Browsing my image database brought me to February 2008, where I found photographs from a trip to Bangkok. At that time, I was a student, and exploring Asia with a camera in hand was my dream. Fast forward to today, and I am happy to say that at the end of this month, I will resume my Asia exploration. My bucket list is overflowing with places I want to visit and photograph.

Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong—here I come.

A dilemma I still face while planning this trip is which camera to use—digital or analog.

I can take both, but this goes against my philosophy of traveling light. Ideally, I would like to travel with just a small 24L backpack, fitting everything inside.

Analog Arguments

I must admit, I feel very tempted to shoot the vibrant red lights of Hong Kong at night with CineStill 800T film. Seoul’s nightlife would also look fantastic on film.

Nostalgia plays a significant role too. Film images possess a timeless quality due to the grain, evoking the feel of the 70s or 80s. Additionally, the anticipation of seeing the images a week or two after the trip, when I get them back from the film lab, adds to the excitement.

Ultimately, if I manage to find a few rolls of CineStill 800T in the next two weeks, I might just go with analog.

Digital Arguments

Instant results—it’s the simplest and most compelling reason. But there’s more to it. I can shoot practically unlimited images, although traveling ultralight means I won’t be bringing my laptop to download photos between shoots. Instead, I can buy additional SD cards.

There’s also the third option of bringing both cameras. However, this brings up another dilemma: should I use a single lens and swap it between bodies each day, or should I purchase a second lens (yes, that dreamy 50mm Summicron)?

Note to self: less is more. If I bring just a single body and lens, I won’t need to make difficult choices about which camera to use for a given shot. Plus, I won’t end up breaking the bank—or selling a kidney or two—for a new Leica lens. Unless I can borrow a 50mm lens from Leica? Now that’s got me thinking.