I have a question for those of you who use the M system when traveling. My Wife and I are traveling to Turkey in May and I am trying to decide what lenses to carry. I want to keep it light but well equipped. I am thinking of 2 M6 bodies and 24, 35, 90 or 24, 35 and 50mm combination. What recommendations do you traveling Leica photographers have? Thanks.

T. Gallagher

-- T. Gallagher (tgallagher10@yahoo.com), April 06, 2001

Answers

My standard travel outfit is the 21/35/50 with one M6 body.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), April 06, 2001.

If I was traveling lite , it would M6 , 28mm , 50mm and 90mm . 28 in bldings & in town ; 50 general & landscapes & 90 landscapes & portraits . Then you are covered .

-- Donald Bonamer (b3434@webtv.net), April 06, 2001.

Well I recently completed a 3 week trip to India. I carried 90, 50,35. I used 90 never. (well not quite, I got some people to pose for me at a wedding and that worked out well with the SF20 that most people dislike but that I find excellent, but I'm talking about three frames compared to 37 rolls total) I used 50 sometimes. I used 35 most of the time.

BTW my photographs with the 35 are stunning. This focal lens is so universally adequate that I now find myself using it almost exclusively. For travel, it is small,ergo unobtrusive, and fast. Preset it and you can worry only about composition. I used Fuji film exclusively, Provia and Fuji Press. I'm really pleased. I used an M6 TTl and a 3F. Using the 2 aforementioned lenses, the package is light and you can interchange them(using LTM to Bay adapter).

Jean-David

-- Jean-David Borges (jdborges@home.com), April 06, 2001.

Well, I just got back from Merida and all I can say is this... depends on the temperature. Normally, I love my 24-35-75 combo but in +40 C weather I found myself leaving the 75 out of the bag most of the time. I love the 24 for weird perspective effects but if I could get by with a two lens outfit in this climate then it would be the 35 (non asph) and 90 Elmarit combo. Plenty versatile... and more importantly, light. Or if I could use only one lens then it would be a toss-up between the 35 pre-asph or the 50 cron.

Maybe I should be spending the extra money on film and planning more trips to Europe.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), April 06, 2001.

You didn't say if you already own those lenses or not. If you do, I would take all of them. Leica lenses are quite compact, and with two back-to-back couplers you can carry the 2 bodies and all four lenses in the remarkable Domke F5XB along with a flash and some filters. Film and a tabletop tripod can be carried in a vest or jacket pockets. If you don't have lenses yet, I can strongly recommend the Tri-Elmar. It has become my most-used unversal lens for the M6 when travelling. I normally carry either the Cosina 15 or a 21 ASPH, the Tri-Elmar, a 35/1.4 ASPH (for nighttime use), and either a 90/2.8 or the 135 APO if I expect a fair proportion of landscape shots. I definitely would not go with only one body (I usually take 3: Konica Hexar RF (which I use with the Tri-Elmar for 75% of my shots) and 2 M6's, one which I normally carry with the 90 or 135 on it, and the other that's loaded with Portra 800 color neg film for the 15mm for interior shots and with the 35/1.4 at night. If you don't want the expense of the 35/1.4ASPH (which gives a 3 stop advantage over the Tri-Elmar)then a Canadian 35/2 isn't too terribly expensive and makes a good nighttime lens as well as a backup for the Tri-Elmar. The 50/2 is the one lens I don't use much anymore when travelling.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 06, 2001.

I spent a week in Istanbul last month, carrying only a 50 summicron. I'm glad I had it with me but I needed a 35 too. In fact, the mosque interiors would be fun with something really wide. On the other hand, I'm not sure I'd want to be carryng a bag everywhere I went. My usual outfit is M6/50f2, two rolls of film, lens brush, map, and an afternoon.

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), April 07, 2001.

One more thing. Don't some of us think that the most combersome thing we take with us and the thing that gets in the way of really taking time with a subject is a traveling companion? I'm for taking less of everything, except maybe film. But even there, I sometimes just want to shoot everything I see, and how much of it do I actually print and hang?

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), April 07, 2001.

My last trip of a month's duration, I carried 15/35/90 and it was a great combination. Next trip I'll likely carry 24/35/50 to see how that works.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey DiGiorgi (ramarren@bayarea.net), April 07, 2001.

My advice is to take (as a first apporiximation) the shortest lens you own, the longest lens you own, the fastest lens you own, and the most versatile lens you own.

On a recent trip, that came out to: the 24 ASPH, the 135 APO-Telyt, the 35 Summilux ASPH and the Tri-Elmar. It worked out pretty well, with the 3E seeing the bulk of the use.

