Film rig for travel to South America

jakeblues · 06-28-2012, 09:48 AM

Hi Guys,

I will be travelling to South America with my girlfriend in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering what you thought would be a good travel rig. I'll tell you what I have available; I'm looking for suggestions as to what I should add to the collection before I take off, and what I should leave at home. Here's what I have:

ME Super
MX
M 20/4
M 35/2
M 50/1.7
M 50/1.4
Super Tak 105/2.8
Flash with softbox.

My girlfriend and I both shoot, so we will definitely be taking both film bodies and then looking for the lightest/most versatile set of lenses to have with us. I'm wondering would a manual zoom (24-50, 28-50, or 24-35) be a good addition? Should I take the flash? Should I take both 50's? If not, which one? Should I bring the Super Tak? Anything I haven't thought of?

Thanks for the help!

eddie1960 · 06-28-2012, 10:41 AM

I'm not a fan of the older zooms myself, but a good one like the vivitar series 1 70-210 f3.5 might be handy to have. definitely take both 50's since there are 2 of you shooting. Personally rather than a zoom I'd grab an m200 f4 great compact inexpensive lens (I love mine). useful to isolate things and get closer when it's not possible to zoom using your feet (and with the 105 in the kit you are pretty well covered) the Tak 105 is nice but to save on fiddling with adapters you might consider the M100 f2.8 which is far more compact and has comparable iq and cost. . only other missing thing may be a good 28 like the m28 f3.5 (sharper than the 2.8 I had both kept the 3.5) that way you both have a wide option at the same time without resorting to the uwa of the 20, but not a duplicate, (I will be selling my 28/100/135/200 eventually but not soon enough for you i think

make sure you take spare batteries even if yours are new.

wombat2go · 06-28-2012, 03:00 PM

Good to hear you are still on film.
Have a good trip

This old pair went to Chile and Peru many times:
https://www.box.com/s/0e9a6eb417d360846b2c

jakeblues · 06-28-2012, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by wombat2go

This old pair went to Chile and Peru many times:
https://www.box.com/s/0e9a6eb417d360846b2c

That looks like a versatile combo. Cheers!

titrisol · 06-28-2012, 06:48 PM

Take only the 50/1.4 from thw 50s
you can take all the other ones.... you'll need them

jakeblues · 06-28-2012, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by titrisol

Take only the 50/1.4 from thw 50s
you can take all the other ones.... you'll need them

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I think it's going to be the 50/1.4, 35, and 20 and both bodies. I was actually debating on another forum whether or not to take a Minolta rig on the trip instead. But ultimately, Pentax wins because of portability!

Here's a size comparison of my ME Super with a 50/1.7 and an X-700 with a 58/1.2 (not a fair comparison, I know, but this was the other camera I was considering taking):

And of my M20/4 next to my Minolta 24/2.8

Doan · 06-29-2012, 03:41 AM

I'm not an experienced photographer, but I learned that the less you carry, the more fun you have. And the less can get stolen.

And another tip I got is to always have a filter on the lens instead of a lenscap. That way you can react faster and still have the lens protected.
And what many do is "ugly-fying" their Cam to make it look unattractive for thieves.

eddie1960 · 06-29-2012, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by jakeblues

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I think it's going to be the 50/1.4, 35, and 20 and both bodies. I was actually debating on another forum whether or not to take a Minolta rig on the trip instead. But ultimately, Pentax wins because of portability!

Here's a size comparison of my ME Super with a 50/1.7 and an X-700 with a 58/1.2 (not a fair comparison, I know, but this was the other camera I was considering taking):

And of my M20/4 next to my Minolta 24/2.8

that is a good light kit, though if you are going shooting people you may regret not having something in the 85-120 range, longer stuff would be for isolating details or getting closer to wildlife if you are outside cities - I used my 200 last year in barcelona for catching surfers - I almost left it home.

3 lenses between 2 people doesn't allow much freedom for shooting options

jakeblues · 06-29-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

3 lenses between 2 people doesn't allow much freedom for shooting options

Yes, but the plan is to enjoy the trip more by carrying less.

I'm not much of a fan of long lenses. I just don't use them much. 95% of shots I take are with a lens in the 14-58mm range (on full frame).

eddie1960 · 06-29-2012, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by jakeblues

Yes, but the plan is to enjoy the trip more by carrying less.

I'm not much of a fan of long lenses. I just don't use them much. 95% of shots I take are with a lens in the 14-58mm range (on full frame).

Oh I can understand that My most used prime is probably my DA14, and in manual ones the M28, when i travel though I usually cover a little wider range than i normally shoot just to be safe , though to be honest once I arrive i leave a lot of kit at the apartment i rent.

