2 weeks backpacking on the Cont. Divide-what to take?

In the past I just carried my old but tiny Canon Powershot 5IS since both size and weight matters (backpack is ~ 50# so every additional ounce counts). Really want to take better camera/lens/filters/tr​ipod this time. I have been struggling- not able to make decision so I am asking for your advice. Please see my gear options in my signature.

So, what do I take?

1. 5dii + 17-40? HEAVY! (Difficult to justify if we even limit how much food we carry and toothbrush has its handle cut off)
2. 5dii + 24-105? HEAVY!
3. Borrow my old 30d to reduce weight?
4. Buy just for this annual trip Rebel to reduce weight?
5. Buy just for this trip one of macro 4/3 cameras with kit lens? Olympus Pen? Panasonic g10? Sony Nex5? Samsung NX10?
6. Buy just for this trip Canon g10 or Panasonic LX3? Not too excited about either one.

second question:

My GITZO 2540 is too heavy to carry on this trip. I need to buy lighter tripod anyway for all other hiking I do. What would you suggest? It just needs to be capable of handling 5dii and standard zoom lens.

third question:

any brilliant ideas for attaching camera + lens to the backpack upfront? Lowepro-Toploader Pro 70AW = backpack harness? Any other options?

Any ideas/thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

m

What are you planning to shoot? If only landscapes and people I would borrow / rent / buy a rebel and one of the EF-S lens like the 15-85. That combo should be pretty light and the focal range might be what you are looking for.

I picked up my rebel w/ a 17-50 lens the other day and was amazed at how light it is compared to my gripped 50D with heavy duty lenses.

I am sorry I did not specify what I will be shooting:

Landscapes- mountains, mountains and more mountains, mountains reflected in deep lakes,
Star trails since I will be in perfectly dark areas if I have right lens
Absolutely secondary subject: possibly my dogs and another animals. Not interested in people.

thanks,

m

I go out with either my Rebel + 17-40 for overnights; perhaps the 70-200 as well since I just love that lens. I only lug the tripod (Gitzo 1540, Markins Q10) and the 400 and possibly the 100 macro for day trips.

It's a tough call for a multiday when you're really loaded. It's so tempting to bring good glass since the sites are usually just so fantastic. I still think a Rebel captures awesome images; add a polarizer to your 17-40 and you'd have a pretty nice, relatively light setup. You also benefit from its pop-up flash for fill (or evening in camp) shots... that's something I miss when I have the 5DII.

I use the LowePro top-load bags: a Topload Zoom 2 for the XT + 17-40 or the AW 70 for my 5DII + 17-40. I remove the shoulder strap and replace it with two non-climbing (i.e. light) carabiners. One carabiner gets clipped to my right side pack shoulder strap; the other, to the hip belt. The camera is in the perfect place to pull out and shoot without having to take your pack off. (It also saves room IN the pack by not being there.)

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

Gary

This is what I do when I go hiking...basically what Gary mentioned above. This way you don't need to put your pack down every time you want to take a pic.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tawcan/37022961​35/

My camera bag weighs 40# on its own

If I were you I'd just take the 5DII with 24-105L (edit or 17-40L to be even lighter and a bit wider) with a front filter and just wear it around my neck, either forget the tripod or take one of those silly foldup plastic thingies to put on a rock. The camera and lens are fairly well weatherproof so I'd just go with that. Take a big CF card or 2-3, perhaps a spare battery or two.

If it was me I'd just put a 1DII with 24-70 f/2.8L around my neck. Waterproof, take wherever, whenever, whatever who cares if it rains. Perhaps some spare batteries in the pack. I'd use dual memory cards for backup, a 16GB card holds at least 1400 Raw shots with just 8.2MP 12-bit images and a battery takes about 1500-2000 shots so that's 100 shots per day which should do for landscapes if I was really, Reall, REALLY selective but not BIF obviously.

Alternatively, much lighter: my 40D with 18-55IS in a ziplock bag in the pack but then you have to put the pack down every time you want to take a shot, very annoying. Wouldn't hold quite as many shots but is a lot lighter. In a toploader it would be somewhat weatherproofed but I think I'd prefer the 1DII with 24-70 to be honest.

If you're going to the extreme of cutting the handle off your toothbrush to save weight, I would opt for an upgraded pocket camera, rather than any DSLR. But if you really want to lug one, I'd try to borrow or rent a Rebel, as someone already recommended.

Instead of a tripod, why not get a cheap, light, collapsible monopod? They can also double as hiking staffs, they work almost as well as tripods (well... 75% as well?), and they're quite lightweight. For star shots, you can always prop the camera on your backpack or a couple of rocks, for more stability.

I don't know if this would work with your anatomy, but this looks like a pretty cool solution for upfront carrying of the camera. http://www.backcountry​solutions.com/

A 30D isn't really any smaller or lighter than a 5D, so that is a waste of time there, and if you are going to pick something up for the trip, why spend money on a rebel when it still isn't terribly light or compact. A compact with a small sensor is going to suck on the night shots. So in my mind, the large sensored compact makes the most sense if you can't bring your 5D.

Of those, I would probably grab an Olympus EP series with the tiny 14-42 kit lens and take a small pocket tripod you can set up on a rock or stump if you need to. If you don't like the camera as a keeper, you can likely sell it for a 15-20% loss when you get back making it an affordable rental. Perhaps the Sigma DP2 is worth a look, too. That Foveon sensor is stunning for landscapes.

