15 Day Cruise : What Do I Need?

Well, I am going off on a 15 day Panama Canal cruise next year, and was getting my list together of things I need for the cruise! And one thing I came across, is something to store my photos on.
A laptop, and MANY CF cards are not options! I am looking for some sort of external hard drive that will let me connect my CF card to, and it will drain the card and put the original\full size photos onto the HD. I am not sure what these are called, but I am looking for something cheap! I am looking for 60-80GB at most! Links would be helpful also!

Also, here is my list so far, please let me know if there are any other small accessories I may need\want:

-Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
-Canon BP-511A Extra Battery
-Canon EW-83J Hood (for 17-55)
-SanDisk 4gb Extreme III (Will have 8gb in all. I will unload to the HD at the end of the day, so I want to make sure I have enough to cover me, also good for a backup CF)
-The external HD that I described above.
-77mm Polarizer (Brands to good ones would be appreciated)

I have about, a $500 budget for things besides the lens. So after everything listed, (not including the HD and polarizer cause idk prices on those), I am down to $300 left to spend. So if you can find a 40-60gb HD, I might get two of them just so I can have copies of each pic just in case. (I may not got the other mem card, so that would be another $55 towards something else)

I use a Wolverine to store digital data. Mine has a 100GB hard drive.

Here is a link:

http://www.wolverineda​ta.com ….php/site/quick​links/C11/

FEATURES
2.5” High Resolution LCD
From 60GB to 120GB Storage Capacity
Built-in 7-in-1 Memory Card Reader to Download images directly from any digital camera without a computer
Display JPEG, Bitmap, Tiff, Text and RAW images (most popular SLR Cameras)
Built in Microphone
Multi Format Music Player: MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC (i-Tune Format) & CDA
Multi Format Video Player: MPEG-1, MPEG-4 and Xvid
Built-in connection to TV and Stereo System

Awesome, thanks...
Looks like I will go for the 60gb.

Alright, so after that, all I need now is a good polarizer... any suggestions?

I am also on the look out for a camera bag, that fits airline regulations. (Size)
I don't think my Lowepro Slingshot 300 is small enough, so I am on the look out. Any suggestions? I only need to hold:
40D, 17-55, 50 1.4, 430EX, + accessories. MAYBE a telephoto, but doubtfull.

Tumeg wrote in post #6376299
I am also on the look out for a camera bag, that fits airline regulations. (Size)
I don't think my Lowepro Slingshot 300 is small enough, so I am on the look out. Any suggestions? I only need to hold:
40D, 17-55, 50 1.4, 430EX, + accessories. MAYBE a telephoto, but doubtfull.

I think a Kata DR-465 or 3N1-10 would do the trick and hold other stuff too. (Which you will want it to do when you are travelling..) There are two bigger versions of both the DR-466 and DR-467, and 3N1-20 and 3N1-30. If you want a shoulder bag a Kata H-12 or so should do.

Your Slingshot 300 should fit regulation size with ease though.. but I'd get a backpack anyways. My Slingshot 200 hurts somewhat after a few hours.

Tumeg wrote in post #6376299
I am also on the look out for a camera bag, that fits airline regulations. (Size)
I don't think my Lowepro Slingshot 300 is small enough, so I am on the look out. Any suggestions? I only need to hold:
40D, 17-55, 50 1.4, 430EX, + accessories. MAYBE a telephoto, but doubtfull.

Check out think tank's airport international line. There are 2 versions of the international I think.

www.thinktankphoto.com

I just love their quality! Really super. I am pretty sure this bag locks like their airport security bag (don't get that one - it is not sized right for international travel). Having a bag that locks gives you peace of mind, and, you might be tempted to bring the telephoto lens to give you more flexibility for this special trip. I hope you have a great time and you should share some of the pictures with us when you get back.

You might want to check out a Hyperdrive Colorspace for digital storage. I have two; each with 250 gb capacity. When I travel, I save my files to both for redundancy. On my recent 2 week trip to Alaska I ended up with about 120 gb of photo files on each.

Here's a link to Hyperdrive website: www.hyperdrive.com

One advantage of the Hyperdrive Colorspace models is that you can easily change the hard drive to a higher capacity or even buy just the shell with no hard drive and add one of your choice (make and capacity).

There are some other Colorspace threads on this site; try the search function if you are interested to view the discussions.

Bushplane Ken,
I might be getting 2 of the cases only, and buy 2 of my own 80gb HD's to use (They are cheap, so the total combined cost is around $40 less than the 80gv HyperDrive).
That that is still a lot of Mulah, =\
O'well, It will be worth it.

