Do You Have a Secret for Selecting the Kit Other Than Liking the Gear You Select?

[Herr Barnack]

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11 hours ago, andybarton said:

I find that not buying too much kit makes the decision much easier.

Where's the fun in that??

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[ktmrider2]

Thanks for the encouragement.  At 71 I was a bit concerned about trying 95 miles but have decided to use all of April in Alaska to get some daily mileage under my belt.  I gave serious thought to a bike tour of Italy or Normandy as less physically demanding (especially with an e-bike) but really like walking and Scotland.  And the route goes past or through 4 famous whisky distilleries along the Spey River.

If anyone would like a similar experience, check out Absolute Escapes in Edinburgh.  I am not related to them but have used them to book and support three previous walks in northern Scotland and northern England.  They do all the booking, send you a navigation package, and arrange luggage hauled from one stay to the next so all you carry is a small back pack with sweater, rain gear, lunch and a Leica.

Edited March 8, 2024 by ktmrider2

[Mute-on]

Firstly, I have always thought it is entirely sensible to have at least one backup film M, particularly if one of them is an older camera. When I was travelling with two film Ms, this approach proved useful when my M2 ate the shutter guide felt and locked up. MP was fine of course.

On my last trip, the film Ms stayed at home and the new to me M262 came along. This only because the new CT scanners, and Melbourne Airport’s disinclination to offer hand film inspections, somewhat forced my hand. Regardless, on EVERY trip I always take a second (third) pocketable digital camera, aptly referred to as Plan B. This is always used almost as much as the main Leicas because it is pocketable, and generally more easily accessible, more discreet, and far less of a financial risk if damaged. 

I think your choice of MP and GR is perfect. Keep the M4, too. When you aren’t hiking all day, travelling with two Ms, and a different focal length (and film) on each is a great pleasure. 

Have a great trip!
 

[dpitt]

19 hours ago, pippy said:

 my usual set of 'holiday' lenses (35 Summilux v2 / 50 Summicron v4 / 90mm Tele-Elmarit-M)

Similar here Summicron 35v3 / 50 Summicron v4 / Macro 90mm Elmar , together 640g.

or

Actually more often the Summicron 40C + Macro 90mm Elmar, together only 350g.

I love the M for its compactness and small size. These lenses make this combo in a different league compared to other FF offerings and even other slightly larger and heavier combo's with larger M lenses.

Edited March 8, 2024 by dpitt

[mokona]

I don't like to change lenses during hiking. But since your luggages will be transported, you can bring an extended kit and chose each morning what you'll be shooting with during the day, the rest of the kit being transported and waiting for you in the accommodation.

[Danner]

18 hours ago, 250swb said:

Faced with the same challenge I'd buy a Nikon film camera that can do AF (like an F80), and then a suitable lens (like a Nikkor 24-85 AF G)  and stop worrying (full disclosure I have them). You won't see any appreciable difference in image quality between that and a Leica lens on film, and it will cut out a lot of lenses in-between. But that is a response to the practical side if you want to stick with film. I wouldn't recommend it entirely though, for an adventure and with no prior thoughts about what you expect to do (I guess hence the question) take a digital camera and a compact film camera as a backup.

With the F80, the 24-85G is kind of a big 'honker'.  I much prefer the 28-70/f3.5-4.5D-AF, which is an excellent optic and boasts an aspheric element.

Edited March 8, 2024 by Danner

[ktmrider2]

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MOKONA:  that is the idea.  I usually love the versatility of a two lens kit (35/90) and they are small lenses, both being f2.8 max aperature.  In the past I have traveled with just one lens on the Leica and it was a 50.  I don't see a lot of difference in the subject matter I photograph so switching between the two sets would be an exercise in creativity perhaps.

My present 50 is rather large, being a very fast lens.  I purchased a 50f2.8 Elmar Collapsable Version 2 a couple weeks ago in Hong Kong specifically for travel.  At 6 ounces, it is the lightest lens or 50 (can't remember which) Leica ever made.  

I am going to have to think about just carrying the camera body and a 35, leaving the 90 in the suitcase.  I am sure that would work as well because for the last six months, my only camera has been a Ricoh GR3 with a 28 FOV.  And I really really like the rendering of the 35f2.8 Zeiss C-Biogon which is my go to small 35.

[hansvons]

On 3/7/2024 at 2:16 PM, ktmrider2 said:

However, the heart says the new MP and a couple lenses.  So, how do you decide?  Is there a secret I have missed in over 50 years of photography?

One secret to better photography I found for me is defaulting to one focal length. In my case that’s 35mm. So, I own three cameras and three 35mm lenses. I also prefer shooting on film. Two of my cameras are film Ms. When traveling, I take these two with me. One with the flare-free and super-sharp Summarit for landscape shots, the other with a Summicron ASPH (it flares nicely, still very sharp) or the flary, quirky Nokton f1.4 SC. But in general, I prefer the more neutral Summicron ASPH. 
 

