Which camera would you bring? (a lively poll)

[Dave Colangelo]

I figured I would put this question out to the group and see what others would do in this situation, there is no right answer but feel free to discuss:

The situation: I will be heading to Iceland in a few months on a long overdue vacation and am quite excited about the photography options there. As much as I would like to bring everything I own its a bit unrealistic to lug that much gear around so my kit has to be honed down to something manageable. I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my D3300 for some time any may use this as an excuse, both the D750 and XT-2 have been tempting me for a while. However I have a lot of great film gear that I use pretty frequently and I have been considering that as well. I will be on this trip with my family some of whom own DSLR's so there will be some digital cameras on the trip as well, this holds some weight on the decision.

The options:
1. Upgrade my digital (or stick with the D3300) and pack light, 28mm/50mm and maybe a tele, some spare batteries and no matter how I spin it, 24MP
2. Realize that I may not be back there for a while and bring the Hasselblad with the 50mm/80mm/150mm, deal with the film, and the increase in size because getting lost in iceland with a Hasseblad is the dream of many photographers.


Discuss...

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

I’d be a bit leery of bringing only a new to me camera on vacation to somewhere so photogenic. Will you have time beforehand to learn all the ins and outs? I love my Xt2 and it was fairly easy to learn but there was definitely a little fumbling for my old Nikon controls for a while.

 

[Cortian]

I guess it depends on just how dedicated you are to taking the best possible photos with the best gear available to you.

I just went through this decision process: Bring the Canon 40D and a couple lenses (17-85mm and 70-300mm), rely on iPhones, bring the Olympus P&S neither my wife nor I ever really liked, or buy something new?

Went with the last option. Will it do as well as my 40D? Nope. But it won't be 10 lbs. of bulk in my carry-on and it'll be a lot lighter to carry around while we're there. Will it be as convenient as a cell phone? Nope. But it's got some reach and a viewfinder.

So we compromised. Well, I did. I would've been the one donkey-ing around 10 lbs. of camera gear, otherwise

That's all I got.

 

[jaomul]

D3300 is nice but it is not rated to shoot in lower temps, so though it probably work fine maybe a more robust option is better.

Personally I would not go the big hasselblad option simply for convenience.

I think the d750 with correct lenses is a great option, as is the Fuji but you likely have at least some Nikon lens options already.Dslr should be better in battery dept also which can be less than normal in the cold

 

[Dave Colangelo]

D3300 is nice but it is not rated to shoot in lower temps, so though it probably work fine maybe a more robust option is better.

I did not know this was a rating they published! I have shot down as low as at least Zero F up in Vermont, same with the 'blad.

Convenience is weighing heavy on the decision however all things considered the 'Blad body is not actually all that much bigger than a D750. The 80mm is the same size as Nikons 50mm and the 150mm is a bit smaller than the size of a 70/200 on the Nikon so kit wise the only extra thing I'm really lugging around is film (maybe 15 rolls or so) and a release cable.

 

[dxqcanada2]

... so there is potentially other party members who will just take the same images as you would do on digital, if you brought it ... so I would rush out to sell off the 50mm and get a 40mm, slap it on the Blad and then do the film thing.

 

[beagle100]

... so there is potentially other party members who will just take the same images as you would do on digital, if you brought it ... so I would rush out to sell off the 50mm and get a 40mm, slap it on the Blad and then do the film thing.

potentially ... but only if it's unrealistic to lug around the equipment .. film, DSLR etc
www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[Derrel]

I'd bring a Nikon for the superb battery charge-holding period, and for the huge number of shots per charge. Plus, the extreme dynamic range,and the great raw files that the new, modern Nikon FX cameras produce. If you're fine with APS-C, the D3300 would also be fine. As squarPeg mentioned--I myself would be leery of taking a new-to-me camera model on an important photograhic excursion.

I dunno...medium format 120 rollfilm is pretty limiting in terms of shots: 12 frames per roll. In the space of a mere five-pack of 120 rollfilm, one could stack and pack a literal month's worth of shooting of 500 to 1,000 frames per day, in memory cards, at minimum. When you encounter something worth shooting, modern FX Nikon digital is extremely compelling in its image quality, dynamic range, and ease of use.

The D600 or D610 as a used $600-$675 body, would give basically the same image quality as a D750 that costs much more. Right now, D610s are plentiful on the used market.

