Burning Man gear

As I'm getting ready for my yearly pilgrimage to the Black Rock City, I'm trying to figure out the least amount of equipment I want to bring, but I'd like to be covered from all the angles.
Last year I had my old XSi with the kit lens and although I had a few good pictures, the quality was something I wanted to improve upon. As a side note, after I came back and paid $35 at Samy's Camera for cleaning it was as good as new, which makes me very confident about bringing my 7D to the playa.
So, this year I'm planning to have my 7D with 17-55 f2.8 for the most part. I'm still trying to decide between Canon 50 f1.4, Sigma 50 or Sigma 30 for the low-light situation (I don't have neither and the only time I've tried Sigma 30 on XSi, I really didn't like the AF hunting and very yellow and desaturated colors). I really like the Sigma 50 quality and build and the 77mm glass, but Canon could be had for $150 less. I've borrowed friend's Canon and really liked the results. I didn't do much of pixel peeping, but they looked sharp at 100% and I liked the colors. Don't have any experience with Sigma 50 and couldn't find who rents them or owns one to try.

The only thing I have uncovered is telephoto and I don't want to bring my Canon 70-200L f4 (which I'm going to sell anyway, since it doesn't get any usage).
I can't afford a $1.5 - 2K zoom, so I've looked at few possibilities:
Tamron 18-270 VC (don't really need the wide end, but gives me good reach, even considering how slow it is at the long end);
Canon 18-200 (I looked at the samples from dpreview and wasn't impressed at all)
Sigma 18-250 (soft, inconsistent sharpness at all FL), similar results for Sigma18-200.

I know, if I want the L quality or fast lens, I would go for a constant 2.8 and L, so this is not the advice I'm looking for.
I guess, I need a 55-200(300) range covered and I don't really have anything. Last year I've tried 70-300 IS and returned it the next day.

Or, maybe I don't even need a telephoto, since I was quite happy with my 17-55.

Thank a lot in advance.
Cheers

I fail to understand why you dislike the 70-200, it's one of canon's best.

I don't dislike it, it's only f4 and I didn't want to take it to the desert. For some strange reason, although images from it were sharp and with good colors, I never fell in love with it.

I loved my 70-200, but it was always at 200mm 90% of the time and I usually wanted more. Most of the time the 1.4x TC was on it. So I switched to a 300mm f/4 IS.. Very happy I did.

Not EVERYBODY needs the 70-200... Excellent lens, sure, but not for everybody.

Sun block, lots of sun block.

No advice, but jealous as we are sitting this year out I haven't risked taking my big camera there, but I also don't want to worry about it's safety, I'd rather have cheap film cameras that can be tossed around a bit (my lomos). But one day! After insuring my gear!

I only just got a telephoto, and have barely touched it (i've been busy and just grabbing the camera with one lens lately) but if you were happy without it last year... If the lower end ones aren't what you want, I'd save up for the better telephoto in the future.

Have you taken any rented stuff out there? I wonder how that would be....

I'm sure down the line when I'm partying less, I'll want to take photos more, and bring my better gear out there something to look forward to right?

Birthday suit and point and shoot.

k8et wrote:
=k8et;10631519I] I'd rather have cheap film cameras that can be tossed around a bit (my lomos). But one day! After insuring my gear!

Have you taken any rented stuff out there? I wonder how that would be....

I'm sure down the line when I'm partying less, I'll want to take photos more, and bring my better gear out there something to look forward to right?

You see that's exactly the point. I took my P&S my first year and although I didn't have to worry about the camera, I didn't get any good pictures. Well, maybe some of them were decent, but the IQ wasn't that great, plus no low light capabilities. I think that BM is a photographer's paradise, but... there ain't no free lunch, hence - risking your camera and equipment. I look at it like this - I've bought a camera to get great pictures, so why would I leave it at home? Cleaning fee is only $35, lens can be re-calibrated, but if I walk the playa wishing I had my camera with me right now, because there is an amazing shot in front of me...nah, it's worth it.

As for rentals, I'm not sure. It's a good question. However, I don't think it's a good idea, because if something happens to a rental, they would charge a premium price for the lens.

Last year, I've partied enough and had some time to take pictures. Balance.

friz wrote in post #10631592
Birthday suit and point and shoot.

Birthday suit sounds good, it'll keep everyone's attention away from the camera.

