Limiting Your Gear To Under 4.0 kg

Imagine you were assembling the gear you'd take for a year-long adventure around the world. Money isn't an issue, but weight is. You have to carry your stuff with you 24/7. There is a hard limit to how much photography gear you can comfortably carry: 4.0 kilograms.

Under no circumstances will you be allowed to take a break from your trip to resupply. What you take is all you'll have for the entire year. Keep this in mind when assembling your gear --- lenses, flashes, tripods, and/or backup camera bodies.

What would you take?

For reference, here's a list of common items with their estimated weights:

CAMERA: 450D (500g), 40D (800g), 5D (900g), 1Dmk3 (1350g), 1Dsmk3 (1400g), Canon G9 (300g)

EF PRIMES: 14L (650g), 24L (550g), 28 f1.8 (300g), 35 f2 (200g), 35L (600g), 50 f1.8 (200g), 50 f1.4 (300g), 50L (600g), 85L (1000g), 85 f1.8 (400g), 100 f2 (450g), 135L (750g), 200 f2.8L (750g), 300 f4L IS (1200g), 400 f5.6L (1250g)

EF ZOOMS: 16-35L (650g), 17-40L (500g), 24-70L (950g), 24-105L (650g), 28-105 (400g), 28-135 IS (550g), 28-300L (1600g), 70-200 f4L IS (750g), 70-200 f2.8L IS (1600g), 70-300 IS (650g), 70-300 DO IS (700g), 100-400L (1400g)

EF-S Lenses: 10-22 (400g), 17-55 f2.8 IS (650g), 17-85 IS (500g), 18-55 IS (200g), 55-250 IS (400g), Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (450g), Sigma 30 f1.4 (450g).

ACCESSORIES: 580 EX (400g), 430EX (350g), 1.4x Extender (200g), Compact Travel Tripod (1000g)

5D, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8 IS, 430EX, and 1.4X teleconverter

5D, 24L, 50L, 85L, 70-300 IS, 580EX.

5D, 17-40, 70-300, 35L, 85/1.8 and 430EX.

I'd be sure to bring a laptop. Hate to carry around all that photo equipment and not have enough memory.

Otherwise:
5D
50 1.4
24-105
100-400 (only if you anticipate needing it)
430EX
G9

Last-minute edit- I'd take an off-shoe cord too.

5D (900g), 5D (900g), 16-35L ,24-70L ,200 f2.8L IS ,580 EX ,1.4x Extender ,Compact Travel Tripod ...
Everyone will have diff choices based on shooting style and personal preferance.I notice we all so far choose the 5D,but i could not imagine a trip like you describe with only one body so I listed the 5D twice. Thought about the G9 as a backup but should the 5D go down then you would be lugging the glass for no reason other than to get it back home.So I would go with two DSLR. You dont mention Image storage but if a laptop is too much you might consider the Epson P-5000 (80G of portable storage not much bigger than a small external HD). JMO...

jafrknb wrote in post #5450417
5D (900g), 5D (900g), 16-35L ,24-70L ,200 f2.8L IS ,580 EX ,1.4x Extender ,Compact Travel Tripod ...
Everyone will have diff choices based on shooting style and personal preferance.I notice we all so far choose the 5D,but i could not imagine a trip like you describe with only one body. JMO...

You're about 2.6 kilos overweight.

Personally, the reason I picked the 5D is the 24-105, it is the single lens solution on a FF.

Thought about that should have added why I exceeded.Not much info about the trip Mode of travel, purpose etc. I am guessing here but I would lean toward photo based.In that case I would take the Photo gear I listed and look at the rest of my non photo gear to shave the 2.6 kilo's.JMO....

I just returned from an eighteen month trip and I had essentially the gear I listed,backup was a 20D instead of a 5D and had two580ex,a Gitzo alum explorer with 1276 ballhead and a mono pod my gear did not leave my side often. In adition I also had a weapon,ammo,ballistic vest,helmet etc.did not have enough opportunity to use my camera gear but I had it when I got the chance...

Mine comes in at 4kg exact, if I've done the math properly.

5D
16-35
85 1.8
135L
G9 backup
Feisol CT-3442 tripod


....which is the kit I'm working towards. For travel. Only the body to go (oh, and swap the 17-40 for 16-35) and I'm there.

jafrknb wrote in post #5450417
i could not imagine a trip like you describe with only one body....

Yeah, going on an extended trip without a backup body is risky. I'm surprised that almost everyone in this thread is choosing to take that risk. I think a Rebel series camera is perfect for something like that. Not only is it a lightweight backup, but it also serves as a high quality 1.6x teleconverter without costing you an f-stop.

Strawberry Fields wrote in post #5450600
Yeah, going on an extended trip without a backup body is risky. I'm surprised that almost everyone in this thread is choosing to take that risk. I think a Rebel series camera is perfect for something like that. Not only is it a lightweight backup, but it also serves as a high quality 1.6x teleconverter without costing you an f-stop.

I chose the G9 for that. It is capable enough that I personally would take the chance in order to carry other gear. If I chose a Rebel and the 5D goes out with my kit, I would lose my wide end. That is why I picked the G9 instead of another DSLR. Although I would hate to be lugging around those lenses and not have a camera to slap them on.

jafrknb wrote in post #5450578
I just returned from an eighteen month trip and I had essentially the gear I listed,backup was a 20D instead of a 5D and had two580ex,a Gitzo alum explorer with 1276 ballhead and a mono pod my gear did not leave my side often. In adition I also had a weapon,ammo,ballistic vest,helmet etc.did not have enough opportunity to use my camera gear but I had it when I got the chance...

But you're used to carrying around a 60+ lb rucksack.

Still love that heli + yellow smoke shot on your website.

DDCSD wrote in post #5450650
But you're used to carrying around a 60+ lb rucksack.

Still love that heli + yellow smoke shot on your website.

when in my twenties it was a piece of cake now nearing the end of my forties it's definately gettin harder to do

Thank you for the kind comments regarding my website. And the Medevac shot is among my favorites although the circumstances were very unfortunate for the young boy it came in for...

everyone seems to love the 5D!!!
so do I

mine is
5D
17-40L
70-200 f/4L IS
Tripod

Total 3150g

5D
24-70
35L
85L