I recently ran into this problem on a trip to Portugal. I ended up bringing too much gear. I brought my Hasselblad 500c, 3 film backs, 2 lenses (like you only really ended using one) and my Contax G1 with 2 lenses (again, only using one mostly). Lesson learned, I will defiantly only bring what I actually used and leave the rest at homes
I love the approach. Building upon my brief love affair with Ricoh GR IIIx, I’m now using Sony with a 40mm lens for almost all of my local photography outings. Occasionally, I would swap it for a medium format film camera with a similar focal length equivalent.
However, I find it hard to keep it this simple for photography-centric trips. It’s mostly fear of missing out in locations that I might never visit again, or at least not in the near future. It’s also because of the demanding subjects and their variety (from landscapes of various types, to street) and because I’ve been finding myself shooting photos and video with cameras of two different systems. I do feel like I could simplify and streamline it to some extent though. Maybe zoom lenses, which I’ve been avoiding, are the answer.
my one camera one lens has been the Fujifilm X-T4 and a 16mm. LOVE this combo! It’s not too wide but just enough to get so much of my busy life as a dad to little humans.
Thank you for this article! I’m a full-time traveler and I’ve been feeling the call to buy a “big girl” camera but it needs to fit into my lifestyle. You’ve given me lots to think about.
Joshua, such a great post, thank you! 😍 I’ve travelled with Fuji’s X100 series cameras for years (and used the X-T3 for client work), and I’m currently planning my upcoming trips. Your light gear philosophy really resonates with me, and I just might pack my X-T3 along with the 35mm f/2 (which I had completely forgotten I own). I absolutely love the X-T series. I use the 35mm f/1.4 all the time, but its “baby sister,” the f/2, hasn’t seen much use so far.
Love this view. I’m always struggling with what to bring on a trip. I’ve got my Fujifilm X-H2 now with a 35, 56, and a 17-70; not quite sure if I should bring all 3 lenses.
It’s for landscapes and hiking primarily, so shouldn’t get too heavy.
I’ve been shooting a lot more with Fuji film recipes and I’m starting to love it. Taking the editing process out of the workflow is freeing me up even more.
I’ve pared my travel kit down to X-T5 w/ 18-135 zoom and X100VI. Did a bunch of road trips last year with a lot of hiking and that seemed to work best. Most of the time the xt5 stayed in the van. Then I went to Barcelona for 2wks in October and left the xt5 at home. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, just sling the x100 around my neck. Did I miss some longer vocal length stuff? Yes, but I was able to let that go! Which was another part of growing with my photography.
Great write up. I always fret about which camera to take, worried I will miss a shot if I don’t have lens X or Y. Last summer I travelled for two weeks with a D-Lux and my iPhone and don’t feel like I missed anything. While I no longer have the Leica, I will look to take a similar minimal approach in the future. 😊
Form factor was great, as you say small and having the zoom was great. However the start and shut down time was really slow. It doesn’t sound much but did grate. It was also frustrating that when it starts up it always reset to default zoom, so it made quick reaction shots tricky to do. For more sedate stuff it was fine. I just ended up preferring other cameras, so let it go.
Yeah I’m surprised Leica hasn’t fixed the start up time. I mean maybe I’m not surprised, I saw a video recently of the boot up for the SL3-S I think it was and my goodness, I felt like I could’ve got done with a Stephen king novel before it started up.
😂 yes you would have thought a software update would sort it but 🤷🏻♂️ At the end of the day, for the money for a D-lux 8, I think there are better cameras out there, some of them cheaper.
"Of course, it’s not perfect. Like many Fuji cameras, the autofocus can be a bit underwhelming compared to competitors like Sony or Canon. It’s not terrible, but if you’re used to those systems, you might find it disappointing.
One of Fujifilm’s standout features is its film simulations, which many photographers love for their rich, nostalgic tones. Personally, I shoot in RAW and rarely use these looks out of the camera, opting to tweak my photos later in Lightroom. But if you’re someone who shoots JPEGs, Fujifilm cameras are a fantastic choice.
