What's YOUR travel photography kit?

[losfp]

Following on from my earlier thread expressing interest in finding a lightweight telephoto lens... got me thinking around what my whole travel kit would be.

Right now, if I go anywhere for a photomeet, minimeet etc, I tend to just stuff everything into a lowepro backpack and drag it all there. Now, we are going to be in Geelong for 2 weeks before we get married down there in January, then Tassie for a week, then 4 weeks in July in Alaska / Canadian Rockies, and sure as hell I won't be dragging EVERYTHING everywhere.

This was what I was thinking (bearing in mind that there will be TWO of us using this photography gear, and the most hiking/walking we will do is an all-day trip, staying in a ship cabin, motel room etc most nights)

D200 + Battery Grip
D70s

Tokina 12-24
Tamron 28-75
Nikkor 80-200/2.8

SB-800 (without 5th battery holder)
LSPJII/ID
Giottos Rocket
Lowepro Filter pocket
Remote releases
2 x EN-EL3a
2 x EN-EL3e
10 x AA NiMH
4-AA fast charger
Nikon battery charger

Benro C-128 / KB-1
RRS MPR-CL Nodal slide

All that (excluding tripod and ballhead) comes to just a hair over 6kg. Not terrible. If I had enough money, I might replace the 28-75 and 80-200 with a Nikkor 18-200VR. I've been thinking quite hard these last couple of days about getting a smaller telephoto zoom, but most of them max out at f/5.6 at full tele, and need stopping down to f/8 or f/11 to be decently sharp. At least with the 18-200VR, you can stop down and still get sharp-ish shots with the VR activated.

It's tough though, shedding items that you PROBABLY wouldn't use. Excluded from the list above are: 18-70, 50/1.8, SC-29

[spada]

Hi Des
My travel kit last year was a 20D , tamron 28-75 , canon 10-22 , 3 camera bats and charger, an el cheapo aa charger ( small ,light ), a last minute bought 380EX flash from this forum ,XDrive pro, that all .Not much weight to carry around , and I bought a 50mm f1.8 at HCM city for low light concert shot and sold it to the same shop the next day ( loss $10 ),the whole kit weight less than 3 kg.

[DVEous]

...Deleted...

[sheepie]

Do you really need the battery grip? Not sure how much weight it would save, but certainly some space. It would also reduce the "look at me, I have an expensive camera" aspect of the trip (although the other stuff probably still gives that impression anyway)

[gstark]

As Sheepie suggests, I'd lose the grip. I'd also seriously reconsider bringing the SB800. Ask yourself why you might need it?

[sirhc55]

The best kit is to hire a photographer and let him/her carry the burden

[Willy wombat]

Im off OS on Sunday. Worried about memory a little, but staying in Japan first so i might piuck up some toys?

In my Crumpler $7 million bag i have

1 D70
1 spare battery
1 Nikon battery charger

1 Nikkor 50mm 1.4
1 Nikkor 18-70 kit lens
1 Nikon 70-300 G
1 Sigma 105mm macro 2.8

1 SB-800
4 2200ma rachargeable batteries
Recharge battery charger

a very small 6 inch travel tripod
remote release
5gb in memory
Various Filters
Cleaning cloth

a few thousand dust bunnies left over from the last rodeo i went to.

[MCWB]

My travel kit these days is usually:

D200 + grip
Sigma 12-24
17-55 DX AI 105 mm f/2.5 (for mild telephoto use, it's small and light so why not)
SB800 + 5x AA batteries
LS2PJ + dome
CF cards + 8x AA batteries in Lowepro holder thingo
Giottos Air Rocket
All fits in a Slingshot 200AW.

I don't bother with the 70-200 VR unless I think I'll need it. I would never go without the flash (onboard doesn't cut it for the 12-24 nor 17-55), and I would never go without the grip, but that might just be me.

[Aussie Dave]

At least with the 18-200VR, you can stop down and still get sharp-ish shots with the VR activated.

That depends on what you are taking photos of.
Landscapes etc will be fine but moving objects may prove to be a problem with a slower shutter speed than you'd prefer (dependant on situation, of course).

What types of images do you think you will be taking ? If it's going to be a bit of everything, then your kit needs to be able to cater for that. Will the 50 1.8 come in handy indoors, where you don't want a huge flash going off ? Could this take the place of the LSPJII ?

If you're not taking the 5th battery compartment for the SB800, can you get away with only 8 AA rechargebale batts (one set in the flash, one set charging)? Why 10 ??

