Travelling Light

The psychology of travel gear

The camera series that convinced me (and many others) I needed a “no-camera-bag” option

Hopefully, you’ve been following along with Les’ grand experiment of his iPhone only voyage to Spain.. We all have been down that road before. No matter if it’s a day trip, a weekend, or extended travel that’s not specifically “to make pictures”. Do I take my camera? All of my lenses? A tripod? In my case, what lighting gear if any?

We’ve probably experienced the pain and suffering of packing and lugging all of that stuff only to discover we don’t use half or even 20% of it. If you’re like me, there are countless times I went “cameraless” only to lament that decision. If only I had my camera… Of course, I had my iPhone but it wasn’t the same. I may have taken an iPhone picture or two but most of the time I didn’t even bother.

In my wallowing of “camera or no camera” decision-making, I found out that all-or-nothing choice was the real problem. Assuming you have this struggle, that it’s far easier is turn the question of “all-or-nothing” into “camera bag or no camera bag”. I figured that out a long time ago in the film days. Unfortunately, that simple decision has been corrupted over and over again in the digital age with a massive amount of gear-churn and gear-creep.

Camera bag or no camera bag

This simplified all-or-nothing alternative doesn’t solve the what-to-bring conundrum when the decision is to bring a camera bag, more on that another day. The no-camera bag decision certainly clarifies the situation. It all comes down to just the camera and the lens you’ll be toting. In the film days, it certainly was not going to be my Hasselblad 503 and lens. Still too big and obtrusive constantly reminding you it’s there. My solution way back then was a Leica M6 and 50mm Summicron.

If you primarily use a mirrorless full-frame or APS-C and have discipline you’re in luck. All you need is to attach a small lens and off you go. Sony’s A7, Nikon’s Z7, Canon’s R5/6, and Fuji’s X bodies are fantastic as long as you don’t hook a giant piece of glass to the front. Throw an extra battery in your pocket and you’re good to go.

If you’ve got a big camera/big lens system you’re not so lucky. Les’ cameras are GFX 100’s, the big ones. All of his lenses are big. Any choice of lens on that body would still be a burden, what’s worse is the temptation to add just one more thing and maybe another… Suddenly you’re back to the question of what to pack. If your primary camera is large or lack discipline I fully endorse acquiring a “no bag camera” that’s optimized for you. It’s better if that “no bag camera” is completely incompatible with your “system”.

No-bag camera options

A serious but somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at some choices (most of which I have owned) for no-bag camera options. Optimize your choice based on need, preference, and certainly on your psychology as this is key to simplifying your photographic life. All of the below options will produce a no-compromise, no excuses image for print.

The Fuji X100

Maybe the most popular no-bag, no decisions, “take it with you camera”, the X100 series cameras have the lens welded on the front. Perfect for those who just keep adding lenses. I’ve had two. Both have served me well, too bad every time I owned one I longed for a 50mm field of view. I wish they made one of these with a 40, 45, or 50. Maybe the newest version has enough pixels where a 50mm crop would be okay with me. Unfortunately, I’d probably be uncomfortable with the notion of “cropping” to get a 50mm field of view every time I hit the button.

The Ricoh GR

I’ve had one of these and it was great. Strangely I liked the 28mm FOV better than the 35mm as the one and only lens. What’s even better is there’s now a 50mm-ish version of this wonderfully compact camera. These are so small you could easily go no-bag with both. So why did these not satisfy me? I just gotta have a viewfinder option. Do I really? I don’t know but I certainly hated not having a viewfinder when I owned one. If you have no qualms about using the rear screen, the GR is so small and pocketable it might be the perfect option for you.

The Fuji X System

I’ve gone down this road five times with the X-Pro, XT-1, X-Pro 2, X-Pro3, and back to the X-Pro2. The last variation is my current “no-bag” camera. I made many mistakes trying to make the X System be my “do it all” system. I detailed one category of mistake a while ago. I have a gear creep problem with the X System that ruins things. My current semi-solution is the X-Pro2 and 35mm O.G. f/1.4 lens.

A small package and I always go no-bag. I also have the original pancake 18mm f/2 as my hedge. I waffle on which lens I’ll take then end up chucking the other one in my pocket. I know... but at least I only have those two and no more. I usually end up leaving one lens in the car, hotel room, etc anyway. Call it my security blanket.

The Leica Q

Any of the Leica Q cameras is a brilliant choice. If I was sane given my experience with the 28mm FOV GR, I’d have grabbed one of these and been done when they came out. Then again I am a 50mm desert island guy so there’s that. The newest Leica Q has crop lines in the gorgeous EVF for 50mm and 75mm frame lines. I know that difference in rendering 50mm will be negligible 90% of the time but it will always be nagging at me that it’s “not the same”.

Otherwise, the lens, sensor, controls, no-choice lens, and simplicity of menus (unlike the Fuji X cameras) is perfect. Oh, one more thing, even though the EVF and viewfinder is probably the best of the best, I still really like optical viewfinders.

The Leica M

Yes, this is the same solution I came up with in the last century. I am currently wrestling with this solution as my no-bag camera again. I love everything about the M and it certainly is the quintessential 35mm or 50mm only camera. It’s a system camera but not a “do it all” system camera. There’s no way I’d try to use it for everything even if technically you could. The only lenses I’d ever care about are within a small focal length range. I’d never even think of attaching an EVF to it. The Leica glass is so expensive there’s no way I’d add lens after lens making it a “camera bag” camera.

So what’s the holdup, why don’t I pull the trigger on this and be done? I did, sort of… I’m in the very long process of deciding which 50mm to go with for the “final” no-bag camera. I also know myself and there will be one other lens just like my X-Pro2 kit. Which wide lens will I add to throw in my pocket like I do with the Fuji 18mm.

For now, I take the M when I am committed to the 50mm. I take the X-Pro2 when I need that wider FOV as a security blanket.

It’s All About Simplifying Your Photographic Life

All of this is about simplifying your photographic life when “traveling light”. In my case that all comes down to toting a camera bag or not. In a large way, it’s also about simplifying your photographic experience and making it part of your everyday life when you’re not going out with the primary intention of making photographs. Which camera you take has a very big role in that. For me, it’s a lack of choices, simplicity of operation, and no notion at all of “do-it-all”.

For those of you who feel as I do that the iPhone just doesn’t cut it, I’d love to hear where you are in that journey of finding the right “non-system”. If you’ve not tried the “bag or no-bag” option when deciding what to bring, give it a try to eliminate gear creep when deciding whether to bring a camera or not.