Moving Abroad, What Would You Take?

[TWSam]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking for a while on this forum but haven't joined until now, s this will be my first post. Nice to meet you all!

I suppose I have a bit of a dilemma, albeit not such a bad one. To give some background information, I have been living in Taiwan for the last couple of years, and just came back to the UK for a few months in order to apply for a university programme in Taiwan, which if successful would see me staying there for at least another 4 years. I already have some photographic equipment over there which I plan on keeping, as well as some I brought back to the UK with me, to use while I'm here.
Last week I was clearing out my granddad's loft (he passed away about two years ago), and came across a couple of boxes of photography equipment, which no one really knew existed. With permission from mother, the stuff has been given to me, which is where my dilemma comes in...
Which items should I look to take to Taiwan with me, which should I leave behind? I'm basically looking for advice to help make up my mind, so I'll try and provide as much information as I can.
The items are all for 35mm film, which is great as that's mostly what I shoot. The items include:

Bodies:
2x Canon AE-1 Programs (one is in a very bad cosmetic condition)
1x Yashica FE-2 (needs door seals replacing)
1x Pentacon Praktica LTL

Lenses:
2x Canon 50mm f/1.8 FD
1x Canon 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 FD
1x Tamron 38-100mm f/3.5 Adaptall (adapters to fit the Canons and the Yashica)
1x Yashica 50mm f/1.4
1x Pentacon 135mm f/2.8 (M42 fitment)
1x Carl Zeiss Tessar 50mm f/2.8 (M42 fitment)
1x Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.8 (M42 fitment)
1x Carl Zeiss Jenazoom 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (Canon FD fitment)

Accessories:
Adapters from M42 to Yashica mount
Various Hoya and B+W filters
2x tele adapter for Yashica mount

The current equipment I have that I will definitely be taking back to Taiwan consists of a Nikomat FTn with 28mm AI lens and a Nikon D5300 with 3 lenses.
It would be worth noting that I already have an M42 to Nikon adapter with correction element for infinity focus which seems to work fine, so could use the M42 lenses on my digital Nikons.

Also the type of photography I do is usually street photography, though I also do some automotive journalism which is largely photography based.

I will be looking to take one, maybe two of the bodies from my granddad's lot, and suitable lenses to go with them, so any ideas on which you'd choose if you were me would be of great help! Thanks!

It's also worth noting that I haven't yet had a chance to properly test all the lenses to get a feel for them, which I realise is half of the process.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4eHpPU1pDSTZmSEk

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4cWtlTGgwdlZ3Nzg

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4Sk1QRGZXd3c5d0U

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4XzFQYjNYTjQ4NU0

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4czl1S0U5d3EyeTA

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4RjRHbmlyUWtDcDQ

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4aTNvX1VBWk5iWHc

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4ZAPWbYPvc4S28yYXdSNWRsek0

P.S Sorry for the fairly poor quality photos, they were shot on my phone to sent to a family member.

Thanks,

Sam

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Research their value over there and in HK, then take the ones that are worth the most and do the obvious... they like antiquated camera gear for some reason.

 

[TWSam]

Thanks for your reply, the thing is I don't think they hold much monetary value except for perhaps the CZ Jenazoom, but they do hold a bit of sentimental value, and I would use them as I prefer to shoot with film over digital for hobby use anyway.

 

[TheBigYin]

Moved to film and conventional to avoid the usual comments from the digital philistines.

 

[Nod]

Stick it all on an open shelf and as stuff gets used, stick it on another shelf. Anything unused after a month or 2 can probably be safely left at "home" while you're away. Of course, anything that does get used but not enjoyed can also be left behind!

I'd probably leave the Praktica system behind unless it has special sentimental value for you and would definitely only take one of the Canon 50mm.

 

[BillN_33]

Last time I was in Taiwan I found Imodium indespensible

 

[freecom2]

It's a tough question, because getting on with gear and certain lenses - even knowing your preferred subjects and style - is so personal. The street photography side is likely to favour normal to wide lenses - the 35mm-50mm end of that list. As for the cameras - I'd highly suggest cleaning them up and putting a roll through each of them, and seeing how well you get along with them.

 

[TWSam]

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated! I like the shelf idea, I think I might give that a go. I too am leaning towards leaving the Praktica behind, though the fact I could use the M42 lenses on my Nikons is making me wonder.
I'll definitely test all the gear out over the coming weeks, and will try and share test shots/info in case anyone is interested, as there is very little information on the internet for a few of these lenses.

Haha BillN_33, I have to say I only needed Imodium the once in my two years there so far though my girlfriend is a doctor there so I'm in good hands!

Also, if anyone happens to visit Taiwan in the future, I'd be more than happy to provide a tour or directions to some excellent used camera shops. Their prices are always negotiable