Which Film camera for Greek Odessey

Mr Bump

Mr Bump

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Sophia aka Paul
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Wahay myself and Mrs Bump are going on holiday !!

In fact we are going wandering for 3.5 weeks a bit later in the year to Greece, we are going to fly out and are booking 3 or 4 stops and using the ferrys to hop between them, the plan is all coming together. Start and end point will be Santorini.

Anyhow we will be traveling super light so its camera choice. I have narrowed it to two very dfferent beasts.

1. Nikon FE2 with 50mm Pancake and a metal sunshade.

2. Olympus Trip with also sun shade.

also some films and a few filters 52mm.

there realy is no room for anything bigger?
 
Although the Trip is a very good little camera I would have thought its limitations would become annoying on a trip of that duration, whereas the Nikon would give you much more flexibility although I'd be tempted to take a wider angle lens if I was limited to one.
 
I do have the 28mm F2.8 but would that be to wide.
hummmm
 
How about a 35mm?
 
Definitely the Nikon and a 28 or 35 mm lens, just gives you that bit more control.
 
I think I need to place a WANTED add for a 35mm then maybe :-)
 
I would definitely take the Nikon, and agree with the others about taking a wider lens.
 
Nikon FE2 it is then !
 
I've had a rethink and as it's a Greek odyssey surely you have to take the Olympus.
 
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I'm ashamed it took me so long :coat:
 
Mr Bump said:
I think I need to place a WANTED add for a 35mm then maybe :)
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Well I had a week or so in Greece with only a Werra 1, 50mm lens, and it was perfect for the job!

[ETA: I agree, don't take the Trip on the trip...]
 
ChrisR said:
Well I had a week or so in Greece with only a Werra 1, 50mm lens, and it was perfect for the job!

[ETA: I agree, don't take the Trip on the trip...]
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There you go Paul, you need a Werra!
 
@Mr Bump I'll probably be listing a Nikon 35mm f/2.5 Series E in the Classifieds later on, just to let you know - would actually fit this perfectly
 
I have a similar question to ask myself later in the year for my 3 week shootathon in the US. Actually come to think of it maybe shootathon was a poor choice of word...

You probably won't find a single lens that does absolutely everything, especially if it's a prime. If it were me I'd very definitely want wider than 50mm, that's a very 'inbetweeny' focal length that's neither rally wide angle or telephoto. 35mm is probably a good bet for general shooting if all you have is one lens!
 
freecom2 said:
@Mr Bump I'll probably be listing a Nikon 35mm f/2.5 Series E in the Classifieds later on, just to let you know - would actually fit this perfectly
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ok mate let me have a look.
I actually think I might also let go of my 28mm F2.8
 
Mr Bump said:
Anyhow we will be traveling super light so its camera choice. I have narrowed it to two very dfferent beasts.

1. Nikon FE2 with 50mm Pancake and a metal sunshade.

2. Olympus Trip with also sun shade.
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Easily the Nikon FE2 and the 50mm lens of these two options, if I were choosing, although this is really a very personal choice; there are no hard and fast rules in this regard.

I usually travel with my SQ-A and either an 80mm or 105mm lens, which are 45mm and 60mm equivalents, so the 50mm could be all you need depending on the photographs you like to take. I find 35mm and wider lenses often lead to lots of cluttered, uninspired compositions and a compulsion to try to fit everything into the frame, but maybe these lenses are just highlighting my own photographic weaknesses.

Mr Bump said:
travelling so light it realy can only be one lens
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The 28/35 and 50mm lenses are so small, you could surely just put them in your jacket pocket for the flight? The small size is why I had a 24mm and 50mm Nikon combo in the past myself.
 
With how bright it will be out there think that the faster shutter speeds of the FE2 will be much more useful. As much as I like a 35mm prime (more than the 28mm), I would be worried about running into situations where I needed a bit more reach. If I couldn't find space to add a second longer prime then I would be thinking about taking a zoom & maybe getting a 35-105mm AIS Nikkor for the trip? I have read mixed reviews of the lens but the photos that I have seen online look OK to me. There should be plenty of light there so you could probably afford to stop it down a couple of stops anyway.