I guess for those of us that only have a small kit ( a body & a couple of lenses), it's easier. I just take everything everywhere, all the time

[Antsl]

Usual assignments -
Domke Bag with D200, 12-24, 28-70 and 80-200. Batterie, Media, Charger and Card Reader, Laptop and charger, One modified Sunpak 120J, Nikon SB-800, Radio Slave, two light weight Manfrotto light stands and a silver umbrella. With the exception of the lightstands that fit into a suitcase the Domke Bag and contents will fit into an overhead locker or under my seat and still have everything that I will need for most of my image making.

Low Light Doco assignments
LowePro Belt Bag with D200, 24mm f2, 50mm f1.4 and 135mm f2.

Other work... add Hasselblads (with film), Bowens, light modification equipment, extra stands and tripods to suit.

[losfp]

Great feedback guys, it's good to hear what others' perspectives are.

To clarify some of my choices:

- D200 Battery Grip. Allows me the option of using AAs if I run out and don't have time to recharge the EN-EL3es. Most importantly, I have an RRS L bracket for the battery grip, but I don't have one for just the D200, so I need the grip if I want to do vertical panos or vertical tripod shots

- Flash. The onboard flash just doesn't cut it indoors or at night, and IMO makes a hell of a difference doing portraits outdoors during the day as well. Like Trent, it is usually the first thing I pack, after at least one lens The motivation behind not packing the 5th battery holder is so that I can easily recharge 4xAA in my fast charger!

- AA batteries. The thought is that packing 10 allows me to have 4 in the flash and 6 in the D200 battery grip.

- Telephoto lens. There will be wildlife aplenty to attack in Alaska, however I might not bother for Tasmania.

As always, the "ideal travel kit" always changes and evolves over time, just like the "perfect walkaround kit" and the "ultimate everything-you-want kit"

[shutterbug]

I just take my P&S and my 12" ibook.

[Reschsmooth]

Our first OS trip since getting the D200 was to NZ for our honeymoon. At that time, we took:

- D200
- 17-35, 50 1.8, Tamron 80-200 (3.5-5.6?)
- Manfortto tipod and pistol grip head (packed in my backpack)
- spare battery, CF cards, etc

Whilst in Christchurch, we picked up:

- Manfrotto monopod
- 80-200 2.8
- Teleconvertor
- Battery grip

Typically now, we take all of the above (mono or tripod on outside of bag), plus SB800 (or Metz) and f90x. It's a tight fit, relatively heavy, but the bag holds and distributes the weight reasonably well. When getting on the plane, we may offload some gear into check in luggage ('pods, f90x, etc) to lighten the carry on load. As I get on the plane, I always put my shoulders back and put on a brave face to give the indication that the bag is feather light

P

[Antsl]

Whilst in Christchurch, we picked up:

- Manfrotto monopod
- 80-200 2.8
- Teleconvertor
- Battery grip

P

Where did you get these in Chch? Photo and Video in Merivale?

[Reschsmooth]

Whilst in Christchurch, we picked up:

- Manfrotto monopod
- 80-200 2.8
- Teleconvertor
- Battery grip

P

Where did you get these in Chch? Photo and Video in Merivale?

Yup - kid, candy store....(tolerant wife)

[greencardigan]

On my last OS trip I took a 18-70 and 70-300G.

If you feel the need to take a telephoto zoom, i'd recommend the 70-300G. It's hillariously light and you dont have to worry about tossing at around as it's so cheap.

Next big trip I'd probably take a wide zoom. 12-24 sort of thing.

[Antsl]

Yup - kid, candy store....(tolerant wife)

That shop is the one place that I miss the most about Chch (ok, there ar are things). I was a regular and I just wish there were more shops about like that in Australia! Payment for gear favours (like "Greg, can I borrow the 300mm f2.8 in the second hand cabinet for the weekend) was in Heinekin beer and after five each night the regulars would be out the back knocking one or two back! How good is that! The Christmas Party was also worth flying home from Australia for too!

[Reschsmooth]

Yup - kid, candy store....(tolerant wife)

That shop is the one place that I miss the most about Chch (ok, there ar are things). I was a regular and I just wish there were more shops about like that in Australia! Payment for gear favours (like "Greg, can I borrow the 300mm f2.8 in the second hand cabinet for the weekend) was in Heinekin beer and after five each night the regulars would be out the back knocking one or two back! How good is that! The Christmas Party was also worth flying home from Australia for too!

The second hand cabinet was awesome, as was the staff's service. They offered to lend us some gear before we bought, however, we weren't going to be passing through there again.

P

[Razor]

If I had enough money, I might replace the 28-75 and 80-200 with a Nikkor 18-200VR. I've been thinking quite hard these last couple of days about getting a smaller telephoto zoom, but most of them max out at f/5.6 at full tele...