Pigtailpat,
I won't be flying internationally. I will be leaving in LA, which I will be driving to, then at the end, we dock in Florida and fly back. So I will be staying in the United States when we are flying.


Vascilla,
Thanks! Looks like I will probably be going with the DR-465. It is about -0.3" x 3" x 0.5" smaller, than my lowepro and it is a backpack. It doesn't sound like it is too much smaller, but I will most likely be noticing the difference on the trip. The cruise isn't for another year (September 24th), so there most likely will be more bags\gadgets to change out with my current list, but I like to just get the basics down. And as you said, the slingshot does hurt after a few hours, especially when full.

NOTE:

I just decided to buy a 250gb external HD, from circuit city (250gb cause it is so darn cheap, and it is a very reliable drive), and I will use my brother's laptop to transfer the pics over to the external HD. MUCH cheaper this way,

Don't forget Pepto Bismo and some Tums

Have a great cruise.

I used a tamrac expedition 3 on a trip before, it's small but plenty of room for what you need, I've carried 300D, 28-135, 75-300, 18-55, 430EX and accessories, but it was FULL. As for being airline compatible, you're allowed a big bag, like a full sized backpack. I'd really consider a wide angle, I use 10-20 more than half the time, but you might be satisfied with 17mm, make sure you have a small bag for you camera w/1 lens attached, because going from A/C'd ship to outside, you'll fog up immediately. A tripod is very useful as well, especially if you want pictures of the ship (late at night is best because everything is lit up and not many people).

bobn15 wrote in post #6380437
I used a tamrac expedition 3 on a trip before, it's small but plenty of room for what you need, I've carried 300D, 28-135, 75-300, 18-55, 430EX and accessories, but it was FULL. As for being airline compatible, you're allowed a big bag, like a full sized backpack. I'd really consider a wide angle, I use 10-20 more than half the time, but you might be satisfied with 17mm, make sure you have a small bag for you camera w/1 lens attached, because going from A/C'd ship to outside, you'll fog up immediately. A tripod is very useful as well, especially if you want pictures of the ship (late at night is best because everything is lit up and not many people).

Thanks!
I did consider the 10-20, but that the 17-55 would have more uses. It will most likely be on my camera 95% of the time (pretty fast (f/2.8) and it has IS, and great focal range). And for me, 17mm is incredibly wide. I have never used anything wider, and I don't think I want to, because I may be spoiled. Good tip on the bag for 1 lens\body because of the condensation.. I never thought of that, but I will most likely be caring all my camera gear off the ship just for security issues. I don't want to leave it in the room due to theft, and the safes in the room are not even close to being big enough to put my un-used lenses\equipment in them, that is why I want a backpack. Small, and light weight, because my slingshot really does hurt my shoulder after a few hours. And yes, I do have a small, lightweight tripod I will most likely be bringing.


EDIT: Just checked out the Tamrac Expedition 3, and that looks like it will be perfect for me. With my 40D, 17-55, 50 1.8, and 430EX , I will have plenty of room in the main compartment for other things that I may want to bring on the plane with me. I am still on the fence about bringing a telephoto (My Sigma 70-300 4-5.6) just because it is so big and heavy, and I doubt I will use it at all.
How much did you use your 75-300??? I MIGHT have the 70-200 2.8 by the cruise, and if I do, I will definitely bring it, but I am still not sure how much use it would get. I guess it is better to be safe than sorry.

Not sure if I have mentioned this, but I will be in a balcony room, on the highest deck (where there are still rooms), on land side. So I will be able to get some great areal landscape shots at the ports.

I actually just checked out the Tamrac Expedition 3 backpack some more, and if I do end up getting the 70-200 f/2.8L, and I want to use the Tamrac Expedition, it won't fit... So I am pretty sure I will go for the Expedition 4x, and just use it as a replacement to my Slingshot 300 AW.

I am going on two, 7 day back to back cruises in the Caribbean with Princess at the end of November and wondering if I should buy more CF cards myself? Think I will leave the laptop at home. The Wife bought me a 18-200 Sigma lens as my "all-around" One lens that I will need for the trip!

Rrdstarr wrote in post #6392009
I am going on two, 7 day back to back cruises in the Caribbean with Princess at the end of November and wondering if I should buy more CF cards myself? Think I will leave the laptop at home. The Wife bought me a 18-200 Sigma lens as my "all-around" One lens that I will need for the trip!

In my experience, you will need a LOT of memory for 14 days...
That's why I would suggest any of the devices recommended above.

P.S, I am also going on Princess >.<