Traveling to Britain.. help!

[Miss Frizzle]

Last year you all really helped me when I posted about traveling to Ireland in a study abroad program. It was so wonderful, I decided that this year I am going to do it again, this time in Britain (Don't need the credits, have a master's degree, but don't have anyone to travel with so this is a good opportunity to travel, meet new people, take pictures, and learn new things!).

So here's the situation this year. I have the 50 1.8, 18-55, 55-250, 580 EXII, and Manfrotto Tripod. I also have everything stuffed in a medium sized camera bag, just barely fits everything (minus the tripod, that has it's own bag) and I have a small bag too that just fits my XSi and a lens for just walking around. In Ireland I had my kit lens on 99% of the time, because usually I needed that wider angle. So on most trips, I just put my camera and kit lens in the small bag, into my backpack with my other things (snack, water, jacket, wallet, etc) and brought it out as needed.

So, we're going to Paris, Edinburgh, and London, and living in Nottingham (and doing other day trips around England as well). I really think I need the Sigma 10-20. I think that for all the old architecture and landscapes, I will need that wider angle. But if I get that, it's not going to fit in my bag, unless I get one of those backpack bags... or unless I leave a lens or two home, or a flash home. Or keep my flash in different bag at the airport, and then pick and choose what I need when I go on trips. I don't even know if I'll need the flash, but I'm sure if I don't have it I'll be wishing I did. Oy! And when we take trips, and stay in hostels, I don't really like taking more than one lens with me, but would the 10-20 really work for a whole day of shooting??? :(

Then there's my beautiful tripod, it's great but big and while it's not super heavy, it could be an issue. Plus there is the carry on limit. I don't think I can bring it, although it would be useful, especially for night shots. And then most likely, I'm going to be the only one in the group with this sort of gear, and don't want to be a burden when they want to go and I'm busy messing with my camera and tripod and stuff. Should I invest in a gorilla pod? Or deal with a high ISO and lean up against a rail or something? Yikes. In Ireland, this wasn't an issue. I never really took outdoor pictures at night. But I know we are going to see the Eiffel Tower light show, and that screams tripod........

Thanks!

[bjannsen]

Wow - sounds like a great opportunity! I don't think you mentioned how long you would be gone for... That might help in offering advice.

I can't leave home for these kinds of great photographic places without taking everything I have. Invariably, the one item you leave behind becomes that one item you need the most (I think that's related to Murphey's Law somehow).

Paris - as you know, the city of lights is sooo beautiful after dark. Yes, you can crank the iso to 6400 or whatever the xsi limit is, but it will never come close to what you can get with your tripod and longer exposures.

The 10-20 is a great focal range - I've not used the Sigma, but I believe it's a good one. I would use (at some point) every lens that you have. There's wide stuff, there's low-light stuff, there's details that you will want your tele for... you will find uses for all of it.

I know it's extra work on your back - and every other joint in your body, but I would work on finding a way to bring it all.

With that being said, if the trip is more about enjoying things with friends and less about photography you could make a case for just traveling with one or two lenses and leave everything else behind.

I don't know if this ramble has helped at all, but I would lean towards bringing everything - that's my standard MO. I use a tamrac backpack that snugly fits everything - it's not so bad. Plus it's reassuring to know that you have all your tools with you if you should need them.

Have a great trip!

[felt_tip_felon]

you may want to find out if anyone you'll be travelling with (or meeting) has the kit you want to try out & use...

the other consideration is if you are here for a little longer you could consider renting a lens?

that said I always take my 10-20 when I travel and I always try to take a tripod!

enjoy your trip to Europe!

Lee :D

[Miss Frizzle]

I'll be there for a month. But it's a study abroad program (no photography classes though) and we'll be living in Nottingham and traveling for three day weekends. I probably should take everything with me to England, but when we are traveling on the weekends I am not sure what to do. We are mostly doing group things. I can send an email and ask if anyone is going to bring camera gear, but I doubt it. (Last year in Ireland I did take a photography class, and other than the teacher, i was the only one with a DSLR). So.... I'm not sure! Do they have backpacks for photo gear that hold other stuff them too? It would be nice if I could bring a 10-20 and maybe my 18-55 in a backpack but yet have a space to hold my other stuff too for walking around. When I think about Ireland, we spent the traveling days on buses, visiting places, and walking around, and returning to our B&B or hostel at night. So I don't want to carry too much with me.... :\ As for the tripod, I can see it being so beneficial in Paris but I just don't want the risk of it getting stolen in the hostel or something. And then how would I get it there, I will have no more carry on space. Don't think I should check it. :\ I have a really flimsy, small, old hand-me-down tripod that can do the job if it's not windy. I guess I could throw that in my backpack......

[KCMO Al]

I've travelled on business quite a bit to Europe, 3-4 weeks at a time for the most part. Never carried a full-size tripod, but these were business trips, not leisure.
Look at the Gorilla pods. They are very small but sturdy and you can usually find somewhere to put them a bit higher up.
For my type of shooting, the wider the better and you already know about the tight quarters in Europe.
I worked a fair amount in a place called Castle Donnington between Nottingham and Leicester. Very interesting country, particularly in the spring. Good luck and have fun!

[Miss Frizzle]

Okay, so I was looking at backpacks. I have a Tamarac bag (actually two of them) and they both are really nice. So that's where I'm starting, but I am willing to look other places as well. :) I think I need to visit a camera store soon and look at them in real life, then order from B&H if cheaper! :)

http://tamrac.com/g_backpacks.htm
Does anyone recommend any of these backpacks? I don't know if I should get it to hold all my gear, which will be good for the airport, or if I should get it to hold a little less so it'll be easier to carry when walking around all day long. Yikes...... I mean I should probably get something to hold everything, since once I get the 10-20 I won't be able to fit it all in one place. But I would like a more compact backpack for walking around, that can hold a water bottle, light jacket, wallet, snack, etc. Hmmm.