Hiking the TMB with my LEICA M2

[malfaris]

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hi

I will do the TMB (tour of Mont Blanc ) hike, planning to do it in 10 days this august  , my initial plan was to take LEICA M2 with 35mm SUMMICRON v4 only and lightweight small tripod to document my self if I went solo.

now I am really thinking of taking a light weight 90mm or 50mm because of the open space and valleys and use 35mm to document myself hiking and around camp and my brother if he came.

90mm being Voigtlander APO which weights 250g (which I have to buy) 

sometimes I think of taking 28mm will suite me better around the old villages and around camp with wider view plus a 50mm for distance valleys maybe not so ideal for mountains in distance.

I found this very light weight 50mm from new company which looks classic silver and weight 120g and have decent performance for the price. (I have 50mm summilux and 50mm rigid)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1826030-REG/thypoch_tp_eu50m_al_thypoch_full_frame_photography_lens.html/specs

so my option 

single lens 35mm make it simple

2 lens 2 options

35mm plus 90mm 

or 28mm plus 50mm

 

regarding 28mm I have currently have f2 Ultron Vintage Aspherical VM Lens Type II which is heavy for 28mm being 230g

there is 28mm voigtlander that is extremely light weight which I am eyeing which weights 106g 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1781164-REG/voigtlander_ba379f_28mm_f_2_8_color_skopar_m_type.html/specs

 

adding to the mix lol, I am thinking of taking rollei 35 S , which weights 340g as a backup camera or to use different film roll like BW or different ISO and have nice built in 40mm f2.8 Sonnar , and have light meter however I need to learn to focus with adjusting the distance which is easy for infinite but close is a bit hard to guess at least with out . 

 

if I get the light weight lenses 28mm and 50mm I also thought of not changing the lenses and take my M3 with 50mm and 28mm with M2 using the whole viewfinder instead of the 35mm framelines as rough measure.

Regarding using longer focal length  I thought going to such amazing places on top of the mountains a car can't reach that might be once in life time moments I want to document , using 28mm or 35mm will be so far away to have great images

also that's the first time going only film camera , but I will take Dji mini small drone too 250g , which might work as replacement too to the longer focal length . Dji pocket for video documentary of the hike days.

Would appreciate your inputs and perspective especially from someone who did the hiking or something similar, on all my trips I start with going super simple and end up with many stuff , but I really love documenting , but going simple might be the right way but always afraid to miss out as they say.

quick update just checked 28mm on my M2 and the framelines jumped to 90mm which I didnt like so its not an option any more unless I take my MP . so MP with 35 and M3 with 50mm.

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by malfaris

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[rogxwhit]

A body & 2 lenses would do me!  And as for drones - nasty, buzzy things ....  

[malfaris]

thanks for the input, it came to my mind not to take the drone too, it would help me focus less on different platforms and that would reduce the weight but such place is so immense only a drone will show the scale and beauty plus it would show how I scale against these huge mountains when hiking , however with such too many drone footage these days its starting to lose its uniqueness .  still I will keep that in my mind, leaving the drone.

[jankap]

+1.  A smartphone can be planned as a backup. I have never taken (and needed) a backup camera with me. But I have never dropped my camera

One exception. I dropped my Lytro Illum at home on my terrace (a stone floor). It still works, it is well-built.

 

[malfaris]

1 minute ago, jankap said:

+1.  A smartphone can be planned as a backup. I have never taken (and needed) a backup camera with me. But I have never dropped my camera

One exception. I dropped my Lytro Illum at home on my terrace (a stone floor). It still works, it is well-built.

 

so your vote one camera two lenses?

[LocalHero1953]

Although drones have got much quieter, one of the joys of remote places is the total absence of sound from motors (whether your own or other people's)......... 

Edited June 29, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[jankap]

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I take a 15mm, a 50mm and a 135mm, all Rs. The 135mm is good for 2 or 3 pictures (of 300 to 500 in total).

At home, I fill in the rest with Photoshop.😄

When I was younger, I used lighter ones 28mm, 50mm and 90mm. Elmar types (f/2.8, f/3.5 and f/4.0) with film. One wonders ........

Edited June 29, 2024 by jankap

[jankap]

You know the existence of the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50mm? No lens changing! 

PS after reasoning.

Perhaps an Elmar 90mm extra. Because film and PS-cropping is not an optimal solution.

The tripod is planned as a back-up for the chopter/drone? If you don´t trust the drone, ok, but otherwise the tripod is superfluous.

Edited June 29, 2024 by jankap

[malfaris]

On 6/29/2024 at 1:15 PM, jankap said:

You know the existence of the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50mm? No lens changing! 

PS after reasoning.

Perhaps an Elmar 90mm extra. Because film and PS-cropping is not an optimal solution.

The tripod is planned as a back-up for the chopter/drone? If you don´t trust the drone, ok, but otherwise the tripod is superfluous.

Tripod to document my self if my brother don’t come I usually travel alone and had great success photographing myself with tripod . My tripod weight 800g with the head and plate. I like to photograph myself on film but I like the idea of reducing weight with leaving my tripod at home

i went to research the Tri-lens didn’t appeal to me, but I am considering Elmar instead Voigtlander, which the latter getting good results being modern lens.

attached photo using tripod in scotland, mamyia 7ii

 

[ktmrider2]

I have hiked in mountains and canoed many rivers for years.  My primary 35 has been a Leica since 1975.  I see you starting to make the same mistake I have made many times which is going from a simple system (1 body and 1 lens) to too much gear. Remember KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)?  My Leica travel kit for years has been a 35 and 90.  You will find wide angle lenses in the mountains make the incredible peaks too small and the 90 is actually better for scenery due to compression.

