Yosemite Backpacking

[fotojoem]

I am soon leaving for a 5 day backpacking trip off grid in Yosimite National Park. I am taking a and S95 with me. I also have a ID Mk 2 should I take the bigger body and a 24x70L
or just stay with the S95. 2nd, If I do take the Mark, does anyone have a suggestion on a way to carry it in the back country?

Thanks

Joe

[Maureen Souza]

Joe, it is Yosemite Take the big camera with the 24-70 and have fun.

[Jon Clemens]

It's hard for someone else to make that decision. You know what you need to carry from a backpacking standpoint, how much it weighs, what kind of trails you will be on, and how you feel after a day of hiking at 10000 ft. The other big factor is how important photography is to you.

I really can't offer any current suggestions about long-term backpacking since at 74 I limit myself to day hikes of 10-12 miles, and have only to carry my camera, lenses, tripod, water and emergency gear which only weighs a total of 25 lbs. As for lens needs, the vast majority of my shots are with the 24-105.

[nowakchr]

I backpacked in Yosemite high country for 3 days last August and brought along a 5D2 with a 17-40mm lens, filters, and a Gitzo 1541T tripod. I think the weight of the entire camera setup was somewhere around 6.5-7 pounds. I ended up packing in an Arteryx Bora 80 rather than my Bora 40 due to space limitations. I was superbly happy with my results from bringing my "Full on" rig. Check the most current photo on my blog to see the results of this trip.

[Rocky Rhode]

Backpacking for me over the years has been a struggle to reduce the impact on my poor joints; currently my base weight without food & water hovers around 12 lbs.

Several years ago I took my kids; 13, 11 & 8 respectively at the time on a 4-day backcountry trip. The photo I captured with my Sony P&S stands as one my favorite photographs ever.

There is no reason to carry a big heavy rig in the back country as you want as much DOF as you can get; just my personal insight however, and as opinions are they will vary greatly.

When I go to Yosemite; fortunately for me that is several trips per year, I am either going to get away from it all in the backcountry, fast and light as possible, or to capture it all with my DSLR, filters, lenses, tripod ect.

No matter what you choose it will be a very memorable trip

[fotojoem]

Sorry Maureen. I am the terrible at checking spelling when I am working with the forums. I should do better with that. Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I think I am going to take the MKII as well as the P&S. It's a trip I won't get to do very often, but the memories will last forever. I post when I return.