Curt Hagenlocher wrote:
> What do you take for backpacking, then?
To date, for trips where photography was not the primary goal, I have taken
either an A-1 or a T-70 and a light, compact Tokina SZ-X 28-105/3.5~4.8. The A-1
was really heavier than I would have liked for that particular use, and at that
time it was also my best and most expensive body, and I wasn't thrilled about
hauling it around the backcountry (indeed, last time I went it rained for 1-1/2
days), which is why I picked up the T-70 despite its limitations. However, that
was before I found myself unexpectedly in a position to be able to purchase some
EOS gear. Since that time I've been using both systems, but the EOS gets far
more use than the FD, and I have just decided to divest almost all my FD gear.
As a result, I'm looking to get a good price (probably on eBay) for the
recently-discontinued version of the EF 28-105/3.5~4.5 (375g, compared to 540g
for the 28-135 IS), and possibly pick up a Rebel 2000/EOS 300, for backpacking
use. I had been considering an Elan 7/EOS 30 (575g), but the weight savings over
my EOS 5 (675g) is only three ounces--hardly worth the US$400+ it would cost (by
comparison, the EOS 300 weighs about 1/2 as much--335g). What to do on trips
were encounters with wildlife are likely is something of a dilemma--perhaps on
such trips I'll take the 200/2.8L, 1.4x extender, and a 35/2 (which I don't
currently have). Or hire a llama and take more stuff. :-)
Trips where photography is the primary goal are a different ballgame. So far
these have been limited to day trips, since I lack the wherewithal to haul both
my camera gear and my camping gear at the same time--it seems to me that to do
this properly requires pack animals--or porters--of some kind. For day trips I
load as much stuff as I can into a Lowepro Nature Trekker AW--some combination
(or all) of the following: EOS 3, 300/2.8L, 200/2.8L, 28-70/2.8L, 20-35/3.5~4.5,
1.4x and 2x extenders, 25 mm extension tube, 550EX flash, filters etc., and a
tripod strapped to the back. If it won't all fit, I'll wear the camera with lens
attached on straps that hook onto the D-rings on the backpack's shoulder straps.
Sometimes I think it would be better to get a high-quality P&S for backpacking,
but I'm put off by the limited control they offer.
fcc
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