Enjoy the trip
Maybe if @RioRico appears back on the forum before you leave he can impart some experience he travels in SA a lot

06-28-2012, 09:48 AM	#1
jakeblues Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 167	Film rig for travel to South America Hi Guys, I will be travelling to South America with my girlfriend in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering what you thought would be a good travel rig. I'll tell you what I have available; I'm looking for suggestions as to what I should add to the collection before I take off, and what I should leave at home. Here's what I have: ME Super MX M 20/4 M 35/2 M 50/1.7 M 50/1.4 Super Tak 105/2.8 Flash with softbox. My girlfriend and I both shoot, so we will definitely be taking both film bodies and then looking for the lightest/most versatile set of lenses to have with us. I'm wondering would a manual zoom (24-50, 28-50, or 24-35) be a good addition? Should I take the flash? Should I take both 50's? If not, which one? Should I bring the Super Tak? Anything I haven't thought of? Thanks for the help!

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06-28-2012, 10:41 AM	#2
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	I'm not a fan of the older zooms myself, but a good one like the vivitar series 1 70-210 f3.5 might be handy to have. definitely take both 50's since there are 2 of you shooting. Personally rather than a zoom I'd grab an m200 f4 great compact inexpensive lens (I love mine). useful to isolate things and get closer when it's not possible to zoom using your feet (and with the 105 in the kit you are pretty well covered) the Tak 105 is nice but to save on fiddling with adapters you might consider the M100 f2.8 which is far more compact and has comparable iq and cost. . only other missing thing may be a good 28 like the m28 f3.5 (sharper than the 2.8 I had both kept the 3.5) that way you both have a wide option at the same time without resorting to the uwa of the 20, but not a duplicate, (I will be selling my 28/100/135/200 eventually but not soon enough for you i think make sure you take spare batteries even if yours are new.

06-28-2012, 03:00 PM	#3
wombat2go Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Good to hear you are still on film. Have a good trip This old pair went to Chile and Peru many times: https://www.box.com/s/0e9a6eb417d360846b2c

06-28-2012, 03:58 PM	#4
jakeblues Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 167 Original Poster	Originally posted by wombat2go This old pair went to Chile and Peru many times: https://www.box.com/s/0e9a6eb417d360846b2c That looks like a versatile combo. Cheers!

06-28-2012, 06:48 PM	#5
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	Take only the 50/1.4 from thw 50s you can take all the other ones.... you'll need them

06-28-2012, 08:05 PM	#6
jakeblues Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 167 Original Poster	Originally posted by titrisol Take only the 50/1.4 from thw 50s you can take all the other ones.... you'll need them Thanks for the suggestions, all. I think it's going to be the 50/1.4, 35, and 20 and both bodies. I was actually debating on another forum whether or not to take a Minolta rig on the trip instead. But ultimately, Pentax wins because of portability! Here's a size comparison of my ME Super with a 50/1.7 and an X-700 with a 58/1.2 (not a fair comparison, I know, but this was the other camera I was considering taking): And of my M20/4 next to my Minolta 24/2.8

06-29-2012, 03:41 AM	#7
Doan New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Germany, Berlin Posts: 8	I'm not an experienced photographer, but I learned that the less you carry, the more fun you have. And the less can get stolen. And another tip I got is to always have a filter on the lens instead of a lenscap. That way you can react faster and still have the lens protected. And what many do is "ugly-fying" their Cam to make it look unattractive for thieves.

06-29-2012, 05:15 AM	#8
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by jakeblues Thanks for the suggestions, all. I think it's going to be the 50/1.4, 35, and 20 and both bodies. I was actually debating on another forum whether or not to take a Minolta rig on the trip instead. But ultimately, Pentax wins because of portability! Here's a size comparison of my ME Super with a 50/1.7 and an X-700 with a 58/1.2 (not a fair comparison, I know, but this was the other camera I was considering taking): And of my M20/4 next to my Minolta 24/2.8 that is a good light kit, though if you are going shooting people you may regret not having something in the 85-120 range, longer stuff would be for isolating details or getting closer to wildlife if you are outside cities - I used my 200 last year in barcelona for catching surfers - I almost left it home. 3 lenses between 2 people doesn't allow much freedom for shooting options

06-29-2012, 01:23 PM	#9
jakeblues Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 167 Original Poster	Originally posted by eddie1960 3 lenses between 2 people doesn't allow much freedom for shooting options Yes, but the plan is to enjoy the trip more by carrying less. I'm not much of a fan of long lenses. I just don't use them much. 95% of shots I take are with a lens in the 14-58mm range (on full frame).

06-29-2012, 01:35 PM	#10
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by jakeblues Yes, but the plan is to enjoy the trip more by carrying less. I'm not much of a fan of long lenses. I just don't use them much. 95% of shots I take are with a lens in the 14-58mm range (on full frame). Oh I can understand that My most used prime is probably my DA14, and in manual ones the M28, when i travel though I usually cover a little wider range than i normally shoot just to be safe , though to be honest once I arrive i leave a lot of kit at the apartment i rent. Enjoy the trip Maybe if @RioRico appears back on the forum before you leave he can impart some experience he travels in SA a lot