But I could make myself getting an M10 instead of one of the film Ms for intercontinental flights as film can get severely compromised in airport scanners, and compensating that with lowering ISO isn’t often a feasible fix. 
 

If I were you, traveling from Alaska the world, I’d take the MP and get an M10, plus two 35mm lenses. 

[PCPix]

A wide and a tele… or just one wide.

My fave was 35/90 (on M2), now 35/75 on M10-R. The end result normally was a heavy percentage, often landscapes, done on the 35 (like 80-90%) and a few portraits and detail shots on the 75 or 90. 

Personally, once you’ve made a decision, you work with the lenses you chose. Can’t say I’ve ever ‘wished’ I’d brought a different lens, as I’ve always just composed and shot what was in front of me with the lens that was with me ….

More importantly, what on earth is someone called ‘ktmrider2’ doing on foot? Highly recommend the North Coast 500 on a KTM….;-) I’m sure you’ll have a great time, the landscapes are pretty awesome!

[ktmrider2]

May rent a motorcycle after my walk in Scotland.  Already have a ride scheduled from Missouri to the Southeastern US in early June on my Harley Road King and from Alaska to Missouri via Dawson City in the Yukon in late June on a small BMW GS310.  I do like a bit of variety in my motorcycles and activities.

Second guessing myself on the purchase of the MP since I already had a mint M4.  I started looking at a M11 or a Q3 or the Nikon zf.  GAS sucks and is hard to control after it starts.  Leica MP with 35/90 and Ricoh GR3 is the present planned cameras for the Speyside Way walk and four days in Dublin following the hike.  

[pgk]

In the past many hiking and climbing photographers took great photographs. Generally they had 35/50/90 lenses available. No secret then as to what they had and what they took. You can do a lot with this sort of combination.

[ktmrider2]

35/50/90 has been called the classic photojournalist trio.  Coincidence that the frame lines in the M2 are 35/50/90?  I think not!

[ktmrider2]

All I have to do to fight my current buyer's remorse is remember I like film!  And already own a state of the art digital for travel-Fuji X-T5!

[F456]

When I used to lead or usually accompany school trips — historical site tourism or adventure activity — I eventually came to a method that worked well and saved a lot of time to concentrate on my main job of looking after the children and teenage students. 
 

Whatever lenses I had with me for the trip, usually 3 or 4 max, sometimes just 2, I made a decision the night before each day's programme on 1 lens and 1 only for the coming day.  It saved vacillating, extra weight to carry round, and lens changing on the move; and it was educational and rewarding to find how you could get the subject matter to work within that self-imposed restriction. It often felt as if a wide such as a 24 or 28 might be best but in practice the best shots were frequently 50 or 90 (or 105 with the Nikon). But regardless of your armoury, just one lens a day - with or without needing to change it for the next day - might free you up to see more, take away the extra decision making, and engage with your surroundings more enjoyably. I tended to alternate the lenses. But I personally prefer not to live on a diet of extremes, so wouldn't take  say a 21 and 135 on the same holiday.  It looks (to me) a bit unsettling when putting the pictures together later. Hope this helps in some way!

Edited March 9, 2024 by F456
Tidying up

[Aryel]

On 3/7/2024 at 10:00 PM, ktmrider2 said:

I was asking if there is something I was missing in the decision making process.  I suspect gear selection simply comes down to what we like within certain perimeters.

I find that not over thinking it works best for me and I usually just follow my intuitions… No magic here but it works very well for me.

When my photography is a bit confused and I travel, then I usually go back to my most basic kit (in my case an m3 or a iiif with a 50mm and nothing else). 

Have a nice trip! 

[Bill Clark]

All I bring any more is a camera, 50 Summicron, only black and white film, and my iPhone. 

[ktmrider2]

I am giving serious thought to just taking the MP with either 35f2.8 C Biogon (favorite lens) or recently acquired 50f2.8 Elmar Version 2 Collapsable with Ektar 100 and a couple rolls of HP5.  I bought the MP instead of the MA so I could leave the meter (extra piece of equipment) at home.  

A year ago I traveled to Vietnam for 30 days with my M4 and a iPhone.  It was monsoon season and the light was so bad I don't think I took a single photo on film.  I used the phone for snapshots and to send photos back to family.  Hopefully, Scotland in May won't be quite so wet.

Edited March 10, 2024 by ktmrider2

[maddoc2003jp]

To reply to the initial question, if I plan any trip where I have to board an international flight, these days I think twice about bringing film and film cameras. Those CT-scanners are scary and given the sometimes very long waiting queues at the security checkpoints, I wouldn't like to bother asking for a hand check of film. 

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Hallo,

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