Here's a take on things from the diametric opposite of the simplistic
approach, from the March 1992 "Outdoor Photographer" magazine. Former
Olympus field specialist Peter Boonisar was the official event photographer
for the Bicentennial Walk across Australia. His choice of gear for the 6
1/2 month, 300 roll, 10,000 slide camel trek follows:
(2) OM4's, 21/f2, 350/f2.8, 16/f3.5,18mm/f3.5,24/f2,50/f2
Macro,85/f2,35-70/f3.6,and 85-250/f5 and just for good measure: another
OM4, (2)OM2n's, an OM-1 and a Gitzo Reporter tripod as well as (2)
polarizing filters, a T32 flash and "various other accessories crammed into
a watertight Tundra case". If that's not enough, he also had specially made
solar recharging panels for his previously unmentioned NiCd motordrives.
(Sheesh, makes ya kinda wonder what else he chose to lug but not report on.)
His choice to take that many bodies might suggest that as an OM rep he had
doubts about their capability to handle dust, vibration and lots of use,
but he writes that he only had trouble with one body. Apparently he worked
out a routine of carrying one wide angle equipped camera around his neck
with another sporting the tripod mounted 85-250 over his shoulder. That
makes quite a bit of sense, but I can't for the life of me fathom why he
felt that he needed so many very similar wide and super-wide angle lenses
to start with. And solar-rechargeable motordrives on a trek where the bulk
and hassle of film mailers was a serious consideration.........????? His
reasons for primarily using the 18, 21 and perhaps 24mm's was because he
states he could polarize them without vignetting. (Huh?) After that he
notes a fondness for the 350/2.8, but I note that his published mag
pictures seem to make good use of the 85-250. Of that lens he says he likes
it because it's smallish for a tele w/tripod mount. (Huh?) If he made much
use of the macro and the 85/f2, he doesn't tell it in this tale.
So what's the point of all this? To prove that I can read? ;-) To give
credence to the idea that one will likely find a justification for whatever
strikes one's fancy? ;-) To argue that there's more than one way to do just
about everything?;-) I dunno. Really, I don't even know why I thought this
worth posting, but it surely is another perspective. ;-) ;-) He did post
some great images.
Mike Swaim
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