Advice on camera/lens for trekking to Everest Base Camp

[rcusick]

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Only you can know your fitness.   The difference between 6000 feet and 12000 is exponential.  Everest base camp is another 6000 feet - I.e. 18000 - so exponential once again.  I am very fit and used to hiking at 12000 feet.  I was breathless after being dumped by a helicopter at base camp without acclimatization.    You should be fine two weeks in.  But the altitude is no joke. 
 

I would think about types of photos.  If I were to do it again with an m camera - I would take a 35 and 75.   35 for wide and 75 to punch in or for portraits.  I wouldn’t take an slr. 

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[Anbaric]

Apparently the Leica II works very well:

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Edited January 31, 2024 by Anbaric

[IkarusJohn]

I trekked from Pokhara to Muktinath (part of the Annapurna Circuit) and at altitude east of Kathmandu in 1986 - I took an FE2 with a 35-85 zoom (with macro) and a 180/2.8 telephoto lens.  The gear was compact, and having a telephoto was very useful.  Total time tramping, about 2 months.

Since, I have spent time in Nepal with a Hasselblad 503cx, 50, 80 & 150 lenses - no trekking, lovely images.

Then in 1994, I did some trekking in Tibet (Everest Base Camp) and another to over 5,500m, with an FM2 and also with a midrange zoom and 180mm tele.  We were in China for about 2 months.

Back in NZ, other multi-day tramps (3 days, generally) - Milford & Routeburn each with SL, 16-35, 24-90 & 90-280.

For most I carried just clothes and camera gear (except for the Routeburn where we carried food as well).  Generally, I try to limit myself to a 45 litre pack (the best so far is a ski patrol pack, made by Cactus Outdoor, a NZ company).  That keeps the weight below 15kg in total.

Two things about Nepal - (1) in May, you can expect rain and lots of cloud cover, except in the morning, and (2) it’s filthy.

For the Everest Base Camp, you’re unlikely to be in snow, but it is high - keeping things simple and weight low will make life easier.  Try to test out your gear and packing - take only essentials.  A great book (if you can get it) is Trekking in Nepal by Steven Bezruchka (spelling?).

For camera gear, I wouldn’t take film.  It’s a nice idea, but modern airport security scanners will fry your film.  

I would take your SL2 and 24-90 zoom.  It’s a great lens, weather sealed, and you won’t need to change lenses (a huge benefit), provided you can manage the weight.  The images will be worth it, and 24 to 90 is enough.  Take polarising and split neutral density filters if you can.  Expose for the highlights.  

For charging, take a power pack (does the SL2 do USB-C charging) or spare batteries?

Finally, try to work out a system where you can attach your camera to your pack (taking the weight on your pack harness) allowing quick and easy access.

It’s a great place, with lovely people - have a wonderful time!

[Churro]

If it were me I’d go with a Q2 and a Ricoh GR IIIX for redundancy. I’m more confident in the Q2’s weather resistance than the Q3 but I would put a small piece of electrical tape over the mic holes and then a slightly larger piece of gaffers tape over that for added piece of mind. I’ve had my Q2 in downpours without any issues. However, the lowest temps I’ve run it in has only been around 15 degrees. I imagine you may experience something colder than that. The GR IIIV would be a backup but also give you a 40mm equivalent. 

But I could also see how a Q3 would be beneficial since it could recharge from a power bank and USB-C cable. Or if you want to use your M10 I’d pick up the 28-35-50 f/4 tri-elmar lens and just run with that. I’m envious of your travel plans!

[dpitt]

Another worthless  advice 🙂

Whenever I carry my camera with me for a longer period if time weight and size are my main focus, because otherwise I simply get too tired to bother with taking pictures. (my health has been better)
You will take this to the extreme with the challenges ahead.

My preferred solution is the M9+Summicron 40C. If need be you can stitch a few shots. And most of the time it will be long enough. On the M10 a good 35mm would be even more versatile. Then size comes into play. Go for a tiny lens, certainly in the cold and when climbing!
Make sure you can easily pocket your camera with the lens mounted. In this cold the batteries will thank you for being out in the open all the time.
So, with the M10, lenses like the  35 Summicron (all versions) and Summarit will meet this criterium.

Avoid changing lenses in the open, certainly when dust, gloves and wind will make it even harder. If you must have an alternative, I love the Macro Elmar 90. It is the ideal lightweight and compact tele for the M. Raisor sharp, even at infinity it is the best 90mm M. And maybe it will even pocket in your winter coat.

