Possible safari planning with M240-- issues, concerns?

[hockey44]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Greetings,

 

Our extended family is exploring a safari experience next year in South Africa.  I know a M240 and a 35FLE and Nocti (or 50 Lux) are not the 'typical' kit one would take.  And I have no intention to travel with Canon 5D2 and zooms.

 

My question is the bumpy driving around in Land Cruiser or Land Rover and RF-- any one have any focus issues and exposing the camera to these types of driving conditions? Hard to imagine anything better built than a M anyway....

 

Obviously the SL with autofocus makes a lot of sense or even a Q for that matter-- but I don't own them.

 

I am interested in capturing 'emotion' and not close-ups of animals as the lenses will not work in that way.  So just curious what experiences people have had with an M240 and a safari-- what lenses?  My choices are:  35FLE, 50 Lux, Nocti and 90EM and ND filters of course.

 

Many thanks

[Berlinman]

In Southafrika I had a Q and M10 with WATE, 50apo and 90AA with me. Worked perfect for people, landscape etc.. In addition I had a Nikon D4S with 80-400mm for animals. Instead of the Q You can bring a 28 or 35mm.

 

 

Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

No issues at all on my yearly Safaris in about any African country you care to name since 1988, except for a short Canon sidestep, always with Leica. - I don't like Autofocus at all. It often misses the critical eye (or teeth )

My Leica kit of choice is the M240, a Vario-Elmar 105-280 and 1.4x Apoextender. And a bean bag.

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Disclosure - last year I moved to Micro 4/3rds like quite a few travel and wildlife photographers, albeit with Leica lenses

[steamboat]

If I were going on safari as you do with what you have I'd turn to 5D2. It's a fine camera. Pick up or rent a 100-400 for it. It'll be easy to use and you won't be trying to do stuff with your Leica it's not made to do. If it were me I'd get a small padded bag just for the Canon with that lens. Yeah, it's kind of a pain to travel with but when you're out on safari it's so quick and easy to use. I'd use the Leica for what it's good for. You can make some nice landscapes, overalls, and plenty of photographs of the crew that you're out with. Oh, if you have to pack the Canon and telephoto in your baggage, be sure to pack them each separately. A hard bang with your luggage can do damage to the camera + lens if they're attached. If they're each padded individually they'll take more punishment. Again, that is just for in transit. Good luck with your safari.

[IkarusJohn]

Greetings,

 

Our extended family is exploring a safari experience next year in South Africa.  I know a M240 and a 35FLE and Nocti (or 50 Lux) are not the 'typical' kit one would take.  And I have no intention to travel with Canon 5D2 and zooms.

 

My question is the bumpy driving around in Land Cruiser or Land Rover and RF-- any one have any focus issues and exposing the camera to these types of driving conditions? Hard to imagine anything better built than a M anyway....

 

Obviously the SL with autofocus makes a lot of sense or even a Q for that matter-- but I don't own them.

 

I am interested in capturing 'emotion' and not close-ups of animals as the lenses will not work in that way.  So just curious what experiences people have had with an M240 and a safari-- what lenses?  My choices are:  35FLE, 50 Lux, Nocti and 90EM and ND filters of course.

 

Many thanks

 

Take the 35-Noctilux-90

 

They're not going to take pictures sitting at home in the cupboard, and they should be ideal for what you intend.  From my experience (West Africa 1989), if you did want animal shots nice and close, you do need pretty long lenses - it's a completely different set of kit to what you have.

 

But there's still a lot to photograph and the M & 3 lenses will be fine.  Don't change lenses in dirty environments, be prepared to do a bit of spot removal in post processing, and use your gear.  Any battle scars it gains just adds to your credibility as a keen photographer!  

[jaapv]

Yes, for environment and people, there is not much difference with any other place on the globe - but on Safari the emphasis is on animals and wildlife photography - and the  M240 can be adapted quite effectively to that use. But it will indeed take long lenses, and there is quite a bit of useful gear on the used market.

[jaapv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If I were going on safari as you do with what you have I'd turn to 5D2. It's a fine camera. Pick up or rent a 100-400 for it. It'll be easy to use and you won't be trying to do stuff with your Leica it's not made to do. If it were me I'd get a small padded bag just for the Canon with that lens. Yeah, it's kind of a pain to travel with but when you're out on safari it's so quick and easy to use. I'd use the Leica for what it's good for. You can make some nice landscapes, overalls, and plenty of photographs of the crew that you're out with. Oh, if you have to pack the Canon and telephoto in your baggage, be sure to pack them each separately. A hard bang with your luggage can do damage to the camera + lens if they're attached. If they're each padded individually they'll take more punishment. Again, that is just for in transit. Good luck with your safari.

Personally, I found the carrying of a second system superfluous and a PITA. The M240, with EVF and long lens, is perfectly capable of doing more than 95% of what a 5D can do. If one wishes to get beyond that capability, the image stabilisation of MFT systems will provide opportunities that no Full Frame system is capable of matching. Last April I felt a bit sorry for the blokes with their CaNikons and long zooms. They had to put their gear away long before I stopped shooting.

