That old question - travelling....

[Tara_Li_An]

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I know i am asking on the monochrom section....  but.

I am off to Northern Vietnam for 2 weeks in 10 days time.  if I were in Europe mooching about towns i would carry a M10M &  M4p and 21/50 (90?)

But the colours of the rice fields have thrown me (plus the weather a little, if i am honest.)

So I was thinking of bringing SL3 35/65 sigma i series and a Nikon 28Ti for film.

Have i gone off the rails a little??  probably - Cavet: Everything will be insured so safety isn't a huge concern, and I'm pretty street savy - just going round and round these options in my head. and now a little confused. thoughts?

[jaapv]

I cannot think of a single reason why you would switch systems. The only thing you gain is bulk and weight.

[DadDadDaddyo]

Is this a system switch you're talking about? Or do you already have the SL3 as well as the M-series equipment you've mentioned?

If it's a switch to new and different equipment I think there's a genuine reason to be wary of doing that shortly before a significant trip or shooting opportunity. 

It comes down to where your attention will be during the moments in which you'll be making photographs. If your attention is on new gear, you'll be thinking about how to work the gear, whether it's doing what you want, and how your subject matter looks in the context of your new equipment. I would argue that this is likely to affect your output in ways that are not simply technical, and not necessarily for the better. 

One should be immersed in the subject, not the gear. The camera needs to disappear in your hands and in your mind, and not insert itself into your photographic process. The M-series has a well-deserved reputation, borne out through the experience of many photographers over many years, of doing just that, with practice. It's a muscle memory thing. 

On the other hand, if you already have both systems, your decision probably comes down to which system you want to carry around all day, which system, in your experience, will do a better job of disappearing in your hands and in your mind.

Whatever you decide, decide and don't look back. Don't, even for a moment, tease yourself or taunt yourself or quiz yourself over the decision. The equipment is not the subject of your work. Be where your feet are. Look through the camera, not at it. Get lost in the picture you're striving to capture. 

And come back with some amazing work...

Best of luck on your trip!

[Tara_Li_An]

Hey thanks. I have all the cameras mentioned  already - I’m no switching systems. I think I’m just thrown because of the humidity and the fact that I don’t do big trips like this often but you’re right. Be present. And what ever I bring it will work.  I just remember that from my last big trip a decade ago to India it’s my 35mm work I was most happy with. I’ll do a few days of carrying the gear around my home town and just see how it feels.  Thanks. I think insecurity just sometimes creeps in. 

[jaapv]

What is the problem with humidity? Plenty of M users in humid climates without issues. In fact, "weathersealed"  cameras are more prone to internal condensation damage than the ones with more ventilation.

[Tara_Li_An]

I didn’t know that. I guess I’ve always been a bit more careless with my SL’s thinking them a bit more brick like. But thanks about the info about M’s being more than an ok in jungle humidity . It might sway me. Thanks 

[jaapv]

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My M240 was perfectly OK during a week in the tropical rainforest. Only the viewfinder kept fogging up... Having said that, no camera is guaranteed against moisture damage regardless of “ weatherproof “ or not, unless it is an underwater camera. Like your iPhone - IP 68. 

[jimtong]

The M is tough, I lived the tropic, I have no issue with the M, only store in dry cabinet when not in used for prolong. You should be fine with the M10M.

[Jeff S]

On 11/27/2024 at 1:32 AM, jimtong said:

The M is tough, I lived the tropic, I have no issue with the M, only store in dry cabinet when not in used for prolong. You should be fine with the M10M.

The OP has aleady returned from trip, assuming no delays.

Jeff

[davidmknoble]

@Tara_Li_An, how did your trip go?  What did you end up bringing with you?  Curious if you stuck with the monochrom and film?  I was late to the party, but sometimes I will take film for color / black and white and the monochrom on trips.  Hope you had a great time!

[Tara_Li_An]

@davidmknoble Thanks it was a wonderful trip. I went with the SL3 and two sigma I lens 35 and 65.  I hadn’t used the camera too much before I left, so there were times I felt frustrated. Also (and it’s prob just me) but as a carry around a market and the streets I sometimes felt it was too big and I know I would have been more comfortable with an m. And prob am braver street shooting with an m as it’s less in peoples faces if that makes sense. I think moving forward I would being the monochrom and m4-p with a 21 and 50 and leave it at that. After th e trip I was keen to sell the sl3 but I’m trying not to be too rash. I found the left dial for iso moves . I don’t like that there aren’t markings to glance quickly at things and sigma lens to have an infinity stop. But…. All in all it was still a wonderful trip 

Edited January 25 by Tara_Li_An

[PhotoCruiser]

First: feel free to share some photos of your trip!

