

Recently I spotted a wonderful shot but had no camera. My wife had her smartphone. I told her what I'd seen and she took the photos. They are beautiful.

 

Take what you have and use it well. Photography is capturing the picture you want whatever method or equipment you use.

 

Have fun!

[fursan]

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Thank you pkilmister ( I am sorry I don't know your name ), for the polite and considered advice.

 

Kindest regards.

@fursan: Take no notice on forums of people's words ... they don't bite. It's just a bark.

 

Someone once said that the best camera in the world is the one you have available at the time, whether it be a smartphone, a compact camera, a Hasselblad, or a Leica S.

Recently I spotted a wonderful shot but had no camera. My wife had her smartphone. I told her what I'd seen and she took the photos. They are beautiful.

 

Take what you have and use it well. Photography is capturing the picture you want whatever method or equipment you use.

 

Have fun!

[gbealnz]

If it were me, I'd be in the same quandary.

If pushed for a decision, the ME and the 35/2 and 75/2.

X100S as a backup.

Gary

[erl]

OK children, enough rudeness. It is not helpful and also goes against forum rule, if you need reminding.

Each to their own technique and style. Be sure to enjoy it.

[dugby]

If you are going to the Tibetan region of China, my recent experience I found the following.

 

 

Chengdu is one of the main entry/exit cities, and is located in the clouds - literally. So much that it only gets on average 2 hours of sunlight per day. The remainder of the cloudy day makes photography difficult with slower lenses. In some of the adjacent cities 3.00pm seems like twilight.

7

My saviors were the 35 Lux FLE and a mini Manfrotto Modo 787 folding tripod.

 

in this region I was reluctant to change lenses whilst outdoors, you might want to plan your lens selection for each day, in the mornings prior to leaving your hotel room.

 

After a few days the 35mm stayed on my M240 permanently. If you search the fora I posted " a sample of using a 35mm for portraits in Chengdu "

 

Once up in the Tibetan region I found lugging the M240/35FLE the only items i was willing to carry on the steeeeep hilly ascents. Every ounce of excess weight was pared away every morning before setting out each day.

 

It's amazing what one can do with a single lens and a Modo.

[flyalf]

Hi,

 

I allway bring the 35/1,4 FLE,  spare batteries and memory cards. When in doubt for what to bring on travels I take less.The tele lenses are the first to go, then the 50mm. If I have spare room I bring a wide, in partcular for urban scenes, preferably the WATE. So a optimal travel kit is just the 35mm, secondly the WATE.

 

P.S. I am also puzled by people asking others whar lenses to bring. I do not mean any offense, but perhaps you could explain what kind of responses you expect and how this could help you? I myself would never in a million years let other people decide what kind of photography I should do (unelss its a paid commision). For me its such a personal choice that all advices however well meant would be meaningless.

 

Sorry about the latter, hope you have a nice journet

[JakeStone]

Medium: ME with the 28/2 asph, 50/1.4 asph and the 90/4

Light: ME with the 28/2 asph, 50/1.4 asph

Very light: X100S

 

I really depends on your style. Not so much on the country. I like more and more the 28/50 combination.

 

Regards

Jacob

[MarkP]

Well I agree with the others in that only you can decide what focal lengths you will need.

 

Having sad that, if it was me:

For a three lens set I would take the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH, 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH, and either a 3.4/21 SEM or 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar.

If I was only to take two lenses the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH, 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH.

 

However, you may decide that at times you really want to head out with only one lens so a 35 is still the best travel all-rounder (and it is small and light).

 

 

ps: put the Fuji XT-1 & M adapter with 35mm Summicron in the bottom of your suitcase as a backup.

[michaelwj]

I intend to take the ME along with the 28/2 asph, 50/1.4 asph and the 90/4.

 

I do have the 35/2 and the 75/2 and the elmarit-m 90.

 

I want to travel light. Hence the Nikon Df stays home...but that sensor..I will miss it.

 

 

Hi fursan,

A quick observation, "I want to travel light" and the gear you intend to take do not mesh well with me, three lenses, not the smallest either.

I'd just take the 35 and be done with it.

Most importantly, have fun and keep safe.

Cheers,

Michael

[250swb]

 

I intend to take the ME along with the 28/2 asph, 50/1.4 asph and the 90/4.

