What's the Oktoberfest bier of cameras?

German bier helped me decide what camera to bring to Germany.

It’s a month before our trip, and I find myself going back and forth obsessing about my decision which camera to bring to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

“I really should bring my 1962 Leica M3. It only feels right to bring it back to the motherland… but do I really want that hanging around my neck in the Hacker Pschorr tent with 6,000 people swinging bier steins with little to no personal space? And with the strict no-bag rules at Oktoberfest, it means whatever camera I bring, stays around my neck… so maybe smaller is better…”

Back and forth… What camera? Digital or Film?

Then, I’m reminded of an article I wrote for a magazine after visiting Oktoberfest for the first time seven years ago. The controlling thought was about my love that, when you’re at an Oktoberfest, you really don’t have to think about choosing WHAT beer you order next. Sure, there are a few options, (non-alcoholic being the most recent addition) but the true og-revelers know the decision is far simpler. Make eye contact with a server (the later in the day, the harder that feat can be) Hold up your thumb (German for “One”… *See: The bar scene in Inglorious Bastards*) and within moments, you’re handed a fest bier in a liter stein.

The lack of decisions frees you up to focus on what matters most, being in the moment and connecting with friends.

That’s it! What’s the camera that will free me up in the moment? Instead of fumbling with what’s in my hand, I can focus on what matters most - being in the moment and quickly capturing it without distracting myself or those around me.

For me, that means film. (No temptation to look at a tiny screen at the photo I just took)

And it’s gotta be my Minolta TC-1. The wide 28mm Carl Zeiss lens will allow me to take sharp photos while staying in the middle of the action. Its aperture priority controls and manual override functions will allow me to have more control during the rest of the trip while being able to snap into an automatic flash point-and-shoot mode means the only thing I need to think about in the tent is patiently waiting five seconds for the flash to recharge between shots.

“Snap-shots” can seem like such a dirty word in the modern world of photography. But for these moments, it was perfect.

Here’s what Oktoberfest felt like.

I was mostly focused on the bier in my hand and the friends at my side.