Business trip coming, what would you bring?

So I have a business trip coming up next month. I'm heading out to California for week--I've never been before, and I'm looking forward to it! I'm going to be spending a few days in San Jose and then driving to San Francisco and spending a day there. I expect to have some downtime where I'll be able to get out and hopefully take some pictures, but I can't decide what I want to bring. Here's my options.

1) Everything. Not really planning on doing this, though.

2) Rebel XTi + 17-40. Nice compact kit, although a little lacking on range, camera has built in flash just in case.

3) 5D + 24-70. Not so compact kit, little more range than the XTi + 17-40
kit, faster lens but no flash.

I doubt I'm going to take my 70-200, but I will probably bring my 100mm macro along because I think its pretty diverse and it doesn't take up much room. So if it were you, what you you bring?

I'd go with 5D+17-40. You have an UWA so take advantage of it. Try to get down to Monterey-Pacific Grove-Pebble Beach area. Pt. Lobos and Garrapatta Park are close by. You'll be sight seeing, go wide!

Hmmm, good suggestion yonni. Maybe I could find room in my bag for the XTi body too--with the 5D + XTi, it would almost make the 17-40 2 different lenses.

If it's anything like my business trips I'd be very lucky to see daylight! (stuck in computer room dungeons feed with artificial light.

Take a compact!

I voted 5D and 24-70
Better range, and better image quality, and full frame - the lack of onboard flash is not really an issue as the on board flash is not very good with a big lens like the 17-40 or 24-70 on anyway

When I travel on business, my time and attention are typically directed almost exclusively toward business, with very little left over for picture-taking. I'm not saying anyone else has to be like that, but it's how it works with me. If I were to find myself with lots of free time on a business trip, I'd tend to regard it as a poorly scheduled trip.

Consequently, I don't want to have to deal with an SLR, a couple of lenses, perhaps a small tripod (ordinarily, I'm a HUGE fan of tripod use), finding the best vantage point for a given scene, paying attention to the quality of the light, etc.

Usually, I'll take along an S50, but make minimal use of it. The S50 is small enough that I can toss it in my briefcase or my carry-on bag, and if it gets knocked around a little, well, it's just an S50 - a perfectly competent little camera, but nothing that I couldn't replace for $70 via eBay.
--
Michael

When I go on business, I take my 100-400, 10-22, and my 17-55 with me just incase I need to get ultra wide or close in on something... I don't mind lugging a big backpack with me though. And I don't care if anybody minds if I carry all my stuff with me. If this the first time you have been there, I would take all of it with me if possible. You just might come across a shot you just can't do without a lense or camera that you left at home. You will kick youself in the butt if you do....BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!

If you can take it.... Take it!

MIke

griftnet wrote in post #3250106
When I go on business, I take my 100-400, 10-22, and my 17-55 with me just incase I need to get ultra wide or close in on something...

+1! Everything I have in a big bag.

And a tripod, of course, to get those night shots... (they normally don't let me out of the office during daytime)

Best regards,
Andy

I take my kit with me, everything I use fits nicely in my backpack. It is one of my carry ons along with my computer bag. sometimes I use it, and sometimes I don't, but If I wanted it, and it was sitting on my desk at home, I would be most unhappy.

As for scheduling, I schedule down time at night on my trips, If I have to be away from home, I should get some enjoyement out of it. The company gets their pound of flesh, and I get a couple of hours a day to explore where ever I am at. And since I don't care to sit in bars and drink any longer, it gives me something to look forward to.

12345Michael54321 wrote in post #3249757
If I were to find myself with lots of free time on a business trip, I'd tend to regard it as a poorly scheduled trip.

I don't think I'll have LOTS of free time, but I can probably find an hour or 2 in the morning or before dinner to take a walk around (I don't sleep much away from home).

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I am kind of leaning toward the 5D... thinking of getting this bag so I can carry my laptop & camera... it does look like it would fit the 70-200...

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Is that the D550 or the D650? I have the D550 and it's quite large... It will easily fit the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS with a 1D Mark II mounted. The capacity is amazing. I can actually fit a 1D Mark II, all eight lenses that I own (check gear list thread link in sig for details) plus a 430EX, Epson P2000, some filters, a remote, and two letter-size spiral notebooks or a 12" laptop.