Per P. Posted August 4, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 4, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) My question is inspired by e.g. WPalank who published excellent work from India, divided into a M8 and Canon portfolio. So, on your travels, do you tend to carry both the M8 and SLR with you most days, or do you select one or the other dependent on the program and what you plan to shoot? Thanks, Per. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 4, 2009 Posted August 4, 2009 Hi Per P., Take a look here Question for those travelling with both M8 and SLR. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted August 4, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 4, 2009 Depends on the program. Skiing holiday: just M8, Africa holiday M8+DMR. It simply depends on the need for long lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Per P. Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks Jaap So, on a given day, will you decide that "this is an M8 day" or "this is a DMR day" to avoid lugging it all around? - Per. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 5, 2009 Share #4 Posted August 5, 2009 Per, I'll give you an answer based on years of experience with both M and various SLRs. - this has nothing to do with the M8... I may take both systems on a trip, but I do not overlap any more than i absolutely have to on lenses. If I take an SLR it will have a lot to do with giving myself the extra "reach" of a tele like the 180. I seldom if ever carry both M and SLR on the same day. It has more to do with methods of working than anything else. If my brain is in the rangefinder "mode", I find it hard to compose and work with an SLR, and vice-versa. A good night's sleep performs a "reset", but it means that, for me at least, I have to give some thought to what I am likely to shoot on a given day to decide what to carry on that day. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted August 5, 2009 Share #5 Posted August 5, 2009 >My question is inspired by e.g. WPalank who published excellent work from India, divided into a M8 and >Canon portfolio. Hmmm, shouldn't the two should fit together seamlessly? If he's documenting India on his travels, there's no reason why the work should be divided along camera types, unless they are radically different (birds/wildlife vs reportage). Look at Sagado. He used to shoot with a mix of RF and SLR bodies, but didn't publish separate M and R books... Do you have a link to the India portfolio? No M8 for me, but my standard kit for anywhere is: 2 x M bodies (Tri-X & Delta3200, sometimes color in one body) Summilux-M 1.4/35 Lux ASPH Summilux-M 1.4/50 (pre-ASPH) Nikon F2 with Zeiss 1.4/50 Why the SLR? Because for some reason I've developed a preference for shooting the 50mm on an SLR, instead of an RF. This started just a few years ago. Before that it was all M bodies. I take along a 50 for the M bodies in case camera noise is going to be a problem. Why the F2, instead of an R body? Well, the R8 is too big, I respect the SL, but were not in love and the R6.2 has a mushy shutter release (otherwise a perfect camera). Leica may make the best glass and RF bodies on the planet, but IMO the old Nikon F/F2/F3 bodies are the ones to beat. As far as mechanical SLR bodies go, the F2 is about as good as they come. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 5, 2009 Share #6 Posted August 5, 2009 Per, I'll give you an answer based on years of experience with both M and various SLRs. - this has nothing to do with the M8... I may take both systems on a trip, but I do not overlap any more than i absolutely have to on lenses. If I take an SLR it will have a lot to do with giving myself the extra "reach" of a tele like the 180. I seldom if ever carry both M and SLR on the same day. It has more to do with methods of working than anything else. If my brain is in the rangefinder "mode", I find it hard to compose and work with an SLR, and vice-versa. A good night's sleep performs a "reset", but it means that, for me at least, I have to give some thought to what I am likely to shoot on a given day to decide what to carry on that day. Regards, Bill Just the opposite here, Bill. I go for as much overlap as I can. reason: Backup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 5, 2009 Share #7 Posted August 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just the opposite here, Bill. I go for as much overlap as I can. reason: Backup. Interesting, Jaap. My point of overlap is 50mm - If I have a "standard zoom" then I will go "below" that with the SLR (or DSLR) and I may have a 75 or 90 for the M, but I would not, for example, carry M and SLR with 28 or 35mm lenses for both, or 135 M and 180 R. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted August 5, 2009 Share #8 Posted August 5, 2009 I don't like traveling with two systems. A major disadvantage for me is it means two sets of everything--cards, chargers, batteries, etc. And since I require backups, that can add up to a lot of stuff. I would never travel with fewer than two chargers for each camera system, and at the very least two batteries for each body. Cards are small but still it's easier to standardize on one kind. I travel very light, my whole kit fits in a Domke F803. I enjoy the freedom that a small kit provides. But I shoot with a limited range of focal lengths and in a fairly established style. So I'm not going to be shooting macro or wildlife or other things that require specialist gear and might be better handled by an SLR. There is certainly nothing wrong with taking two systems. And if the work you want to do requires it, you have little choice. But your original question brings up the main reason I don't like taking two systems. It's hard to know what to bring on a particular day. So I'd likely either carry too much every day and the extra gear would be a burden and get in the way of my shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted August 5, 2009 Share #9 Posted August 5, 2009 My question is inspired by e.g. WPalank who published excellent work from India, divided into a M8 and Canon portfolio. So, on your travels, do you tend to carry both the M8 and SLR with you most days, or do you select one or the other dependent on the program and what you plan to shoot? Thanks, Per. Grüezi, Per! All depends on your wife/girlfriend... Is she carring a purse, yes or not? (especially when you travel with 2 M8 plus a few lenses, a DSLR, plus more lenses... and she's carrying her Digilux 