I have a fm with a 35 1.4, 50, and 135. I think this would be a great kit for the trip. Although I like wide angle and I've hear the 21 has terrible distortion. How's the distortion on the 24? Is it an f2?

in 2011 jan, i went to kabul with a Oly 35sp orange filter and about 10 rolls of XP-2.

i realised now that i could have made things easier if I had just put the ISO to 200 and use auto exposure instead of going at iso 400 + orange filter and pushing it to 800 at development. (the SP is not TTL exposure) or I could have ignored the orange filter completely and shoot at 400 with auto-exposure.

Nachase,

the F2AS is very sturdy however I would lean towards something smaller like the Leica M3 with 35 Cron. The reason is because the m3 is less conspicuous than a SLR. The other benefit is that for low light, a m3 with a soft release is quite hard to beat. What film do you intend to carry ?

Bring a couple of Olympus Mju's.

Sharp lens, AF-everything and theres even a 38-80 zoom version. Size of a pack of smokes and nobody will take you serious until you show the first prints.

I'll probably carry Acros and Ektar (the two films I use most).

Whatever you carry, we hope you will be careful and come home safely. Joe

I look back and wish that I had a Nikonos IV-a or V with a 35mm and 85mm lens for my deployments, especially the Iraq one. Those cameras are incredibly tough, dustproof and have awesome lenses. These days a Nikonos V with a 35mm lens is almost free in comparison to most rangefinder gear. The 85mm lens is pretty cheap too and at the price of the bodies, you could have one body per focal length and be good to go, rain, dust, shamal, haboob or shine. No matter what, those cameras can take the punishment that military photography can dish out.

I took a Leica M2 and M4. Both of them handled deployment and combat well but there were a few issues as well as them not being as well sealed as a camera in the desert should be. For me lens changing was out of the question when out on convoy or patrol so I shot with a 28mm on the M2 and either a 50 or a 90 on the M4. Usually the 50mm.

Good luck and stay safe.

Phil Forrest

The older Nikon film SLRs are as solid as hell and the glass is still excellent. Both are pretty inexpensive overall, especially if you buy something of a beater. Cheap enough to carry another camera as a backup. If smething gets damaged not much is lost. All you need is a good supply of film and some spare batteries. As you say an F2 would be a good option. Besides it could be nice to honour the deeds of the photographers of the 60s and 70s (the heyday era of the Nikon mechanical SLR cameras) who put themselves in harms way in conflict zones like Vietnam using the same equipment.

Thanks, man, I appreciate it.

The area I will be in will likely be pretty arid, but it shouldn't be as chokingly dusty as Iraq. I suppose I will find out when I get there. I also have my Minolta Hi-Matic, which is both cheap (so if I destroyed it I would only be out $40) and a pretty good performer, plus it is just barely on the wide side of normal. A Ricoh GR1v is another option I have thought about. I could put it in my flashbang pouch where it would always be ready. Hmm.

Just don't throw it at anyone!

Phil Forrest

jeez Ray! let's see more

Biggest mistake I made was taking a 'superzoom' rather than a better camera to Iraq. I had been advised not to take anything I'd have to change lenses on because of the dust. It was a dusty environment but there would have been places I could have changed lenses.

Even the Canon I took survived (mostly) a blast so my F2 or most film camera's would have taken the abuse pretty well.

Don't forget about the Nikonos' little cousin, the Nikon Action Touch. It's waterproof, has chunky tonka toy styling and the Nikkor 35/2.8 is pretty damn good. I used it on a motorcycle tour of Vietnam grabbing quick shots with the AF on my bike, even when it was pouring outside.

Nick, you know what you are doing, but if it were me, I'd take two smaller Nikon bodies instead of the F2AS.
- Probably same weight
- Not as robust, but you have redundancy
- Can have two bodies with two different lenses/films, ready to shoot

Weather / dustproof is the way to go. Was in the deserts of Jordan last year, and dust got into everything - even the inside of my Leica X1. Even my M's were not spared the dust treatment!

The suggestion to go with the Mju II is a great one - inconspicuous and weather sealed - with a great lens to boot.

Unfortunately, the Leica is far and away from being as sturdy as a Nikon F2. I have had any number of problems while using Leica M cameras in rugged environments. Dropping your Leica onto the sidewalk or street (I have done it more than once) will usually result in a dent, and with the rangefinder being knocked out of adjustment. With a an F2, the damage will likely be limited to the dent. Sadly, I have had shutter curtains fail in three of my Leica M cameras, the cloth curtain sometimes comes loose from the lathe. I have never, ever, had a Nikon camera fail on me.

Around town here in Tokyo, I always shoot with a Leica. I like how they work, and I love the lenses. But I usually have a second body with a different lens attached. Having the second body has come in handy more than once. If I could only carry a single camera, it would be a Nikon F. In a rugged environment, a Nikon would always be my first choice.

if you only go with film camera, I'd suggest your M6/35 combo is sufficient, maybe you want to bring your m3 too. I'd bring one more slr, canon f-1 or nikon f3 with standard lens or long lens 85/135 for close up.

If you want a black Nikonos IVa with 35/2.8 send me a PM. It's yours for the taking. Not exactly lightweight but it's invincible.

Bring 2 Holga's... Nothing that can break, if it does, its simple to fix.
They have no "value" and are not perceived as "real" camera's.....

I second this. The 35mm lens is excellent too.

What he said!

I'd take the M and 35mm wthout a shadow of a doubt. You'll find little it cannot do and much less annoying than a Ricoh GR1 with its autofocus, noises and quirks.

Should be fine in your pack. You could always wrap it in neoprene and wrap some clothes around it in a location it wont move or be near the surface.

Dust wont be an issue. My MP (unsealed finder) got some dust inside, but its no issue in use. The other selaed VFs are fine.

I like the idea of a Holga...I also have an XA2 which is great for throwing in my ruck or cargo pocket on the ABU's. It's small and unobtrusive.

Fast film is a definite, it will be bright as hell with the sand and sun.

I might be tempted to grab a cheap Bessa R3a/m and a lens. That way if the body gets destroyed you aren't out a ton of money or your favorite camera. Just a thought, but most everything comes back from the desert totally wrecked.

I think you can forget the Olympus Mju. It defaults to flash-on and needs two fingernail pushes to turn that off. This is not do-able in gloves.

Apart from a "disposable" old SLR the Nikonos (IVa or V)** would do the job. Use the 35mm amphibious lens and don't forget the special grease, as dry o-rings are more likely to get broken.

** See post 19, above