Traveling to London and Dubai. Should I drag along the 500?

My wife and I are taking a trip to London and then on to Dubai at the end of this month. In all the excitement of planning, one thing I haven't decided on is whether or not I should drag along my 500mm f4L IS. I've traveled all over the US with it, but never taken it international. The big thing I'm worried about is that we won't have personal transportation there. We are basically planning on walking or taking public transportation. I don't have a bag for my 500, so typically I just put it in our rental car and travel around with it and it's no big deal.

I'm mainly into wildlife and aviation photography, but I'm not quite sure how much of that I'll actually get to do in either place. The weather in London looks pretty crappy so probably won't use it there. And in Dubai there is a wildlife sanctuary I wanted to visit, but I do have a 400mm f5.6 I could use instead. I love my 500, and I hate leaving home without it, but I feel it may be a bit too much of a burden for this trip.

Anyone ever traveled to either place and and drug big gear around?

Yes, I have travelled quite a bit with gear....

Been to both London (several times) and Dubai (once) and for the life of me I can't think of anything either place that would require a 500mm. Right now, at most I'd take 7D and 300/4 IS with a 1.4X. That gives me plenty of reach for most situations.

I might take 300/2.8 IS, but it fits into a small backpack along with other gear, and that pack in turn fits into an overhead bin in an airplane. I've taken that to places where I anticipated wildlife photography. The 500/4 requires a much larger backpack and would need to be in checked baggage (actually, I'd ship it ahead rather than check it). Unless I know for certain of something I'll be shooting with it, the 500/4 only goes with me when travelling by car.

UK/European nature photographer Nial Benvie's longest lens for the first ten years of his career was a 300/2.8 with a 1.4X.

OTOH, the last couple trips to England I did take my golf clubs... which were quite a pain to travel with (and completely unjustified by my skill at the game).

BTW, you have to be very careful about photography in Dubai, even though it's about the most Westernized or tolerant of the Emirates. I was setting up a shot in a park when a busload of unveiled women drove into the view of my camera unexpectedly. I wasn't trying to and didn't photograph them. But there was a lot of screaming when they saw my camera pointed in their general direction. We packed up and left quickly, before the police arrived to impound my gear.

No way.. We have small streets and nothing better to do than sit in pubs....

No but seriously ... Why would you?? I have problems with a 70-200 on crop..
Travel light(er) my friend !!

I dont own a 500 mm , but I make similar decision if I should bring both 100-400 and 70-200 zooms, last year traveling to Asia I decided to bring both because of the solar eclipse and transit of Venus. this Christmas to Asia again, the 100-400 stays at home, the 70-200 is useful for concert and night club shows shoots as well as sports events. I also leave behind the grips and heavy tripods, and primes lenses relying n 17-40 , 24-105 and 70-200.

amfoto1 wrote in post #16446612
Yes, I have travelled quite a bit with gear....

Been to both London (several times) and Dubai (once) and for the life of me I can't think of anything either place that would require a 500mm. Right now, at most I'd take 7D and 300/4 IS with a 1.4X. That gives me plenty of reach for most situations.

I might take 300/2.8 IS, but it fits into a small backpack along with other gear, and that pack in turn fits into an overhead bin in an airplane. I've taken that to places where I anticipated wildlife photography. The 500/4 requires a much larger backpack and would need to be in checked baggage (actually, I'd ship it ahead rather than check it). Unless I know for certain of something I'll be shooting with it, the 500/4 only goes with me when travelling by car.

UK/European nature photographer Nial Benvie's longest lens for the first ten years of his career was a 300/2.8 with a 1.4X.

OTOH, the last couple trips to England I did take my golf clubs... which were quite a pain to travel with (and completely unjustified by my skill at the game).

BTW, you have to be very careful about photography in Dubai, even though it's about the most Westernized or tolerant of the Emirates. I was setting up a shot in a park when a busload of unveiled women drove into the view of my camera unexpectedly. I wasn't trying to and didn't photograph them. But there was a lot of screaming when they saw my camera pointed in their general direction. We packed up and left quickly, before the police arrived to impound my gear.