 

 

 

I don't see why you have to make it any more complicated than that selection. Take a compact P&S camera (a Panasonic with a Leica lens perhaps, so you can post even those pictures on LUF) or iPhone (type of thing) for when you need a zoom or flash or want a quick postcard shot to send the people at home. Have faith in your M-E, don't bother with a 'backup' because at their worst backup camera's beg to be used and confuse can your photography. I think you would feel you had more of a 'body of work' from your trip if you stick to one camera.

 

Steve

[fursan]

dugby, appreciate your informative response. This is really helpful. Know more now about what I should leave behind..and bring.

 

thank you so very much.

If you are going to the Tibetan region of China, my recent experience I found the following.


Chengdu is one of the main entry/exit cities, and is located in the clouds - literally. So much that it only gets on average 2 hours of sunlight per day. The remainder of the cloudy day makes photography difficult with slower lenses. In some of the adjacent cities 3.00pm seems like twilight.
7
My saviors were the 35 Lux FLE and a mini Manfrotto Modo 787 folding tripod.

in this region I was reluctant to change lenses whilst outdoors, you might want to plan your lens selection for each day, in the mornings prior to leaving your hotel room.

After a few days the 35mm stayed on my M240 permanently. If you search the fora I posted " a sample of using a 35mm for portraits in Chengdu "

Once up in the Tibetan region I found lugging the M240/35FLE the only items i was willing to carry on the steeeeep hilly ascents. Every ounce of excess weight was pared away every morning before setting out each day.

It's amazing what one can do with a single lens and a Modo.

[fursan]

flyalf. Thank you. You have contributed much by your suggestions.

 

there are certain places where a particular choice of lens might not necessarily be the right one. Based on people's experience of a particular place/country, they might be able to recommend what worked for them....and more importantly what didn't. Reading these

ideas would help me along. Just that. I know the lens I favor, but already I have realized that my gear needs modifications.

 

once again, my appreciation.

 

Hi,

 

I allway bring the 35/1,4 FLE,  spare batteries and memory cards. When in doubt for what to bring on travels I take less.The tele lenses are the first to go, then the 50mm. If I have spare room I bring a wide, in partcular for urban scenes, preferably the WATE. So a optimal travel kit is just the 35mm, secondly the WATE.

 

P.S. I am also puzled by people asking others whar lenses to bring. I do not mean any offense, but perhaps you could explain what kind of responses you expect and how this could help you? I myself would never in a million years let other people decide what kind of photography I should do (unelss its a paid commision). For me its such a personal choice that all advices however well meant would be meaningless.

 

Sorry about the latter, hope you have a nice journet

[fursan]

Hi Mark.

 

advice and suggestions based on experience are valuable to me. For this I thank you.

very much my way of thinking.

 

best regards.

Well I agree with the others in that only you can decide what focal lengths you will need.

 

Having sad that, if it was me:

For a three lens set I would take the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH, 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH, and either a 3.4/21 SEM or 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar.

If I was only to take two lenses the 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH, 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH.

 

However, you may decide that at times you really want to head out with only one lens so a 35 is still the best travel all-rounder (and it is small and light).

 

 

ps: put the Fuji XT-1 & M adapter with 35mm Summicron in the bottom of your suitcase as a backup.

[fursan]

Michael, you are of course right.

 

but I would hate myself for not carrying along my 50mm. Along with either a 28 or a 35.

 

take care and kindest regards.

Hi fursan,

A quick observation, "I want to travel light" and the gear you intend to take do not mesh well with me, three lenses, not the smallest either.

I'd just take the 35 and be done with it.

Most importantly, have fun and keep safe.

Cheers,

Michael

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[fursan]

Steve, grateful for your response.

 

all great suggestions.  After reading these suggestions, my selection has been finalized..I have gained a lot and have to thank people like yourself for having shared their experience and suggestions with me.

 

warmest regards.

I don't see why you have to make it any more complicated than that selection. Take a compact P&S camera (a Panasonic with a Leica lens perhaps, so you can post even those pictures on LUF) or iPhone (type of thing) for when you need a zoom or flash or want a quick postcard shot to send the people at home. Have faith in your M-E, don't bother with a 'backup' because at their worst backup camera's beg to be used and confuse can your photography. I think you would feel you had more of a 'body of work' from your trip if you stick to one camera.

 

Steve