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Cozumel - 40D, Canon 100-400 L and Tamron 17-35

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Frozen Shutter

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I wanted to travel light during my recent trip to Cozumel, Mexico. So I brought just two lenses, Canon 100-400 L for wildlife photography (birds, crocodiles and iguanas) and my Tamron 17-35 for scenic images. I packed my tripod, but only used it once to capture a moon/planet shot at dusk.

Cozumel gallery: http://www.frozenshutter.com/gallery/7509523_pnSnC#484864707_52ABN

Has anyone else tried to minimize gear when doing travel photography? What did you pack in your bag? What was your experience?

--
Jake

Website: http://www.frozenshutter.com

Photo Blog: http://frozenshutter.blogspot.com
 
Unless I'm driving the usual gear is an xxD body and the 28-135. When I need a wider FOV I shoot a pano sequence and if more reach is required I turn around and walk away.

When my wife and I go on a vacation the objective is to enjoy the trip and not worry about her having to carry too much photo gear for me; and honestly, she REALLY appreciates the fact that I think about her comfort.

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT
 
For me it's the opposite. Vacation is one of the few times I really get to do some photography so although I try to pack smart I take what I think I'll need (but I never ask my wife to carry any photo gear).

Actually it works pretty well. I get up early and shoot the first hour or so of good light while my wife sleeps in. When I get back we go to breakfast and sight see during the day where I carry only my G9. Later in the day when the light is again good my wife will nap or relax with a book while I grab more shots before dinner. This routine has been perfected over 29 years of marriage and works well for us. Europe trips are a bit different and I condense everything down to 2 xxD bodies, a 10~22, 24~105 and 70~200f4LIS with a 1.4X. The G9 still goes along and I'm now using it for video instead of my old miniDV camcorder.

Bob
J A K said:
Unless I'm driving the usual gear is an xxD body and the 28-135.
When I need a wider FOV I shoot a pano sequence and if more reach is
required I turn around and walk away.

When my wife and I go on a vacation the objective is to enjoy the
trip and not worry about her having to carry too much photo gear for
me; and honestly, she REALLY appreciates the fact that I think about
her comfort.

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/rwbaron
My PBASE page is new and growing so please be patient.
 
I pack differently depending on the destination. I would agree that I follow most of the same pattern you described. However, my wife will assist with gear from time to time, I just have to note that my lovely assistant made the shots possible. Great to hear that you have made this work for 29 years of marriage. I like the inclusion of the G9/G10 during the day. Great stuff!

--
Jake

Website: http://www.frozenshutter.com

Photo Blog: http://frozenshutter.blogspot.com
 
rwbaron said:
For me it's the opposite. Vacation is one of the few times I really
get to do some photography so although I try to pack smart I take
what I think I'll need (but I never ask my wife to carry any photo
gear).
Click to expand...
LOL, I was kidding about her carrying gear for me. Thankfully I live in the southwest and we have hit just about every great location you can think of many many (did I say many) times; on these trips I take every bit of camera gear I own.

The airplane travel is why I limit myself to one camera/lens setup. If you put extra equipment in your luggage there is a good chance you won't see it upon arrival. So I limit myself to what works conveniently as a single carry-on and take my chances from that point on.

Additionally I have to be in a position to help carry stuff my wife wants to take on the plane ... trust me, making her happy is a lot more important to me than possibly missing out on a picture or two just because I'm missing a whatever. The bottom line is we travel to have a good time together and the photography is secondary.

BTW, I'm really not suffering at all ... honestly, over the many cruises and whatever out-of-country trips we have been on there have only been a few shots that I missed out on due to equipment limitations. You would be surprised at how many bases are adequately covered just with a xxD/28-135 (and no tripod).

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT
 
--

My wife wants me to take the P&S. I'm still debating. Only be on the island for a day and my activities will be restricted by that family thing. Can't be too many photo ops on a cruise ship anyway. Unless of course I go to the upper deck.......... No cameras allowed!!...... Besides it's not Carnival.

I'm guessing it's going to be the Nikon P&S.
 
i tend to take 2 lenses....my Canon 10-22mm and my 24-105 L. This covers much of the range I like. Yes....sometimes i will need a longer zoom, but usually just crop the image when i get home (although the effect is obviously not the same when pulling in at 200mm).

I was on a cruise a few weeks ago and while sitting in port in the bahamas, a guy next to me who was shooting and scoffed at my 10-22mm. He asked if i wanted to try a "real lens"....he had a 70-200 F4 non IS. I said no thanks but he insisted. So we swapped lenses for a few minutes. The guys reaction was priceless....he ooohed and ahhhed as he got trigger happy and next thing hes shooting up and down and all over the place.

Then i couldnt get my lens back. He kept on saying "one more minute" as he kept shooting and walking further away to get more shots. I knew he wasnt going to run off with my lens as i had his 70-200, but it was amusing.

His parting comment was "im gonna get me one of those"
 
Very nice series of photos! Good composition, contrast, subject.

I was in that area for a day last January. I never seen it rain that much before.

The best I could do for animals was this in Jamaica. Out of one week on the ship, Mexico, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, I think I had five keepers. In part, due to weather and in part due to being herded around like cattle on tours.

