A Travel Kit That Worked

<p>Since the question of what gear to take on a trip comes up frequently, I thought I'd share what worked for me on a recent four week trip to the Philippines. I'm a film shooter and am sensitive to the amount of weight slung around my neck therefore I prefer small,fast prime lenses to zooms. I shoot landscapes, street scenes and interiors. I used primarily public transportation such as buses, jeepneys and motorized tricycles. This is what I took:<br>

Nikon F100 film body fitted with a Kirk Arca-Swiss plate<br>

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D AF<br>

Nikon 24mm f/2.8 D AF<br>

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 D AF<br>

Nikon SB-600 flash<br>

extra lithium AA batteries for camera and flash<br>

62mm Moose polarizer<br>

62mm Nikon A2 filter<br>

52 to 62mm step-up rings for the 50mm and 24mm lenses<br>

lens cleaning brush and tissues<br>

MC-30 remote cord<br>

Induro CM-24 monopod fitted with a Benro B1 ballhead<br>

All this was carried in a Lowepro Slingshot 100 AW sling backpack which I modified by adding a sleeve and velcro to hold the monopod. All up it weighed 8.7 pounds. I believe this bag has been superceded by a model which incorporates a monopod sleeve.<br>

I was very pleased with this kit. I used everything except the remote cord (why did I bring that if I didn't have a tripod?). The only lens I wish I had that I didn't bring was a 180 or 200mm telephoto once or twice. Going again, I would leave off the ballhead and the Kirk plate which would save a pound. The sling bag worked especially well in crowded streets and markets. It made for a slim profile and kept the gear secure from pickpockets and slash and grab thieves. The bag can be quickly swiveled around to the front when gear is needed or when sitting. I also took a Pacsafe 85 bag to secure the gear in the hotel room when I went out.</p>

<p>umm..<br>

Proof of concept could include some actual pictures? ;)</p>

<p>Pleased it worked for you. To work for me I'd need to add</p>

<p>The ability to achieve reach of about 17-200mm. Three zooms are possible lightwer than the primes I'd need to do that.</p>

<p>A tripod, but I'd save on the monopod, and I may not carry it every minute, depending on where I am.</p>

<p>A back-up body, though thats likely to be in my hotel/car. </p>

<p>An L plate, though I'd save a little on the other plate</p>

<p>camera manual, dof tables. </p>

<p>Grads and ND filters for 77mm.</p>

<p>I'd save on the flash. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>I just carry a small shoulder bag and force myself to carry less from day (1).</p>

<p>For me, hobby, so nothing crucial. F100 great isn't it, 18-35 and 80-200 both variable aperture, Gitzo traveler that tripod weights 2lbs all up. If I go the primes route, it's a 35, 85 for me and that's it, I don't go with others or do pple pix so I skip the flash. Might consider a 20. Like a 180 but it's prob gonna be the least used one and and the largest lens.</p>

<p>I spent a few weeks in the Philippines last year, shooting mostly B&W film (Neopan 400) with a Zeiss ZI and 2 lenses: ZM 25/2.8 Biogon and ZM 50/2.0 Planar. Here are a couple of images from that trip.</p>

<p>ZM 25mm Biogon<br>

<img src="http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/23043/med_U23043I1357279483.SEQ.0.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="450" /></p>

<p>ZM 50mm Planar<br>

<img src="http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/23043/med_U23043I1356674991.SEQ.0.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="450" /></p>

<p>Hello,<br>

This is my recommendation - </p>

<p>I have spent the last 18 months backpacking around Asia and sadly coming to the end of my trip. Last week in Cambodia - 2 weeks in Thailand then return to UK.<br>

I have 1 x body (D7000)<br>

50mm 1.4 prime<br>

18 - 105<br>

10-24 wide angle<br>

70-200 f2.8 VR2<br>

Filters (Usual including 10 STOP ND)<br>

Light weight Tripod<br>

2 X Hard drives<br>

Need to ask what you are shooting for?<br>

Professional or personal use.<br>

I have a very rough looking camera bag now (grubby and faded) With the Tamrac badge removed .Do not want it to look like a camera bag. <br>

I have a PACSAFE wire sling. (slash proof)<br>

I have a large PACSAFE mesh case for my camera bag when left in a room, although i do not like leaving it too much. My bag has been part of me for the past 18 months.<br>

I also use a small PAC SAFE wallet for passports ,money and one of my two hard drives. I can lock this inside my camera bag to minimize being pick pocketed.<br>