I would go one body with two lenses.  The focal lengths are up to you, perhaps 28 instead of 35.  I would leave the 50 at home as you can take any 50 shot with the 35.  I have even traveled with 35/135 but find the 90 works better for me.  And the MP vice the M2 since it has a meter.  And I must add the M2 is my favorite Leica film camera.

Keep it simple and you will have a better time.  Your legs and back will thank you.  One body and one or two lenses.  KISS should be taught in our schools.

[malfaris]

1 hour ago, ktmrider2 said:

I have hiked in mountains and canoed many rivers for years.  My primary 35 has been a Leica since 1975.  I see you starting to make the same mistake I have made many times which is going from a simple system (1 body and 1 lens) to too much gear. Remember KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)?  My Leica travel kit for years has been a 35 and 90.  You will find wide angle lenses in the mountains make the incredible peaks too small and the 90 is actually better for scenery due to compression.

I would go one body with two lenses.  The focal lengths are up to you, perhaps 28 instead of 35.  I would leave the 50 at home as you can take any 50 shot with the 35.  I have even traveled with 35/135 but find the 90 works better for me.  And the MP vice the M2 since it has a meter.  And I must add the M2 is my favorite Leica film camera.

Keep it simple and you will have a better time.  Your legs and back will thank you.  One body and one or two lenses.  KISS should be taught in our schools.

Great advice, after using M2 and M3 for around a month now I am loving them a lot and don’t enjoy the MP as much for some reason , I am testing my M2 on regular basis to make sure it’s in good shape since I got it mint from eBay.

I am leaning toward the M2 with 35mm and 90mm. My summicron 35mm is very light just need 90mm. 

[PCPix]

1 hour ago, ktmrider2 said:

travel kit for years has been a 35 and 90

… that’s it! 
 

On my M2’s it was a Summaron 35 and and Elmarit 90. Now (40 years later!) a Summilux FLE and a Summicron 75. Not much difference on focal length, but the earlier option was lighter 😎

[dkCambridgeshire]

Have you considered a lightweight monopod with a spike foot? 

[malfaris]

1 hour ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

Have you considered a lightweight monopod with a spike foot? 

I am tripod guy and found light weight tripod 800g that fit M2 I want to use it for video on my phone too. Thanks for the idea

[spydrxx]

Whatever combination you choose ----go light, the lighter the better. Besides "documenting" yourself on the trip, isn't a goal to have fun and enjoy the hike? That's harder to do when you have too many decisions to make. Keep it simple. In my younger years I did many multi-day hikes and came to realize the value of lightweight and simplicity. When I did 10 day solo wilderness hikes where I never encountered other human beings I began with my backpack, including water supply, tent, food, cooking gear, sleeping gear, and camera gear at 33 lbs, knowing I couldn't replenish along the way. I would train with 28 lbs. of weights in my pack for a few weeks in advance. The camera was 1 body + 1 lens (M4+35mm/2.8 Summaron). Yes, there were times I could have used an additional focal length, but I was forced to creatively use what I had. No tripod, but one of my ropes to tie the camera to a tree, or to make a tripod out of gathered twigs and rope. Not suggesting you do the same, but challenge yourself to see and be creative.

[malfaris]

42 minutes ago, spydrxx said:

Whatever combination you choose ----go light, the lighter the better. Besides "documenting" yourself on the trip, isn't a goal to have fun and enjoy the hike? That's harder to do when you have too many decisions to make. Keep it simple. In my younger years I did many multi-day hikes and came to realize the value of lightweight and simplicity. When I did 10 day solo wilderness hikes where I never encountered other human beings I began with my backpack, including water supply, tent, food, cooking gear, sleeping gear, and camera gear at 33 lbs, knowing I couldn't replenish along the way. I would train with 28 lbs. of weights in my pack for a few weeks in advance. The camera was 1 body + 1 lens (M4+35mm/2.8 Summaron). Yes, there were times I could have used an additional focal length, but I was forced to creatively use what I had. No tripod, but one of my ropes to tie the camera to a tree, or to make a tripod out of gathered twigs and rope. Not suggesting you do the same, but challenge yourself to see and be creative.

Appreciate your wisdom big thanks, I am seriously considering to go without my drone and the extra lens and take more film.

regarding documenting myself I really enjoy the memories but I agree with getting creative with it especially for people who take the tripod only to shoot few shots while carrying it for 10 days.

[jankap]

I found this: the Pixy selfie drones: https://www.pixy.com

[spydrxx]

4 hours ago, jankap said:

I found this: the Pixy selfie drones: https://www.pixy.com

I saw this note on the Pixy...potential buyers beware: 

Is the Pixy drone being discontinued?

 

 

The company began selling the selfie-taking mini drone in April 2022 to much fanfare but withdrew the device from sale just months later during a broader ad slump at Snap. Now it seems the product is truly done since the batteries of all the existing units are being recalled and not replaced.Feb 2, 2024

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[chris7273]

it depends on the kind of trip, but if it's a hike on multiple days and you are in group of "non-photographers", then I would go "as light as possible"  : M2 + 1 lens. 

My phone for the occasional "I was there" photo or for a panoramic landscape is enough for me. 

Have fun and enjoy your trip :-)

[earleygallery]

Hiking? I'd take just the Rollei.

When I have travelled with a range of lenses I've tended to use the 35 and 90 most often, so that would be my 2 lens travel kit, but it does depend on how one 'sees' I guess. The Elmar 90 f4 is a lovely light lens if you can find a nice example of one.