Few points on your posts:

I will not have room in my backpack so camera will have to be attached to the front of the pack.

Since I would like to take photos of some waterfalls (long shutter speeds), monopod will not work.

My statement re: cutting off tootbrush's handle was just to let you know that EVERY single thing in our packs has to be absolutely essential. Plus you carry more weight, you burn more calories =>you need more food => you burn more calories. It is just logistically difficult to go for two weeks without resuppling.

I will be doing some bushwacking through some challenging terrain/crossing big boulder fields - probably will not want to just carry the camera around my neck.

It was stupid of me to talk about star trails - I will not have enough battery life to do so.

Ok, based on your responses I may be limiting my options to:

1. 5dii with 17-40
2. 5dii with 24-105
3. macro 4/3 - probably not olympus E-PL1(not excited about not having view finder), so it may have to be panasonic g10 or samsung nx10

I continue looking for the lightest, smallest tripod - I am having doubt it exist.

Thanks again for all your thoughts. They are very helpful,

m

What kind of camping gear do you have? Selecting the right gear will reduce a lot of weight.

-Go with a down sleeping bag. Western Mountaineering is an awesome brand but pricey. I have a -12C down bag that weights less than 1kg and packs down to less than 6L.
-Use a backpack that does not weight like an elephant and fits you.
-Get a lightweight 3 season tent. MSR Hubba Hubba or Carbon Reflex are really light weight.
-Dehydrate your food. That will save a huge amount of weight.

I think 5DII + 24-105 will give you the most flexibility. Definitely bring a few batteries. I don't think you'll have enough juice to do star trails. If I were you I'd leave the big tripod at home and bring a Gorillapod... or just put the camera on something stable and use what you find. For a 2 week bushwhacking trip you really don't want to bring a tripod.

Tawcan wrote in post #10662344
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I think 5DII + 24-105 will give you the most flexibility....

Ditto.

Or buy an XSi, etc for the trip.

Micro 4/3 would also be very capable, but I've no personal experience with them.

Tawcan asked "What kind of camping gear do you have?"

We put lots of thought to every gear item we take - it is our annual trip and we have done it for 10+ years. I believe we have it pretty much figured out. The only new thing is my crazy idea of adding DSLR+lens. And, yes, all gear is pretty lighweight (but not neccesarly ultralight) for going late September for two weeks and camping a lot above tree line(typically dealing with major winds and snow). Have Hubba Hubba plus two other 3 season tents but we learnt our lesson during previous trips - these days we take 4 season tent - TNF Mountain 25. Backpack is the only item we probably should replace - we use Dana Design Terraplane X. It is definetely not ultralight item.

Majority of our food is dehydrated and chosen carefuly. We also rely on catching fish for dinners. The heaviest food item is dog food for two dogs for two weeks but they also eat parts of trout we do not eat. All of us lose a lot of weight!

After further research I will have to rethink tripod if I take 5dii + 24+105.

Thanks again,

m

Cool I wasn't sure if this is the first 2 week trip you're doing or you've done this sort of thing a lot already. If you're getting above treelines definitely bring a 4 season tent. Two buddies of mine went ultra-light (no tent, no stove, etc) this past weekend and got into somewhat of a sticky situation just below the crux of a local peak when a thunder storm hit them. They had to bivy under a tarp...it was not exactly comfortable lol.

If you're looking for a replacement pack you definitely should take a look at Osprey.

Enough off topic. Like I mentioned, if I were you I'd take 5DII + 24-105 and forget about the tripod. Use pots or perhaps boulders to make a stable platform. A few friend of mine use Gorillapod but I'm not sure if it'll be stable enough for long exposure shots.

Rebel cameras will save you some weight but IMO if you're going to carry a DSLR around you might as well carry a 5DII.

As far as carrying goes, definitely try to rig up a chest harness. Makes it so easy to pull out and take shots. Plus will help balance out that heavy bag on your back. I use a Rebel with the 15-85mm and carry it in one of these:
http://www.kgear.com/s​tore/index.php/c/c380.​html
I really like this bag since it has multiple attachment sites, and is made of waterproof material. I use the sternum strap from any of my backpacks and thread it though the loops on the camera bag. Pretty simple.

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A chest harness makes it a bit of an issue to see your footing... ask me how I know. Plus, on tough uphill trails / scrambles / talus slopes I drip sweat by the bucket. Having the camera on my hip keeps me from sweating all over it.

OP -- I still use my classic Terraplane. I cut off some odds and ends (fanny pack belt straps, etc), but it carries weight so well, I'm loathe to give it up. I agree with the comment above, Osprey makes some pretty nice packs... but I still love my Dana Designs.

Skip the tripod for that length of trip. You won't use it enough to justify the weight. Make a pillow of sorts out of packs or other gear to hold the camera for those tent glow shots (which are always cool). Battery life will be key, so you're spot on about long exposure shots. Keep extra batteries warm at night... blah, blah, blah... you sound plenty experienced

Gary

P.S. I just bought a Montbell Thunderdome 2: freestanding, 4-lbs, but not a very big vestibule if you wish to give dogs some protection. Nice tent.