Poll: What to take to Mexico?

[joel_b.1]

<p>Montezuma's revenge will come and go, but I'll struggle with NAS all my life . . . </p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Id take you D700 and the 50 and your little point and shoot. Leave the rest behind. Do you think you are going to carry that bag of stuff around with your everywhere?</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Id take you D700 and the 50 and your little point and shoot. Leave the rest behind. Do you think you are going to carry that bag of stuff around with your everywhere?</p>

[noreen]

<p>I traveled quite a bit in Mexico in 2010-11 (Yucatan; various western states; Chiapas), photographing wildlife; I agree that taking Imodium along is smart, though Montezuma took revenge on me only once in the months I was there.</p>

<p>Article of possible interest regarding crime stats:<br /> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lonely-planet/are-americans-safer-in-me_b_1503288.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lonely-planet/are-americans-safer-in-me_b_1503288.html</a></p>

<p>Have a great trip! I'd love to go back. I miss the <em>pollo asado</em>, <em>pico de gallo</em>, mangoes, the fish (fresh from the sea), and<em> licuados con leche</em>...</p>

<p>Edited to add: Oh, and the banana bread and <em>cocos</em> (macaroons) that they sell near San Blas....</p>

<p>(I think I've gained weight just thinking about Mexico! And did I mention that I was there for the birds? <g>)</p>

[john_stockdale2]

<p>I would consider just the D700, the 20mm lens and one other lens, maybe the 50. Also the S95 for when you don't want to carry so much.</p>

[ty_mickan]

Are you going to Mexico to take photos, or are you going on a touring holiday where you plan take some photos?

 

My pic would be the D700 and the 35mm.

[orcama60]

<p>4 bodyguards to avoid being kidnapped or killed by the Zetas, an xtra liver, a box of sex protection, an insurance policy that cover accident and natural death and a lot of money to pay the "mordidas" from every single cop out there. Good luck !!</p>

[joel_b.1]

<p>Thanks everyone, time to pack, so hasta luego!</p>

[david_olsen6]

<p>In addition to the water, do not eat any salads, fresh vegetables, or ice cubes. Also do not get anything at all from street vendors such as fruit or juices. Make sure all of your equipment is insured. Maybe even put on a generic camera strap and tape up the Nikon name and model. Don't take any escorted tours, especially walking tours with guides who do not have proper credentials.<br /> Lastly, cancel these travel plans and go somewhere safer like Damascus, Syria.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>I would take the 24-70, 85/1.8, and D700. I think the 24-70 covers a lot of travel needs especially when in people rich areas, cities, old buildings etc. The 85mm is great for head and shoulders portraits.</p>

[robert_warrington]

<p>D700, 24-70, 85/1.8 and S95 (video and quick snaps) for many of the reasons mentioned and the 85/1.8 will serve well inside dimly lit museums and churches.<br>

<br /> If you take the same precautions and use common sense as you do traveling <em>anywhere else</em> in the world - including the US - you'll be fine (and insurance should be carried anytime you travel). Take aspirin/ibuprofen and antacid. Unless you're in the drug trade forget about the Cartels; you won't be bothered.<br>

<br /> Mexico City and Oaxaca are modern, beautiful cities with people to match. They are not Tijuana or Juarez. You do not need to fear the food, ice, salads, vegetables, fruits or water. Especially, do not fear the beer! If you choose to avoid street food it will be you that loses out (not only is the food good, the vendors can make some fantastic photographic subjects, but ask first). There's nothing better to snack on than a few (dozen) fresh tacos de rez, al pastor and a cold beer. There's a reason Oaxaca is considered the food capitol of Mexico.</p>

[joel_b.1]

