Need help for my next trip...

Mir · Expire: 2017-09-30

Hi everyone,

I need help choosing..
I'll be in Vietnam/Cambodia for a month....
in Vietnam, all over, north and south and in Angkor Vat in Cambodia
for a short 5 days....

Here is my modest lens list:
Most of these are recent acquisitions and i haven't had much time to take them out and play...
Any ideas on what to bring along ??

SOLIGOR 17/3.5 MD
VIVITAR Series 1 24-48/3.8 MD
KALIMAR 28-50/3.5-4.5
VIVITAR Series 1 35-85/2.8 MD
MIR 1B 37/2.8
SOLIGOR C/D 45-150/3.5
INDUSTAR 50-2 50/3.5
SUPER-TAKUMAR 50/1.4
HELIOS 44-2 58/2
VIVITAR Series 1 70-210/2.8-4 MD
JUPITER 11A 135/4
PENTACON GDR 135/2.8
aus JENA S 135/3.5
TAKUMAR SMC 200/4
MINOLTA MC ROKKOR-X 300/4.5 MD
ACCURA AUTO TELECTRIC 500/8.0

Minolta Maxxum 7D body
Most are M42
They all have UV and polarizer filters...
Should i bring a flash ?? a monopod ?

I'll probably wont get the time to set up and do Macro....
And i usually cary the load all day, everyday !

Anyway..... Your input is most welcome !

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I think this set would do:

SOLIGOR 17/3.5 MD
SUPER-TAKUMAR 50/1.4

VIVITAR Series 1 24-48/3.8 MD
VIVITAR Series 1 35-85/2.8 MD
VIVITAR Series 1 70-210/2.8-4 MD

Ash · Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 185 Location: Evanston, il, usa

SOLIGOR 17/3.5 MD
SUPER-TAKUMAR 50/1.4

VIVITAR Series 1 24-48/3.8 MD
VIVITAR Series 1 70-210/2.8-4 MD

only reason I am not including 35-85 is that focal length are more or less covered. Less bulk to carry. I will suggest to have monopod and flashgun.

If I were you I would have dropped one more zoom probably 24-85mm to cut on the bulk and might add aus jena 135/3.5 which is not that heavy.

Just a question, your VIVITAR Series 1 70-210/2.8-4 MD is modified to fit on minolta 7D body or you are using adapter with a glass element. If it has an adapter with glass element then I wont suggest it. If you have any AF lens for that range take that.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Mir · Expire: 2017-09-30

Thanks for your input !
Very appreciated....

I do own an MD/MA adapter with glass element and although i really like my Vivitars, i don't use 'em much..... Thats why i'm here ! i beleive you guys can make me knowlegable and picky for M42's....

I'm watching those as of right now:
SMC TAKUMAR 24/3.5 M42
REVUENON/ENNA 24/4 M42
REVUENON 28/2.8 M42
PENTACON 30/3.5 M42 10 BLADES G.D.R
Enna-Werk Munchen Edixa-Tele-Ennalyt 13.5cm f/3.5
I'm not shure what the last one is.... any ideas ?

I read somewhere that wide-angle lens may not be as useful as intended
with smaller CCD sensor's..... any thruth in that affirmation ?
i'm still hoping for a "full frame" body eventually...

I own these, but there is something about older manual lens....

KONICA MINOLTA 18-70/3.5-5.6 D AF DT Zoom Macro
TOKINA 20-35/3.5-4.5 AF
MINOLTA 28-80/3.5-5.6 D AF Zoom Macro
MINOLTA MAXXUM 50/1.7 AF
MINOLTA 100-300/4.5-5.6 AF Zoom xi Macro

Thanks for your help !

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I just saw you number of posts:

Welcome to the MFL Forum! Enjoy your stay. Smile

From your shortlist, try to get that one: SMC TAKUMAR 24/3.5 M42

This lens Enna-Werk Munchen Edixa-Tele-Ennalyt 13.5cm f/3.5
is a 135mm lens, just like your JENA S 135/3.5, so you don't need it.