3!) Oufff! But I almost forgot this... It's also very funny (sport) at Airport Security... (battery chargers, Canon G10, Ricoh GR2, flash guns, batteries, more chargers, cell phones, laptop, more batteries, more chargers, card readers, laptop cables, international mains adapters, Canon SELPHY printer for printing your own postcards, more batteries, more battery chargers, more cables, paper trays... and on the top of all that you have a metal knee...) I'm sure I have forgotten something... but there's not exaggeration here... :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 5, 2009 Share #10 Posted August 5, 2009 Interesting, Jaap. My point of overlap is 50mm - If I have a "standard zoom" then I will go "below" that with the SLR (or DSLR) and I may have a 75 or 90 for the M, but I would not, for example, carry M and SLR with 28 or 35mm lenses for both, or 135 M and 180 R. Regards, Bill Yes - but when I am hundreds of miles from the next humana beings - let alone Leica repair facility, it is very nice to be able to pick up another camera and keep going, even in a makeshift fashion in case of a breakdown. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 5, 2009 Share #11 Posted August 5, 2009 Yes - but when I am hundreds of miles from the next humana beings - let alone Leica repair facility, it is very nice to be able to pick up another camera and keep going, even in a makeshift fashion in case of a breakdown. Yes that's fair... there's a bit of a difference between Botswana and Belgium... If I'm going M, then I may take my M7 and M2 both to have colour and black and white loaded and to provide backup, but that is all one system. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted August 5, 2009 Share #12 Posted August 5, 2009 HI There Per Interesting point. Like others I find it quite difficult to swap concepts. Generally speaking I either carry a full M8 kit (2 bodies and 4 or 5 lenses) or an SLR kit together with one M8 body and a fastish lens (zeiss sonnar 1.5 is a favorite). After all, the M8 with a little lens doesn't take up much more room than most SLR lenses alone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted August 5, 2009 Share #13 Posted August 5, 2009 If you're talking backups, I'd rather have more bodies of the same system to reduce the number of accessories as I mentioned before. I'd only take another system if I needed the versatility for long lenses, etc. Three M8 bodies seem to take up only slightly more space than one big pro DSLR with grip. I routinely took three film M bodies when traveling. Ideally I'd take three M8 bodies but I only have two for now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arif Posted August 5, 2009 Share #14 Posted August 5, 2009 I do travel with both. D3 for the high ISO/faster motion shots e.g. festivals/shadow puppeteers at ISO 25600 and M8 for people/intimate shots. You can see example of my recent trip to Bhutan on Arif Iqball Photography | Bhutan Best regards, Arif Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 5, 2009 Share #15 Posted August 5, 2009 That is exactly the point, I need to have to systems. One big DSLR with long glass for wildlife, one small M8 for townships. So my solution is the Digilux 3 that will take my R glass and has a compact short zoom for emergency people work. And it will take the light 180 apo 3.4 as a very long lens if the big boy should break. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted August 5, 2009 Share #16 Posted August 5, 2009 Rarely carry an SLR anymore unless I'm going birding. For travel it is an M8, Pani LX3 and a Pani FZ30. I'm going to Spain in October and will try a three lens setup with the M8 and the LX3. Haven't decided on the FZ30 yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted August 5, 2009 Share #17 Posted August 5, 2009 Agree on the backup factor. generally pick two bodies of whatever I travel with. SLR for 300 2.8 as that just don't work on the M. On the girlfriend side, she uses a body which takes the same batteries as my DSLR's so there is a automatic spread of chargers batteries etc. along with a spare M charger and battery in her carry on (the new small charger) I don't find there is a problem mixing cameras on any particular day, but I don't overlap lens ranges in general. Like Jaapv M for close up work and SLR for reaching out. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted August 5, 2009 Share #18 Posted August 5, 2009 When I travel somewhere that I plan to do some serious photography, I'd take both my M8 and a DSLR. That doesn't mean both will be with me at all times. I primarily use the Leica. But I like to have a DSLR (a Nikon D200 at the moment) if I think I'm going to need to go really wide or really long. But If i were doing landscape work, I image that I'd be using the DSLR with a telephoto more often than I would the M8. And I do think it's nice to have the DSLR along as a backup in case the M8 goes down (which has happened to me a couple times). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted August 5, 2009 Share #19 Posted August 5, 2009 Along with the M, a DSLR is nice to have around with a tilt-shift lens, if the situation requires (better than PP adjusments, IMO). This sure beats carrying an M, a DSLR and a 4x5 system:eek: Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exile Posted August 6, 2009 Share #20 Posted August 6, 2009 (Beautifull gallery Arif.) I only travel with a rangefinder system these days. The 135/4 on an M8 gives me enough reach for everything except shy wildlife, and that kind of shot takes more time and patience than my family has when we're travelling. Since the M8 is so reliant on batteries, I also take a small film compact as backup - a Yashica zoom with Zeiss 28-70mm T* lens. Exposure control is a basic +/-1.5 stop exposure compensation, but it is small enough to sit in a sealed case at the bottom of my rucksack and hardly weighs a thing. It's perfectly acceptable for landscape shots, and that is what I would must expect to shoot away from electricity. Examples: http://www.pbase.com/stu_warner/image/52420178/large.jpg http://www.pbase.com/stu_warner/image/61434363/large.jpg http://www.pbase.com/stu_warner/image/61434145/large.jpg (Sorry about the mediocre scans on those...) I know that ideally I should be carrying a backup film M instead of the Yashica, but that's a lot of money to leave in a hotel room without a safe... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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