<p>I don't know if anyone's interested, but I thought I'd report back just in case! I took the D7000 plus the 20, 35, and 50. It was wonderful. Going out walking in the city, I'd keep the 35 on the camera, and the pairing was terrific. Light, compact, unobtrusive. I am not a brave street photographer, but this little setup inspired confidence, and I know I got many more shots than I would have if I would have been pointing the 24-70 bazooka at strangers. Doing more touristy stuff like visiting the amazing Monte Alban and various churches, I was surprised by how often I wanted to put the 20 to use, and I was really glad I brought it. I think it also performed very well -- no vignetting, for one thing, as opposed to when I have it on the D700. The 50 I found I used least, but I was glad to have it for some casual portrait shots of my traveling companions. </p>

<p>Oh, I also brought the Canon S95. I thought I'd use it for backup, and I also thought I might want it in case I was going to be going into a situation where I felt the D7000 was going to attract unwanted attention. In the event, as I said, the D7000 felt so unobtrusive that I never used the S95 at all. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for their input.</p>

<p>A handful of my favorites from the trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelbrouwer/sets/72157630448071010/detail/</p>

[joel_b.1]

<p>Oh, and as for all the concerns about murder and disease: We stayed in average-priced, not fancy accommodations, in nice but not ritzy neighborhoods. The food was fantastic and we never felt unsafe anywhere. No one gave my camera a second glance. I lost about 36 hours out of our two weeks to stomach trouble, but then that happened last time I went to Baltimore, too! A great trip; I'm eager to return. </p>

[stefano_giovannini2]

<p>I am not sure if this thread is still read. </p>

<p>I got a Nikon D610 with 24-85 VR and a used 28-70 2.8.<br>

I have a D7000 with 17-55 2.8 and 18-105. </p>

<p>would bring also either a 70-210 4-5.6 or a 70-300 ED no VR (the latter I am waiting for), <br>

A Nikon AW1 for snorkeling and a Nikon S1 as a backup.</p>

<p>I want to go back to Mexico and I am debating whether taking the D610 with either lens, I just got the great 28-70, but i wonder if the weight would be too much.<br>

In past for trips in Mexico I shot with the Nikon D5100 and I took the AW1, which is nicer than expected but failed due to water leakage in the battery door (Nikon fixed it under warranty but that latch seal seems so weak).<br>

I would be worried to have my most expensive kit stolen,<br>

although I have been to Mexico (Quintana Roo and Yucatan) 4 times, no one ever stole my stuff, I asked the locals to watch my bag while I was swimming. I;d like to fly to Cancun, spend some days in Tulum, take a bus to Chetumal and then to Chiapas. So it would be subtropical beach and mountains with cool nights.<br>

My experience, and what I heard from some sources who live there is that the local native people, the Maya who are the majority in that area are very honest and do not steal.<br>

I remember I twice forgot my card in the ATM (as it swallows it until you are done with the transaction unlike in the USA) and someone ran after me, same with rental bicycle that I left teh keys on the lock. I went to places like Felipe Carrillo Puerto where there are no tourists, and unlike in places like Haiti, Jamaica, DR where I traveled in recent years no one asked me for some hand out. People are paid little but seem very honest.<br>

Yet I may want to go swim sometimes and if I am traveling alone it would make me worry to leave a bag with D610 and 28-70.</p>

<p>Anyhow would I notice a huge difference between D610 with 24-85 and D7000 and 17-55?</p>

<p>I feel the D610 files are cleaner, crisper and seem to need way less post in Lightroom ( I shoot RAW, hand held, no tripod)<br>

Another option would be to sell both 18-105 I own get a 16-85 that is lighter than the 17-55.<br>

take a look at my photos and see the style, if FX and heavier 2.8 zooms would be worth.<br>

I always ask for permission to photograph, so I do not really care about telephoto zooms. primes are a bit limited as my background as a photojouralist in NYC. <br>

Also changing lenses in high humidity areas is something I would rather void.<br>

here are some photos of my most recent trip to Mexico. D5100 and 18-105 or AW1.<br>

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk67oNv9<br>

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk63yYD6</p>