Galapagos + Europe trip -- what gear?

By a strange combination of constraints I will soon go on a vacation to Galapagos (small boat cruise) and then straight from Quito to southern Europe, part business part pleasure. So like millions before and after I would like to ask this wise community what gear to take along with my X-T3. More precisely:

1. The consensus re Galapagos seem to be that 50-140 + TC 1.4 is long enough. So I am weighting (pun intended) whether to do this combo (that I own)  or to rent or buy a 55-200 (currently on sale). Would save more than 500g but lose some IQ and WR.
   
2. Same dilemma at the shorter end, go 18-55 (save weight & get OIS) or 16-55 (get wider, OIS, WR, & extra IQ). It seems most people do not think wider than 18 is a must have (true?) and I plan to take the 12mm for Europe.
   
3. BTW, if I were going just Europe, I would probably take the 12mm Rok, 18-55 or 16-55, and 90, a combination I used & liked in the past. But I'll pass on the 90 b/c weight.
   
4. For snorkeling I'll go with a Sony FDRX3000 (a go pro type camera) and my wife will probably have an Oly Tough (which would be my backup camera for everything).
   
5. Should I take a monopod for Galapagos?  What other accessories are a must?
   
6. Last but not least, what's the best way to carry everything? I will take a backpack both on flight and on some hikes in Galapagos. (It was just Europe I would have taken a fanny pack, trying to be less conspicuous.) I am thinking of buying a MindShift Gear Backlight 18L ($200) and use the rain cover while on Zodiacs. Is this enough or do I need better water protection? I have looked at the PeakDesign 20L Everyday Backpack ($260) but the MindShift has a serious harness and when loaded feels a lot more comfortable to me. I heard the Wandrd Prvke 21L photo bundle ($265) is great but couldn't find one nearby to demo but  I have one on order.

Many thanks for any advice! -- Red

Redivivus wrote:

By a strange combination of constraints I will soon go on a vacation to Galapagos (small boat cruise) and then straight from Quito to southern Europe, part business part pleasure. So like millions before and after I would like to ask this wise community what gear to take along with my X-T3. More precisely:

1. The consensus re Galapagos seem to be that 50-140 + TC 1.4 is long enough. So I am weighting (pun intended) whether to do this combo (that I own) or to rent or buy a 55-200 (currently on sale). Would save more than 500g but lose some IQ and WR.
2. Same dilemma at the shorter end, go 18-55 (save weight & get OIS) or 16-55 (get wider, OIS, WR, & extra IQ). It seems most people do not think wider than 18 is a must have (true?) and I plan to take the 12mm for Europe.
3. BTW, if I were going just Europe, I would probably take the 12mm Rok, 18-55 or 16-55, and 90, a combination I used & liked in the past. But I'll pass on the 90 b/c weight.
4. For snorkeling I'll go with a Sony FDRX3000 (a go pro type camera) and my wife will probably have an Oly Tough (which would be my backup camera for everything).
5. Should I take a monopod for Galapagos? What other accessories are a must?
6. Last but not least, what's the best way to carry everything? I will take a backpack both on flight and on some hikes in Galapagos. (It was just Europe I would have taken a fanny pack, trying to be less conspicuous.) I am thinking of buying a MindShift Gear Backlight 18L ($200) and use the rain cover while on Zodiacs. Is this enough or do I need better water protection? I have looked at the PeakDesign 20L Everyday Backpack ($260) but the MindShift has a serious harness and when loaded feels a lot more comfortable to me. I heard the Wandrd Prvke 21L photo bundle ($265) is great but couldn't find one nearby to demo but I have one on order.

Many thanks for any advice! -- Red

Congratutions on going on such a trip!  I personally never been to the Galapagos islands, but, have loaned camera gear to a buddy that had gone.

If you are going to use a photo backpack, go with the heavier 50-140 + TC route. When I'm on the sort of vacation where I use a messenger style bag so that I cans swap lenses without removing my backpack, I tend to bring the 55-200 over the 50-140 because on your shoulder the extra weight adds up. I can't see borrowing a 55-200 for longer than a few weeks.

In my friend's opinion the ultra wide isn't necessary for Galapagos, but, might come in handy for Europe.

The MindShift Gear Backlight 18L looks great if you can fit all your gear in it.  I'm tempted to go with the 26L bag that can still fit in the overhead bin.  The method of opening the Backlight gear without putting the bag down (use the waist strap to support the bag while cantilevering the bag) doesn't work for me because I am overweight and the hip belt was an issue.  To make this your trekking bag, you need to able to carry food, water (I like carrying a water bladder in addition to a water bottle), a jacket, etc.  So that's where the fact the main compartment is dedicated to camera gear can be a bit of an issue.

