What to take with me on long trip?

[Longwatcher]

So I have mostly decided what I am taking with me on my travels starting next Sunday. But could use a little bit of help making up my mind on a couple of things (okay about a dozen things)

For refresher, I am flying out to Nevada to visit my Aunt and my Grandmother (mother's side) for a couple of days, then driving down to my Mother's (Palm Desert,Calif) and in the morning after that driving to LAX with my Mom then flying to Rio (that would be Brazil, not Georgia or Vegas) and there catching a cruise ship which will make two stops in Brazil and then proceed accross the Atlantic to Dakar, Senegal and then bounce around the Mediteranean Sea to various stops (about 10 more) until arriving in Athens (Again not Georgia, this would be Greece) 27 days later where my Mother and I will spend a few extra days touring Greece before flying back with quick stop at Heathrow, London, England (don't even know if changing planes) And then back to sunny California to catch a Photo festival for a week before returning to Hampton Roads, Virginia after 43 days of traveling.

So trying to travel light (or as light as I can)

I am taking my 1DsMkII and have decided to take EOS-3 as the backup (while I hate film, it has availability and lightness going for it as a backup) - Have checked and insurance has it covered during my travels.

As to lenses:
- I am taking my 28-70/2.8L and the 70-300 DO IS.
- I am still a bit tossed on taking my 16-35/2.8L, but leaning towards it.
- I am also leaning towards taking my 50/1.4, but keep wanting to take my 85/1.2 (which is the heaviest lens of the bunch)
- I now have a small 12.1" Toshiba laptop, which I would be really happy about if I can find my PS CS 2 disc to load it up (I found my CS1 and PS 7 - which are not the ones I want to load ), but at least DPP is up and running.
- I am taking my 80GB Wolverine FlashPro, but I am also thinking of taking my 40GB FlashTrax (before I got the laptop this was a definate)
- of course spare battery for 1DsMkII, chargers and a whole bunch of CF and SD cards ( 31GB total) and some DVD+R discs.

I am considering taking my 1DsMkII charger in my carry-on lap-top case, because that is the only critical camera piece that won't fit in my Lowepro back-pack. I am really wishing it were smaller, anyone with a 1-series knows what I am talking about. If I take it in carry-on it will seriously cut into room for books to read and anything else I consider critical. With two NP-E3 batteries I should get over 6,000 shots if it dissapears as they will be fully charged and refreshed before I leave. That is roughly 96GB if I shoot my standard style.

Lastly, to take a tripod or not. I lean towards not as most cruise tours will be during the day and I will have IS for long shots and ISO for lower light as needed.

So the help is,
- 50/1.4 or go for the 85/1.2 and suffer the weight?
- EOS-3 (and film) or change to 10D, batteries, charger for backup?
- Take the 16-35L or leave it
- Leave the 24mm TS-E or take it
- Leave the Flashtrax or take it for another 40GB available?
- Take the charger in carry on or risk the check-in
- Take the tripod or leave it?
- And lastly, tell me if I am getting too anxious or am just plain nuts? :) 8) :)

Please give reasons for advice.
For trivia, my Mother is the one taking me on the cruise. and on top of everything else I need to get my 70-200/2.8L along with my 85/1.2 if I don't take it along to my mother's house so I have them for a workshop I am taking as part of the photo festival. At least they will have loaner cameras for the workshop if mine goes toes up during the trip.

Thanks for any advice,

[sblais]

Plain nuts ;) Just don't forget your significant other if you have one!

I'd bring only one camera (but don't blame me if anything breaks though! It's only a matter of preference - I prefer to keep things light and enjoyable. Remember, you are going on a cruise, not a photography expedition. Spend some time with your mother doing something else than taking photos!). And something to cover the basics: your 16-35 would be a nobrainer for me, along with your 28-70 and 70-300. For storage, it depends just how much time you want to spend shooting (you don't want to be shooting all the time, do you?). I wouldn't bring PS CS2 with me. I'm on vacation. I don't want to be doing PP. I want to be shooting. A tripod would be cumbersome in vacation. Practical in many ways I suppose, but cumbersome... I think I'd leave that one behind to keep everything light...

The TS lens, I don't have one, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but that seems to be fluff... I wouldn't bring it. For your primes, I'd bring the 50mm f/1.4 So small and light! One would say it's perfect for traveling!

For the charger, you have to make sure that the countries you will be visiting will have the same electrical outlets (same voltage and frequency and physical shape). Otherwise, it'll be big and useless.

My $0.02. But you're still nuts :p

[Grace]

take- kathy patterson. she can carry all the stuff you don't want to. useful for great conversations and typically able to get a few free drinks. gets along well with all mom's :)

seriously, have fun! I would take the 16-35. Great all around lens and you have your other ranges already covered.

i would leave the cs2 at home too, that way when you get back and settled and start looking at all your pics you can get excited all over again at the glorious places you've been!

[Longwatcher]

take- kathy patterson. she can carry all the stuff you don't want to. useful for great conversations and typically able to get a few free drinks. gets along well with all mom's :)

seriously, have fun! I would take the 16-35. Great all around lens and you have your other ranges already covered.

i would leave the cs2 at home too, that way when you get back and settled and start looking at all your pics you can get excited all over again at the glorious places you've been!

Since my mom is paying for the trip you would have to ask her. :)

So okay take my 16-35, got it. decided then. thanks.

