Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Prague is in sight!

In exactly a month, we will be on our way over to Prague to start a 12 week journey through the heart of Eastern Europe and entering into Russia. The prospect of being on the road for 3 straight months is exciting, daunting, and scary all at once. My biggest headache seems to be how much photo gear can I possibly lug along due to weight considerations, and whether I feel I will be satisfied being only able to shoot with those specifically chosen cameras for 3 months. I'm leaning towards this as my kit:

Digital - Nikon D300, Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8, Nikkor 50mm f/1.2.
Film - Kiev88 body and Arsat 80mm f/2.8.
Toy Cameras - Holga 120N and Diana Mini.
100 Rolls of film - 60x 120, 40x 135 - combination of slide, print, and black and white.
Manfrotto tripod, closeup filters, polarizers, and all that other jazz like lenspens, etc.

And then of course, Anita will bring along the Leica D-Lux4.

What do you think? Overkill? Keeping in mind I'm going to be shooting for 80 straight days. The D300 is simply too versatile and convenient (it's digital, after all) to NOT bring. The Kiev88 is a metal beast that I think will help me improve my skills - analogue, no meter, all manual, and prime lens. I suppose I could cut down on the amount of film I bring, but I'm worried that I won't be able to track down decently priced rolls of 120 and/ or slide film while in some remote villages. I suppose I could also forego the Diana Mini as I could run 35mm through the Holga if needed, but the Mini is so much fun (and the weight savings of not bringing it would be minimal). Sigh...

I think the solution is to hire a sherpa.

2 comments:

  1. DUDE!! 3 months!! SO.JEALOUS!!! don't be stingy with the uploads when you get back

    i think your camera bag selection is equivalent to a girl packing too many shoes for a trip. Oh yeah i went there! :P

    the kiev sounds way too heavy to carry around on such a long trip. but who knows, might be worth it.

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  2. "...too many shoes for a trip"

    So true. But still, them's fighting words! And yes, the Kiev is really a killer to lug around, but I just sooooo want to shoot with it. Plus I bought it this weekend specifically so I could bring along a REAL medium format rig. I'd feel kinda dumb NOT bringing it now. GAAAAAH! Decisions decisions.

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