Thanks for the advice about being careful, this is what I fear about Dubai. It's going to be a culture shock I'm sure.

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16446635
No way.. We have small streets and nothing better to do than sit in pubs....

No but seriously ... Why would you?? I have problems with a 70-200 on crop..
Travel light(er) my friend !!

Yeah I'm bringing my crop and my full frame, 17-40, 70-200 and my 400mm f5.6. and a 1.4x TC. I think that covers it all.

tonyniev wrote in post #16446654
I dont own a 500 mm , but I make similar decision if I should bring both 100-400 and 70-200 zooms, last year traveling to Asia I decided to bring both because of the solar eclipse and transit of Venus. this Christmas to Asia again, the 100-400 stays at home, the 70-200 is useful for concert and night club shows shoots as well as sports events. I also leave behind the grips and heavy tripods, and primes lenses relying n 17-40 , 24-105 and 70-200.

Yeah I think I will leave the 500 at home then and just travel as light as possible.

I just came back from the UK and Greece without bringing my 500. My next trip I will bring it. I have a backpack that will hold the lens and fit "carry on" size requirements.
However I did get tired of luging gear around even without the 500.

I guess it depends on what you expect/plan to shoot.

Cant comment on Wildlife or Aviation in either local, but there is lots of cityscape/landscape in both locals.. I would imagine Aviation at airports you'll be arriving at..
Nightscape in Dubai is awesome.

Enjoy your trip

Youch...

On foot?

I hope you use a backpack and not a "bag."

I would take a wide angle zoom, if you want to go light.
Otherwise, a wide angle zoom, and a longer zoom to cover all focal lengths.
And a small tripod.

Very best,

Cannot say about Dubai - never been there, but many times in London. There is not much to use a 70-200, let alone a 500. The last time I went to London I just took a 17-70 and a 10-20 with me, leaving the 70-300 at home, and I don't remember ever needing the long lens. Narrow streets, big buildings, and unless you want to shoot architectural details, all you need is wide.

Of course if the purpose of your trip is photography, and you are paid for that, it would be different.

Lbsimon wrote in post #16447185
Cannot say about Dubai - never been there, but many times in London. There is not much to use a 70-200, let alone a 500. The last time I went to London I just took a 17-70 and a 10-20 with me, leaving the 70-300 at home, and I don't remember ever needing the long lens. Narrow streets, big buildings, and unless you want to shoot architectural details, all you need is wide.

Of course if the purpose of your trip is photography, and you are paid for that, it would be different.

I used the 70-200 mm in stonehenge

Lbsimon wrote in post #16447185
Cannot say about Dubai - never been there, but many times in London. There is not much to use a 70-200, let alone a 500. The last time I went to London I just took a 17-70 and a 10-20 with me, leaving the 70-300 at home, and I don't remember ever needing the long lens. Narrow streets, big buildings, and unless you want to shoot architectural details, all you need is wide.

Exactly !!

Nothing in Dubai requires a 500mm except the Flamingo bird hides. These are not open anywhere near sunrise sunset. Suggest a 300 with a TC. Unless you are acclimatised to warm weather (30 degrees is warm, cooling down for the winter) the 500mm will ruin your experience both from a stand point of security and weight.

777guru

777guru wrote in post #16447577
Nothing in Dubai requires a 500mm except the Flamingo bird hides. These are not open anywhere near sunrise sunset. Suggest a 300 with a TC. Unless you are acclimatised to warm weather (30 degrees is warm, cooling down for the winter) the 500mm will ruin your experience both from a stand point of security and weight.

777guru

Thanks for the info, looks like I'll just leave it at home. As for the heat.. I live in Arizona so Dubai is just like home.

tonyniev wrote in post #16447212
I used the 70-200 mm in stonehenge

Yes, if you take it, you will find where to use it. The question is whether or not it is worth carrying the heavy lens for just a few shots. I decided it is not.

I don't even bring the 70200 on trips nevermind a 500. the 400 you have should suffice. Don't let the 500 literally weigh your vacation down!