Knowing your AF lenses, I would choose like that:

KONICA MINOLTA 18-70/3.5-5.6 D AF DT Zoom Macro
MINOLTA 100-300/4.5-5.6 AF Zoom xi Macro
SMC TAKUMAR 24/3.5 M42 (if can get it)
SUPER-TAKUMAR 50/1.4
PENTACON GDR 135/2.8

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Test first Soligor 17mm , how sharp etc. Perhaps not good at all.

Mir · Expire: 2017-09-30

I got the SMC Takumar 24/3.5 !!
probably over paid but.... what the heck !

I won't be in Vietnam every year...

The Soligor 17mm is not bad...
but these cheap adapters, i suppose, alter the distance between lens and CCD and might also alte rimage quality.....

I'll probably bring it along anyway...

Ash · Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 185 Location: Evanston, il, usa

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Ash · Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 185 Location: Evanston, il, usa

Mir · Expire: 2017-09-30

With the little experience i have with the lenses i'll probably choose the pentacon 135/2.8 15 blades over the aus jena 135/3.5 just because of its bokeh..... for "stealing" portraits...

The Jupiter 11A, i haven't had time to play with.... but i bought it because i read it was very sharp, had great colour rendition and was small ... (its not so small actually !) Some say better than the Jupiter 37A.....

All things considered... it's kind of fun having to choose !
(and exchanging with you guys...)

axer · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject:

I'd take Takumar 50/1.4 only. The more gear you carry, the less creative you are.

I do like many lenses. I have many lenses and I owed tons of them. But I always carry only one prime attached to my camera. Focal lenght depends on my mood. I don't waste my time thinking which lens sholud I use and changing them.

Ash · Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 185 Location: Evanston, il, usa

Mir · Expire: 2017-09-30

Thanks axel for reminding me !

In fact, that's what i usually do on day hikes and weekend outings....

Still, i might put 2-3 lenses in my luggage and change mood every week .....

Thanks for your input !

Abbazz · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 1098 Location: Jakarta

I have lived in South-East Asia for almost 20 years. Here are my suggestions:

- Travel light. It can be pretty hot and stuffy in SE Asia and you won't want to carry too much bulk and weight. Better not to leave too much stuff inside the hotel room either...

- Be sure to take some fast lenses. It's very dark inside the temples, inside the local markets, or under the rainforest canopy. Days are short too (the sun sets around 6pm). A flash won't help in most situations, because it won't have enough power to illuminate a whole temple or a whole night market.

- Bring a least one superwide (16mm or less on a crop format camera, 24mm or less on full frame), because you will need it inside the temples, in the small alleys of many Vietnamese cities or inside the crowded markets.

I would take 4 good primes, including a superwide, a fast normal, a short tele and a longer one, and skim on the flash and monopod.

Among the lenses you already have, I would take the Soligor 17/3.5, the Mir 1B 37/2.8, the Super-Takumar 50/1.4 and the Jupiter 11A 135/4. But ideally, I would prefer a slightly wider lens (this has probably to be an AF zoom, because there is not much choice in good quality vintage lenses below 17mm and also because most modern superwides are zooms), a 35/2.0 or faster, a 85/1.4 (like the Samyang) and a 180 or 200/4.

Cheers!

Abbazz

kuuan · Expire: 2014-12-26

wish you much fun in Vietbnam, it's a great country.

from the lenses you have I'd take the 3.5/24, 1.4/50 and the Jupiter 11A,
though I agree that wider and fast would be great and I'd prefer a 85mm over the 135mm

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3439 Location: Netherlands

I would take the KM kitlens, the 50/1.7 AF, the Tak 24mm and the CZJ 135mm. An extra extension ring would be a nice addition. That is a nice set to use, without too much volume or weight.
The first one to let at home anyhow is the Soligor 45-150mm; quite versatile but an unbelievable heavyweight.