Help me pack my bags for Cape Cod

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>Okay, so I'm leaving for two-weeks in Cape Cod in a few weeks, I haven't been in several years. I currently have two "good" bodies (other than an assortment of half-functoning SLR's and FSU rangefinders, and my Brownie collection) a Minolta X-700 with a variety of decent lenses (Rokkor 50mm 1.7, Vivitar Series 1 28-90f/2.8, and a low-end Vivitar 70-210f/4.5) my other body I'm using right now is a Leica IIIf with an Industar 61L/D Soviet lens (great ultra-cheap lens btw, good bokeh) and I may add a cheap 35mm lens to that body. My main question though is film, obviously B&W is a cliche choice for Cape Cod, but which body should I use for B&W and Color? I'll be ordering 100ft of Tri-X and a few rolls of Acros, all to be processed in either Diafine or Rodinol. My color body would be mainly shooting a mix of Ektar, 400VC, KR64, Provia 100f, and Velvia 50. Which body would you choose for this and do you have any additional suggestions?</p>

[frank_scheitrowsky1]

<p>I'd do B+W n the IIIf, and colour in the X700.</p>

<p>I'm going on a road trip this July and will use a RF for 400 B+W, a 35mm SLR for colour, and a MF for 100 B+W.</p>

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning due mainly to the lack of a meter (Sunny 16's dandy for B&W and Color Neg, but I don't trust it for chromes). So currently...<br>

Leica IIIf<br>

Industar 61L/D 50mm 2.8<br>

I may buy a Jupiter 12 35mm 2.8<br>

100ft Tri-X in Diafine roughly ISO 1250 (guessing exposure)<br>

5 rolls Acros in Rodinal<br>

Maybe a roll of two of TMY-2 in Rodinal for low light<br>

Minolta X-700<br>

50mm1.7 and two vivitar zooms<br>

4 rolls K64<br>

5 rolls Provia 100f<br>

3 rolls Ektar<br>

2 rolls Portra 400VC<br>

2 rolls Velvia 50</p>

[Rob F.]

<p>I concur in the choice of the Leica for the B&W. Sunny 16 should serve you well with Tri-X. Suggest Ilford Delta 400 for the low-light shots, though. You can shoot it at 500 and more, processed in either XTOL or Ilford Microphen. I like its look!<br>

Cape Cod offers so many shots that beg to be taken in color, that I would plan on shooting mostly color! The light is soft and will bring out the best in your Velvia and Provia.</p>

[frank_scheitrowsky1]

<p>The J-12 is a very good little lens. Great value. Just like the Industar 61.</p>

<p>I'd much rather have a Leica body and Russian lenses, than the other way 'round.</p>

[andylynn]

<p>What they said, and I'll chime in that those Vivitar zooms are so cheap on Ebay you can replace your 70-210 with a Series 1 (one of the earlier generations before they were made by Cosina and had the embossed gray rubber grip indicating cheapness) for almost nothing. I got my 1st gen f/3.5 as part of a pair that was $0.99.</p>

<p>The 28-90 will serve you very well. The colors will be beautiful. Try to get out and shoot at sunrise.</p>

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>I would be shooting Tri-X @1250, which I love the way it looks in Diafine, but I might pickup some Delta 400 for the T-grain. I'll think about picking up another Series 1, love my 28-90. And yes, the Soviet lenses are amazing values.</p>

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>Anyone know a good cheap finder to accompany the J-12?</p>

[mjferron]

<p>"obviously B&W is a cliche choice for Cape Cod"</p>

<p>Not at all. Actually as someone who has spent the first 48 years of his life near or on Cape Cod I think there's too much color photography of the place and not enough modern B&W photos. I say Tmax 100 or Pan F for tripod work and Tri-x or Tmax 400 for general handheld photography.</p>

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>Trust me I have full intention to shoot a ton of B&W (switched to ordering 100ft of Acros and 5 rolls of Tri-X)</p>

[Troll]

<p>"obviously B&W is a cliche choice for Cape Cod"<br>

Not at all. Actually as someone who has spent the first 48 years of his life near or on Cape Cod I think there's too much color photography of the place and not enough modern B&W photos.</p>

<p>That's funny -- I can't imagine shooting B&W on the Cape. I think that Walker Evans said it all in the 1920-30s.</p>

[knut_schwinzer]

<p>Kyle, with all due respect for your choices made, isn't that too much of different films? Two different bw, two C-41, and two slide films would be already to much to handle...for me! But Provia, KR 64 and Velvia, all in a similar speed range? I don't think they look too good if you mix them. KR colors and Velvia are so different in saturation, and given that you don't use 4 bodys, you might face one or another dilemma.<br>

IMHO, make a more even, simple choice. Or KR, or Provia, or Velvia, or Astia.<br>

Pics would later combine more evenly.<br>

Just a thought. </p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>Ditto. Too many films. Pick ONE B&W and ONE COLOUR. C-41 or E6 but not both. Take 2 cameras max.</p>

<p>I just take HP-5 with me. Makes decisions simple.</p>

[kyle_mahaney]

<p>hmm, I certainly want the two B&W (Acros and Tri-X come across very differently and I shoot Acros @200 and Tri-X at 1250 making one much more useful at night. Maybe I'll simply get like 8 rolls of KR, a few of Ektar (extra speed, different pallette with less contrast and I can process at home) and some iso 400 color.</p>

[steve_larese1]

<p>When you see color on the Cape, it really pops. Flags, buoys, boats, sunsets really stand out. Of course there's a lot of weathered texture that is perfect for B&W. Be prepared ;) You can always convert color to B&W, if you have to choose.</p>