 

[ac12]

Just the hassle of taking a film camera through security has shut me down of air travel with a film camera.

What lenses do you have for the D3300?
The 28 (42mm FX equiv) would not be wide enough, for me.
I used to shoot a 24 with 35mm film. That would be a 16mm on a DX body.

In DX, even upgrading to a D7200 or D7500 would still be a 24MP sensor.
You should also look at the lighter D5600.

My lens choice for a DX body would be:

• An 18-140 as my primary lens, primarily for the zoom range.
  
• Or a 16-80 f/2.8-4. This is the DX equivalent to the FX 24-120.
  Reportedly optically a great lens, but this is an expensive DX lens. If I bought it, it would commit me to the DX world.
  It is just short enough that you may still want to carry a longer lens.
  
• Plus a 35 f/1.8 for low light situations.

For FX, I would go D750 +

• 24-120 f/4, as a one lens kit, if 120mm is long enough on the long end.
• Or 24-85 f/3.5-4.5. Shorter on the long end than the 24-120, but reportedly better optics.
  Here you most likely would want to pair it with a longer lens, 70-300 or 70-200.

 

[gk fotografie3]

I figured I would put this question out to the group and see what others would do in this situation, there is no right answer but feel free to discuss:

The situation: I will be heading to Iceland in a few months on a long overdue vacation and am quite excited about the photography options there. As much as I would like to bring everything I own its a bit unrealistic to lug that much gear around so my kit has to be honed down to something manageable. I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my D3300 for some time any may use this as an excuse, both the D750 and XT-2 have been tempting me for a while. However I have a lot of great film gear that I use pretty frequently and I have been considering that as well. I will be on this trip with my family some of whom own DSLR's so there will be some digital cameras on the trip as well, this holds some weight on the decision.

The options:
1. Upgrade my digital (or stick with the D3300) and pack light, 28mm/50mm and maybe a tele, some spare batteries and no matter how I spin it, 24MP
2. Realize that I may not be back there for a while and bring the Hasselblad with the 50mm/80mm/150mm, deal with the film, and the increase in size because getting lost in iceland with a Hasseblad is the dream of many photographers.


Discuss...

I think you can easily determine that yourself.

Going with several family members, seeing sights (almost) every day together, visit museums together, eating out together: just take a dslr with you, because then you are "just as a tourist" on vacation, that's not at all a problem and I wish you a fantastic stay in Iceland with family and/or friends.

Are you going to Iceland with the intention of solely taking photos, creating only breathtaking and prize-winning photos, hanging out with your camera for hours and days alone, than you are "the photographer" not on vacation, but creating art: take the Hasselblad with you and many, many rolls of film!

I have traveled for years with 1 or 2 Hasselblad 500CM cameras, almost always 4 lenses (30, 50, 80, 120) and A12, A16, A24 cassettes. The weight was never a problem and in comparison with various, big dslr cameras, I even think that a Hasselblad 500CM might be slightly lighter.

Wish you a very pleasant stay and lots of fun.

 

[Gary A.]

The 'Blad.
You have everything you need. Iceland is much more landscape than people/action stuff. The film camera will slow you down, make you more and keenly aware of the image and the camera ... just knowing you have a finite number of shots will and hopefully, have you gravitate towards details. All photography requires attention to details ... but landscape photography even more so.

 

[Gary A.]

Multiple backs, one armed with B&W and the other with Chrome.

 

[jcdeboever]

I'd take the Blad too. You will have negatives that will last your lifetime. No worries about bricking a SD card or losing images. As Gary said, it will slow you down. I do my best work when I slow down, way down. I'd shoot all Fujifilm. Acros 100 and Velvia 100 or 50. You may never get back there so might as well do your best work and have the negatives.

 

[OldManJim]

I'd keep in mind that it's the image that counts - not the hardware needed to capture it. That being said, I'd take the 750 - assuming you have enough time to get familiar with it. Being smaller, you're less likely to leave it in the hotel because of the hassle of dragging the 'Blad around.

This from a guy who shoots a Mamiya 645 - but when I take it out, it's an expedition. I use a D7100 for travel because of the convenience. Small camera bag, 2-3 lenses, some extra memory cards, a white balance card, small lens cleaning kit and a polarizer. The whole package weighs less than 10 lbs and is easy to schlep around.