This question rolls through my brain as I pack for every trip. The obvious answer should be, “as many as I need.” However, I often find myself packing a lot of stuff I want to play with but will never have a reasonable chance to use. So here it goes – my effort to cut down on the number of cameras, lenses, and other gear I pack for a one-week trip.
The first thing I do is consider the destination and what we plan on doing on the trip. Next, I look to my “What’s in My Bag” page (film and digital list is on my sister site, My Irie Time), which lists my current camera gear. Then I figure out how much I can cram into my carryon without violating overhead bin restrictions or the amount I can lift overhead to place in the bin (a weight which seems to be reducing significantly year after year).
First, what’s the destination? This trip is a return trip to the island of Grenada. We have been to Grenada before. It was back in 2021, when COVID restrictions were just starting to lift, but many of the attractions remained closed to the public. Although I might normally be tempted to go to all the sites, after a year of cancer treatment, I will be taking it slow this trip. We have planned a catamaran trip to the underwater sculpture garden. I plan to spend a lot of time sitting on the beach or in a hammock, and a little time at the spice market and wandering around downtown St. George. I loved visiting the waterfalls last trip, but I will probably skip that this time in favor of more time watching the ocean roll in and out. I’m thinking I want to shoot some macro, because I love the details and it’s often something I skip when shooting on vacation. Since I’ll be moving slower this year, it seems like a great project. I would like more video this trip as well, if space permits.
Second, what gear would potentially work? Let’s look at the list. Since I want video, I need digital, and my Fuji GFX 50R isn’t really meant for video, so I’m going with the mirrorless, the Canon EOS R. The easiest way to shoot both digital and film on a trip without adding too much weight is to use a common set of lenses. I could easily add the Canon 1v because it uses all the Canon EF lenses, but if it comes down to it, I would rather shoot medium format. I really love shooting my Mamiya 6, so I’ll bring it with the 50mm lens, my favorite of the three, and leave the 1v behind. The 1v is heavy, and adding it would mean doubling my film. Opting for the Mamiya 6, I lose the ability to make double exposures, but the look of the 50mm lens for the Mamiya 6 is so unique, it wins the race. My favorite all around lens for the Canon is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2. I’ll also bring the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II. It’s great for night sky shots. For the macro, I’ll probably borrow my son’s Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. So here’s what we’ve got so far:
DIGITAL
Canon EOS R mirrorless camera
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II (77)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 (72)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 (67)
Canon EF to R Adapter
Optional: Fuji GFX 50R (great image quality; I own the 23mm and 50mm lenses, but given the weight of the 23mm lens, I would just bring the 50mm lens and the EF-GFX adapter)
FILM
Mamiya 6 with 50mm f/4 (58)
Optional: Canon 1v (uses all the EF lenses above with no adapter necessary)
UNDERWATER
Olympus Tough TG-3 and TG4
These cameras are super compact and tough, and they don’t require a separate housing for snorkeling. There are newer versions of this camera, but I have not seen the need to upgrade. Here is my review of these two cameras.
By the way, another good reason to keep a master list is that I keep my filter size on all my lenses on the list so I know what size filters or step-up rings need to come along. If you’re shooting in the Caribbean, you need a circular polarizer (or two).
FILTERS
Breakthrough Photography Night Sky Filter (82mm with stepdown ring to 77mm)
Breakthrough Photography 58mm X4 Circular Polarizer
B+W 67mm XS-Pro Kaesemann Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Nano Coating
B+W 72mm Kaesemann XS-Pro Circular Polarizer MRC
Singh-Ray 77mm Thin Lighter Brighter Neutral Circular Polarizer
While on the topic of filters, I’ll mention that I have tried many brands, and Singh-Ray is my favorite, with Breakthrough a close second. They are machined beautifully and I’ve never had any issues using them over the years.
Bringing batteries and chargers is a given. I’ll need the Canon battery packs, a couple of those plus the charger. The Mamiya 6 takes 2 LR44s, so I’ll load two fresh ones in the camera and bring two more along just in case of failure.
I’ll need a few memory cards for the digital camera, and some 120 film for the Mamiya 6. I ordered 5-packs of Kodak Ektar 100, CineStill 400D, Kodak Portra 160, and Kodak Portra 800, so I’ll mix up a batch for the week.
I’m a fan of the “I Dream of Cameras” podcast and recently Jeff talked about using Chat GPT to assess what cameras to take on a trip. So I decided to give it a try, giving it a list of my favorite cameras from my collection (Canon EOS R, Canon EOS 1v, Canon AE-1, Canon A-1, Canon AE-1 Program, Canonet QL 17 GL III, Olympus XA-4, Mamiya 6, Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Hasselblad 500CM, Canon EOS 7n, Fuji GFX 50R, Fuji GW690 II, Olympus Tough TG-4):
That’s an awesome trip—Grenada has such a vibrant mix of tropical landscapes, colorful towns, and unique culture. Choosing three cameras from your impressive collection really depends on what you want to capture and how much weight you’re willing to carry. Here’s a versatile and practical 3-camera kit tailored for Grenada:
1. Fuji GFX 50R (Digital Medium Format)
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Why: Insane image quality, ideal for landscapes, portraits, and rich detail in nature or architecture.
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Use it for: Beaches, markets, sunsets, rainforest, texture-rich shots.
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Considerations: It’s large, but lighter than most medium formats. You’ll need to protect it from sand/water.
2. Olympus XA-4 (Compact 35mm)
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Why: Pocketable, zone focus, sharp lens, and has close-focusing for tight tropical details.
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Use it for: Street photography, spontaneous moments, quick snaps on hikes or markets.
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Considerations: Quiet and stealthy—great for candid shots.
