Re: [Leica] Canoe trips...

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Duane-
With all the volcanic ashe, tropical rain, and the possibility of Quacatotl
Indians shooting poisoned darts that one is liable to encounter in South
America, I am amazed that camera would last long in that environment.
Seriously, do you have problems with fungus, either in or on the cameras or
lenses, or even film? Do certain cameras without a lot of brass tend to
'rust'?
As a kid, reading the accounts of the authors of stories in National
Geographic, It never dawned on me the severe logistical problems these early
explorers had with critters large and small eating away at leather bellows,
or creepy crawly things finding shelter in their equipment and bags! You
immediately realize the hazards of things like jaguars and pirahnas, but the
thousands of other things sort of get forgotten unless YOU are actually out
there!
Dan (safe and dry in NC) Post
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Birkey, Duane <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>
To: Leica Users (E-mail) <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 6:27 AM
Subject: [Leica] Canoe trips...


> I've been on a number of "canoe" trips in Latin America... The dugout
canoes
> I've been on can hold 15 to 30 people with outboard motors so it is not
the
> two or three man ones people are used to in the U.S.
>
> If it were me... I'd skip the Ewa bag as I think it would be more of a
pain
> to use with your M's than the risk.  I tried one with My F-1 and wasn't
real
> happy with it... I find I shoot either with a 80 -200 zoom or a 300mm for
> pictures of things happening away from the boat and something wide (like a
> 20mm) to get pictures of whatever is immediately in front or behind you.
>
> Where you will get wet from spray will depend on the canoe... I always try
> to get in the front seat.... it gives me a clear view ahead and nothing
but
> faces looking back and generally there is less spray.  Besides that you
> don't have the back of someone's head in your shots.
>
> The chances of one of these canoes tipping over is generally pretty slim,
> but not impossible...  I have a Pelican case but personally rarely use
> it..... When I do, I leave the foam at home and stick my bag inside so I
> leave the case somewhere once I arrive.  But 95% of the time I just stick
> the bag under my rain coat and pray the canoe doesn't tip over.  But then
> again I like to travel light on canoe trips so I've not taken my Leica's
> yet.
>
> You could have a second smaller box to stick the one camera you are using
in
> when not shooting.... I have a smaller "Underwater Kinetics" box that I
use
> for 4x5 holders... but it would easily work as well...   If it rains in
> Honduras like it rains in Ecuador... There isn't a whole lot you can shoot
> in the rain to begin with...
>
> I've been looking for a used Nikonos for rainy days or trips to the beach
> and ocean or pictures from wave-runners and a future trip to the
Galapagos.
> I've seen the V near mint for around $500 with the 35 which you can use
> above water as well as below... there were some IV's around for around
$300
> with the 35mm lens as well.  But I'd recomend you look and handle one
before
> buying it.  Or borrow or rent one for the ocassional trip... But  the
Canon
> one is still a whole lot cheaper
>
> That's my two cents
>
> Duane (I hate shooting in rain) Birkey
>
> Duane's Photographs of Ecuador @
> http://duane_birkey.tripod.com
>