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Gear suggestions for a trip to India
#1
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.
#2
Hmm... if I wanted to travel really light I'd take only my 5D2 + 24L II... actually scratch that... I just came to Sri Lanka armed only with my Nex 5 and the 16 2.8 prime.



I always find myself wanting wide angles for new places and teles for familiar places... YMMV.



GTW
#3
Hi Yakim



Sorry to hear about the job.

But I think you have the right approach. Do the best out of it and you will have the time of your live. That what I had in a similar situation. I left country for a approx. one year and came back after 7 Years with wife and kid <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />.

However back to your photogear. I have been to india 14 of years ago. I took with me an old cheap body EOS 650 instead of the "expensive" Canon-RT (remember that one? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' /> )with a cheap 75-300 Zoom and a Minox GT. Sadly my slr got stolen in a overnighttrain incl. zoom at the last day in India and it left me with just the Minox. So for the rest of my round the world trip I was restricted to just on focal lens, but I took some of my best pictures, because I had to think more about my photos.

May I suggest in your case not to take an expensive camera (7d) with you. Get a cheap, light and still good one one ebay like the 20D or a 400d and take the 55-250 with you, throw in a 18-55 and a 50mm 1,8. Alternative just buy a Sigma DP-2. Also I carry my cameras in a scruffy old bag with me unsuspicious as it gets. Also on the road I use a lightweight gorillapod or beanbag instead of a heavy tripod, enough for 99% of my shots. I would get the gear as light as possible, so the chances are getting higher that you actually take the camera with you all the time.

Believe me, you will enjoy your trip much more when you don`t have to take worry about the gear all the time.



But most importend have a great trip and enjoy the experience

Regards
#4
Well, it's a tough choice, I'd vote for a 10-22 and a 17-55 since at those focal lenghts you would be taking 70-90 % of the shots anyways, although a 70-200 f4 comes in handy at times, so if you can carry it, it's worth it indeed..



And a netbook is great to make backups at a hotel, and google some info during the travel when you need it..



If I may make a recommendation about your trip, make sure you spend some time in Varanasi, it's a world on it's own.. If you find some time you might stretch for a trip to Nepal since it's close from there, a different, more trekking oriented trip, but also very much worth the time and effort <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />
#5
Ohh and a very good photo opportunity was a resort just outside a nationalpark. They did twice a day a Jeep tour into the nationalpark will be able to see tigers, gepards, monkeys elephants ... . I absolutly loved it. Have a look here http://www.kiplingcamp.com/kcamp.html ,

Not the cheapest, but if you stay just 3-4 days it has this certain Safari feeling.



Regards
#6
[quote name='Yakim' timestamp='1294960305' post='5484']

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.

[/quote]



This is what I would do, in order to get a small and managable pack:



7D + 10-22 + 24-105 (plus CPL (will fit both lenses), batteries and a small tripod)



the thing I would dislike a bit with this pack, is the unconvenient turnover-point at 24mm, but that is

the price for a small pack.



Another option would be just the 7D + 17-55 ... but I have doubts that 17 is wide enough ... having not

enough mm on the long end can be cured by cropping (within limits) ... the missing mm at the

wide end really hurt.





Sorry to hear the story from you job ... good luck with the next one (after the trip) ... Rainer
#7
[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1294961597' post='5486']

Hmm... if I wanted to travel really light I'd take only my 5D2 + 24L II... actually scratch that... I just came to Sri Lanka armed only with my Nex 5 and the 16 2.8 prime.



I always find myself wanting wide angles for new places and teles for familiar places... YMMV.



GTW

[/quote]



Thank you for your PoV but that's a bit too minimalistic for me I'm afraid.
#8
[quote name='Bjoern' timestamp='1294963799' post='5488']

Hi Yakim



Sorry to hear about the job.

But I think you have the right approach. Do the best out of it and you will have the time of your live. That what I had in a similar situation. I left country for a approx. one year and came back after 7 Years with wife and kid <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />.

However back to your photogear. I have been to india 14 of years ago. I took with me an old cheap body EOS 650 instead of the "expensive" Canon-RT (remember that one? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' /> )with a cheap 75-300 Zoom and a Minox GT. Sadly my slr got stolen in a overnighttrain incl. zoom at the last day in India and it left me with just the Minox. So for the rest of my round the world trip I was restricted to just on focal lens, but I took some of my best pictures, because I had to think more about my photos.

May I suggest in your case not to take an expensive camera (7d) with you. Get a cheap, light and still good one one ebay like the 20D or a 400d and take the 55-250 with you, throw in a 18-55 and a 50mm 1,8. Alternative just buy a Sigma DP-2. Also I carry my cameras in a scruffy old bag with me unsuspicious as it gets. Also on the road I use a lightweight gorillapod or beanbag instead of a heavy tripod, enough for 99% of my shots. I would get the gear as light as possible, so the chances are getting higher that you actually take the camera with you all the time.

Believe me, you will enjoy your trip much more when you don`t have to take worry about the gear all the time.



But most importend have a great trip and enjoy the experience

Regards

[/quote]



1. I hate Rebels or any small form-factor cameras.

2. Before the 7D I had a 40D and liked it a lot. I'll consider it. Nevertheless, I don't think I'll worry less if my gear would cost less. It's not the cost (I'll insure whatever I take). It's the ability to take pictures the way I like.

3. 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS + 50/1.8 is a very nice general purpose set but it is not wide enough, and will severely limit me in low light photography.



Thank you for your encouragement. I hope the trip will help me bounce back.
#9
[quote name='wojtt' timestamp='1294994111' post='5489']

Well, it's a tough choice, I'd vote for a 10-22 and a 17-55 since at those focal lenghts you would be taking 70-90 % of the shots anyways, although a 70-200 f4 comes in handy at times, so if you can carry it, it's worth it indeed..[/quote]



That's exactly why I'm thinking about the 55-250 IS instead of the 70-200/4 IS. I'm not sure how much I'll be using it so the diminutive size and weight is a big plus.



[quote name='wojtt' timestamp='1294994111' post='5489']

And a netbook is great to make backups at a hotel, and google some info during the travel when you need it..[/quote]



That's what I was thinking. I can also burn the pictures to DVD (do NetBooks have that ability?) and sent it to Israel as a backup.



[quote name='wojtt' timestamp='1294994111' post='5489']

If I may make a recommendation about your trip, make sure you spend some time in Varanasi, it's a world on it's own.. If you find some time you might stretch for a trip to Nepal since it's close from there, a different, more trekking oriented trip, but also very much worth the time and effort <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />[/quote]



I've heard many people say that Varanasi and Dharamsala are places I should not miss so it's very likely I'll go there. Taj Mahal is another sure spot I'm sure to go. Nepal is also an option I'm seriously considering. Don't laugh but the problem is that I have too many choices.
#10
[quote name='Bjoern' timestamp='1295000464' post='5492']

Ohh and a very good photo opportunity was a resort just outside a nationalpark. They did twice a day a Jeep tour into the nationalpark will be able to see tigers, gepards, monkeys elephants ... . I absolutly loved it. Have a look here http://www.kiplingcamp.com/kcamp.html ,

Not the cheapest, but if you stay just 3-4 days it has this certain Safari feeling.



Regards

[/quote]



Thanks a lot. I didn't know about this place. I consider Tigers as the most beautiful animals on the planet and I never saw them. I'll thus make every effort to go there. I hope 250mm would be enough for them.
  


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