Even older models like the Fujifilm X-T1 can produce stunning images, and their lightweight bodies make them perfect for travel photographers."
I really like Fuji cameras, I don't care much about autofocus, but I also don't care film simulations, what I really like is their lenses. Maybe someday I will have a xt2 or a xs10 (two of my favorites from Fuji) but it's hard to want one if the biggest selling point is something I will never use lol (and they are really expensive here in Brazil)
Well said! I ruminate non stop when moving out to a nice place that I'll end up missing out on things if I pack only a lens. Yet it works every single time... still fomo hits in during prep for a travel. The 35mm f2 is such an epic lens by the way, it just rings all the right bells. Great read!
Thank you for that, Joshua. I'm happy to hear someone else preaching a minimalist travel philosophy. I recently did a 4 1/2 month walking trip with another two months tagged onto the end so I could be horizontal and read. My camera for the trip? A stone-killer: the Ricoh GR1V. I brought that and 42 rolls of film. I love this camera so much. I have hardly used any of my other cameras since I got it.
I recently spent a week in Tokyo and faced a similar dilemma! Ended up taking my X-T3, 18-55mm and 35mm f2 along with my Canon 7 and 50mm f1.4. The 18-55 stayed on all the time and only shot 1 roll of film!
I recently ran into this problem on a trip to Portugal. I ended up bringing too much gear. I brought my Hasselblad 500c, 3 film backs, 2 lenses (like you only really ended using one) and my Contax G1 with 2 lenses (again, only using one mostly). Lesson learned, I will defiantly only bring what I actually used and leave the rest at homes
I love the approach. Building upon my brief love affair with Ricoh GR IIIx, I’m now using Sony with a 40mm lens for almost all of my local photography outings. Occasionally, I would swap it for a medium format film camera with a similar focal length equivalent.
However, I find it hard to keep it this simple for photography-centric trips. It’s mostly fear of missing out in locations that I might never visit again, or at least not in the near future. It’s also because of the demanding subjects and their variety (from landscapes of various types, to street) and because I’ve been finding myself shooting photos and video with cameras of two different systems. I do feel like I could simplify and streamline it to some extent though. Maybe zoom lenses, which I’ve been avoiding, are the answer.
Ditto! I love my Ricoh and take it with me on my explorative bike rides. My go to minimal setup when walking is my A7c with a 40mm lens. Love it!
I’ve been seeing a lot of people using the Sony A7C ii with the 40mm these days for a daily camera is that the setup you’re using or a different body?
I have Sony A7R III. It’s not as compact, but I like the results and I don’t see the need to upgrade or change it at the moment.
my one camera one lens has been the Fujifilm X-T4 and a 16mm. LOVE this combo! It’s not too wide but just enough to get so much of my busy life as a dad to little humans.
Thank you for this article! I’m a full-time traveler and I’ve been feeling the call to buy a “big girl” camera but it needs to fit into my lifestyle. You’ve given me lots to think about.
Joshua, such a great post, thank you! 😍 I’ve travelled with Fuji’s X100 series cameras for years (and used the X-T3 for client work), and I’m currently planning my upcoming trips. Your light gear philosophy really resonates with me, and I just might pack my X-T3 along with the 35mm f/2 (which I had completely forgotten I own). I absolutely love the X-T series. I use the 35mm f/1.4 all the time, but its “baby sister,” the f/2, hasn’t seen much use so far.
Love this view. I’m always struggling with what to bring on a trip. I’ve got my Fujifilm X-H2 now with a 35, 56, and a 17-70; not quite sure if I should bring all 3 lenses.
It’s for landscapes and hiking primarily, so shouldn’t get too heavy.
Struggles…
You and the fui did some good work together. The need for a slingbag... what resonance that has. Cheers!
I love my XT-2 w 35f2.0. Fuji film simulations remind me of my Fujifilm days . Perfect grab and go travel camera combination.
