Leica R and Lybian Desert

[alex_ferraris]

I just booked a tour of the Sahara part of Lybia for the end of April:

I would like to know of any experience by anyone and

suggestions on lenses, films (print), type of bag (against sand),

care during and after the trip for my camera and lenses, etc.

My equipment: R6, 35-70/4, 80-200/4, (I very much hope to be

able to get the new 21-35/4), 28/2.8, 50/2, 90/2.8, 180 apo, 2X,

winder, pola and UV filters: what to live behind in order to travel

the lightest without regretting? Anything else to buy?

Thank you

Alex

[bernd_kunze]

Take an Ewa-Marine waterproof case. Pol filter. Print film I don't use

so no clue.

 

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Keep camera after shooting in watertight box to prevent moisture over

night, take silicia gel (doesn't harm to put some in the Ewa-Marine

case as well).

 

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I'd suggest UVA filters to protect lenses against small sand particles

as well.

 

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Bernd

[preston_merchant]

Keep it simple--you don't want to have to change lenses too often in

the desert, and your camel will appreciate the lighter load.

 

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If I were on the trip, I would carry the 28, 50, and 90, plus a

second body and call it a day. I might even skip the 90. But I'm

interested in the up-close people stuff, not landscapes.

 

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Good luck!

[wgpinc]

Minimal cleaning kit including brush, some type of good cleaner,

blower and cleaning cloth. I recommend a graduated neutral density

filter(s) to deal with scenes where the contrast between sky and

ground is higher than the film can hold. All the famous R users who

travelled (Haas, Roiter, Maroon) expound on the virtue of keeping

your equipment to a usable minimum (whatever that is for you). good

luck.

[jay_.]

For that destination I would bring the 35-70, 80-200 and in my case a

21 but the 28 in your case, plus the 50/2 in case you need the

speed. For film I would use Portra 160VC and take a few rolls of

Portra 800 just in case. Bring the 2x as it will turn the 50 into a

backup 100. If you get the 21-35 before you leave, skip the 35-70.

 

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I would *strongly* suggest a second body (could be an R5, RE, R7, or

another R6/6.2)not only as a backup but to keep one zoom on each and

not have to change lenses when there's sand in the air. Strictly as

a backup, an economical solution could be a Canon Rebel 2000 and an R-

EOS adaptor. This would cost about the same as a used R4.

[greg_mason]

alex:

 

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good luck and i hope you enjoy your trip. i personally do not travel

any where significant with out a back up body, even if it means

leaving a lens at home. i would definately pick up a back up body

for the desert. i would put my favorite lens on one body and my

second favorite on another and then i would bring two more lenses one

for each body. there is very little in the desrt that you can not

handle with some geeral purpose lenses since you are not working in

tight quarters and can always move around. i would make sure i have

a wide angle in order to get a near far perspective with some thing

important in the foreground and the desert in the back. although

others might disagree, i would also carry a longer lens in order to

get a compression effect over a large expanse of area. the other

lenses come down to what you feel most comfortable with. you do not

want to carry 20 pounds if you do not have to.

[nesrani]

above all, keep your film in the plastic canisters before and after

shooting. Sand gets everywhere and will ruin your film if you're not

careful. The rest is personal preference, but the Sahara should be

hot in early May (probably around the 40's as I recall), I'd leave

behind as much as you can, the weight of all those lenses and

bodies'll knock you out.

 

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Enjoy the desert, I love it myself, although it's been around ten

years now.

[reinier_de_vlaam]

I heard of a guy who fabricated a large clear plastic bag on E55 UV

filter. This way he could screw the plastic bag on his camera so to

say. He then closed it with tape at the bottom. Will allow all

control over the lens settings, without a change it gets to block the

view. It is a cheaper alternative to a watercase bag but very

recommendable to keep the dust out.

 

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Reinier

[preston_merchant]

Or you could take about 7 Olympus OM-1's with the necessary lenses

and trade them to the bedouins when they lock up with grit--all for

the price of one new Leica R.

[andy_piper2]

IF you get the 21-35, I'd take the 21-35, the 80-200 and the 50 for

speed. Widest flexibility in the smallest pkg, plus it saves on lens

changes around sand.

 

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On the other hand, if Harvey and Salgado can shoot world-wide stories

with just 28/35/50, so can you. Depends on what you want/hope your

pictures to look like. If you're good, you can probably get a great set

of pictures with just the 28 or 28/50.

[albert knapp md]

Alex:

All of the above recommendations are great. I would definitely

have a second body as the fewer lens transfers, the better. in

fact, if you switch lens or when you replace film, do this is a

shaded/safe place such as a tent or building. Be very careful as

the least amount of sand will wreck both film and camera. All

lenses should be covered with a UV, circ polar or graduated ND.

In fact, I would make sure each lens has its own UV and just add

the Polar or Grad ND. I would also get a regular ND (2 stops or

greater) as well as a colored grad ND for fun. As to the lens

selection, less is more. Take the 21-35, 50, and 80-200 and

leave the rest behind. Your back will thank you. Finally, take

plenty of microfiber clothes, compressed air etc... You will use it.

Every night, clean all the equipment thoroughly. Have fun!!

fewer lens

[todd_phillips1]

Alex,

 

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I would HIGHLY recommend a second body...it can be a beater as long everything works. Remember Murphy's law!

 

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Also, I might again recommend a third addition (even at the expense of an additonal lens) and that is a Nikonos II or (better) III with 35mm lens. The camera is impervious to water and sand. If you drop it, brush it off and don't worry about sand making it's way inside. Also, no batteries to worry about.

[sheridan]

Hello Alex. I would consider a second camera body to minimise lens

changes. Regards.