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The Leica SL (Typ 601), two SL zoom lenses, two Voigtlander primes, and some pretty basic lighting equipment are what’s currently in my travel photography kit. Photo by Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities.
what’s in my camera bag?
September 14, 2020
One of the questions I’ve always been asked in the field is what camera I’m shooting with. There’s something about two large zoom lenses swinging from your shoulders that seems to beg this question.
Over my 20+ years in photography, I’ve used Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Fujifilm, Kodak, Mamiya, Voigtländer, and Leica systems (film, digital, or both), and that doesn’t even count the weird vintage Brownies or specialty cameras like Seagull twin-lens reflexes, Holgas, and Diana cameras.
To me, it’s less about what camera you use and more about how you use it. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of photography, such as lighting, composition, and moment capture, it doesn’t really matter what camera you own.
With that said, I’m in love with the camera system I’m currently using, which I switched to in mid-2019.
Here’s me, looking exhausted after rolling out of our Element Camper to test out Leica’s SL2 at Mammoth Springs in Yellowstone National Park at dawn. I was able to try the SL2 thanks to Lensrentals. Photo by Vincent Neal/Travels and Curiosities
The Leica SL System:
Currently I’m using the Leica SL (Typ 601), a 24MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor body, which I’ve paired with two SL-Vario Lenses: Leica’s Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 ASPH and the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4.
I also use two Voigtlander prime lenses: a Nokton 50mm f/1.1 (not to be confused with Leica’s $12k 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M, which is just batshit crazy expensive) and a Super Wide Heliar 15mm f4.5. The Voigtlander lenses fit the SL with a Leica M-Adapter L (black).
Photographers have long been using Voigtlander lenses with Leica as a more affordable way to build out their Leica kits. Some Leica purists frown upon this for some reason, but I’m clearly not one of them.
With these two lens choices, I wanted the fastness of the Nokton 50mm at f/1.1, and I wanted something wider than a 24mm, which is why I opted for the 15mm. The 15mm Voigtlander is obviously not going to have the versatility of Leica’s Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35mm f/3.5-4.5, but at $699 it’s a lot less painful than the $5000+ for the Leica wide zoom equivalent. I find that 24mm tends to be wide enough for most of what I shoot, which is why I purchased the 24-90, and, in fact, it’s the lens I use the most. But sometimes you do want something wider, and the Voigtlander 15mm felt like a better application of my dollars.
A few notes about my gear choices:
I’m kind of a minimalist when it comes to gear. Much of the work I do is on location and involves traveling, including long backcountry hiking. As a result, I wanted my photo kit to be as streamlined as possible.
One truth about the SL (Typ 601) and its new sibling, the SL2, is that these cameras are indeed beasts. They are not at all light in comparison to their mirrorless competitors, like the immensely popular Sony a9ii. These SLs are rugged. They’re heavy. And to be honest, they would not be ideal for a super long-distance backpacking adventure.
But you know what? I want rugged. At this point in my career, I want to invest in something that I know could last me the rest of my life if I needed it to. Cameras are so expensive. When I tell others who are completely oblivious about the investments we photographers make, their jaws literally drop.
As the gear is indeed an investment, it not only needs to last, but it needs to be of sufficient quality so that you can recoup that investment.
Below is the gear I’m currently using. If you have any questions about the Leica SL system, please feel free to reach out to me at any point. I’m happy to answer your questions. I’ve used both the SL (Typ 601), which you can buy for a great deal right now, and the Leica SL2, released in late 2019.
This Universal Cable from Nomad Goods is a really great addition to your home office, remote workspace, or camera bag. It’s extremely well-made, and the best feature is its USB-A to a three-in-one adaptor (Micro-USB, USB-C, and Lighting), which is just awesome for all around travel and streamlining your stuff.
Want to test out a camera system, but you’re not sure if you’re ready to buy?
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Hi! I’m Elaine. I’m a photographer, writer, and co-founder of Travels and Curiosities.
I love travel, exploring hidden gems, and discovering unique and curious places. I’m also a champion for storytelling in all its amazing formats.
We love storytelling in all its amazing formats. As a photographer and online publisher, Adobe is a critical tool for running my business. Their creative cloud membership incorporating Lightroom and Photoshop speeds up my workflow and helps me make my images look their best. If you’re new to Adobe and the Creative Cloud membership, they have several plans to fit your creative needs, but the $9.99/mo photography plan allows you to access Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop from anywhere your photography takes you.
