Travelling
Does your gear travel well?
31/01/09 16:41
TRAVELLING WITH CAMERA GEAR
by
Vi Wilson
Just about every photographer who travels is faced with the dilemma of what gear to pack. Ultimately there is always a trade-off – which lens/es, which camera body, tripod, etc.
On a recent (2005... still shooting film then) excursion to Antarctica I packed the following lenses:
After the first couple of days, I realized that changing lenses in that hostile environment was not ideal.
Wind and misty rain for much of the time I was there was not the only hazard.
Where do you put your bag (so you can change a lens) when the ground is covered with penguin guano or seal poop?!
In the end I resorted to using the 70-200mm lens on one camera body, and the 24-85mm lens on the other. I did carry the other lenses in my camera bag “just in case”, but all that, plus tripod, and being rugged up like a Michelin man, wearing gum boots for good measure, made it a fairly challenging exercise.
I was still shooting film at the time, and often wished that I could have changed the ISO with the press of a button. Added to my arsenal of gear was an Olympus 2.1 mp Camedia (now a dinosaur) but on the odd occasions that I used it, some very good pics resulted.
MOVING ON TO DIGITAL
More recently on a trip to New Zealand, I packed my Sony Alpha 700, with a Sony 16–105mm 3.5–5.6 lens, plus a Minolta 75–300mm 4.5–5.6 lens.
On the whole, the Sony is a great ‘walk about’ lens and covered most situations, though it does show a bit of chromatic aberration at some settings. However, the convenience factor was significant as we were touring with another couple who were not photographers. I hardly used the 75-300mm lens and I didn’t even pack the tripod!
I love the quality of the 70-200mm 2.8 lens, but it is heavy, and that quite often comes into the equation when I am packing. However, with a trip to Africa planned for later this year, I may just have to bite the bullet and take it! Tripod? Don’t know. With anti-shake in both camera bodies, and in the 70-200mm lens, coupled with bright light, I should be able to hand hold. The other lenses I propose to take will be the Sony 16-105mm and probably a Minolta 100-400mm 4.5-6.7 which I have just purchased secondhand.
JUST FOR WOMEN
A recent purchase from Cameras Direct is a Jill.E medium-sized camera bag (for women). In most situations it is proving to be extremely useful and convenient as it will take two camera bodies, three lenses (not the 70-200mm 2.8), filters, batteries and cards plus some personal items. It can be taken on board as a carry-on. Tripod (if I take it) gets packed in my suitcase.
With all the security measures in place for travel, both domestically and internationally, it makes a lot of sense to pack light, and in a way that will ensure speedy progress through security checkpoints.
Happy travelling!
Vi Wilson
(Note from Ed. I hope to include similar stories from other members in the near future, so if you are planning a big trip, keep tuning in to learn from the experiences, good and bad, from each of the contributors. Thanks to Vi for kicking off this segment)
by
Vi Wilson
Just about every photographer who travels is faced with the dilemma of what gear to pack. Ultimately there is always a trade-off – which lens/es, which camera body, tripod, etc.
On a recent (2005... still shooting film then) excursion to Antarctica I packed the following lenses:
- Minolta 100mm 2.8 Macro,
- Minolta 70-200mm 2.8
- 2 x converter for above
- Tamron 28–200mm 3.8–5.6
- Minolta 24–85mm 3.5–4.5.
After the first couple of days, I realized that changing lenses in that hostile environment was not ideal.
Wind and misty rain for much of the time I was there was not the only hazard.
Where do you put your bag (so you can change a lens) when the ground is covered with penguin guano or seal poop?!
In the end I resorted to using the 70-200mm lens on one camera body, and the 24-85mm lens on the other. I did carry the other lenses in my camera bag “just in case”, but all that, plus tripod, and being rugged up like a Michelin man, wearing gum boots for good measure, made it a fairly challenging exercise.
I was still shooting film at the time, and often wished that I could have changed the ISO with the press of a button. Added to my arsenal of gear was an Olympus 2.1 mp Camedia (now a dinosaur) but on the odd occasions that I used it, some very good pics resulted.
MOVING ON TO DIGITAL
More recently on a trip to New Zealand, I packed my Sony Alpha 700, with a Sony 16–105mm 3.5–5.6 lens, plus a Minolta 75–300mm 4.5–5.6 lens.
On the whole, the Sony is a great ‘walk about’ lens and covered most situations, though it does show a bit of chromatic aberration at some settings. However, the convenience factor was significant as we were touring with another couple who were not photographers. I hardly used the 75-300mm lens and I didn’t even pack the tripod!
I love the quality of the 70-200mm 2.8 lens, but it is heavy, and that quite often comes into the equation when I am packing. However, with a trip to Africa planned for later this year, I may just have to bite the bullet and take it! Tripod? Don’t know. With anti-shake in both camera bodies, and in the 70-200mm lens, coupled with bright light, I should be able to hand hold. The other lenses I propose to take will be the Sony 16-105mm and probably a Minolta 100-400mm 4.5-6.7 which I have just purchased secondhand.
JUST FOR WOMEN
A recent purchase from Cameras Direct is a Jill.E medium-sized camera bag (for women). In most situations it is proving to be extremely useful and convenient as it will take two camera bodies, three lenses (not the 70-200mm 2.8), filters, batteries and cards plus some personal items. It can be taken on board as a carry-on. Tripod (if I take it) gets packed in my suitcase.
With all the security measures in place for travel, both domestically and internationally, it makes a lot of sense to pack light, and in a way that will ensure speedy progress through security checkpoints.
Happy travelling!
Vi Wilson
(Note from Ed. I hope to include similar stories from other members in the near future, so if you are planning a big trip, keep tuning in to learn from the experiences, good and bad, from each of the contributors. Thanks to Vi for kicking off this segment)
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