Traveling 3 weeks to India...Take the M9P or leave it "safe" at home?

[rivi1969]

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Good afternoon everyone, just want to share my thoughts on this one.

My wife and I are traveling to India early next year, we will go to remote places traveling on TukTuks, trains, boats and even elephants. Last time she travel there, after a month of adventure her Lumix came back in pretty rough condition, completely cover in a very fine dust that was difficult to clean and with a few extra scratches.

I want to take my M8 and M9-P each with one lens, but I wonder if I should be better off with my Fuji X-T3 and its primes which are all weather sealed. 

I know, cameras are tools to be used and enjoy, and a nick or two are mementos of our adventures, but...anyway... not sure LOL

What would you do?

Ricardo

 

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[Sandokan]

Balance the risk of dirt and dust ruining the lovely M8 or M9 against ruining the Fujis. Which one will you miss? 

On the other hand, which one is better for your photgraphic enjoyment? 

When I go to the beach with lots of strong winds and salt spray, I take a Japanese camera otherwise I take the SL as that one gives me greater enjoyment. 

[Robert M Poole]

Jan Grarup, the Danish war photographer has, I believe, taken his M9 into war zones! I'm sure it'll survive a rickshaw ride! 

N.b. don't blame me if it doesn't!!

[TomB_tx]

My last trip to the midEast was a study tour, and not for the purpose of great photographs. But I wanted to document the trip, so took a small sensor super zoom. Even so, I've used the pictures many times since, projected large for presentations and lectures, and no negative comments about image quality. Yes, I enjoy using a Leica more, but sometimes other tools are fine.

[Guest BlackBarn]

If you suspect you are going to be bore your wife to tears worrying about messing up the M9 during your travels then take the Fuji.

if you think the M9 is the only camera you have which would be capable of taking those ‘special’ images then take the M9 and accept knocks and whatever will happen.

My choice would be the Fuji.

[Mark T]

I cycled from Mumbai to Kanyakumari over three months. I took my MP (film) and a couple of lenses. Everything survived and I got some great photos. I'm pretty sure most cameras would survive no worries if you take a few basic measures to look after them. And I enjoyed using my Leica.

[david strachan]

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Hi Ricardo

Sounds a great interesting trip...hope all goes well.

It's a dilemma for me too.  

But usually take me Leica(s) if it's to enjoy photography.  Otherwise, for parties and fast moving people events, take Fujifilm cameras (XE-1's)...autofocus is just too valuable, and in-camera flash is always handy for fill.

I think you'll look after your cameras better than anyone else...and 15 mins cleaning at the end of the day should be part of the routine, probably, anyway.

Regards...

[hamey]

Since I am now a Fuji convert I would definitely take the Fujis.

The results I am getting from Fuji's is amazing, I now leave my Leicas at home.

Enjoy your trip.

 

Ken

 

[Guest Nowhereman]

My view is that one should not buy a camera that one is going to worry about. But I can't help feeling that the fact that the OP poses the question is an indication that he shouldn't take his Leica to India; but I would — and always have, regularly to Thailand,and anywhere else that I have gone, including Africa and on rougher trips in the Philippines.
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[IkarusJohn]

Not sure if it is theft or dirt and battering which is the problem.

I would take the camera I wanted to photograph with.  My choice is TL2, an M camera or SL.  The TL2 is a bit fragile; the SL is built like a brick (I’ve dropped it, used it in the pouring rain), and has a mid-range zoom; and the M cameras are my preferred choice.  Take the camera you like, and use it, would be my suggestion.  Back in the day, I took a Nikon FE2 and later an FM2 (and also a Hasselblad) with lenses to Thailand, Burma, Nepal, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Fasso, Togo and Côte d’ Ivoire, all backpacking.  Got a bit of sand crossing the Sahara, but otherwise all worked without problem.

Use the one you like the most, as your photography will benefit from your enjoyment - you can always clean it afterward.  It won’t take great photos sitting in the cabinet.

[Dennis]

4 hours ago, rivi1969 said:

Good afternoon everyone, just want to share my thoughts on this one.

My wife and I are traveling to India early next year, we will go to remote places traveling on TukTuks, trains, boats and even elephants. Last time she travel there, after a month of adventure her Lumix came back in pretty rough condition, completely cover in a very fine dust that was difficult to clean and with a few extra scratches.