I packed my full gear sans the tripod. Carried that around everywhere and only five good shots!

http://mphoto.ca/image-viewer.htm?Fgallery3-2

--
Regards
Mark Harrison

40D, 10D, 100 - 400, 24-70, 24-105, 10-22, 100 macro, 50 1.8,
 
It's pretty amazing how cocky people get about their equipment. The 10-22 is a fine piece of glass I would gladly have it in my bag. The only thing keeping me from getting it is that my next move will be to a full frame body. With the 10-22 you can get some great perspective shots having a nice wide angle. The 70-200 is nice for portraits, but I cannot say that I would bring that lens with me for wildlife. I did get some looks with the 100-400 L, I just smiled and said my wife married me for my big lens. :)

--
Jake

Website: http://www.frozenshutter.com

Photo Blog: http://frozenshutter.blogspot.com
 
J A K said:
rwbaron said:
For me it's the opposite. Vacation is one of the few times I really
get to do some photography so although I try to pack smart I take
what I think I'll need (but I never ask my wife to carry any photo
gear).
Click to expand...
LOL, I was kidding about her carrying gear for me. Thankfully I live
in the southwest and we have hit just about every great location you
can think of many many (did I say many) times; on these trips I take
every bit of camera gear I own.
Click to expand...
You are fortunate to live in such a photographically diverse area. I'm jealous.
J A K said:
The airplane travel is why I limit myself to one camera/lens setup.
If you put extra equipment in your luggage there is a good chance you
won't see it upon arrival. So I limit myself to what works
conveniently as a single carry-on and take my chances from that point
on.
Click to expand...
I agree and I never put equipment in my luggage except for a tripod and empty small shoulder bag which I fill with other stuff that needs to be in the suitcase anyway. For airplane travel, I use an "Airport Security International" bag from Think Tank Photo. This is a phenomenal bag with rollers that is a legal carry-on for all airlines and holds an incredible amount of gear. I pack my cameras, lenses and back-up HDD's with all the power converters as well as my personal items that I could not live without in the event our luggage was lost. The roller does not look like a camera case which is nice and I transfer my gear to my small shoulder bag (Tamrac Velocity 3) for use on location. The Velocity 3 is a small bag with a thin profile that lays close to your body and looks like a courrier bag. It holds my 50D with 24~105, 10~22, 70~200f4LIS, 50f1.4 and 1.4X along with spare batteries and CF cards.

If you're not familiar with Think Tank Photo and the bag here's the link.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_ArprtInl2.php
J A K said:
Additionally I have to be in a position to help carry stuff my wife
wants to take on the plane ... trust me, making her happy is a lot
more important to me than possibly missing out on a picture or two
just because I'm missing a whatever. The bottom line is we travel to
have a good time together and the photography is secondary.
Click to expand...
This is where I'm fortunate as my wife in not much of a shopper when we travel.
J A K said:
BTW, I'm really not suffering at all ... honestly, over the many
cruises and whatever out-of-country trips we have been on there have
only been a few shots that I missed out on due to equipment
limitations. You would be surprised at how many bases are adequately
covered just with a xxD/28-135 (and no tripod).
Click to expand...
I could not agree more about the 28~135 as it was my do everything lens for years until I got the 24~105. There is also something to be said for the basic simplicity of one camera and one lens. IMO it makes you think more and work harder for the shot which many times results in a better image.

Bob
--
http://www.pbase.com/rwbaron
My PBASE page is new and growing so please be patient.
 
I think it would be a whole different ballgame if I was traveling on a cruise ship. Lucky for me I had 6 days in Cozumel, so it made sense to pack my Canon 40D. If I were in your shoes I think I would be tempted to bring a good point and shoot too.

Best of luck. I hope you get good weather during your visit! You might want to have lunch at Cafe Dennis!

Enjoy.

--
Jake

Website: http://www.frozenshutter.com

Photo Blog: http://frozenshutter.blogspot.com
 
My wife is a photography enthusiast too. It's great because she doesn't get impatient when I am taking some time to set up my shots. We carry two sets of camera gear when we travel, and share a tripod.

My previous lens combo was 17-55 and 28-135, but now the 70-200 f/4 IS has replaced the 28-135. If I have to travel light, I'll use the 40D and just one lens - either the 17-55 or the 28-135 depending on the location. If I expect to shoot a video or am going to an event where photography is secondary, I will take my Fuji S6000 FD instead.

--
-Teufel
 
ic360images said:
I was on a cruise a few weeks ago and while sitting in port in the
bahamas, a guy next to me who was shooting and scoffed at my 10-22mm.
He asked if i wanted to try a "real lens"....he had a 70-200 F4 non
IS.
Click to expand...
I was shooting a heavy helo lift when it was cold and both my batteries went dead so my shooting was done. The guy next to me had a 40D with the 28-135 kit lens and I asked him if he wanted to try my 70-200. I was not condescending though. I told him once you go L you never want to go back.

L or not, one of those 10-22's is on my list. :>
 
Frozen Shutter said:
It's pretty amazing how cocky people get about their equipment. The
10-22 is a fine piece of glass I would gladly have it in my bag. The
only thing keeping me from getting it is that my next move will be to
a full frame body.
Click to expand...
If you sell it on ebay, you will lose no more than $150, ebay and paypal fees included. Consider it a rental until you buy your FF camera.
 
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