01-13-2011, 11:11 PM
Sometime next month I'm going an a 1-1.5m trip to India. It all began with a terrible blow: After 10.5 years I got fired. After the first shock faded away (to say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement, I was truly devastated) I decided that this is the right time to make a longtime dream come true. I can't take such a long vacation while working and I'm not getting any younger.
So, despite the fear of getting robbed I decided that after 20 years of shooting with SLR/DSLR I'd be a complete fool to take just a P&S for a once in a lifetime trip. However, as I know that less is often more when you travel I'm thinking very hard of what to take with me and what to leave behind. I want maximum versatility with minimum weight and bulk.
First, the things I'm sure about:
I'm definitely taking the 7D, 10-22 and CPL. Bag is also a simple choice: The Lowepro CompuDayPack is my daily bag for the past 3 (4?) years. I have upgraded it to match my specific needs and it is very durable. Last, I'll be taking a small P&S as a backup.
I'm definitely not taking the 5D (recent purchase, don't like it, planning on selling it). I will also leave at home the 135/2, the 85/2.8 PC, the 300/4 IS (not versatile enough) and the Gitzo 1541T (hardly use it).
Now for the things I'm less sure about.
17-55/2.8 IS: I'll probably take it. For the past 3 years this has been my most used lens so it looks like a safe bet.
18-55 IS: I'll probably leave it at home. While small and light I found out I'm taking it with me only when I'm not sure I'll shoot at all. Whenever I think there's a good probability that I'll shoot I take the 17-55/2.8 IS.
55-250 IS: I consider taking it as my tele lens. Small, light, inconspicuous (black) and with very good IQ. My only fear is the poor BQ. One blow and I am left without a tele.
100/2.8 IS: I consider taking it (+ 1.4X TC) as my tele lens. As it's faster it'll better for portraits and BQ inspires confidence in a long trip but it'll be less versatile as it is shorter than the 55-250 IS and can't zoom. Zooming with your feet takes time and one might loose the decisive moment. Yes, I know that the faster aperture offers versatility of its own but I still think that in a trip the zoom capability will be more important than the faster aperture. It's just that the BQ issue of the 55-250 IS really bugs me.
60/2.8: Here lies my second biggest uncertainty. On the one hand this is my second used lens and I love it dearly. It is relatively small and light and I can't count the number of great images I took with it. As a reference, I use it much more than the 100/2.8 IS. OTOH this is an additive lens. It is another lens to carry and as I said above, less is often more when you travel.
580EX: I'll probably leave it at home. Both because I mostly shoot with only available light and because I have a backup in the form of the built-in flash of the 7D. Leaving it at home will also save me the bulk of AA batteries + charger.
Gear I don't own but can borrow:
24-105/4 IS: The funny thing is that I often recommended people of a 10-22 + 24-105 set as a great travel set. Only two lenses, great IQ and great range. However, it is a slow set, it is not stabilized below 24mm (I often used IS in the 17-24 range) and as it is a once in a lifetime trip I'm just not sure it is long enough.
70-200/4 IS: This one has many advantages over either the 100/2.8 IS and the 55-250 IS which I'm sure I don't need to list. Problem is, it is bigger and heavier than the 55-250 IS and my gear is already not that light. Worst of all, it is very conspicuous (white).
Considering everything the set I'm leaning to is 17-55 + 55-250 IS + 12mm extension tube but I must confess that leaving the 60/2.8 will cause me serious heartaches.
I also consider buying a NetBook or an electronic wallet to load my pictures into. I'm leaning towards the first as I consider buying one anyway.
Precautions:
I'll be keeping all the gear with me at all times to avoid theft (hence my desire to reduce weight and bulk). My only concern is what would happen if I'd want to go into a sea/river/lake. I'll have to leave it behind. You see, I'm going there alone but hope not to be traveling alone. I heard that travelers always form groups in India.
Of course I'll insure my gear but that will be of no comfort if it is stolen mid-trip. I'll only have a P&S to shoot with and I simply hate them. More importantly, it will not allow me for the versatility I have in my DSLR gear.
