I am considering an alternative for an upcoming trip that I am sure will strike some as crazy. In short, it is to take only film equipment on a trip to Namibia using the type of equipment that a photojournalist might have used circa 1980. I would use a Nikon F2 photomic with longer lenses: 300mm 4.5, 200mm f4, 2.0 and 1.4 teleconverters. For shorter work, an M4P rangefinder: 21mm 50mm 90mm 135mm. Maybe a medium format with a fixed 80mm lens. I could go all Nikon with a 24mm 2.8, 105 2.5 and a 35-70mm 3.5 zoom. Or go Leica for shorter (I think this might have been a common practice at that time). Some mix of these seems to me about right for that era. I welcome comments on what a kit of this era would look like. If it does not fit in a Domke F-2, it will not go.

As background, I am pretty good with a monopod and the 300mm, pushing tri-x or HP5. I have shot this a lot for late afternoon twilight, etc. at sports events (mostly kid soccer).

The film selection is up in the air: probably some 50 ISO or 100 ISO color, like a Cine film or Ektar--but mostly black and white for action (though could consider 400 ISO Portra). If I am pushing film, however, it will be BW that I develop myself.

Others on the trip will have superzooms, so memories will not be a total loss.

A hybrid approach would be to take a Nikon D750 and the F2, but use only older manual focus glass to create a somewhat vintage look, etc.

I am rebelling a bit against, electronics, batteries, the large size of modern equipment and, perhaps, looking to create a bit more adventure and interest.

I am curious for any thoughts on this approach. And would be grateful for any insights if others have recently shot film on such a trip. Advice on appropriate vintage equipment also welcome.

I am considering an alternative for an upcoming trip that I am sure will strike some as crazy. In short, it is to take only film equipment on a trip to Namibia using the type of equipment that a photojournalist might have used circa 1980. I would use a Nikon F2 photomic with longer lenses: 300mm 4.5, 200mm f4, 2.0 and 1.4 teleconverters. For shorter work, an M4P rangefinder: 21mm 50mm 90mm 135mm. Maybe a medium format with a fixed 80mm lens. I could go all Nikon with a 24mm 2.8, 105 2.5 and a 35-70mm 3.5 zoom. Or go Leica for shorter (I think this might have been a common practice at that time). Some mix of these seems to me about right for that era. I welcome comments on what a kit of this era would look like. If it does not fit in a Domke F-2, it will not go.

As background, I am pretty good with a monopod and the 300mm, pushing tri-x or HP5. I have shot this a lot for late afternoon twilight, etc. at sports events (mostly kid soccer).

The film selection is up in the air: probably some 50 ISO or 100 ISO color, like a Cine film or Ektar--but mostly black and white for action (though could consider 400 ISO Portra). If I am pushing film, however, it will be BW that I develop myself.

Others on the trip will have superzooms, so memories will not be a total loss.

A hybrid approach would be to take a Nikon D750 and the F2, but use only older manual focus glass to create a somewhat vintage look, etc.

I am rebelling a bit against, electronics, batteries, the large size of modern equipment and, perhaps, looking to create a bit more adventure and interest.

I am curious for any thoughts on this approach. And would be grateful for any insights if others have recently shot film on such a trip. Advice on appropriate vintage equipment also welcome.

Why the 80's? Why not an earlier period? A time when big game hunting was legal. I would suggest 50's rather than 80's equipment such as the original Nikon F and a Leica M2 or M3. I would take 35mm, 50mm and a 90mm and 135mm Leica lens because they were most typical and highly superior to Nikon lenses of the time, and for the Nikon F I would use a 300mm and perhaps the teleconverters. Don't forget a Weston reflective light meter and a Norwood Director incident meter since few of the cameras of that era had built in meters except for the Leica light meter attachment that fit on top of the M2 and M3 models.

Consider that you are taking a possibly once in a lifetime trip and spending thousands of dollars. I would guess that you can probably afford the 50's equipment, used of course. You could use it on your safari and then sell it when you return. The 50's era Nikons and especially the Leicas always go up in value and you might be able to make a profit when you sell them. Even though most film cameras loose value over time, both the original Nikon F and Leica M2 and M3 and earlier Leicas such as the G have continued to increase in value because of collectors.

I am considering an alternative for an upcoming trip that I am sure will strike some as crazy. In short, it is to take only film equipment on a trip to Namibia using the type of equipment that a photojournalist might have used circa 1980. I would use a Nikon F2 photomic with longer lenses: 300mm 4.5, 200mm f4, 2.0 and 1.4 teleconverters. For shorter work, an M4P rangefinder: 21mm 50mm 90mm 135mm. Maybe a medium format with a fixed 80mm lens. I could go all Nikon with a 24mm 2.8, 105 2.5 and a 35-70mm 3.5 zoom. Or go Leica for shorter (I think this might have been a common practice at that time). Some mix of these seems to me about right for that era. I welcome comments on what a kit of this era would look like. If it does not fit in a Domke F-2, it will not go.

As background, I am pretty good with a monopod and the 300mm, pushing tri-x or HP5. I have shot this a lot for late afternoon twilight, etc. at sports events (mostly kid soccer).

The film selection is up in the air: probably some 50 ISO or 100 ISO color, like a Cine film or Ektar--but mostly black and white for action (though could consider 400 ISO Portra). If I am pushing film, however, it will be BW that I develop myself.

Others on the trip will have superzooms, so memories will not be a total loss.

A hybrid approach would be to take a Nikon D750 and the F2, but use only older manual focus glass to create a somewhat vintage look, etc.

I am rebelling a bit against, electronics, batteries, the large size of modern equipment and, perhaps, looking to create a bit more adventure and interest.

I am curious for any thoughts on this approach. And would be grateful for any insights if others have recently shot film on such a trip. Advice on appropriate vintage equipment also welcome.

I am considering an alternative for an upcoming trip that I am sure will strike some as crazy. In short, it is to take only film equipment on a trip to Namibia using the type of equipment that a photojournalist might have used circa 1980. I would use a Nikon F2 photomic with longer lenses: 300mm 4.5, 200mm f4, 2.0 and 1.4 teleconverters. For shorter work, an M4P rangefinder: 21mm 50mm 90mm 135mm. Maybe a medium format with a fixed 80mm lens. I could go all Nikon with a 24mm 2.8, 105 2.5 and a 35-70mm 3.5 zoom. Or go Leica for shorter (I think this might have been a common practice at that time). Some mix of these seems to me about right for that era. I welcome comments on what a kit of this era would look like. If it does not fit in a Domke F-2, it will not go.

As background, I am pretty good with a monopod and the 300mm, pushing tri-x or HP5. I have shot this a lot for late afternoon twilight, etc. at sports events (mostly kid soccer).

The film selection is up in the air: probably some 50 ISO or 100 ISO color, like a Cine film or Ektar--but mostly black and white for action (though could consider 400 ISO Portra). If I am pushing film, however, it will be BW that I develop myself.

Others on the trip will have superzooms, so memories will not be a total loss.

A hybrid approach would be to take a Nikon D750 and the F2, but use only older manual focus glass to create a somewhat vintage look, etc.

I am rebelling a bit against, electronics, batteries, the large size of modern equipment and, perhaps, looking to create a bit more adventure and interest.

I am curious for any thoughts on this approach. And would be grateful for any insights if others have recently shot film on such a trip. Advice on appropriate vintage equipment also welcome.