My perfect Leica M Travel Kit - YMMV

[OldMan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I think this covers my bases - light, compact and versatile.  

Wotancraft Pilot 3.5L w/ Air Tag plus Wotancraft Modular Pouch:

• Leica M11 & Leica 50mm f/2.0 Summicron APO with Grip and Rope PD Neck Strap.  
• Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 FLE & Leica Elmar-M 24 f/3.8 ASPH on Double End Cap
• In Wotancraft Pouch:
  • Wipes, Lens Brush & Blower
  • Spare Camera Battery & SD Cards
  • Notebook & Pen

[Advertisement]

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

[jaapv]

No charger? No gel stick? Pol filter? 

[DenverSteve]

If I was only taking my M11 it would include 35, 50 & 75 Summicron. The essentials of course, battery, USB-C cord, SD card, sensor brush, neck strap and lens hood and essential filters. 

[OldMan]

Gel stick, usb-c for charging, polarizers in suitcase to be left in the room to use as needed. Never got on with the 75, I’ve got a 90 I rarely use and wanted to stick with 3 lens kit.  This kit is to carry with me as I walk about. 

[Archiver]

Very nice choices. My M travel kit is similar:

Leica M9 with standard strap, Luigi half case

Zeiss Biogon 21mm f2.8, Distagon 35mm f1.4, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v5, Zeiss 21mm viewfinder

I tend to use the 21mm for walking around, the 35/1.4 at night, and the 50 for portraits.

Second battery and charger, portable hard drive with external power

Panasonic LX10 for pocket camera backup, second battery, charger and USB cable.

Everything can fit in a small shoulder bag like the now discontinued Crumpler Dry Red Boarding bag, Lowepro Streamline 250, or a possible Bellroy Venture Sling in the future. The hard drive and cables stay at the hotel or wherever.

Because I shoot a lot of video, there is a complementary kit for trips when video is important. This includes the Panasonic GX85 or G9 with Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8, Olympus 17mm, 25mm and 45mm f1.8. Spare battery, charger, USB cable.

 

[Archiver]

33 minutes ago, OldMan said:

Gel stick, usb-c for charging, polarizers in suitcase to be left in the room to use as needed. Never got on with the 75, I’ve got a 90 I rarely use and wanted to stick with 3 lens kit.  This kit is to carry with me as I walk about. 

In my early days with the M9, I tried carrying at 75mm in the kit, but hardly used it. The 21, 35 and 50 got the most use, with the 21 during the day, fast 35 at night, and 50 about 25% of the time.

[OldMan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

25 minutes ago, Archiver said:

In my early days with the M9, I tried carrying at 75mm in the kit, but hardly used it. The 21, 35 and 50 got the most use, with the 21 during the day, fast 35 at night, and 50 about 25% of the time.

My thoughts exactly!

Edited May 5, 2023 by OldMan

[OldMan]

I went for 24 vs 21 to avoid clip on viewfinder. 

Edited May 5, 2023 by OldMan

[jakontil]

When travelling i have plenty to carry in my checked in luggage, my backup M’s and 50mm lenses, but i always have my oberwerth freiburg handy, and what’s inside usually M11 + M6 with each mounted 35 FLE II and 35 lux SR respectively, then comes the powerbank (good to charge my m11 and iphone if necessary), lens pen, wipes, hand sanitizer, notebook, pen, kodak film box of 5, mini torchlight and a 28 summaron ( just love this tiny lens)

[newtoleica]

Yep M7, M10-P, 24 elmarit, 35 Lux pre-fle and 50 Lux. makes a simple kit. I have a 90 and now a 15, but I wouldnt walk around with them for street. More specialist lenses. I dont use polarisers.

[lucerne]

whaaaat!
no rocket blower?
no printed manual?

cloth?
coins for emergencies?

painkillers for your bad back?

I always carry spare batteries for my hearing aid!

Edited May 5, 2023 by lucerne

[ianforber]

For a city break, I’d just take my M11, spare battery and my CV 35mm. Charger only if I was going for more than 3 days. All in my Billingham Hadley Pro Small. If I had one I’d also take the Leica 90mm Elmar f4. I wouldn’t bother with my 50mm Summicron. If going somewhere with landscape photography, I’d add in my Sirui travel tripod and some IR and ND filters and replace the small Hadley with my Hadley Pro 2020. 

Actually, I might just leave all that at home and take my Q2!

[SiggiGun]

My travel "kit" depends on the type of travel and target. here are my different options (mainly with M11): Landscape, Urban, Sea, Street,...

1. Apo-Summicron-M f2.0/35mm ASPH.
2. Summilux-M f1.4/35mm ASPH.
3. Summicron-M f2.0/28mm ASPH. + Apo-Summicron-M f2.0/50mm ASPH.
4. Apo-Summicron-M f2.0/35mm ASPH. + Apo-Summicron-M f2.0/75mm ASPH.
5. Super-Elmar-M f4.0/21mm + Tri-Elmar-M f4.0/28-35-50mm ASPH. + Macro-Elmar f4.0/90mm

[rustyrus]

Leica M11 or M11m with a 35 if traveling light. Maybe I bring a 35/90 or a 21/50 but usually a single lens when I travel. 

The battery lasts so long I don't need a spare. I also don't need a charger since my IPAD charges my camera as well

[otto.f]

I own an M10-R but the idea is the same: actually you don’t need the 50 because you can crop so well the M11 Mp’s. Except that you probably want the IQ of the APO 50. 

[mark1958a]

I still have not figured mine out as of yet.  I am really torn right now for general travel -- lets say to a new city or country... I really think on occasion the 135mm lens comes in handy

Depends on where I am traveling to

1) Voigt 15mm Heliar III or Voigt 21mm/3.5-- most scenarios the later

2) Voigt 35mm/2 APO vs 35mm/1.2 NOkton ASPH

3) Leica 50mm/1.4 new Summilux  

4) Voigt 75mm/1.9 vs Leica 90mm/2 Apo

5) Leica 135mm/3.4

 

If I take my  Q2 may leave the 35mm lens behind.   Of course accessories charger, batteries, SD card, bulb blower and perhaps a small flash.

So far I have used a Domke F6 and all fits nicely 

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by mark1958a

[jakontil]

10 hours ago, otto.f said:

I own an M10-R but the idea is the same: actually you don’t need the 50 because you can crop so well the M11 Mp’s. Except that you probably want the IQ of the APO 50. 

I actually have to agree with this, ever since i have my m10r and now the m11, 35 have been my best friends.. though im more of a 50mm shooting style but the anxiety just diminished for not taking the 50 

not that im a fancy cropper myself

[OldMan]

I can’t resist the APO 50 and, with cropping the 60MP sensor, I can simulate a 75 or 90 (but granted without the compression or shallower DOF).  But  my back will thank me for not carrying everything in the arsenal. 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[grahamc]

The last couple of years I’ve been taking the 35:1.4v2 pre-asph and 50:1.4v3 pre-asph. MP and M10D

But I’ve just added 90:2 v3, which will increase the weight  but I love that 90 and sits very nicely with these 35 and 50 

Edited May 6, 2023 by grahamc

[otto.f]

Talking about old men, I'm heading into the direction of limiting my lens park as much as acceptable to lenses with 39mm filtersize. That alone already guarantees low weight and it's very handy for the fiters. I'm only addicted to the Summilux 75 and the APO Summicron 90.