I apologize for the lengthy post but this is very important to me. Thank you all in advance.
So, despite the fear of getting robbed I decided that after 20 years of shooting with SLR/DSLR I'd be a complete fool to take just a P&S for a once in a lifetime trip. However, as I know that less is often more when you travel I'm thinking very hard of what to take with me and what to leave behind. I want maximum versatility with minimum weight and bulk.
First, the things I'm sure about:
I'm definitely taking the 7D, 10-22 and CPL. Bag is also a simple choice: The Lowepro CompuDayPack is my daily bag for the past 3 (4?) years. I have upgraded it to match my specific needs and it is very durable. Last, I'll be taking a small P&S as a backup.
I'm definitely not taking the 5D (recent purchase, don't like it, planning on selling it). I will also leave at home the 135/2, the 85/2.8 PC, the 300/4 IS (not versatile enough) and the Gitzo 1541T (hardly use it).
Now for the things I'm less sure about.
17-55/2.8 IS: I'll probably take it. For the past 3 years this has been my most used lens so it looks like a safe bet.
18-55 IS: I'll probably leave it at home. While small and light I found out I'm taking it with me only when I'm not sure I'll shoot at all. Whenever I think there's a good probability that I'll shoot I take the 17-55/2.8 IS.
55-250 IS: I consider taking it as my tele lens. Small, light, inconspicuous (black) and with very good IQ. My only fear is the poor BQ. One blow and I am left without a tele.
100/2.8 IS: I consider taking it (+ 1.4X TC) as my tele lens. As it's faster it'll better for portraits and BQ inspires confidence in a long trip but it'll be less versatile as it is shorter than the 55-250 IS and can't zoom. Zooming with your feet takes time and one might loose the decisive moment. Yes, I know that the faster aperture offers versatility of its own but I still think that in a trip the zoom capability will be more important than the faster aperture. It's just that the BQ issue of the 55-250 IS really bugs me.
60/2.8: Here lies my second biggest uncertainty. On the one hand this is my second used lens and I love it dearly. It is relatively small and light and I can't count the number of great images I took with it. As a reference, I use it much more than the 100/2.8 IS. OTOH this is an additive lens. It is another lens to carry and as I said above, less is often more when you travel.
580EX: I'll probably leave it at home. Both because I mostly shoot with only available light and because I have a backup in the form of the built-in flash of the 7D. Leaving it at home will also save me the bulk of AA batteries + charger.
Gear I don't own but can borrow:
24-105/4 IS: The funny thing is that I often recommended people of a 10-22 + 24-105 set as a great travel set. Only two lenses, great IQ and great range. However, it is a slow set, it is not stabilized below 24mm (I often used IS in the 17-24 range) and as it is a once in a lifetime trip I'm just not sure it is long enough.
70-200/4 IS: This one has many advantages over either the 100/2.8 IS and the 55-250 IS which I'm sure I don't need to list. Problem is, it is bigger and heavier than the 55-250 IS and my gear is already not that light. Worst of all, it is very conspicuous (white).
Considering everything the set I'm leaning to is 17-55 + 55-250 IS + 12mm extension tube but I must confess that leaving the 60/2.8 will cause me serious heartaches.
I also consider buying a NetBook or an electronic wallet to load my pictures into. I'm leaning towards the first as I consider buying one anyway.
Precautions:
I'll be keeping all the gear with me at all times to avoid theft (hence my desire to reduce weight and bulk). My only concern is what would happen if I'd want to go into a sea/river/lake. I'll have to leave it behind. You see, I'm going there alone but hope not to be traveling alone. I heard that travelers always form groups in India.
Of course I'll insure my gear but that will be of no comfort if it is stolen mid-trip. I'll only have a P&S to shoot with and I simply hate them. More importantly, it will not allow me for the versatility I have in my DSLR gear.
I apologize for the lengthy post but this is very important to me. Thank you all in advance.