If I want to cover wide and long focal lengths, I prefer taking 2 camera's. Yes, that adds weight, but I take a very light solution as extra.
The best in IQ and weight ratio is my M9(your M10) with 50mm or 90 mm (around 900g.) combined with the great Leica X2 (35mm eq.) + EVF (480g). This is still not as heavy as the SL + 24-90. Both pocket-able, so you can keep both warm and secure when not in use.

Since most of the shots will probably be with the  wide option, this is not ideal for your M10.
I would consider the M10 with 35mm and a second small/light camera as companion for a few tele shots.
Something like a Lumix Gx series MFT + 45-175 (90 - 350 mm eq) stabilized zoom will not weigh more than 650g.
And it will avoid changing lenses. That is only 400g more than taking the 90 and gives you far more reach. When compared to other compact 90mm M lenses we are even talking about 0 to 200g difference only.

So to list it all as weight:

1. SL2-S + 24-90 ~ 2000g.
2. M10 + Summicron 35 or M10 + Summicron 40 C ~ 950g.
3. M10 + Summicron 50/90 (1050g) + Leica X2 + EVF (480g) ~ 1530g.
4. M10 + Summicron 35 + Lumix MFT and tele lens (650g) ~ 1600g.

Taking both M10 and SL2-S looks very heavy for me at ~ 3000g. and I am sure that solution 1 would be too heavy for me on a normal walking day. My preferred combo would be the M10 + 40. Stitch a bit when needed and crop to 50-70 without issues.

[pgk]

Anything is possible. For example Samuel Bourne shot at 18,600 feet in the Himalays in the 1860s using a 12" x 10" wetplate camera (requiring on site processing): https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/286879 but in reality, today you will be simply limited by weight and batteries. In my book you need to take equipment which you are familar with and which you will enjoy using and which will enable you to record what you see acceptably. I'm not sure about an SL based system purely because of weight. If I were going I would take an M body (+ if at all possible, a spare) + 21/35/75 lenses + batteries and ensure they were fully charged and kept in a waterprrof (drybag) bag on you person in a way which keeps them as warm as possible to retain maximum charge. But that is just how I would operate. Beyond that I would suggest that you will have sufficient to do to keep you busy. 

[Seba66]

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Thank you guys for your valuable comments and advice. I do summarize some points and comments to your comments:

• Some of you, as @LocalHero1953, @R4p70r, @Pierre68, @Churro, suggest Q2/3 as the most effective option. I have to say that since I start to plan this trip, a couple of years ago, I had in mind that it was the perfect chance for me to enter in the Q world, that was so appealing to me at that time. For this reason I did a couple of test drive, one with the Q2 and one with the Q3, some months after. I know it would be wrong to come to a conclusion after trying the camera for only a few hours, but I have to admit that the spark didn't hit for me. I prefer the experience of the RF and, for a EVF based camera one with interchangeable lens. But the idea of a Q type is always on the back of my mind and sometimes I think that I could give it a try and eventually resale after the trip.
• I’m so happy to read in this forum from someone that already did right this experience, as @Xavier and @bentsimon. I’m really impressed by the gear that you did carry with you, as I’m impressed by the ones that @IkarusJohndid use for his multi-days tramps. But I know that I cannot afford ☺️.
• @Xavier you did suggest the SL2S with 21, 35 and 90 primes (I guess SL ones). It will be for sure the best of the best for IQ, but I cannot afford economically and physically 🫣
• Many of you insist for the SL2S with the 24-90. It should be the best compromise for IQ and not changing lens, I know because it is what I have used for most of my travels, but I did the last in November in remote islands in Indonesia with long treks in jungle and I did pain a lot, and many days I left the zoom in the camping area trekking with the 28 or 50 M lens on the SL2S. Just to exploit the flexibility of a zoom I’m also considering to buy a slow, very very cheap Lumix 20-60 only for this travel, but I’m afraid that I will be disappointed by the final results (after any of my travel I print a 40x30 photo book and sometimes I do larger print for my walls).
• Thank you @dpitt for your articulate advice. M10 + 35 mm as a minimalist choice is one of the ones that most often turns to my mind. 

[dpitt]

3 minutes ago, Seba66 said:

Just to exploit the flexibility of a zoom I’m also considering to buy a slow, very very cheap Lumix 20-60 only for this travel, but I’m afraid that I will be disappointed by the final results (after any of my travel I print a 40x30 photo book and sometimes I do larger print for my walls).