I’ve been shooting a lot more with Fuji film recipes and I’m starting to love it. Taking the editing process out of the workflow is freeing me up even more.
Taking this exact set up on a trip in a couple of weeks. Been debating the 35 or the 23 f2.
What focal length do you like to shoot more?
That’s the problem. I go back and forth. But lean more towards the 35.
I spent a whole year shooting with just my fujifilm x100f.
It was challenging at times but incredibly rewarding.
I’ve pared my travel kit down to X-T5 w/ 18-135 zoom and X100VI. Did a bunch of road trips last year with a lot of hiking and that seemed to work best. Most of the time the xt5 stayed in the van. Then I went to Barcelona for 2wks in October and left the xt5 at home. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, just sling the x100 around my neck. Did I miss some longer vocal length stuff? Yes, but I was able to let that go! Which was another part of growing with my photography.
Great write up. I always fret about which camera to take, worried I will miss a shot if I don’t have lens X or Y. Last summer I travelled for two weeks with a D-Lux and my iPhone and don’t feel like I missed anything. While I no longer have the Leica, I will look to take a similar minimal approach in the future. 😊
I’ve thought about the D-Lux as it’s small and has the zoom. What did or didn’t you like about it I’m curious.
Form factor was great, as you say small and having the zoom was great. However the start and shut down time was really slow. It doesn’t sound much but did grate. It was also frustrating that when it starts up it always reset to default zoom, so it made quick reaction shots tricky to do. For more sedate stuff it was fine. I just ended up preferring other cameras, so let it go.
Yeah I’m surprised Leica hasn’t fixed the start up time. I mean maybe I’m not surprised, I saw a video recently of the boot up for the SL3-S I think it was and my goodness, I felt like I could’ve got done with a Stephen king novel before it started up.
😂 yes you would have thought a software update would sort it but 🤷🏻♂️ At the end of the day, for the money for a D-lux 8, I think there are better cameras out there, some of them cheaper.
In response of
"Of course, it’s not perfect. Like many Fuji cameras, the autofocus can be a bit underwhelming compared to competitors like Sony or Canon. It’s not terrible, but if you’re used to those systems, you might find it disappointing.
One of Fujifilm’s standout features is its film simulations, which many photographers love for their rich, nostalgic tones. Personally, I shoot in RAW and rarely use these looks out of the camera, opting to tweak my photos later in Lightroom. But if you’re someone who shoots JPEGs, Fujifilm cameras are a fantastic choice.
Even older models like the Fujifilm X-T1 can produce stunning images, and their lightweight bodies make them perfect for travel photographers."
I really like Fuji cameras, I don't care much about autofocus, but I also don't care film simulations, what I really like is their lenses. Maybe someday I will have a xt2 or a xs10 (two of my favorites from Fuji) but it's hard to want one if the biggest selling point is something I will never use lol (and they are really expensive here in Brazil)
Well said! I ruminate non stop when moving out to a nice place that I'll end up missing out on things if I pack only a lens. Yet it works every single time... still fomo hits in during prep for a travel. The 35mm f2 is such an epic lens by the way, it just rings all the right bells. Great read!
Yeah I love the 35mm and yes it always does seem to work out! I’m glad you enjoyed the read.
Thank you for that, Joshua. I'm happy to hear someone else preaching a minimalist travel philosophy. I recently did a 4 1/2 month walking trip with another two months tagged onto the end so I could be horizontal and read. My camera for the trip? A stone-killer: the Ricoh GR1V. I brought that and 42 rolls of film. I love this camera so much. I have hardly used any of my other cameras since I got it.
I recently spent a week in Tokyo and faced a similar dilemma! Ended up taking my X-T3, 18-55mm and 35mm f2 along with my Canon 7 and 50mm f1.4. The 18-55 stayed on all the time and only shot 1 roll of film!
Sounds like the perfect setup! Did you enjoy Tokyo?
It was insane,, exhausting, total sensory overload and enjoyed every minute!!
I will certainly return to Japan but explore some lesser known locations.