Extended travel and Leicas

Well, you certainly got a ton of opinions on this one.

Hope you get a chance to even get to mine.

I've traveled extensively with my Leicas. I'm also a user of both

Canon and Nikon systems ( in advertising work ).

Canon EOS and L equipment is way to heavy. Not long into your

trek you'd regret taking it. Trust me, I've done it.

If you go with the small Nikon (which I also tried on trips ) you'll

also regret it when you get the images back, especially B&W

(compaired to Leica or even Canon Ls). Selecting another, less

expensive rangefinder system is going with an untried, "Johnny

come lately". Maybe they're up to it. Maybe. Leica's are more

proven in unfriendly conditions ( like war for example).

Because you favor the 24mm focal length, and have cut your

teeth on SLRs ( rangefinders aren't for everyone ) have you

considered the now discontinued Leica R6 or 6.2? It 's an all

mechanical (except meter) manual SLR camera, so if the

batteries fail you're still in business. ( I use to pack a battery

independant meter about 3" long and 0 weight as back up to not

being able to find new batteries).

The R6 is an overbuilt tank the's not all that much bigger than a

M6 TTL. I carried one with a 24/2.8, 35/2 and 90/2 all over the

world. It never failed me even once...especially in the darkroom

later.

All the Leica specialist with ads in the back of Shutterbug will be

really helpful to you in finding one. My choice is the Classic

Connection at 1 (888) Leicasam , but they're all knowledgable

and honest in my experience.

The R6 differes from the 6.2 mostly in that the 6 goes to

1/1000th verses 1/2000th for the 6.2.

If you don't need the speed the 6 is less expensive used.

I grew up with Leica Ms so now I only travel with them, and leave

the "Canon body building equipment " at home for local

assignments (where a younger, beefy assistant totes everything

around for me). An interesting side note: I've been on very

demanding, no second chance assignments where every

system I've ever used failed me at one time or another right at

the decisive moment. Except my little Leicas. As a consequence

I never leave home without one as a back up. They've saved the

day a lot more than once. Not bad for 1957 technology, huh?

Good luck on the trip.

<p>

Marc Williams of "fotografz" LTD

Well, you certainly got a ton of opinions on this one.

Hope you get a chance to even get to mine.

I've traveled extensively with my Leicas. I'm also a user of both

Canon and Nikon systems ( in advertising work ).

Canon EOS and L equipment is way to heavy. Not long into your

trek you'd regret taking it. Trust me, I've done it.

If you go with the small Nikon (which I also tried on trips ) you'll

also regret it when you get the images back, especially B&W

(compaired to Leica or even Canon Ls). Selecting another, less

expensive rangefinder system is going with an untried, "Johnny

come lately". Maybe they're up to it. Maybe. Leica's are more

proven in unfriendly conditions ( like war for example).

Because you favor the 24mm focal length, and have cut your

teeth on SLRs ( rangefinders aren't for everyone ) have you

considered the now discontinued Leica R6 or 6.2? It 's an all

mechanical (except meter) manual SLR camera, so if the

batteries fail you're still in business. ( I use to pack a battery

independant meter about 3" long and 0 weight as back up to not

being able to find new batteries).

The R6 is an overbuilt tank the's not all that much bigger than a

M6 TTL. I carried one with a 24/2.8, 35/2 and 90/2 all over the

world. It never failed me even once...especially in the darkroom

later.

All the Leica specialist with ads in the back of Shutterbug will be

really helpful to you in finding one. My choice is the Classic

Connection at 1 (888) Leicasam , but they're all knowledgable

and honest in my experience.

The R6 differes from the 6.2 mostly in that the 6 goes to

1/1000th verses 1/2000th for the 6.2.

If you don't need the speed the 6 is less expensive used.

I grew up with Leica Ms so now I only travel with them, and leave

the "Canon body building equipment " at home for local

assignments (where a younger, beefy assistant totes everything

around for me). An interesting side note: I've been on very

demanding, no second chance assignments where every

system I've ever used failed me at one time or another right at

the decisive moment. Except my little Leicas. As a consequence

I never leave home without one as a back up. They've saved the

day a lot more than once. Not bad for 1957 technology, huh?

Good luck on the trip.

<p>

Marc Williams of "fotografz" LTD

mwilloiams111313MI@comcast.net

Well, you certainly got a ton of opinions on this one.

Hope you get a chance to even get to mine.

I've traveled extensively with my Leicas. I'm also a user of both

Canon and Nikon systems ( in advertising work ).

Canon EOS and L equipment is way to heavy. Not long into your

trek you'd regret taking it. Trust me, I've done it.

If you go with the small Nikon (which I also tried on trips ) you'll

also regret it when you get the images back, especially B&W

(compaired to Leica or even Canon Ls). Selecting another, less

expensive rangefinder system is going with an untried, "Johnny

come lately". Maybe they're up to it. Maybe. Leica's are more

proven in unfriendly conditions ( like war for example).

Because you favor the 24mm focal length, and have cut your

teeth on SLRs ( rangefinders aren't for everyone ) have you

considered the now discontinued Leica R6 or 6.2? It 's an all

mechanical (except meter) manual SLR camera, so if the

batteries fail you're still in business. ( I use to pack a battery

independant meter about 3" long and 0 weight as back up to not

being able to find new batteries).

The R6 is an overbuilt tank the's not all that much bigger than a

M6 TTL. I carried one with a 24/2.8, 35/2 and 90/2 all over the

world. It never failed me even once...especially in the darkroom

later.

All the Leica specialist with ads in the back of Shutterbug will be

really helpful to you in finding one. My choice is the Classic

Connection at 1 (888) Leicasam , but they're all knowledgable

and honest in my experience.

The R6 differes from the 6.2 mostly in that the 6 goes to

1/1000th verses 1/2000th for the 6.2.

If you don't need the speed the 6 is less expensive used.

I grew up with Leica Ms so now I only travel with them, and leave

the "Canon body building equipment " at home for local

assignments (where a younger, beefy assistant totes everything

around for me). An interesting side note: I've been on very

demanding, no second chance assignments where every

system I've ever used failed me at one time or another right at

the decisive moment. Except my little Leicas. As a consequence

I never leave home without one as a back up. They've saved the

day a lot more than once. Not bad for 1957 technology, huh?

Good luck on the trip.

<p>

Marc Williams of "fotografz" LTD

mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net

Sheesh!

<p>

I took the usual mult-country Europe trip in the mid 70s. Rail

pass. Never more than three days/city. Lived out of a bag. Lots of

museum's and churches. Lots and lot's of interesting people. Great

scenery.

<p>

I was poor as a church mouse. So I took what I could afford. The

guy at the camera store sold me an inexpensive but brand new Konica C-

35 rangefinder. Had a neat little vinyl case and a wrist strap.

Lens was a 38mm f2.8 lens. Fit in my pocket. Never knocked it out

of alignment.

<p>

I still love looking at all the pictures quarter centuary later.

(Slides actually)

<p>

My point? Take something durable, easy to use, handy, and small.

Don't worry about a Leica. Cause if you lose it, or damage it, you

will be picking up another camera and continue right on with the trip.

Your trip is hardly a Pro assignment, but your pictures will mean

everything to you.