[IkarusJohn]

Yes, for environment and people, there is not much difference with any other place on the globe - but on Safari the emphasis is on animals and wildlife photography - and the  M240 can be adapted quite effectively to that use. But it will indeed take long lenses, and there is quite a bit of useful gear on the used market.

 

All very interesting, and probably true (if I were taking a single system and did want to take bird and animal shots, I'd take the SL).

 

But I think you missed this part of the original post "I am interested in capturing 'emotion' and not close-ups of animals ..."  Nice lion pic, by the way; but not really what was asked.

 

PS - Actually, we are planning a safari trip next year (early days).  I plan on taking a single system, as Jaap suggests - SL, TL2, 21 & 28 Summiluxes, Noctilux and 90-280 zoom.  The 24-90 probably stays at home.

Edited September 13, 2017 by IkarusJohn

[steamboat]

My post above shows what happens when you don't read the OP and "think" you know what the question is.

My apologies for gumming up this thread with irrelevant comments.

[Reeray]

My habit to ensure the camera is less abused is to strap it across my chest and cradle it with my hand on my lap. This cushioned any sudden violent movement. I've made several Northern Hill tribe trips here in Thailand and believe me the terrain is rugged- bone jarring rugged. If you've got any loose tooth fillings, they'll be found! My 4 year old M240 is still as focus accurate as the day I bought it.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Reeray

[jaapv]

All very interesting, and probably true (if I were taking a single system and did want to take bird and animal shots, I'd take the SL).

 

But I think you missed this part of the original post "I am interested in capturing 'emotion' and not close-ups of animals ..." Nice lion pic, by the way; but not really what was asked.

 

PS - Actually, we are planning a safari trip next year (early days). I plan on taking a single system, as Jaap suggests - SL, TL2, 21 & 28 Summiluxes, Noctilux and 90-280 zoom. The 24-90 probably stays at home.

There is very little point in shelling out a considerable amount of money for a Safari if one has no real interest in animals. That is what it is all about. One meets very few local people inside a game reserve if any and the landscape, interesting for specialists as untouched, more or less, by humans, is much the same as other areas. Your 280 should be fine, but you will be missing focal length for some shots, especially in national parks where off-road driving is generally prohibited.

The basic idea of a single system is the way to go. If one carries a DSLR anyway, why schlepp the Leica along?

[hockey44]

Thanks for all your excellent comments-- I learned a new expression as well (PITA)....guess I am too old and not 'with it' to know this abbreviations...hah.  What longer lenses with EVF might I consider?  I am heading to NYC in 2 weeks and can see what used stuff might be floating around.  Years ago when I schlepped a 5D with 80-210 plus 1.4x it was quite a different vantage point that I was used to and since the longest lens I have on the M is 90EM I like the idea exploring this further....not that I a looking to bring along another camera, one of my mates is kicking me to add a Q for many reasons.  Would welcome any thoughts on adding a Q to supplement the 35, Nocti, 90 combo.

 

Cheers,

Ed

[jaapv]

Given that on Safari you will be in a vehicle, or possibly a hide, or keeping your distance walking, you will not be able to choose your vantage point for framing. So if possible, use a zoom lens. On the 240 I have been using the 105-280 Vario-Elmar-R/ 1.4x ApoExtender with great results for many years, although, because of my switch mentioned above, it is in the forum classifieds now. Handling a heavy rig like that takes a bit of practice and technique, so do not buy your long lens the day before you depart. Use it a bit at home first.

 

BTW, the Q is a wonderful camera, but does not add much to a 240/ 35 combo IMO.

 

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[thinkindependently]

The issue is *dust*. Very fine dust.

Years ago I went to Namibia with a Nikon kit and had to have two of the three lenses cleaned, even if I kept the whole stuff in a plastic bag when driving. Sand and dust are also blown by the wind.

But this did not stop me from carrying on: one picture was published in the National Geographic Magazine. It was well worth the dust.

 

As far as I know the Leica M240 is not sealed, nor are the lenses, but I do not think we are pampering our equipment, aren't we?

 

If you want to shoot Leica-style you will be close, even with the 90EM. My suggestion would be that you engage with the people, talk to them first and then take your pictures. This will not happen from the Land Cruiser. You will not be shooting while driving anyway, and there will be plenty of stops.

 

A photograph I took from a man with a tele showed a quite disgruntled face, which I understood a-posteriori. They have the right not to be treated like souvenirs. Engaging with them will avoid this and the Leica is made for this purpose.

 

Cheers,

L.

Edited September 14, 2017 by thinkindependently

[IkarusJohn]

There is very little point in shelling out a considerable amount of money for a Safari if one has no real interest in animals. That is what it is all about. One meets very few local people inside a game reserve if any and the landscape, interesting for specialists as untouched, more or less, by humans, is much the same as other areas. Your 280 should be fine, but you will be missing focal length for some shots, especially in national parks where off-road driving is generally prohibited.