I don't really have a travel kit as such but I'd really think again about losing the 80-200 Nikkor. Totally agree that the 18-200 makes a better travel lens but I doubt that its pictures are anything like the real tele.

The 80-200 gives you much more control over depth of field and you can use it with TC's if need be. I don't have a tele lens at the moment and I am missing one dearly!!!

[wendellt]

i
great to hear your galavanting around the world

i bring a 12-24dx and a 70-200
small tripod
an epson p2000 and all the other accessories

you can do alot with a wide and a zoom

most important thing is to travel light because luggign around lots of stuff just complicates things and restricts your freedom, even carrying a mid weight tripod for hours can be hell

i dumped my big benro tripod for a much smaller travel version and it works just as well

[Onyx]

A Canon IXUS. ~300grams, you might be able to find ones with IS lenses nowadays, negating a mono/tripod. Has inbuilt pano modes - no need for pano head attachemnts; inbuilt flash - doing away with speedlights; a video mode with sound - not featured on any DSLR to date! And enough resolution to print out the large billboard ads of your honeymoon video!

No seriously - consider a compact camera and do away with the big heavy SLR gear and primarily enjoy the trip in real life, not through a camera lens. SOOO much less hassles in so many ways... airport/transit security checks, potential for misplacing/losing items and accessories, weight management on hikes/walks, etc.

Also, choose to ignore the preceeding paragraphs, and consider that in North America access to rental equipment eg. long lenses, would be better in comparison to downunder. Research where they're available around where you plan to visit, and make use of them! Additionally - I know it's environmentally evil thinking - but consider how long you'll be away for, and how many times you'll need to recharge batteries, and consider purchasing a few sets of primary cells along the way. Less hassles of a need for a charger, power cord (with voltage and plug adapters), etc. This applies to memory cards and other accessories too that are probably cheaper to buy in North America, and only put up with the inconvenience of them on the return journey.

[lukeo]

I have the Lowpro AW bag, fits on ones back nicely, with enough straps to make it comfortable hiking around all day. I take:

D70 body
Kit lense
Sigma 28-70 F2.8D EX (Dont hate me for having Sigma lenses).
Nikon 70-210 F4.5 AFD
SB-600

Obviously spare batteries for both the camera and the flash. Some filters (CPL etc). Several CF cards.

I'm saving for a devent wide angle, probably sigma again. Would love a 80-200 F2.8 after that. All of which will fit nicely in the bag I have.

[Yi-P]

Depending on where Im travelling to... If I know I'll be covered by a vehicle around the trip, I'll just bring most of my stuffs in the mini-trekker bag. Thats plenty of weight and gears around, but I dont care much as long as I have a vehicle to lug things around.

Going into the wild and long walks, I'd just pack light.

Mini-trekker with followins:
D70 + 3 batteries (you cant charge batt in the wilds!)
Sigma 10-20 (just essentially wide)
Nikkor 50/1.8 (this wont take a space)
SB800 + 8x batteries
CPL Filter
Rocket blower
Grey card
ALL my CF cards
Bottle of water
Packs of silica gels
2x large zipper sealable plastic food bags
Few energy bars

Its essentially not a very heavy setup, I skipped the kit lens and telephoto as I dont think I will use them much with the 50/1.8 onboard. If I expect wild-life encounters, I may consider taking the 300/4 with me, but thats the last option.

I wish I still have the tiny small tripod which I broke last year (with the D70+70-300 on top)

[chet]

I have a 30D + SIgma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 and I'm trying to put together a kit for my trip to sth east asia next year. I'm thinking a tele would be nice (maybe 70-200 f/4 L), or should I spend the money on a nice wide angle? (or both!?)

[Raskill]

This is a good thread, and something that is relevant to me, as I head off to the US in just under two weeks.

My gear is carried in a Lowepro AW 300.

2x D700's
300 2.8
70-200 O/S
12-24
1.4 TC
sb800
sb600
2x pocket wizards
batteries, cords etc
small travel netbook for dumping to.

For my trip I'll likely dump 1 D700. I wont take a grip on the body I take, and possibly dump a speedlight. Rather than take a small travel tripod, I'll buy a bag of rice once in L.A. for a steady rest for the body. The 300 2.8 wont be coming either. I shot a recent 6 week gig with mainly the 70-200 and 12-24, so they are now my most used lenses.

[aim54x]

Travel kit......hmmm this could be interesting

On my last holiday (10 night South Pacific cruise) I took:
-Nikon D60
-AF-S DX VR 16-85mm
-Samsung EX-1 (sadly a loaner camera)
-Fujifilm FinePix F100fd + WP-FXF100 Housing
-Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s

However, it is always a bit of a task to decide what to take with me when I go anywhere....