If I was going somewhere primarily for photography, I used to carry a
pair of compatible bodies, either two LX or an LX MX in case one of the
camera bodies failed, but mostly to have two different kinds of film
available, a 20-35mm f4.0, 28-70 f4.0, 70-210mm (depending on how much
weight penalty I was willing to put up with it would be either a Vivitar
Series 1 or the F 70-210), and a selection of small fast(ist) primes
that would give adequate coverage if one of the zooms failed or for low
light work, 24mm f2.8 30mm f2.8 or 35mm f2.0 43mm f1.9 or 50mm f1.4
85mm, f2.0 120mm, f2.8 and the Vivitar macro focusing 2x teleconverter.
If I thought I'd be doing long distance birding or wildlife shooting I'd
and a super telephoto, probably the M*300mm f4.0 of if I was feeling
masochistic the Vivitar Series 1 600mm solid cat, oh and if I've got the
Cat I've got to bring a sturdy enough tripod. But I wouldn't consider
that traveling light. One time I also brought along a Vivitar S1 90-180
Flat field f4.5, hell if you've already got all the other stuff why
not. Oh yea, that didn't include a couple of flashes filters lens
cleaners film...
Amazingly everything except the Solid Cat would fit into a largish
medium size bag.
But that was back in the film era, before I succumbed to auto focus
cameras.
Last time I flew anywhere I carried the K20D, FA 20-35mm f4.0, F
70-210mm, A 24mm f2.8, FA 43mm Limited, M 85mm f2.0, 1.7x AF adapter,
and AF200T flash. I probably should have had a backup camera body
because that was the time the viewfinder eyepiece lens cracked on the
K20D. Everything fits in a smallish messenger(ish) bag that doesn't
scream expensive stuff inside. If I had the K5II at the time I would
have brought that instead. There are times I wish I had a dedicated
Macro, the F70-210 only gets to 1:3, but then I'd need a bigger bag.
Sometimes I wish for lens with a wider view, or longer telephoto, but
then again, more size and weight, though I can squeeze the A*300mm f4.0
into that bag if I leave the flash out, and I have a little padded case
that fits that flash almost perfectly that can be clipped to the strap
of the messenger bag.
On 9/1/2014 8:56 PM, Mark C wrote:
Next week my wife and are taking a vacation to the Washington DC area.
I plan on checking out the exhibit where I have a couple of photos in
Annapolis - and that will be one afternoon or morning of our trip.
Otherwise I am anticipating a blend of urban / rural experience in
Washington DC, Baltimore and Maryland's eastern shore. We have one
wildlife refuge on the eastern shore that I really want to visit (if I
can figure out where it is).
OK - so I am trying to travel light. The biggest impediment to that is
bringing backup bodies and lenses. When you travel - do you carry
backup gear or just trust to fate that everything will work?
I am thinking of bringing (at a minimum) the K3, IR converted K10D, DA
17-70, Takumar F 70-200, DFA 100 macro and Sigma 135-400 zoom. All
that, except for the Sigma, fits in a nice little kit. I plan to also
bring my Q kit (original Q, fisheye lens, normal zoom, telephoto zoom,
normal prime, extension tubes) which all fits in a tiny little bag.
I will probably want to also bring a film body and normal zoom, and am
thinking of the Mz-S, sans battery grip, with FA 28-105 zoom. Or I
might satify the analog urge by bringing a Super Ricoflex TLR and a
few rolls of 120 film.
And then I'd like a fast lens so maybed the A 50mm f1.4 or FA 50 f1.7.
I'll probably bring the 40mm XR pancake in lieu of a body cap since it
is about the same size.
And then backups and add-ons - ideally I'd like to bring they K5 (in
case the K3 breaks), the DA 16-50 (in case the DA 17-70 breaks), Sigma
70-200 f2.8 as both a backup for the Takumar F and for a faster
telephoto zoom, and maybe an external flash because it might come in
handy...
I am thinking of NOT taking the "backups and add-ons" though I will
kick myself if something breaks or malfunctions on the road. The fast
50 seems questionable and I might decide to skip the film gear...
This is not a trip of a lifetime but I'll be frustrated if something
fails along the way. I guess the Q kit is a backup for the overall kit
but as much as I like the Q kit it does have limits (slow AF, no eye
level finder, poor high ISO performance, limits on shallow DOF...)
What do you do when you travel?
FWIW I *am* only taking one automobile but I also know I can always
rent one if the car have malfunctions (I actually had to do that once
in the past.)
Mark
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