I bought 2 small attack alarms from local police station before departing UK. Great for attaching to bag when you do decide to leave it in a room. One has since died on the batteries and the second caught out an unsuspecting cleaner who decided to move my bag in the room. It served me well for 16 months though.<br>

Kit is very heavy particularly the 70-200 but I would not be without it.Quality is superb. Just need to work out on the biceps whilst traveling so it does not seem so heavy!!!<br>

I also carry a rather heavy lap top for editing on route. Would not carry it if my trip was not as long.<br>

I did ditch my SCUBA Diving kit (rather shipped it home several months ago) as it was just too much kit. I replaced the space with the 70-200 and 10-24 lenses.<br>

Top travel tip - I carry a 60 cm length of cord tied in a loop and with a small Karibina clipped on. Great for hanging the camera bag on the seat in front (on the coach) or from the frame of the Tuk Tuk tO avoid transfer of shock to my bag. Use it all the time, today in fact. Electronics and rough roads do not mix!<br>

Do not advertise your equipment and put your camera away before entering / exiting your hotel/hut/BB etc. The less people who see you with it at the accommodation the better. <br>

I always keep the two hard drives seperate !. I would not want to be robbed of both in the same theft. <br>

A small selection of some of my images can be found at : <br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/divemasterpaul/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/divemasterpaul/</a><br>

Hope this helps,<br>

Paul</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hello,<br>

Apologies but I rushed my post above as I was short on time. To conclude,<br>

If you do not shoot portrait you may consider no need to carry a 70-200. I love travel portrait shooting so to me it was a must and the high quality lens such as the f2.8 VR2 is amazing.<br>

I could have easily sent my fixed 50mm home but I used it again a couple of days ago and the freedom of working the lens is wonderful. Quality of images is also fantastic.<br>

10-24mm only because a love shooting travel landscapes. Could double up with the 18-105 but I am happy to carry both. If landscape or wide angle is not your thing, leave it at home.<br>

I mention a lot about security items. If travelling you need to think about your kit security. I have two travel friends who have been robbed during my time away (one,South America and one in India) There are people looking to remove your camera kit from you so do what you can to limit the risk.<br>

I made a tailor made cover for my camera bag a while ago whilst in Malaysia from a waterproof jacket. It is permanently attached across the top of the bag and can be easily pulled down covering the entire bag. I have made slots for the shoulder straps to fit through also. I only made it as I could not find an actual cover for sale in Thailand or Malaysia. Their are plenty of covers available which may keep out a light drizzle at best but mine has proven itself on three occasions in absolute monsoon downpours. I have been drenched to the bone but my camera kit has remained dry. <br>

I have not backed up my images by a cloud based format or such like so am carrying 12,000 RAW files of 18 months work on my person. I am a little conscious of this fact and you would be wise to look for an alternative. <br>

Any recommendations for backing up large files whilst travelling will be welcome. As mentioned in my post above I do have two hard drives which I keep seperate. (no back up on the lap top at all) One with RAW files edited in 'Lightroom' and the other with a copy of RAW files only.<br>

My camera kit weighs in at approx 10kg and my other back pack has been reduced to approx 13kg. That's manageable but any more would be a pain to carry around long term.<br>

Hope this adds some context to my reasons for carrying kit mentioned in post above,<br>

regards,</p>

<p>Paul</p>

<p>When I was spending a lot of time traveling, often for work, I managed with this kit and it covered 24-200. I still go out with this kit. I bought the FE2 new and its still pristine. I look after my gear. I've seen its value now exceed its new price.<br>

I also had an FM2n which I sold last year for $350.</p>

<p>Nikon FE2<br>

24/2 AIS<br>

50/1.8 AIS<br>

80-200/ 4.0 AIS<br>

I used the 80-200 least so I usually left it at home.</p>

<p>Do we really need all the rest? In my experience, no. And also carting around a huge backpack invites trouble. It also imposes an obligation to use it all, so instead of experiencing a new country, mixing with people in a natural way, you are wandering around looking like a tourist from Florida, taking zillions of happy snaps. Anyway, that's just me and my view. Others will disagree.</p>

<p>With digital you could get away with say a D3200 and a 28-200 or a couple of small primes. AF and zooms have boxed enthusiasts into an expensive spending cycle. One just has to look at the beautiful AF lenses coming out for the 4/3 markets to see that the manufacturers could make small zooms for DSLR's if they wanted to. A good example are the Canon M lenses. Exquisite.</p>