Re: [Leica] Italy: Camera/lens advice

["Roger Bunting" <rlbunting@ameritech.net>]

Peter,

Public transportation is a great way to see Europe, enjoy the trip. I've
found that I really need to skinny down when I travel that way, and bulk
especially around my neck can get to be a literal and figurative pain when
things get crowded. I'd suggest that you take your widest that you can
handhold easily for including the great architecture (since the spaces are
close) and your fastest for the dark spaces, pubs, museums, churches. There
are some no-flash regulations to follow.

Long lens adds interest but might be sacrificed especially if your are in
mostly urban situations. There will be plenty up close. For my Leica, my
widest is a 35mm ASPH cron. My fastest is a 50mm Lux. This has done me well
in crowded streets, open vistas, closed spaces. On my other N* kit I have a
24mm and prefer that for the medieval spaces - just can't afford one for my
M* kit yet. The WA is especially good for the great, but in tight
architecture.

I've done trips where I relied solely on the 35mm and was perfectly happy
with the results. I've also been back when I took only the over-weight SLR
and a 24mm and also been pleased with how versatile it is but not much
variety. Prior to that I made several business trips with only my M3 and
50mm Lux. Again great results. A single something in the "street" lens range
in Europe affords lots of photo opportunities.

Regards,
Roger



- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter A. Klein" <pklein@2alpha.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 1:44 PM
Subject: [Leica] Italy: Camera/lens advice


> My wife and I plan to vacation in Italy this spring.  We'll visit Rome,
> Sienna, Florence, and Venice, with side trips to Pompeii and the
> countryside around Sienna.   I'm already thinking about what camera and
> lenses to take.
>
> To ask the perennial impossible question:  "What camera and lenses would
> you take if you were me?" I know this is a personal decision and no one
> can make it for me.  BUT I think it's useful  to hear what other people
> would choose to take or leave behind, and more importantly, the reasons
> behind the decision.
>
> I've got the following to choose from:
>
> -Leica M4-P (black), 35/2 and 50/2 Summicrons, 50/1.4 Nikkor, 85/1.9
> Canon (HEAVY!), 90/4 Elmar.
> -Olympus OM-2 (chrome), 28/2.8 MC, 35/2.8 SC, 50/1.8 MC, 50/1.4 SC,
> 100/2.8 SC (all Zuikos)
> -Gossen Luna Pro Digital meter
> -A light plastic camera C-clamp that doubles as a table tripod.
> -A small old Vivitar flash (Model 283?) with both manual and automatic
> modes (not TTL)
>
> We will be on foot or using buses and trains the whole time, so size,
> weight and the "fiddlyness" of too many extra things is an issue.  I
> will take only one body--either the M4-P or the OM-2.  I might also take
> my Konica Z-Up 110 point-and-shoot (35-110mm zoom) as a backup.  I don't
> intend to take a shoulder-strap camera bag, so I want everything to fit
> into pockets and/or a fanny pack.  Both Olympus and Leica have plusses
> there, although the Leica lenses are smaller.
>
> My normal outfit these days is the M4-P with 35/2, 50/2 and 90/4 and a
> separate light meter.  I tend to use 35 and 50mm the most, followed by
> 90 (or 85 or 100). I rarely use the 28mm on the Olympus unless I
> *really* need it.  My Leica lenses are noticeably better than my Zuikos,
> especially at f/4 and wider, although the 50/1.8 Zuiko comes very
> close.  I focus better with a rangefinder, and usually prefer it.  But
> for travel, I can see advantages to the SLR.
>
> I am concerned about theft.  Several travel books warn about the problem
> of theft in Italy.  I've never been there, so I have no way to judge how
> real the danger is.  I am leaning toward taking the Olympus to Italy, on
> the grounds that my Olympus stuff is less expensive and easier to
> replace than my Leica stuff.  I'd be less worried about losing or
> breaking something.  Am I being overly paranoid here?
>
> I'll be shooting color print film. I haven't decided whether to take 100
> and 400 ISO, or use all 200 as a compromise.  I usually use Kodak Gold,
> but I'm open to others.
>
> The purpose of the trip is to see and experience Italy, so photography
> should fit into, but not dominate it.
>
> Apart from various combinations of my existing equipment, I'm also
> considering buying a midrange zoom (35-70/4 or /3.6 Zuiko or quality
> off-brand?) and taking that lens, plus either the 28/2.8 or 50/1.4
> Zuikos.  One of the legendary Series I Vivitar zooms might also work,
> although they seem too heavy to schlepp around for 2 weeks.  I've never
> used an SLR zoom, so I don't know how much I'd lose in quality vs. my
> primes.
>
> --Peter
>