Spare equipment when travelling

[Richard Fenner]

I've recently wondered about the merits of carrying spare equipment when travelling with a camera. This particularly occurred to me as I had the thread on a tripod head go last year, and was able to get a replacement the next day - but what if I hadn't been able to? What if a gg breaks? Or the meter drops down a cliff?

While I appreciate some would respond, 'well, what if the camera drops off a cliff?' but it seems to me the smaller items tend to go more often (and spirit levels most often!). I now carry a spare spirit level, and am considering some of the other items.

I realise answers may vary according to the style of travel involved, whether you're based in a hotel or tent, moving each day etc, but a spread of responses could be useful. Thanks.

[paul owen]

an extra cable release is always handy as is a spare lens spanner and loupe!

[Ralph Barker]

I like to carry a few spare items when traveling far from home. How much is a matter of balancing the weight and expense of the spares versus the expense of a potentially ruined trip, I think. Most of my photo trips are car-based, so I just leave the spares in a container in the vehicle.

If you're traveling to someplace really exotic, Richard, you could always hire me as a spare, so I could take the photos if you drop off a cliff. ;-)

[Dan Fromm]

Richard, I have only one of most of the items in my travelling kit, so for me the question of spares is nearly moot. There are, though, too many items in my kit. For me the big problem is deciding what to leave at home.

Like Paul, I carry spare cable releases, which take up little room. Also two meters, LunaPro and Master V; both are small and light, and the Master doesn't need batteries. I carry three normal lenses: a macro that's no good at distance, a good slower one, and a fast one for those times when ... This is an extravagance, I suppose I could leave the fast one at home. I should carry a spare loupe, I dropped one once.

The two cameras in my kit use the same focusing panel so I don't carry a spare GG. Why two cameras? My barrel lenses can be used only on my Speed Graphic, but it is too thick for my shorter lenses. Travel would be easier if I could dispense with the shorter lenses (no way!) or the longest one in barrel (maybe).

Cheers,

Dan

[Bill_1856]

There have been at least two occasions when I've had total equipment disaster in the middle of a trip. It's amazing how much fun travel can be if one doesn't have to always worry about taking pictures.

[jantman]

I only have one spot meter, but I carry an incident as a spare. On any trip longer than a half-day, I carry a spare GG, screws, tools, tripod quick release (for MF), a variety of 1/4x20 screws, washers, and nuts, extra cable release and meter (second incident meter), hobby cement for bellows repairs, a small level, varieties of tape, cleaning supplies, etc. I keep all of this in the camera case.

[Rory_3532]

People who use 35mm and medium format cameras go on about the need to take along a completely manual camera when travelling, failing which the world might end.

Now we have users of completely manual cameras talking about the need to take along spare parts, although if one is really worried about this, it's probably easier to bring along a spare camera.

All of which reminds me of being told, as an ocean sailor, that I must know how to use a sextant, despite the existence of GPS, in case the sattelite systems go down.

The only spare parts I take along are extra batteries for my Nikon.

And yes, I do know how to use a sextant

[jantman]

Rory,

You can use a sextant, but do you know what the haversine is?

When your camera costs as much as a good view camera, it's pretty hard to bring a spare camera. And why do I need to? I am prefectly capable of making a field repair to any reasonable damage to my camera, lens, shutter, or other equipment. Why should I miss a great shot, or lose time at an amazing location, if it can be averted by simply bringing along a few tools and parts?

[MIke Sherck]

Duct tape, transparent tape, a good pocket knife or all around tool (I have a Leatherman.) If it breaks, fix it.

mjs

[Rory_3532]

Jason, I was joking.

The original claim in ocean navigation was that you had to use a sextant because the GPS unit might fail. Then it got to the point where you could buy a GPS unit and a few spares for the price of a sextant. At that point, the argument was that the satellites might fail. I have some personal experience with this issue, having wound up in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France in the middle of the night with almost no wind and a failed engine. What came home to me, in very concrete terms, is that a GPS unit, unlike a sextant, works in the dark.

The question about cameras is of some practical concern to me. I was in Jordan last year and I'm thinking about going back with a 4x5 camera to some specific places. If I do this trip, I don't think that I'll take along a lot of extra gear. If I run into a problem, I'm quite satisfied that I can get a replacement, delivered to Amman, from Robert White or B&H or Grand Format in Paris in pretty short order, and that I can find other ways to amuse myself in the meantime. Or I can use my 35mm. In other words, there aren't a lot of places where I would worry about this. World communications and delivery are much better than a lot of people realize. At the same time, if I was on a camping trip, it's enough to carry around a 4x5 and a 35mm camera without worrying about redundancy for each camera.