Think about investing in a polarising filter if you don't have one already too.
 
skysh4rk said:
The 28/35 and 50mm lenses are so small, you could surely just put them in your jacket pocket for the flight? The small size is why I had a 24mm and 50mm Nikon combo in the past myself.
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Have to admit, I thought the same. I've travelled fairly extensively (500+ flights) and I've had SLR gear with me on probably 400 of them, I've never had a problem finding a space for another small lens!
 
Well I can't see a problem either.....to cover nearly every situation a 24mm lens, the trip for about 35mm, 50mm f1.4 for low light shots and stick a 70-210 zoom in your main case...they are cheap enough to replace if it got nicked.
If you are going to Greece not for continuous "young" parties and discos and in between lie on the same beach and sun bathe every day....but to enjoy scenery, historical sites maybe occasional restaurants in the evening etc why take the chance of getting an inferior shot because you don't have the right lens.
 
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PMN said:
Have to admit, I thought the same. I've travelled fairly extensively (500+ flights) and I've had SLR gear with me on probably 400 of them, I've never had a problem finding a space for another small lens!
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Jeez.... 500 flights at say £100 one way that's £50,000 :eek:
 
Mr Bump said:
there realy is no room for anything bigger?
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Mr Bump said:
travelling so light it realy can only be one lens
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Why are people having such a problem with Paul's desire to travel light? Sure if you're based in one place with a suitcase the size of a Barratt home on wheels then you can take all the kit you want but travelling light takes a bit more discipline, what seems like a reasonable weight when you lugging stuff to the airport can be a real pain when you're island hopping in 90° heat.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Why are people having such a problem with Paul's desire to travel light? Sure if you're based in one place with a suitcase the size of a Barratt home on wheels then you can take all the kit you want but travelling light takes a bit more discipline, what seems like a reasonable weight when you lugging stuff to the airport can be a real pain when you're island hopping in 90° heat.
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Well just take a digital compact with a nice zoom lens then ;) But in using film it's about making suggestions that Paul might not have thought of, and of course it depends what he actually wants to do in Greece i.e. what type (and where).... for shots he wants to take.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Why are people having such a problem with Paul's desire to travel light? Sure if you're based in one place with a suitcase the size of a Barratt home on wheels then you can take all the kit you want but travelling light takes a bit more discipline, what seems like a reasonable weight when you lugging stuff to the airport can be a real pain when you're island hopping in 90° heat.
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I'm not sure who you're aiming that at but I was specifically talking about taking one additional tiny lens which would surely be easier than making what seems to be the extremely troublesome decision of which single and only lens to take. If the decision is so difficult and he's worried he might not be able to shoot everything he wants then I think carrying one additional lens is perfectly logical, that's hardly carrying 30 kilos of gear.

Anyone who's in a position to carry a fat 35mm camera body can make space for an additional pancake lens if they're serious about wanting to shoot!
 
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ha ha folks no need to be getting animated :)

chaps we are literally trying to go as humanly light as possible it is one backpack each that has to go hand luggage with Easy Jet.

My FE2 is a major luxury on this trip as we also be taking our trusty tiny samsung digital and a very small laptop probably an ASUS T100 and Annes Kindle, bang in a phone and a few charges etc and its getting full.

Then add on clothes, toiletries and a few other items and them bags are kinda done so much as I agree with folk about an extra lens doesn't take up much at this stage it does.

We will be starting to get stuff together soon and see what it all loooks like but its one lens.

@RaglanSurf is kinda right its going to be island hopping in heat.
 
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Hang on, you're flying with easyJet? They don't have a weight restriction on cabin baggage so I don't know what you're worrying about, just pile every bit of camera gear you have and a few t.shirts into one bag that's exactly 50x40x20cm and you're sorted! :D
 
You can come carry my bag then donkey :-)
 
Mr Bump said:
You can come carry my bag then donkey :)
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Hey, I'll have my own shipping container of camera gear to carry!