The basic idea of a single system is the way to go. If one carries a DSLR anyway, why schlepp the Leica along?

True, though one can have an interest in animals and just take a good set of binoculars, and actually look at the animals leaving the gear freaks to fuss about with their lenses and talk cameras to each other.

 

As I said above, I'd take the SL, TL2 and a couple of zooms (actually, the 11-23, 24-90 & 90-280 would give me 17-420 all in native mounts). But that's not what the OP was asking. If I had an M240 and that dreadful EVF, I'd still take an SL, rather than shell out for another lens and 2x converter. Hell, I'd probably buy one of the MFT cameras you use, than go that way.

 

Why so negative about expanding my M system into long telephoto? M, poor EVF, R-M adapter, APO-Extender-R 2x (I have one of these if anyone wants it) and then a long R zoom or telephoto for animal shots, then the three M lenses for the photos the OP wanted to take in the first place. Too Heath Robinson, too much gear, too much fussing about. The M is a beautiful, elegant rangefinder system which all that gear, on safari, just became something else.

 

So, M and 3 lenses and good binoculars - enjoy the wildlife and use the M where it's best, or

 

Leave the M behind and take your 5D2, and run the risk of thinking "photography" rather than enjoying the experience with your family.

 

I think Jaap has commented else where about effective focal lengths - my experience in Africa is there's lots to photograph if you leave the animals out of it, but if you want good animal shots you need the option of long telephotos (as Jaap's image above shows). I found 180mm way too short for anything like that.

Edited September 14, 2017 by IkarusJohn

[jaapv]

Just one thing - with long telephoto lenses the EVF is not dreadful IMO. If one wants to go there we have the Digilux 2 -still a beloved camera- and, far worse, the Leica C. The EVF2  for the 240 is not great esthetically, but quite usable, and will certainly not hold anybody back in Safari photography. If you want to look at pretty pictures on a screen, there are other options - but they are not EVFs.

 

And you are certainly right that there are many fascinating photographic subjects in Africa that are shootable with standard focal lengths - but not really in the game reserves. And certainly not if you are paying 300-3000$$ a person a night to be shown animals.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[IkarusJohn]

Right, well I guess the old frames used on bellows cameras are perfectly usable.

 

VF-2 used on the M(240) - 1.4 megadots, 60fps refresh rate

SL - 4.4 megadots

 

Sure, the Heath Robinson version works, but it's a bit like watching a bad movie by comparison. Even the Visoflex 020 is a leap ahead. Oddly, I haven't seen anyone "watching pretty pictures" on their EVFs, but I guess you could. But the SL EVF is superb for taking photos.

[jaapv]

So it is. Unfortunately the camera does not appeal to me.

[hockey44]

If I may digress and ask for your wisdom on negative scanning please-- any services someone can recommend (I live in London) but get back to the US periodically.  I have far too many old negatives and slides of 5 'kids' that need digitizing one of these days.  Is 2000dpi and 24 bit a common standard?  I have seen from 300dip up to 4000dip and of course you pay for the privilege.  If there is a link to a FAQ or similar I would be most grateful.  All those old VHS, Super 8 movies need conversion before they are toast!

 

Now the 'dust issue' and taking my beloved Nocti worries me....but I suspect the animal closeups might not be my 'thing' and focus on sky, nature and the few people (my family!).  Should I be packing everything in zip-loc bags? As an aside-- my 'family' would be very upset if I turned up with 5D2 70-200, convertor and shade!  Maybe I will need to "re-acqure' my Digilux2 from one of my sons! Hah

Cheers and thanks

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[IkarusJohn]

I backpacked from London to Benin, using public transport and hitchhiking (across Europe, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo & Ivory Coast), it was 1989 and I was using an FM2 with Kodachrome and two lenses (mid zoom and 180/2.8).  It was dirty, dusty and sandy - I remember heading south into the desert on what was notionally a "bus" - more of an elevated truck with a box on the back with the sort of seats which had mesh for a back.  As we drove through the night, the sand went everywhere.  It was like a person standing next to you, throwing sand at you for 8 hours.

 

Anyway, I tend to keep my camera in a bag on my lap, and in those days I had a Lowe Pro with a zipper around the top. The camera and lenses were fine - the zoom was particularly complicated, as it was also macro.

 

I doubt you will strike anything anywhere near as bad as that.  I don't like using ziplock bags as I don't like condensation.  I use leather wraps (from Monochrom.com) or the pouches that came with the lenses, and I keep it all in the camera bag.  I also avoid changing lenses in the field if I can, which tends to mean that I store the camera body without a lens when it's in the bag.

 

I don't know what you photograph mostly, but I'm a 50mm guy by preference - the Noctilux would probably stay on my camera.  Having said that, do you really need that extra weight and size for one stop, when the 50 Summilux is such a great lens, and so compact?  I am biased, as I don't have a colour M camera any more, and I tend to use the Noctilux only on the SL.