Yep, i know travelling with a big trolley or backpack is a pita and become worst as older on get and that is the reason that i bought the Q2.
It's simply a fantastic camera in picture quality and size, perfect for travelling but one need to get used to work with either 28mm or now 43mm fixed lens. I had no problems to adapt to that as i mostly had fixed length lenses but for photographers used to work with zoom lenses it can be a "steep" learning curve to understand how to get the best out of 28/43mm.
I do about 75% 28mm or less, the others are mainly 105mm macro and the lack of different lenses let me buy yesterday a SL2 and now i am back where is was, but this time i will probably take the SL2 and the 105mm macro for macro and tele work and the Q2 for everything less than 105mm, or should i take also the 14mm 1.4??? 🥴

I hauled my Nikon gear from 2008 to 2020 every year in November to Costa Rica and in May back to Sardinia plus many trips in central America including rough 2 hour boat rides with all photo gear and a Lenovo Workstation grade laptop and non of it let me down.
However one year i bought a cheap in Thailand made Nikon Lens and when i came back after 6 months i found a lot of lens fungus and after a month fighting with Nikon i got a new one. Unfortunately two years later i found lens fungus on all my Nikon lenses, not so strong as in the first, but still visible and that let me believe that the first lens infected the others.
After that i bought a dry cabinet for my house in Costa Rica and that seemed to help as my G2 did not show any sign of lens fungus nor the other compact cameras i had for underwater photography. Obviously a dry cabinet is not a feasible option for a traveller, but some silicia gel bags may do the trick to dry the camera over night and they can be dried again or the cheap bags just properly disposed.

The key for photographing in the tropics is to keep the camera and lenses most dry possible, A/C in the rooms and not exposing to rain or very high humidity. And do not use A/C at very low temperature as the camera and lenses may fog up as soon you go out and expose the cold photo gear to the hot and humid exterior temp. For me the best temp for sleeping is 24°/75°F and that is enough warm to not create fogging.

Chris

Edited January 25 by PhotoCruiser

[Dazzajl]

22 minutes ago, PhotoCruiser said:

First: feel free to share some photos of your trip!

Absolutely, I'd love to see some too

[Tara_Li_An]

@Dazzajl @PhotoCruiser Ha just tried to upload the jpgs from camera  but they’re too big. Here is my instagram: tara_li_an. The south east travels photos are there (about 7 rows down) .   I haven’t even downloaded the raw files yet but I will…..  

good tips about the AC. I did sling some silicon sacks in my bag as the thought of fungus is terrifying. 

speaking of the q’s I have had fleeting thoughts of swapping the sl3 for the 43. I’d loose video features and lens but….. I have to keep asking myself, what kind of photographer am I really? And I think, it’s always been capturing moments rather than perfect  shots so…. I still might 

[Dazzajl]

1 hour ago, Tara_Li_An said:

I have to keep asking myself, what kind of photographer am I really?

This is the very hardest question for me. If you find your answer, I think that's a massive achievement in itself.

[algrove]

On 1/25/2025 at 7:52 AM, Tara_Li_An said:

@davidmknoble Thanks it was a wonderful trip. I went with the SL3 and two sigma I lens 35 and 65.  I hadn’t used the camera too much before I left, so there were times I felt frustrated. Also (and it’s prob just me) but as a carry around a market and the streets I sometimes felt it was too big and I know I would have been more comfortable with an m. And prob am braver street shooting with an m as it’s less in peoples faces if that makes sense. I think moving forward I would being the monochrom and m4-p with a 21 and 50 and leave it at that. After th e trip I was keen to sell the sl3 but I’m trying not to be too rash. I found the left dial for iso moves . I don’t like that there aren’t markings to glance quickly at things and sigma lens to have an infinity stop. But…. All in all it was still a wonderful trip 

Understand your SL3 comments about that left side ISO dial moving, but that has caused me to look more often to the top screen just to see where my ISO is each time.

Do you actually mooch in Europe? To mooch to me means to beg or live off others for free.

[algrove]

On 1/25/2025 at 1:40 PM, Tara_Li_An said:

@Dazzajl @PhotoCruiser Ha just tried to upload the jpgs from camera  but they’re too big. Here is my instagram: tara_li_an. The south east travels photos are there (about 7 rows down) .   I haven’t even downloaded the raw files yet but I will…..  

good tips about the AC. I did sling some silicon sacks in my bag as the thought of fungus is terrifying. 

speaking of the q’s I have had fleeting thoughts of swapping the sl3 for the 43. I’d loose video features and lens but….. I have to keep asking myself, what kind of photographer am I really? And I think, it’s always been capturing moments rather than perfect  shots so…. I still might 

FTI the Q3 and Q343 do have some video features which I could care about. Also keep in mind on the Q3 35mm FL is around 30MP and on the Q343 60mm FL is also around 30MP.

[Tara_Li_An]

@algrove oh in the Uk to mooch about a place is to amble along with no real destination , but to see where your legs take you. Particularly in a town or village.  But yes mooch can also mean to be funded by someone else. Depends on the context. Don’t think people who own leicas should be allowed to “mooch” like that haha 

[algrove]

Ah, separated by a common language.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[IkarusJohn]

I struggle with the opening question from time to time - too many choices!

I was in northern Vietnam in the early 90s.  I was traveling around by bicycle (it was cold in January) and I had decided to take just a Hasselblad 503cx, with three lenses and two backs (one colour one b&w, I think), and a meter.  It was slow work …. Since, I’ve traveled with other systems, but my thinking has changed.

Today, I think I would take an M camera with the M lenses I think I would need and if I was unsure about colour or b&w, I would take my Monochrom and M10-D (not something I’ve done before).  For me, photography isn’t about the most accurate, in focus, MP & dynamic range rich image.  It’s always about some level of distortion, whether depth of field, blur or black and white - I’m trying (and mostly failing) to capture what is emblematic about what I’m seeing.  Otherwise, I use my phone.