evan_c1

<p>I agree with Conrad about the D200. Sure, it doesn't have the best low-light performance (in my experience the 20D or maybe even the Rebel XT are more manageable) but I've found that the only people that make a big deal about it are those that haven't really used D200's. Overall I would say its a great camera and far more solidly-constructed than the D90.</p>

<p>I'll be in Bangkok in about 2 months... is this something I should be concerned about?</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. I was hoping to avoid taking a computer but it looks like it may be unavoidable; I also have a lot of work to do as far as sorting and editing my current backlog so I may just insure my 15" macbook and lug it along with me.</p>

<p>As far as the device I was asking about, I intended to get several of them and backup each full card onto at least two of them.</p>

<p>I'm taking a 5 week trip to Asia in a few weeks and anticipate taking horrid amounts of digital photos, like 7,000-10,000 in Nikon raw. Ideally I would like to avoid taking my laptop or tons of memory cards, so I was wondering if there are any portable backup solutions similar to the Colorspace Hyperdrive that are more affordable. Ideally the unit will be under $100 in price, include more than 40GB of storage, and have a built in CF card reader with one button to transfer the contents of the card to the device with a confirmation that the transfer was successful. A color screen and other more advanced content review features are not necessary.</p>

<p>Any suggestions?</p>

<p>I've not had any bad train experiences in Spain, and I lived there for a while. I did take more buses than trains though, and the AVE is certainly much, much better than the standard trains. Also much more expensive on most routes.</p>

<p>Well, I'll be trekking around Asia for 5 weeks starting in early May, but I'm taking my D200 with a 12-24 4, 28-85 3.5-4.5, 50 1.8, and 80-200 2.8 as well as a medium format and a full size tripod so you can tell I don't pack light.</p>

<p>That said, I'm not sure why you don't want to take the 80-200 though, it doesn't weigh *that* much. With it you can photograph people more discreetly (read: from a distance) than you could with any of the others. If you brought any of the zooms you mentioned, I would leave the 20-35 behind, and vice versa. In other words, I would take the 20-35, the 50, and the 80-200. I think that would provide you with the greatest flexibility.</p>

<p>Glad you figured it out. I was going to say that I have this same camera/lens combo and it works fine.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>That's quite the journey. I've been to many of those places but never on the same trip. If I were you I would also hit up northern Morocco, Seville, central Scandinavia, Tibet, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland among other places, though some are a bit out of the way...<br>

I noted that you want to get handmade suits in Vietnam. I'd save that for Hong Kong. In my experience they are cheaper there and it is easier to find a tailor that can make what you are expecting, if you just want run of the mill American style business suits. Jewelry, however, is very cheap in Vietnam.<br>

When you are in Munich, the Hofbräuhaus is fun, and the BMW museum is great if you are into cars. (On a related note, there is also a great Volvo museum in Gothenburg, Sweden...)<br>

As far as cameras, I used a 20D with a 17-85 for 3 weeks backpacking around Scandinavia and was happy. I've since switched to Nikon and have about 4 lenses that I plan on using on my next trip.</p>

<p>@ Dan - I have considered that but having used the D200 for a while now I have a hard time putting up with the amateurish interface of the D90. Thus, while the D90 may technically be a better camera, I grudgingly tolerate only being able to reasonably use up to ISO 800 until I can afford a D300.<br>

@ Eric - I did a photo trip around Scandinavia for several weeks carrying only a Canon 20D with a 17-85 IS. Heck, I did the same thing the year earlier with a Rebel XT. I've also carried just the same Rebel XT in Morroco more than once. I got great images on all those trips, but now I'm stepping it up a notch or three. Interestingly, it was during my second trip to north Africa that I decided to switch to Nikon, as at the time I was accompanied by a friend of mine that was shooting Nikon.<br>

@ Michael - I've heard of this sort of thing happening but have never personally run into it. Have you encountered it anywhere else in Asia? Do you think I would have trouble at Angkor Wat with my D200 and perhaps 2 lenses?</p>

<p>Yeah, I forgot I had lightroom configured to publish to flickr at that resolution. I'll try to export them and post them at full resolution later.<br>