This.
I bought it for my TL2 as a light and compact 30-90 eq. Even then it does not spark as you say... Sharpness is there, but it is slow and boring compared to even my vintage lenses. I most often use the Summicron 35 v3 on my TL2, and enjoy what this combo gives.

On my SL(601) , I either take a nice manual R zoom or a good M lens any day before I would take the 20-60. It just not does justice to the qualities of that body, and I think it will be even more so for a SL2-S. The Summicron v3 works a lot better on my SL too.

[Xavier]

2 hours ago, Seba66 said:

• @Xavier you did suggest the SL2S with 21, 35 and 90 primes (I guess SL ones). It will be for sure the best of the best for IQ, but I cannot afford economically and physically 🫣

Oh, sorry for the misunderstanding. No I did not mean SL ones for sure...

I mentioned this set of 3 lenses as you mentioned these focal lengths in the first post, and was thinking about compact M primes only (either Leica or third party lenses). There are very light options for 90mm primes (some Elmarit versions but also the Voigtlander). Same for the 21 (like the SEM or Voigtlander /3.5; there are also some 21/4 by Zeiss and Voigtlander but I have not tried them and I know some have corner issues). The total weight should be about the same as if you take the 24-90, and the primes give you some more options like taking only two of the three before going to Kala Pattar (assuming you leave some stuffs at the lodge before climbing).

I have had an SL2s for almost two years but it has only seen M-mount lenses so far. On a recent (not hiking) trip, I took 21 SEM, 35 FLE, Voigtlander 28/2.8 and Voigtlander 75/1.9. The last two are really not expensive even new and are super light. I very much like to travel with such a system. So, I meant I would probably carry something similar (maybe 21 SEM, 35 FLE and V 75/1.9).

[pgk]

16 minutes ago, Xavier said:

So, I meant I would probably carry something similar (maybe 21 SEM, 35 FLE and V 75/1.9).

My current carry around is 21SEM either 35 pre-FLE or 35/2.5 and 75/2.5. These will cover an awful lot in all honesty, is reasonably light and very usable with high quality output.

[keeping_a_balance]

Q system seems to be great for this, but since it did not "connect" very well with you - maybe best not to buy it just for this.

What about the sigma contemporary 28-70 2.8 for your SL2?

I can understand how shooting a rangefinder would be mythical up there and you would probably enjoy it more, but you are going to be dealing with possible extreme weather conditions that can change rapidly, weather sealing seems like an absolute must.

Take what you have, the  SL2! All reports of that sigma lens are fantastic in terms of IQ, weight is only 470g vs 1140g of the leica 24-90.  Sure you miss a bit on the wide and on the long end.

Someone else mentioned a 3 prime setup - Sigma/Panasonic have some great light weight primes for the L mount that would do the trick - look into those.

Good luck, and enjoy the experience sounds amazing!

 

[IkarusJohn]

8 hours ago, Seba66 said:

Many of you insist for the SL2S with the 24-90. It should be the best compromise for IQ and not changing lens, I know because it is what I have used for most of my travels, but I did the last in November in remote islands in Indonesia with long treks in jungle and I did pain a lot, and many days I left the zoom in the camping area trekking with the 28 or 50 M lens on the SL2S. Just to exploit the flexibility of a zoom I’m also considering to buy a slow, very very cheap Lumix 20-60 only for this travel, but I’m afraid that I will be disappointed by the final results (after any of my travel I print a 40x30 photo book and sometimes I do larger print for my walls).

In that case, unless you plan to purchase another lens for your SL2S (I wouldn’t buy the Lumix), just take your M10 and your 28 & 50 - they will be fantastic.  Just try not to change lenses too often in the wild (dust is a massive issue in some parts) and keep the camera out of the rain.

Edited January 31, 2024 by IkarusJohn

[Carlos cruz]

Don’t know about Everest official camera and lens setup but for  k2 I wanted to go light so packed m240 with 21 and 35, another important issue is where to get juice for batteries, at least in Karakoram, maybe they have electricity in Himalayas. I packed nitecore charger and external battery pack. camera stuff aside get yourself comfy shoes and walk in them for few days before heading out to the mountains and clip your nails. 
 

keeping batteries/camera in your sleeping bag or under jacket during the day when temperatures drop is a thing.