I want to take my M8 and M9-P each with one lens, but I wonder if I should be better off with my Fuji X-T3 and its primes which are all weather sealed. 

I know, cameras are tools to be used and enjoy, and a nick or two are mementos of our adventures, but...anyway... not sure LOL

What would you do?

Ricardo

 

The gear is for use, not for stay at home, safe! Bring both M cameras, one lens each. Like a king! Then, only if necessary, a CLA later and voila. In the worst-case scenario, you just use one body more than the other. But you used a Leica, such a different experience. Not a Fuji cropped sensor. Weather sealing is a plus but should not be limiting for the sake of photography and passion.
My two cents.

[rivi1969]

Thank you all for your comments.

Definitely, I enjoy more using my Leicas, and my all-time favorite images are taken with those 2 cameras.

I agree, makes no sense to keep our precious gear in cabinets instead of using them on the field as they are meant to. However just to imagine someone out of nowhere could throw at my face Gulal (the colored powder) and get into my camera’s sensor, makes my stomach flip, maybe I can sort of “weather-sealing” them with tape 😂

I still have plenty of time to decide, what I am sure is I don't  want to carry more than 2 bodies. 

[michali]

42 minutes ago, rivi1969 said:

Thank you all for your comments.

Definitely, I enjoy more using my Leicas, and my all-time favorite images are taken with those 2 cameras.

I agree, makes no sense to keep our precious gear in cabinets instead of using them on the field as they are meant to. However just to imagine someone out of nowhere could throw at my face Gulal (the colored powder) and get into my camera’s sensor, makes my stomach flip, maybe I can sort of “weather-sealing” them with tape 😂

I still have plenty of time to decide, what I am sure is I don't  want to carry more than 2 bodies. 

India offers such fantastic photographic opportunities, take the cameras that give you the most pleasurable shooting experience. Like you, my favourite images have been captured with the M9.

My M9s have survived years of being dragged on safaris all over Africa incl. seriously harsh environments, the Namib Desert, Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains Tanzania  , trips to Antarctica, India & Iceland with no issues whatsoever. That was until the dreaded sensor corrosion struck, which had nothing to do with where the cameras had been. 

 

[otto.f]

I bought my Leica’s for travels mostly. I would be insane if I didn’t bring it all over the world. I would sell my Leica in favor of the Fuji if I didn’t use it for India. 

[aksclix]

take it.. you know you'll obviously regret it if you don't!

Edited November 16, 2021 by aksclix

[Topsy]

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

Take both the Fuji and the M9. Decide later which one to use but have both handy in India.

I'm with Al on this, the Fuji is great for quickfire shooting, evenings lower light etc and the Leicas are great for the general and special stuff. Plus you have redundancy built in just in case. When I wnet to China a couple of years ago I took my M9s and an X-T2 with 16-55 for that very reason and surprisingly used the X-T2 most but got some really nice shots with the M9s.

Edited November 16, 2021 by Topsy

[frame-it]

10 hours ago, rivi1969 said:

I want to take my M8 and M9-P each with one lens, but I wonder if I should be better off with my Fuji X-T3 and its primes which are all weather sealed.

What would you do?

Ricardo

 

Take the Fuji and at some point of time, drop by here for some shopping https://leica-store.in/

Edited November 16, 2021 by frame-it

[hamey]

7 hours ago, hamey said:

Since I am now a Fuji convert I would definitely take the Fujis.

The results I am getting from Fuji's is amazing, I now leave my Leicas at home.

Enjoy your trip.

 

Ken

 

A couple of shots that I took some years back with the XT-2 and the 18-55mm lens.

First shot taken held high above my head to avoid the crowds and second shot of a junk, both hand held with OIS on.

Try this with your M camera.

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Hallo,

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[LocalHero1953]

Took my CL and TL2 to India for three weeks without problems. Just don't go where they throw coloured powders or paint around! I think you'd have to make a deliberate effort to go there - you're unlikely to find it by accident. 

[MarkP]

IF you enjoy shooting more with your Leicas then take the two of them. Interchangeable bodies and lenses. Use them and insure them.