Man, I'd be really hesitant about bring any quality tech onto the playa. That dust gets into everything.

But then, you've had good luck with getting the XSi cleaned after its week in BRC, so either I'm overly cautious or you got lucky...

At the very least, you may want to think about avoiding any zoom lens that "breathes air" as you focus or zoom. That'll pull the dust right into the lens (and by extension, the mirror box).

I've met a lot of folks who have had good results bagging (not just a camera bag, but a sealed ziploc) their cameras when not in use and only taking them out when there's not much dust in the air. Which is fine if you'll be content with only fair-weather shots...

When the dust is flying, though, you're taking a chance. Playa dust is abrasive. (Think about how that impacts your lens-cleaning regimen...) Play dust i's also (because of the high alkali content and the extremely small particle size) conductive and corrosive in the presence of small amounts of moisture. (And yes, it can rain a lot at BRC. Ask anyone who attended in 2000. )

I'm finding playa dust in gear years after the event(s), despite thorough cleaning. I've always taken disposable cameras. But - y'know - you'll probably get away with taking a good camera to the playa. Unless you don't... :\

You might consider posting on some of the BM lists to get a broader response from photogs who are also burners.

Either way, good luck and have fun! How many tickets are they selling this year?

TieDyedDevil wrote in post #10632999
I'm finding playa dust in gear years after the event(s), despite thorough cleaning.

Gear is a bit different. Even after cleaning my boots with vinegar and then vegetable oil, there is some gear bound to the surface. As for the XSi, after getting it back from Samy's, I couldn't really find any problems with it. I guess, I was just lucky.

This guy's camera got some beating:

TieDyedDevil wrote in post #10632999
You might consider posting on some of the BM lists to get a broader response from photogs who are also burners.

Which lists are you talking about? Like eplaya forums or on tribe?

TieDyedDevil wrote in post #10632999
Either way, good luck and have fun! How many tickets are they selling this year?

Not sure, I guess we'll find out the final count on Saturday at noon.

Aleness wrote in post #10632005
You see that's exactly the point. I took my P&S my first year and although I didn't have to worry about the camera, I didn't get any good pictures. Well, maybe some of them were decent, but the IQ wasn't that great, plus no low light capabilities. I think that BM is a photographer's paradise, but... there ain't no free lunch, hence - risking your camera and equipment. I look at it like this - I've bought a camera to get great pictures, so why would I leave it at home? Cleaning fee is only $35, lens can be re-calibrated, but if I walk the playa wishing I had my camera with me right now, because there is an amazing shot in front of me...nah, it's worth it.

As for rentals, I'm not sure. It's a good question. However, I don't think it's a good idea, because if something happens to a rental, they would charge a premium price for the lens.

Last year, I've partied enough and had some time to take pictures. Balance.

Birthday suit sounds good, it'll keep everyone's attention away from the camera.

Just tell them to look at the birdy.

Your best bet might be a regional list.

http://regionals.burni​ngman.com/us_ca.html

I'd look on the eplaya forums (at burningman.com) as well. It's been discussed often. Many people don't bag, and either just risk it or don't take it out in dusty conditions.

And yes, I don't have high quality images from there. But I've never been disappointed that I didn't have my good camera with me. It's hard to explain, that I like photography, but I love being able to just immerse myself there and experience it in the moment. I have snapshots, and that's enough, because it doesn't distract me. I'm sure a day will come that I crave making amazing images more than leaving the gear behind, but it works for me right now

So I don't mean anything bad about those who choose to take gear, I just looked at mine last year and said it was too new, I couldn't afford to replace it (and no gear insurance), so it wasn't worth it to me. I love that people DO take their better cameras there, because I live vicariously through your images after the event!

Besides for two steampunk explorers, we got some neat images that are not all photoshop

Also see this picture on Flickr of a dusty camera and he just gets it cleaned like you did -

http://www.flickr.com …/carnivillain/2​827287540/

I always thought a Holga would make a great Burning Man camera. Don't forget a good beater bike. I have two and they're cheap if you know anyone here in the S.F. bay area who might be interested. When my mechanic told me it took days to get the dust off my Westy I decided to pass on going though there is a lot of eye candy and complete dust storm whiteouts. In the worst of the worst you sit and cover your face and wait and sometimes for a good while.