A similar bag to the Backlight 18L is the Lowepro Protactic BP 350 AW II.

I own and use the PeakDesign Everyday Backpack 30L and don't recommend it for your purpose.  The side pockets are the mesh stretch material you see on other bags; so you overstuff the side pockets and you can find difficulty in wedging a water bottle into the side pocket.  Having a water bottle in the outside pocket also opening the pack from that side to be more difficult.  The dividers are a pain in that I tend to have wasted space between smaller lenses; I tend to put each lens in the lens pouch and stack them.  What I really like about the PeakDesign Everyday Backpack is the top opening where I can really stuff it.  The Everyday Backpack is a good urban bag; but, I would not consider hiking with one.

The consensus re Galapagos seem to be that 50-140 + TC 1.4 is long enough. So I am weighting (pun intended) whether to do this combo (that I own) or to rent or buy a 55-200 (currently on sale). Would save more than 500g but lose some IQ and WR.

I'd probably just go with the combo that you own. If you're going to be on boats a lot, carrying a little weight around for short bursts is probably OK. I assume you can sit down pretty frequently.

Same dilemma at the shorter end, go 18-55 (save weight & get OIS) or 16-55 (get wider, OIS, WR, & extra IQ). It seems most people do not think wider than 18 is a must have (true?) and I plan to take the 12mm for Europe.

I think it depends on where you're going and what you wan to capture. If I were going back to Europe I would not be without my 10-24. I was in Prague and the surrounding countries and would've regretted it if I didn't have it with me. Lots of narrow streets and cramped cathedral interiors... That said, I have the 16-55 and love/prefer it over the 18-55. But if it was between the wider zoom and the 16-55, I'd probably pick up the 10-24 and stick with the 18-55.

For snorkeling I'll go with a Sony FDRX3000 (a go pro type camera) and my wife will probably have an Oly Tough (which would be my backup camera for everything).

I'd recommend an extendable "selfie pole" that can be submerged underwater with your action cam mounted on it. I do a lot of scuba diving and the extra reach from the pole is great. The fish don't seem to mind it as much, but they will definitely run away if you start swimming towards them. You can find good ones for around 20-30$ or so. Bonus points if it has a strap to go around your wrist (or a clip) in case you drop it.

Should I take a monopod for Galapagos? What other accessories are a must?

Maybe if you think you need it for stability. Probably depends on your kit. I might also think of something to help with spray from being on boats (not sure what your boating looks like). Maybe a CPL if you feel like you could make use of it.

Last but not least, what's the best way to carry everything?

After much wasted money on bags, I've ended up sticking with the camera inserts. I find that camera bags are great for holding/protecting gear, but make for terrible and uncomfortable bags! For both comfort, price, and being conspicuous, you cant beat a beefy padded insert or two inside a good hiking/day bag.

ninjagowoo wrote:

Should I take a monopod for Galapagos? What other accessories are a must?

Maybe if you think you need it for stability. Probably depends on your kit. I might also think of something to help with spray from being on boats (not sure what your boating looks like). Maybe a CPL if you feel like you could make use of it.

A CPL should be a given if you shoot around water on a sunny day.  It's wonderful to get slightly bluer skies and fewer reflections on water surfaces.

Last but not least, what's the best way to carry everything?

After much wasted money on bags, I've ended up sticking with the camera inserts. I find that camera bags are great for holding/protecting gear, but make for terrible and uncomfortable bags! For both comfort, price, and being conspicuous, you cant beat a beefy padded insert or two inside a good hiking/day bag.

I was thinking about that too.  If one could keep the amount of gear down, slightly padded camera inserts or padded lens pouches in a good Osprey bag would be my preference.  A good hiking pack would be a lot more comfortable than just about any photo backpacks when you consider the amount of weight and non-camera gear you can carry.

Not using a photo backpack could take a bit more time to get at your gear for a lens swap; but, you shouldn't be doing that too much, especially if you carry a second camera body.  I love how lightweight Fujifilm gear is that allows you to easily consider that second camera body to minimize lens swaps.

Lots of pointers from people who have been there before:

https://dailywildlifephoto.nathab.com/photography-guide/whats-in-my-camera-bag-galapagos-islands/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294310-i6637-k10267450-Camera_Gear_suggestions-Galapagos_Islands.html

Many other links show up in a general search.