Overland Track setup hints please

[Heath Bennett]

I am actually hiking the entire Overland Track in December (not sure about how many side tracks we will do)...

BUT

I am now wondering what setup I should bring in the interests of keeping things lightweight while carrying a big pack. The lenses that I have at the moment to choose from are:

12-24 DX, 28-70 2.8, 50 1.4, 70-200VR and a Tamron 90mm macro.

With the hefty D2x and two batteries.

I am thinking of just bringing the 12-24 and the 50.

And, for access, I am thinking about getting a front mount bag/pouch that will obviously need to be highly water resistant. I won't be able to use my usual method of carrying the gear as it is a backpack, that will obviously be taken over by a hiking pack.

Any hints/tips/suggestions, wanted/considered/taken to heart

[marcotrov]

Yeah sounds about right Heath. Gee, I'd be tempted to throw n the tamron or get a little reversal ring for the 50 for those desert flower closeups or when your crawling on your hands and knees looking for water Sounds like a trip of a lifetime Heath. Gee the D2X is going to be hefty, D70 perhaps? or better still a new D200!! I'm getting excited again
I'm sure either way you'll come back with some stunning images. Have fun!!
cheers
marco

[Heath Bennett]

Thanks Marco. I guess a D70 would be much lighter but it wouldn't have weather sealing - that's probably why you mentioned the D200. It would be perfect.

EDIT - desert?

[kinetic]

I can't recommend much in the way of exactly which equipement to take, but in a talk I went to regarding Kokoda trail walks, the guy who runs the tours recommended that you carry no more than 18 kgs (and more like 15kgs if you want to be comfortable). I know you're not doing Kokoda, but the weight thing might be a guide? .....get those scales out!

[E1Shane]

Heath, i walked the track last April, while I only had a Oly5060 (28-110mm) at that stage I did not feel i missed the longer lens. From my point of view take 12-24 DX, 28-70 2.8, and maybe the macro. There was a lot of fine details like fungus and mosses that I liked to shoot. I didn't see enough wildlife to make a tele worth it. As for tips, sleep in your tent the huts were nosiy. Make sure you spend time up Pine Valley (The Acropolis and the Labyrinth) its the best spot. Take a light tripod, you dont need to set it up high 90% of the time. You can see some of my shots here http://australianbushwalking.fotopic.net/ under Tasmania

[sirhc55]

In December your main concern will be the red dust and not so much the rain. The dust is like talcum powder and will get into everything including lenses. I kept my gear (Nikon F) in an esky complete with plastic bags and dessicant but the dust still got in

Whoops - sorry matey was thinking of the Gun Barrel Highway

[E1Shane]

Thanks Marco. I guess a D70 would be much lighter but it wouldn't have weather sealing - that's probably why you mentioned the D200. It would be perfect.

EDIT - desert?

E1 is fully sealed

[gecko]

Hello Heath

And, for access, I am thinking about getting a front mount bag/pouch that will obviously need to be highly water resistant. I won't be able to use my usual method of carrying the gear as it is a backpack, that will obviously be taken over by a hiking pack.

I have done LOTS of pack carrying over the years and so my experience set up might be useful.

I use a Lowepro Slideline shooter (now much the worse for wear) and a variety of packs made by Wilderness Equipment. I put my rucksack on and get it sitting properly (the secret is that the majority of the pack weight gets transferred directly into your skeleton at your hips. This requires a snug fit with the pack's waist straps.) Adjust the camera bag so you have one long strap and one short. Thread the long one around your back between the pack and your body (my pack has a fair amount of room for this) and do it up. Adjust the 'batwing' thingys on the sides of the camera bag to get it sitting right. This system works really well for me.

The sideline shooter has pretty limited space, camera with kit lens and SB600 fit well. I keep looking at new bags but have yet to see anything that really grabs me. There are some big units out there like the Lowepro Orion (?), but I'm not convinced I want something that big! I walk with ski poles to assist with balance on uneven ground. Some of the bags are so big they would impede vision of the trail right in front of you.

Get some silicon base spray and give the whole bag a good soaking a week or more before your trip. If the weather is really shitty, the whole kit goes inside (or least under the top lid) of the rucksack.

Go with the a wide angle lens macro lens and tripod.

Hope this helps

Gerard

[Heath Bennett]

Thanks for the advice all. You have made me consider a few more things. I checked the statistics, it is supposed to rain 2 out of every 3 days in December ON AVERAGE!

Silicone spray, plasitc bags... all useful.