traveling and shooting film? | my advice & travel camera kit

If you’re traveling while shooting film, you might be wondering which camera(s) to bring, what you should do with your film, or what makes a good travel kit. Today, we’re taking a look at some practical travel tips for any film photographers looking to load up their bag, what my travel kit consists of, and some alternative options from KEH.

Point and Shoot Cameras

35mm Cameras

Lenses for the 35mm Cameras

Medium Format Cameras

Camera Bags

Tripods

Extra Accessories for Travel

These are affiliate links to KEH Camera, a sponsor of the channel. Simply purchasing through these links and using my discount codes, you’re supporting the channel with no additional cost to your purchase. It’s greatly appreciated.

[composeexpose]

When I feel the need to pack more I try to remember that NASA only took one lens to the moon.

[DanFrizzell]

I took a road trip this summer from Chicago to Los Angeles on what’s left of Route 66, and took seven cameras: three film, three mirrorless, and an iPhone. Along those 2500 miles, least 90% of my photos were made with only three cameras — one digital, a medium-format film camera, or the phone. Everything else — every one of them a camera I love — was dead weight that I had to schlep in and out of motel rooms every morning and every night and worry about when I was more than 10 feet from the car during the day. Wish I’d seen this video and taken it to heart before the trip.

[morrisbagnall]

I got the idea of 'pack then pack lighter' when started doing long trips on my small motorbike back in the beginning of the 80's. Kept it going since then. These days, when I take the car, I pack the Agfa Isolette II folder; the Pentax ME Super and the Olympus EM1 MkII with the 12-40 and 40-150 lenses. If I have to leave one out it's the Pentax because I love medium format. If I'm on the bike, I'll take the Oly with the 12-40 and the Agfa. If I'm hiking, I'll take the Oly and 12-40 and the Yashica Minister 700.

[TheFilmFellow]

Spot on Matt. It’s always been one 35mm camera with a 50 on it for me for traveling. With film itself I usually do color.

[healthid]

I totally agree on keeping it simple. However I did once travel with a Wista 4x5 camera to Alabama because I knew I wanted to make some portraits of folks who live there. The camera was a real conversation starter and opened doors, so it was worth it. On the film I shipped the holders and film along with a changing bag to the hotel, and then shipped it all back home when the trip was done.

[m-baka]

I spent 5 weeks in Turkey, some rolls of my 35mm went through the x-rays 8 times that trip. 15 rolls, only 2 frames had light fogging on it.

[michaelbornman]

I've been having a ton of fun with my Canonet QL17 and some Kodak Gold. I think an m6 is the logical step up, but that's probably a few years in my future haha

[jasonscott]

My advice if you have too many cameras is to bring a maximum of 2 formats (try to stick to 2 cameras + if you want a point and shoot). Cuts down on the unnecessary gear you'll be lugging around such as lenses, film etc and it forces you to think what shots you plan to take. Also for airports, try to take out your film from the camera if it is possible before the security check. While they may hand check film, I've had instances where they would not for the camera and wanted to either open it or x-ray it. If you can either shoot it all before, or take out the partial roll you can just skip all the hassle and just get the film hand checked.

[MoisheLettvin]

Couldn't agree more with this advice. I'm currently in the middle of a multiweek road trip -- I brought 3 cameras (a DSLR, my RZ67, and my Mamiya 6); my Mamiya 6 is my default/daily camera, and to your point it's the one I've used for 95% of the photos I've taken so far. The others are "nice to have" but since I'm driving I can carry lots more stuff anyway so the downsides aren't as big. If I ever get back on a plane it'll be only with the Mamiya 6.

[ChairmanZhongXiNa]

When you spend hours trying to learn how to explain to the security guards why film can't be x-rayed in 4 different languages.

[alexisstember]

Literally my biggest struggle. I start my packing list months in advance of a trip, and the only thing on the list is cameras which it takes me that long to narrow down to a sensible travel kit.

[popopolar]

I have one of my iso 800 film through xray at the airport for a several time and it has foggy effect on my photographs. After that I always ask for a hand check.

[Jamie]

Never have been able to get a hand check anywhere but in the US. I mostly travel in Europe and I‘ve long given up on asking for a hand check. What I do now is to keep the camera separate from the film because they always want to scan the camera again (big medium format cameras) so at least the film doesn’t get scanned twice.
So far I‘ve never had any damaged film (knock on wood) but I still don’t like to do it.

[ccoppola]

Good advice. I enjoy carrying a 2 lens kit. Depends where I’m going but I usually start the kit with either the M6 and a 50 or 35. To the 35 kit I add a 75. To the 50 kit I add a 28. Seems to cover all bases. I’ve actually found the telephoto to be far more useful than I would have expected.

[suzannelopez]

The timing of this is impeccable! Lol My friend had to talk me off the ledge of taking too many cameras on the weekend get away we just left for.

[CalumetVideo]

It all depends on what one is going to shoot. For traveling, usually pack my Nikon F5 with a 70-200mm zoom with Ektar 100.

For street it’s Leica IIIf with Elmar 50mm or a Nikon F3 with 35mm or 50mm using Kodak Tri-X or Portra 160.

If I’m shooting landscape or Architecture it’s definitely, the Bronica SQ with a 50mm with Ektar 100 or Tri-X, or the 4x5 Tachihara Large Format using either a 90mm, 150mm or 250mm lens with Tri-X 400, Velvia 50 or Provia 100.

Portraits, I use the Bronica SQ with the 105mm or 150mm lens and Portra 160 film.

It basically comes down to different tools for different jobs. I find for most jobs, the “normal” lens is my most used lens.

[analog_presencing]

Matt your advice came at a perfect timing; was still in doubt which lenses to bring just before leaving for a trip tomorrow, . Now it feels good to stick to what I am comfortable with at the moment. Brought all the options down my most used and trustworthy 50mm f1.5 Zeiss Opton Sonnar T lens with my 70 yr. old 35mm Zeiss Contax IIa rangefinder and KEKS Lightmeter (great tool!) shooting B&W as ever. All fits in a very small bag.

[parthasur]

I take my Rollei 35S loaded with Portra 400 and my Rollei 35T loaded with HP5. The 40 mm lens on the Rollei is just perfect. Zone focussing with distance set to infinity, speed 125, f5.6/f8/f11 and follow Capa's advice "If your photos are not good enough then you are not close enough" . You need to get close and fill the frame with the 40 mm. The Zeiss Sonnar on the 35S is just phenomenal with color (I wish I could afford to shoot slide film ☹️ with the Sonnar). By the way this channel is just so informative - like Analog Insights my other favorite channel. Best wishes.

[benmiller]

Simple kit: F100 with a 35-135mm f3.5-4.5 and my Voigtlander Bessa II

If I'm feeling ambitious I'll toss in an 85mm 1.8 and grab a Rolleicord for the 6x6 option.

When I shoot large format I'll take my 4x5 with both lenses I have (150 and 210, 4 frames bnw, 4 frames of color (usually 2 portra 160 and 2 portra 400), and either 2 or 4 frames of glass dry plates. Because it's light and small, I bring the Voigtlander Bessa again and I'll usually grab my Z6 with a 35 for the digital option/double check my light meter readings.

[zkcessnaguy]

Nikon F80 with the 50mm f1.8D is a pretty small, lightweight 35mm option., with the added bonus of being cheap as chips.