Edited January 31, 2024 by Carlos cruz

[tom0511]

I assume it will be very cold up there. Can you use the M10 with gloves??

I could recommend a SL camera with the Panasonic 20-60. It is very light and offers a very interesting focal length range IMO.

A Ricoh GR3 could be also interesting, you can put it in your jacket pocket - I use one when going for skiing.

Overall ...my recommendation is to enjoy the moment / time up there, and leave photography in the background.

[fabior]

they say the best camera is the one you hold in your hand ready to shoot. So even if the logic would be to have an SL with zoom in your backpack, perhaps an M around your neck with a lens you like is the solution that could give the best results. Less is simple.

[FrozenInTime]

My general advice for trekking in the hills with a camera is also to always have it at the ready. A camera in your backpack will not be used if you are tired, cold, wet, do not want to hold up the walking group, on a precipitous edge etc. .... 
I prefer a lens wide enough to include context, such as members of the party within the landscape rather than a postcard like shot of a distant hill with a long lens.

Carry a camera as heavy as the M10 around your neck for a long period in the hills will only result in pain, so have several different carry options available e.g a hip belt pouch on your backpack, a cross body sling and keep handy a dry bag for river crossings. To stop things bouncing around or falling off, carabiners and rubber ties are your friends.

I tried using the SL2-S for hill walking found it too bulk to conveniently carry even with the sigma L 35/2.  Single handed operation is often important to me, another issue with the SL2-S. Dust on the sensor when changing lenses was guaranteed.

The best Leica camera options I have found over the years for hiking, were the CL with 18-56 during the day, paired with a M10 with 35mm Summilux for low light. These days, where weight and endurance were pressing concerns, sorry Leica, I would just take two X100Vs ( USB charging, waterproofness and single handed back-button AF ).

[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, FrozenInTime said:

I would just take two X100Vs ( USB charging, waterproofness and single handed back-button AF ).

Hardly waterproof; marketed as weather resistant (different meaning), with no formal IP rating, unlike an SL2 (IP54).  And, unlike the SL lenses, the compatible Fuji lenses are not weather sealed, and the camera comes with a warning to use the optional adapter and protective filter for better weather resistance. There are also (unofficial) reports of weather related failures, e.g., 

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4657904

Jeff

[Mandel Waltler]

I have been at EBC and Kala Pattar some years ago. Started in Lukla. I took 28 f2, 50f2, 90f4 with me. Wood do exactly the same again…

For Everest-Shot at Kala Pattar i used the 50 and stitched three upright frames - perfect fit.
The whole tour I had no need for a lens wider than 28mm.

Used the 90 occasionally for some portraits of people in far distance. For example of a woman who washed her clothes in a river. Or for the Rongbuk monastery from far with the Mountains behind.

Edited February 1, 2024 by Mandel Waltler

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[Seba66]

Based on your valuable advice, others obtained from the facebook group of Everest Base Camp and my expectations, right now I think I'm bringing a kit of three lenses, 21mm to go wide, 35 or 50 (I’m still debating) as a standard one (I will wear always the camera, most of the time with this lens) and 90 for landscape and candids. For whom is not familiar with EBC trek, it is not just matter of trekking by itself but we will pass through sherpa villages, monasteries so 21 will help with the interiors and 90 with the portraits. 

I’m still debating regard the body, M10 pro: the pleasure to use RF, the weight and size; SL2S pro: better IQ (higher ISO for interior, better DR and highlights control, at least at my eyes), weather sealing (even if M lenses will be the weak points), charging on the go, with power bank and USB cable.

Anyway, I have still three months to elaborate my thoughts.

Thanks guys !

[R4p70r]

As many already wrote: Have the camera ready to shoot instead inside a backpack.

For my hikes I use this bag Cosyspeed Camslinger MK III wearing it either around the hip or crossbody.

The advantage is, it has a flap, it's easy to open and secure it by the magnetic closing mechanism plus the string, there are zippers (the content is protected against dust, rain, mist/fog/humidity) and it has an integrated rain cover that you can't lose that easily as it is attached to the bag itself, hidden in a compartment.

Enough space for my M11 with a Summicron 50mm IV attached and additional 3 lenses my CV Ultron 28mm f/2.0 ASPH Type I,  CV Nokton 35mm f/1.4 II MRC, Leica Summarit 75mm f/2.4, 1 M11 spare battery, Zeiss wet cleaning wipes and several SD cards.

Edited February 1, 2024 by R4p70r