What do you do when your on vacation? Do you bring all your expensive gear?

jcolman wrote in post #9543698
This is true however I look at a vacation as a chance to get away from work, not to take it with me. I shoot video and photos for a living. While I want to have a camera available, I also want to enjoy myself and not worry about hauling a bunch of gear around with me. I've travelled around the world hauling 80 lbs of photo gear with me and it's not a lot of fun.

I'm an amateur, so this is my chance to pretend I'm you.

DreDaze wrote in post #9543724
why not look into insurance before you go...

Never thought of that, where would you get that kind of insurance?

MT Stringer wrote in post #9543743
Our last real vacation was a trip from Houston up through Colorado and on to Salt
I forgot to mention we were driving and not flying!
30D and 40D
Tokina 12-24 f/4
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Canon 70-200 f/2.8
Sigma 120-300 f/2.8
Tripod and monopod
battery chargers.
We still had room in the Tahoe for our clothes!

What else can I say, a man that has a passion.

I guess I just wonder why you spent $5k in camera gear if you didn't want to take pictures. What is the point of a camera that sits at home where it is safe? I probably wouldn't take everything because I like to travel somewhat light, but at least take the body and a couple primes if nothing else.

jcolman wrote in post #9543774
If this is addressed to me, I have insurance on all my gear. It's the hassle of lugging it around that I don't want to deal with. I have a nice backpack that will hold a camera, speedlight and a couple of lenses that I'll take but I don't want to take any more gear than necessary. I still have to carry all this stuff with me.

no...it was directed at the o.p....mainly due to this line:

Apollo.11 wrote in post #9543593
Maybe I'm paranoid about being ripped off, but my 5D2 is brand new, and I'm still putting picking it up and putting it down very gently.

i'd think insurance would help ease that paranoia...but yes...the lugging would still have to happen

tkbslc wrote in post #9543790
I guess I just wonder why you spent $5k in camera gear if you didn't want to take pictures. What is the point of a camera that sits at home where it is safe?

Because I make a living with all this stuff. And people don't pay me to take pictures of my vacation.

Yeah, I'm just a paranoid. Buying the 5D2 was a big step for me. Remeber, I don't take pictures for a living.

Anyway, I've decided it's coming with me. I'm trying out a new Domke F2 bag that holds a ton and looks totally inconspicuous.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #9543789
Never thought of that, where would you get that kind of insurance?

i know there are some travel insurance type outfits...but it also seems like many here either add it to a homeowners policy...or take out a small personal articles policy...i have to admit, i still haven't done it...i dunno...maybe it's cause my gear isn't as expensive as others...i do want to though...and i've finally started to look into contacting state farm about it

jcolman wrote in post #9543797
Because I make a living with all this stuff. And people don't pay me to take pictures of my vacation.

i think you have to realize mosts posts are directed towards the o.p....not you...

Yeah, one way or another, I need to call my insurance agent and at list make sure my stuff is covered on my homeowner's policy.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #9543789
I'm an amateur, so this is my chance to pretend I'm you.

If you want to pretend you're me, close your eyes. Now image that you have three or four large, heavy cases of gear. You pull them out of your vehicle, haul them to your location, set up lights, string cables, set up tripods, set up monitors if you're shooting video, shoot some test shots, tweak, shoot again, then shoot the shot or video. Then tear it down and set up in a different location.


Do this day in day out.

Now you'll understand why I don't want to lug all my gear with me.

DreDaze wrote in post #9543820
i think you have to realize mosts posts are directed towards the o.p....not you...

I'm just along for the ride, offering a different perspective. Carry on.

Point taken J, but a guys gotta have a dream.

jcolman wrote in post #9543849
I'm just along for the ride, offering a different perspective. Carry on.

didn't mean to come off negative...i need to put more of those smilie faces in...i just think an amateur spending 5K, and a pro doing it are totally different things...for you yes a vacation is getting away from photography...but for those of us that don't make a living off of it, then a vacation is a chance to capture that time away from home...

this is to tkbscl's post...about spending the money and not taking pictures...

jcolman wrote in post #9543849
I'm just along for the ride, offering a different perspective. Carry on.

I appreciate your perspective. We're all just having fun here.

If it's a road trip by car I carry most of my stuff.

When flying, especially to Hungary to see my folks, I only take my Tamron 18-270 VC superzoom, Nifty Fifty, and whichever is my older, crappier body at the moment.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #9543838
Yeah, one way or another, I need to call my insurance agent and at list make sure my stuff is covered on my homeowner's policy.

I had a policy like that. I guess it was a rider where all of the equipment was listed. I supplied invoices and photographs of the equipment. And it is not much...maybe $100/yr. Since then, I cancelled it and got business insurance with liability and equipment coverage. Hopefully that is in case someone knocks over a light stand or trips and falls causing injury. It is more expensive but I feel a little more secure.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #9543870
Point taken J, but a guys gotta have a dream.

By all means. But at the end of the day, you'll want to enjoy your vacation. If taking photos of the entire vacation is your way to unwind, then go for it!

I guess I'm getting to old and jaded to remember that I use to really enjoy spending a day shooting pics. I still enjoy the creative part of photography but all the heavy lifting and moving my gear around is starting to wear on me. That's why I'll only take one camera and a couple of lenses with me to Italy.