larry_purviance

I have two giant black labs who can carry about 40 pounds apiece and never get exhausted. I hiked about 120 miles in the Sawtooth Wilderness area last summer with them, and rekindled a love for photography in the process. Dogs are better than either goats or lamas since they can ride inside the car and are great companions. I have photos of those two guys RUNNING down the trail and RUNNING after deer fully loaded. They love it. Save some of these pathetic beasts from certain death at the hands of the Pound. For winter camping, dogs can pull sleds, leaving you free to photograph on your winter ski campout trips. With a properly designed sled, those labs can easily pull over 100 pounds apiece and easily keep up with you unladen on skis. Your hands and back are completely free!!

 

Once you pass 80 pounds onto those beasts (Dogs can carry 1/3 of their weight as well), you should be able to get by with no more than 40 pounds for yourself and your mate.

 

What kind of photography are you doing? If it is nature photography, then certainly go with the SLR and zoom. If it is to get those dramatic shots from on top of ridges, nothing more is needed than the ultralight and water resistant Yashica T-4 Super, or a lightweight Yashica 124 G for medium format. A very lightweight and effective tripod is available from REI that only weighs 4 ounces and can strap itself onto a tree for higher leverage.

I have both a 124 G and a "D". Today I got back some family portraits I took with both, and the results are indistinguisheable. As one poster above noted, as long as you are outdoors and set it at F8 or F11, the results will be the same. The "G" does have the lighter meter built in, but I use a handheld light meter, which is far more accurate.

 

Good shooting!!

I wouldn't make your decision based on whether the camera has a working light meter or not. My 124 G has a "working light meter," but the hand-held metre is far more accurate. I just got back the first batch of prints using hand held metering, and they are absolutely stunning and tack sharp.

I have both a Yashica D and a Yashica 124 G sitting in front of me right now. I think the lens in either produces about the same quality pictures. I would say the BIGGEST difference is in the way the film cranks. the 124 G has both a crank, which must be put in the hole for the shutter to fire, and a light metre. I would agree that even with the G, get a a handheld light meter. I had my Gossen Scout calibrated by Photek@micron.net and the light meter in the G is not even close. (Photek gives very good service on Yashicas, He say they are extremely easy to find parts for. He just finished calibrating and cleaning my "D" and it is excellent)

 

The "D" has a film advance knob PLUS a shutter cock that must be cocked for the shutter to fire, as has been stated, it is very easy to do a double exposure with the "D" as you can recock the shutter without advancing the film.

 

They are both extraordinarily reliable machines - Compact, lightweight with great high contrast lenses. I am shooting some Kodak Protra 160 through mine today. You can't go wrong with either one - DO get the lens hood though.

 

These little babies have made medium format shooting so painless and gratifying that I am splurging for the new Contax 645 AF. This is coming from a guy who was still using disposeable cameras two years ago.