travel pack for a dig rebel...batteries? flash? any suggesti

how is the battery life? do i need the hand grip and how much extra juice is that giving me. for snap shot type pics is the pop up flash enough or should i bring my 550?
thanks...
two weeks mostly walking in europe...any suggestions are very welcome

The 511 is good for at least 300 shots. Get a 1300mah at Walmart for $25, though they are on sale at the moment for $20. I always take the battery out for a recharge when I fill up a 1GB CF card with RAWs. The battery life last a little longer if you charge them while they're partialy full. Don't let them run empty. With 2 batteries, you should have enough juice for the trip. The grip only adds weight & bulk while you walk around, just swap battery while you have a late lunch and recharge them at night. Definitely take the 550EX along. Europe offers lots of great twilight and night shots. A 550EX will give you more options on exposure (2nd curtain, softer flash than the onboard flash, less red eyes, FEC for day & night fill flash, etc...) and worth the extra weight you will carry around.

Regards,
Alan

The problem with using the 550EX on the camera is that, if you swing it around much, you are going to stress either the shoe of the flash or the shoe mount of the camera.

The 550EX distance meter works in either feet or meters. So, if you are going to Europe, I guess you have to switch it over for meters. ( ! )

---Bob Gross---

I gotta ask the question WHY would you switch from metre to feet!