3. Mamiya 6 (Medium Format Rangefinder)
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Why: Collapsible lens makes it portable for a 6×6, stunning optics, and a joy to use in travel scenarios.
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Use it for: Composed shots, portraits, and documentary-style photography in 120 format.
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Considerations: Medium format film is bulky, so plan rolls accordingly.
Why This Trio Works
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Digital + Film Balance: You have top-tier digital (GFX 50R) for reliability and instant results, plus two strong film options for artistic expression.
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Weight vs Quality: Avoids the heaviest SLRs (like the EOS 1v or Hasselblad 500CM), while maintaining pro-level quality.
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Versatility: From pocket-sized snapshots (XA-4) to gallery-quality landscapes (GFX 50R) and rich medium format portraits (Mamiya 6), you’re covered.
Alternative Swap Options
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Rain/snorkeling: Swap the XA-4 for the Olympus Tough TG-4 if you’ll be in water a lot.
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Film SLR preference: If you love manual film SLRs, consider the Canon A-1 as a very capable backup.
Let me know if you’d prefer an all-film setup or want to go lighter!
I don’t really think of the Mamiya 6 for portraits, but I’ll keep playing. So I asked Chat GPT to go lighter, and this is how it turned out:
If you want a lighter, travel-friendly setup that still gives you versatility and quality, here’s a refined kit with mobility and simplicity in mind:
✅ 1. Olympus XA-4 (Compact 35mm Film)
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Why: It’s tiny, sharp, and capable. 28mm wide-angle is perfect for beach, street, and landscapes.
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Best for: Everyday carry, casual strolls, quick shots, street scenes.
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Bonus: Close focus (0.3m!) makes it unusually flexible.
✅ Canon EOS R (Digital Mirrorless)
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Why: Lightweight full-frame digital body with great image quality and lens flexibility. USB charging is also travel-friendly.
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Best for: Versatile shooting: portraits, low light, food, landscapes. Instant backup for your film shots.
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Tip: Bring a compact prime (like a 35mm or 50mm) or a light zoom for flexibility without bulk.
✅ Canonet QL17 GIII (Compact Rangefinder 35mm Film)
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Why: Classic travel camera. Sharp 40mm f/1.7 lens, quiet shutter, very portable, and a joy to shoot.
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Best for: Low-key documentary work, cafes, night strolls, people scenes.
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Bonus: Looks stylish and is less intimidating when photographing people.
🧳 Why This Kit Works
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Weight-conscious: None of these cameras are heavy or bulky. You can carry all three comfortably in a backpack or sling.
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Film + Digital Mix: Enjoy analog charm with XA-4 and Canonet, but fall back on the EOS R for flexibility or when you’re tight on time or film.
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No Duplicates: Each camera has a distinct shooting style and purpose.
Optional Swap
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If you’re worried about rain, water, or rugged hiking:
Swap Canonet or XA-4 for Olympus Tough TG-4 — it’s waterproof, shockproof, and great for snorkeling or rough beach days.
Let me know if you want a pure film lightweight setup too.
We might as well ask for the pure film setup:
Great! An all-film setup for Grenada is a beautiful idea—rich light, vibrant colors, and cinematic scenery make it perfect for analog photography. For a lightweight but versatile all-film kit, here’s an optimal trio:
✅ 1. Olympus XA-4 (35mm Compact)
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Why: Truly pocketable, wide 28mm lens, close focusing, zone focus simplicity.
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Use it for: Casual shooting, street scenes, hiking, beach days, or when you’re packing light.
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Pros: Silent, stealthy, featherweight.
✅ Canonet QL17 GIII (35mm Rangefinder)
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Why: Classic and compact with a fast f/1.7 lens. 40mm is perfect for environmental portraits and everyday scenes.
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Use it for: Low-light shots, markets, night scenes, people.
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Pros: Mechanical + electronic shutter; works even without battery (at 1/500s).
✅ Mamiya 6 (Medium Format 6×6 Rangefinder)
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Why: Stunning 6×6 negatives in a surprisingly travel-friendly form, collapsible lens, sharp optics, reliable metering.
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Use it for: Landscapes, portraits, “hero shots” where you want the best possible image quality.
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Pros: Medium format with minimal bulk. Interchangeable lenses (if you have them).
🧳 Why This Kit Rocks
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Compact + Capable: The XA-4 and Canonet are among the most compact film cameras that still deliver stellar results.
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Medium Format Anchor: The Mamiya 6 gives you pro-quality negatives without the size/weight of an SLR or Hasselblad.
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Lens Variety: 28mm (XA-4), 40mm (Canonet), and whatever lens you have on the Mamiya 6 (often 75mm) = full creative range.
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Backup & Redundancy: If one fails or a battery dies, you’re still covered.
Optional Swaps or Additions
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Replace Mamiya 6 with Fuji GW690 II if you want massive 6×9 negatives, but it’s big and doesn’t collapse.
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Swap XA-4 with Olympus Tough TG-4 if water resistance is essential and you’re okay with digital.
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Leave Canonet home if you want to stay ultra-light—XA-4 + Mamiya 6 covers a lot.
Film Suggestions for Grenada
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Color: Kodak Portra 400 / Ektar 100 / Fujifilm Pro 400H (if you have any).
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B&W: Ilford HP5+ or Delta 400.
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Slide (if you’re brave): Fujichrome Provia 100F.
Let me know if you prefer all 35mm (even lighter) or all medium format (maximum quality).
This can go on forever, but you get the idea. It’s kind of nice to see a different take on your choices (even if computer-generated). As usual, this will be a decision made just before leaving for the airport, but it’s good to think it through and use all your resources, both human and machine, to help you through the process.
Happy travels!