As to taking PS CS2 Or DPP take into acocunt there will be a few days at sea where the options are buffet line, Casino, swimming pool (with white skin) or lay under the shade and work on some photos. I actually suspect there are more activities, but I also suspect only so much to do while crossing Atlantic and I really need to avoid the casino. :)

And there is no way after reading up on the Antartic expedition reports that I would take only one camera.

[rhys]

Dont forget the miniscule single bag you are allowed on a flight from Britain.

[Billginthekeys]

So the help is,
- 50/1.4 or go for the 85/1.2 and suffer the weight?
- EOS-3 (and film) or change to 10D, batteries, charger for backup?
- Take the 16-35L or leave it
- Leave the 24mm TS-E or take it
- Leave the Flashtrax or take it for another 40GB available?
- Take the charger in carry on or risk the check-in
- Take the tripod or leave it?
- And lastly, tell me if I am getting too anxious or am just plain nuts? :) 8) :)

my votes are in bold. you could take the tripod, and probably end up using it once or twice on some really great shots, but in my cruising/vacation experience i always end up tugging it around a lot not using it. But i always bring it every time because when i look back one of my favorite shots from the given trip was always taken on a tripod and would have otherwise been impossible.

[TammieO]

NSN has a much smaller charger for your camera battery for sale on their website. The people there are pretty good about testing things out before offering them for sale. It's on the bottom of the page...
http://www.naturescapes.net/store/home.php?cat=73

[Jon]

16-35. You'll need wide on the continent.
50, not the 85.
Eos 3 unless you want to haul 2 chargers along. If you go with the 10D, the 16-35 and 50 become no-brainers, though.
Take (maybe padded in suitcase) the Flashtrax. If the laptop or Wolverine go early you'll be putting all your eggs in one basket. Does the laptop have a DVD burner? If so, pack some blanks.
Make sure your carry-on fits the EC size limits, even with a laptop in it. I got a Libretto before our trip, and when the August scares came along I was glad - only 1 carry-on made choosing gear tough. Chargers ended up getting checked.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Take the 1DsMkII, 16-35L, 50 1.4, and 24 tse. all fantastic. I'd take the 3, too. Less hassle than the 10D, and more dynamic range if you feel like getting "artsy". :lol:

[Jon]

Oh, and if you take the 24 you need the tripod or a good, steady bean bag.

[Longwatcher]

- So okay EOS-3 it is, although I need to get a new battery (or two) for it (or I will have to take the PB drive along for AA use)
- I am still somewhat iffy on the tripod, but still leaning against it, but if I take the 24 TSE then probably need to at least bring my light one along.
- And I forgot to mention, Yes my laptop does DVD writing (key requirement to buy it) so I will be taking a 25 or 50-pack along with me (probably the 25-pack as I can get more when I get back to Palm Springs)
- And the 50/1.4 will go on the cruise, the 85/1.2 will stay at my mom's.

Thanks for the help in deciding.

[Jon]

If there's room in the suitcase you check, put the tripod there. That's what I did; or look at getting a monopod.

[JaGWiRE]

I would NOT leave the tripod at home.
I shoot in the city, and quite often I wish I`d lugged the tripod around for the day, if only for one shot.
Your going to be taking so many photos, there will be a few that will only be achievable, or perfected with the tripod, so I would not even consider leaving it. Heck, I think I`d take the tripod over a fast prime.

[Jon]

Bear in mind that if you're going to cultural or historic sites, and not part of a tour group, they may take a tripod as proof of professional status and require expensive permits rather than a regular visitor's pass. I was on a tour, but when we hit Ancient Olympia there was another photog (with less gear than I had) on his own who was held up at the gate because they thought he was a pro. And some sites (Acropolis is an excellent example, or Santorini, or Mykonos) are just so crowded that even carrying one will be a major hassle.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Santorini is an exceptionally beautiful place, if you ask me. I'd love to go there.

[Jon]

You just need to stay there a few days to be able to dodge the periodic influx of cruise ships and their attendant tour buses. Or travel in the off-season (which, I think, runs from about Jan. 23- Feb. 6).

[Longwatcher]

Bear in mind that if you're going to cultural or historic sites, and not part of a tour group, they may take a tripod as proof of professional status and require expensive permits rather than a regular visitor's pass. I was on a tour, but when we hit Ancient Olympia there was another photog (with less gear than I had) on his own who was held up at the gate because they thought he was a pro. And some sites (Acropolis is an excellent example, or Santorini, or Mykonos) are just so crowded that even carrying one will be a major hassle.

While that was not one of my considerations, I think that is probably the best reason not to take one. My thinking had been more along the lines of almost all tours (except Greece) will be in the day-time to maybe early evening at most. Add in that I am fairly good at handholding and longer lenses have IS as well. All of the architecture shots I have done so far that are any good have been handheld. If I took my light tripod it has a center monopod, but not really sturdy enough or I might just take that. Finally, my main reason why I am not likely to take a tripod is it gets in the way no matter how I carry it if it has enough strength to hold my camera and lenses and reach up to me. We are not talking a rebel with a 50/1.8 on it.

So I am going to say no don't think so on the tripod, which is also caused by my deciding not to go with the 24 TSE. While I get the cool tilt-shift ability with the lens, I know from my experience in Atlanta and Germany that it really didn't help that much versus my style. I actually get more use out of it photographing models from weird angles.


On a final note: Anyone seeing a slightly overweight guy with shoulder length hair and a 1DsMkII with a POTN strap and/or a green lowepro backpack, be sure and say hi if you see me while traveling.