I do have a similar travelling light thing to think about later in the year though for my US trip, I really don't want to be lugging stacks of gear around when I'm wandering round New York or wherever else I end up for 10 hours a day so I need to take as little as possible. I'll probably get shot for saying this here but realistically my only option (considering the amount I'll be shooting) is to go exclusively digital with my 5D2 and 7D and 2 or 3 lenses, I know that isn't massively light but it's largely a photographic trip and I'd hate to be out there and have my only camera die so taking two bodies is just sensible. I'd love to take the RB but I'd probably have to freight it over!
 
I have popped the 28mm on the FE2 and will go for a stroll with it today.
 
When I went backpacking, I took my FG, a 50mm f/1.8 and 70-210mm lenses. I don't remember using the zoom after the first day or two and I didn't miss it after posting it back to my parents.

I think that now I'd be tempted to go a little wider with a 35mm for general travelling, I think any wider than that would be limiting if you weren't taking scenic shots.

And that's made me realise that it's been 20 years since I went. Where does the time go? :)
 
Paul, I took my 28mm with my F3 to the south of France and it was a great combination,for framing just walk forward or backward.
 
Strappy said:
When I went backpacking, I took my FG, a 50mm f/1.8 and 70-210mm lenses. I don't remember using the zoom after the first day or two and I didn't miss it after posting it back to my parents.

I think that now I'd be tempted to go a little wider with a 35mm for general travelling, I think any wider than that would be limiting if you weren't taking scenic shots.

And that's made me realise that it's been 20 years since I went. Where does the time go? :)
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Well I use my 70-210 regularly, if you can't find a use for it, it's like saying "Beats me why people buy\use a 80mm, 85mm, 90mm, 100mm, 105mm, 135mm, 150mm, 200mm prime lens" ;)
 
Paul, I have a small Nikkor 35-70 f3.3-4.5 zoom that in the reviews is often given a bad press. Below f5.6 I have been very happy with its performance, indeed is was my standard lens on the FE for years and yielded some good results. I used it as a travel lens because of its size and weight and in the bright skies of Europe in summers past I was often shooting at small apertures given how bright it was. It is lighter than my Nikkor 35mm f2, but has seen limited use in recent years . You are welcome to borrow it for the trip if you want.

13948099651_6f4d33976d.jpg
 
Jao said:
Paul, I have a small Nikkor 35-70 f3.3-4.5 zoom that in the reviews is often given a bad press. Below f5.6 I have been very happy with its performance, indeed is was my standard lens on the FE for years and yielded some good results. I used it as a travel lens because of its size and weight and in the bright skies of Europe in summers past I was often shooting at small apertures given how bright it was. It is lighter than my Nikkor 35mm f2, but has seen limited use in recent years . You are welcome to borrow it for the trip if you want.

13948099651_6f4d33976d.jpg
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I have one of these & have always been happy with the performance as well.
 
excalibur2 said:
Well I use my 70-210 regularly, if you can't find a use for it, it's like saying "Beats me why people buy\use a 80mm, 85mm, 90mm, 100mm, 105mm, 135mm, 150mm, 200mm prime lens" ;)
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You appear to have deliberately misinterpreted my post in order to make some spurious point of your own.

As you appear to be having difficulty in following the flow of the thread, I'll explain. Paul wants recommendations for travelling light with a single lens - I've done exactly that in the past and have posted based on my experience in the hope that it'll help him move closer to a decision. The fact that I didn't use my zoom while travelling is unconnected to my views on the usefulness or otherwise of it or the various primes that fall within its range.
 
Strappy said:
You appear to have deliberately misinterpreted my post in order to make some spurious point of your own.

As you appear to be having difficulty in following the flow of the thread, I'll explain. Paul wants recommendations for travelling light with a single lens - I've done exactly that in the past and have posted based on my experience in the hope that it'll help him move closer to a decision. The fact that I didn't use my zoom while travelling is unconnected to my views on the usefulness or otherwise of it or the various primes that fall within its range.
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o_O :p Well maybe you didn't travel in boats where you couldn't use your feet for shots of things as you go by, or not interested in wildlife or really isolating a subject etc etc etc...As for traveling light I've already said "use a digital compact with a nice zoom" ..if your serious about taking film shots of what Greece has to offer just using using a 50mm lens is a bit limiting and also lugging a Nikon SLR around seems pointless traveling light, so what about just using the Olympus trip. :whistle:
 
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