-- Paul Chefurka (chefurka@home.com), April 07, 2001.

Hard desition Tom, remember you´re traveling to a everywhere thiefs country (I personaly haven´t been there but that´s my impresion), so I recomend you take with you the equipment you can carry every where you go, you wouldn´t like to leave a couple of lenses in your hotel room, for me the 24 and 90 are a must, and betwen the 35 and 50 is the lens you´re probably gonna use most of the time, if you want to do it all then you must take them all, if you want to concentrate in some atmospheres, then take one, a 24,35,90 combo can be well balanced to what ever you may find there, and probably you´ll end up using one lens 90% of time, will be interesting to know what you choose.My best regards.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 07, 2001.

Presuming you already own them, you might as well take all four lenses. However, even the 24mm isn't wide enough for Mosque interiors; a 21mm would be MUCH better. A mini-tripod is in order, also. Check with your agent to be sure your insurance is valid.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 07, 2001.

My travel equipment consists of a 21 and 35 Summilux with a .58 body, plus a 75 and 135 with a .85 body. Many people would consider that cumbersome. It's not cumbersome compared to the SLR alternatives. I consider it essential to get all the photo ops I run into.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), April 07, 2001.

I'd take the 24, 35 & 90 (presuming you already have the 4 lens you mentioned) because you'd have a greater range than/ the 24, 35 & 50. I currently have a 35 & 50 and want to add a 75, or 90, although I don't anticipate I'll use the tele much w/ the M6, based on prior experience. However, on a trip like that you'll most likely find a few great opportunites to benefit the 90.

Good luck and happy travels!

-- KL Prager (www.pragerproperties@worldnet.att.net), April 08, 2001.

Thanks to all who responded to my question. I decided on 2 M6's and the 24, 35, 90 combination. I think that should cover most of the situations I may find myself in.

Thanks T. Gallagher

-- T. Gallagher (tgallagher10@yahoo.com), April 09, 2001.

I just hope you don't need the 50! ;-}

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 10, 2001.

Well, if you are taking all that, take the 50 as well. Its only a few cubic inches more ;-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 10, 2001.

As the discussion shows, bags seem to be as personal as mates. Don't miss to check out my choice: http://www.lowepro.com/pages/bySeries/StreetF.htm# The LowePro Street&Field Reporter 300 AW and 400AW are my "match made in heaven" for street photography. They are comfortably baggy yet protective and do not signal "rob me" at first sight.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), April 10, 2001.

Sorry! Fed the wrong thread...:o(

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), April 10, 2001.

Speaking of bags... :-)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 10, 2001.

Hope this reaches you in time. My wife and I have just returned from Turkey. We both made do with a couple of Leica P@Ss and were pleased with the results, though in retrospect I would have liked to have taken my M3 as well. The reasons: accurate manual control and faster for people photography.

Your gear sounds eminently suitable. Here are a few pointers you may find useful:

1) Ignore carpet touts! They are everywhere. Just keep walking, and don't let them deter you from enjoying a fascinating country, or from taking pictures. You will find them less hassle OFF the tourist beat.

2) If you are taking any internal flights, you will need to have your luggage X-rayed twice: bad news for fast film. You can ask to have it inspected by hand.

3) For mosques you really need an ultra wideangle; your 24 should do it but wider still would not harm. Tripods are not allowed. The Aya Sofia in Istanbul is very dark; but this is where the M is such a winner. You will need about f2 at 1/8th with 100ISO film. For close-ups of Byzantine frescoes, a 35 may be too wide and a 90 produce too much camera shake; hence that 50 could be a good bet. An ultra-wideangle will also come in useful for visiting the Topkapi Palace. There will be masses of tourists. For a night view of the Blue Mosque (don't be disappointed if there is scaffolding), a 35 should do the trick.

4) Underground cistern, a fasinating legacy of the Romans: you need ultra-wide angle and fast film.

5) People photography: my feeling is the 50 just can't be beat, but the 35 will probably be fine, set at hyperfocal distance with exposure pre-set. Try a walk through the crowds at the weekend by the Galata bridge. In my experience, no-one notices a Leica, even an M; the flashiest cameras are video cameras and big SLRs.

6) We had a great time in Cappadoccia, staying in Goreme. Amazing landscape and any lens should do, but here you might find your 90 useful. Some intriguing cave churches: low light again, but your 35 should be fine. Table-top tripods are helpful.

7) We also visited Pamukkale and the surrounding Roman ruins, as well as Aphrodisias. Ultrawides will be good for those amphi-thetares; a longer lens will be useful if you see the terraces at Pamukkale.

8) Have fun! If you need any more info on Turkey, please email!

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), April 14, 2001.