MF as a travel camera

freaklikeme
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p.5 #1 · MF as a travel camera

Andrew CD wrote:
True enough. 30mm, for instance, does seem odd, from a 135 perspective. Having said that, there's arguably nothing inherently special about 35mm or 50mm, as opposed to, say, 40mm or 55mm.

I'm trying to resist the temptation to buy anything new at the moment, but I have also been thinking quite carefully about what focal lengths are most useful for me. More specifically, I have had a thorough look through my photo library. Two or three focal length ranges stand out: 28-35mm and around 75mm (often cropped slightly) in particular. I also rather like 21mm. There is lots of 50mm...Show more →

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I sort of fell backwards into the 907x 100c, picking it up in trade thinking I'd use the back more than the complete camera, and it changed my mind. I thought I'd go with a two lens kit as well (30/3.5 and 90/2.5) but the size, weight, low cost of entry, and fantastic landscape capabilities of the 45P won me over, so now it's three. We don't have the same goals with MF, since the 907x is strictly a landscaper for me, but my guy, Rolf, is investigating making the X2DII his digital camera, and he's renting one along with the 38V (to match our existing 55 and 90 Vs). He thinks it may be the right all-around solution.

Apr 16, 2026 at 02:32 PM

Grenache
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p.5 #2 · MF as a travel camera

Not directly germane to the question at hand, but I finally had good weather and free time to take the X2Dii and lenses for a shoot.

HOLY CR@P, those images are detailed and gorgeous. I could literally count grains of sand on the beach 10ft away. The 38V is every bit as good as I expected (sublime), but the 25V also was staggeringly good, with incredible distortion control and sharpness across the frame. I deliberately pushed the ISO and saw only minimal impact to resolution at ISO 3200 and f/16�from the combination that and diffraction.

What a camera (and lenses)!!!

Jim

Apr 21, 2026 at 03:07 PM

EMH2025
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p.5 #3 · MF as a travel camera

For a simple travel kit I have two versions-

The Nikon kit and I�ll echo the Z8. the Z8 with the 24-120 is wonderful for most things, add in a Voigtlander 1.0 Z Nokton that stays at the hotel mostly during the day unless I really want 3D pop, not needed, but somes out for night and indoor scenes does most of what I want to do. If I am out fishing and there is a chance for critters a Z8 and the high F 28-300 that is a great lens within its limits goes in my waterproof backpack so the bear and moose pose for me as my one lens solution.

Alternately since I often want to shoot film, a Leica EV1 and a Leica M film, although I have other Ms like M3 and 4 that are arguably much better made cameras, the M4-2 is the lightest of the cameras. Then one lens set serves both, tiny lenses are good, a 50 apo- either Leica or Voigtlander does the high resolution as perfect as I can make photo, a 35 steel rim can do vintage, a 28 apo Voigtlander or if I expect low light the 28 Nokton for scenics. Together film and dig weigh about the same as the Nikon kit and occupy about same volume. If want a longer lens then a 90 would be next, if heavy use the ultron, if only a maybe the lighter colorskoper.

Apr 23, 2026 at 09:38 AM

RoamingScott
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p.5 #4 · MF as a travel camera

I picked up the XCD 35-100, and it proves once again what a unicorn the Z 24-120 is in terms of size/weight/reach/ability

I can carry the 24-120 around all day and never think once about it.

Luckily, my use case for the 35-100 isn't for walkabout travel, but for pretty dedicated landscape and architecture.

Apr 23, 2026 at 09:46 AM

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