Thanks for the input in the meantime!</p>

<p>I'm looking at buying a used, 5 year old 80-200 AF-D, and shot some test shots out in the sun yesterday, at around 1/100, f5-f7.<br /> <br /> I'm looking at the shots in lightroom now, and am having trouble pinpointing a good correction number for the chromatic aberration. In some shots, it seems to be around +15, others at 0, some at -5, some at -15, etc.<br /> <br /> I shot some more test shots with a used AF-S in a local camera shop and they all seem to be correctable at about -5, though I haven't looked at those shots as closely.<br /> <br /> Is this something I should be concerned about, or should I go ahead and buy the lens?</p>

<p>There are 4 test shots in my photo stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40463553@N07/</p>

<p>Ahh yes, but keep in mind that if it were today, surely he would not be leaving behind his 4x5 or P65 to save weight. He would be pioneering on-site holography with those 25 porters!</p>

<p>Oh, and you do have a porter, her name is Mary ;-)</p>

<p>Richard, thanks for your fantastic response. Much of what you mentioned is exactly what I'm looking for. While part of this is a group trip, I just found out I will be spending an additional week in Thailand and Cambodia with the primary goal of getting some great images.</p>

<p>Also, to everyone else, thanks for your great input. However, I am quite set on taking the Mamiya as I am not willing to pass up the opportunity to photograph Everest and Angkor Wat on medium format in order to gain 5 pounds of added convenience. I've been to nearly 30 countries on every sort of trip imaginable and have packed both heavy and light, which is to say that I know what I'm getting into. In my opinion, photography is supposed to be about pushing limits: let's not forget the escapades of the first photographers such as Louis Auguste Bisson who climbed Mont Blanc with 25 porters carrying his whole darkroom just to come back with 2 usable photographs.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input Leslie. I could reasonably find as much as $1000-1200US more at the moment. Ideally, this will cover a new tripod, additional CF cards, a bag, any additional lenses, and preferably an SB600 flash, film, and extra batteries, though that may be stretching it.</p>

<p>I just realized I never fully answered Doug's question about what I plan to photograph. It will really be a wide range of things, though I anticipate a lot of landscape and architecture scenes (hence the m645) and behind that street, city, candid people and typical tourist destination (i.e. terra cotta warriors) shots (hence the Nikons). I also have a Canon P&S for pocket use of course.</p>

<p>Yeah, a Mamiya 6 or 7 was my original choice, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find one and if I had I wouldn't have been able to afford the D200. Also, as I'm sure all of you know, ISO 1600 is not one of the D200's strong points. Sigh, maybe I should sell all my gear and upgrade to a D3s!!! (not serious, I'd have to sell my car too!)<br>

Also, I'm not concerned about theft as most of this gear is replaceable and will be covered by a very good insurance policy.</p>

<p>It's a group trip but I anticipate having plenty of time for photo stuff. We will be hitting Beijing, Xian, Yueyang City, Chengdu, Lhasa, and Shanghai.</p>

<p>I do really want to bring the medium format because I anticipate a lot of opportunities to use it. I've shot with it around the city where I live and it isn't incredibly cumbersome, especially if you only have one lens for it. It can, of course, be used handheld during the day.</p>

<p>Any suggestions for a wide angle lens? I'd prefer full-frame so I don't have to upgrade in the future.</p>

<p>Wow, trips to China seem to be popular in this forum.<br>

Well, I'm going for 3 weeks this May and I'm trying to decide what equipment to take. Here's what I've accumulated for the trip so far:</p>

<p>Nikon D200 w/ battery grip, Nikon FM2 as a backup body ('fraid I can't afford a digital backup)<br>

Nikon lenses: AF 28-85mm f3.5-4.5, 105mm f2.8 manual focus<br>

Mamiya M645 1000S medium format w/ prism and handle (for landscape stuff)<br>

Mamiya-Sekor C 45mm f2.8 w/ hood and filters<br>

Gossen Luna Pro light meter</p>

<p>I am considering getting a spot attachment for the light meter, and an SB-600/800, a wider-angle lens, and a longer telephoto (maybe an 80-200 f4) for the Nikons. I also need more memory cards, a tripod, possibly a monopod, and a good bag to fit everything in. Does anyone have any lens/bag suggestions? In your guys' experience, what is necessary and what isn't?</p>