What gear to carry into the Grand Canyon

I am heading into the Grand Canyon for 3 days of photography. I'll have to carry everything with me be including food/tent/sleeping bag and most importantly camera gear. I can choose pretty much any gear. What do you suggest in terms of lenses (I will have a 5DII and access to a 1Div if I want to carry it with me. Each camera body has one spare battery).

Thanks!

Take the 5DII and the widest lens you've got! I go to the UT canyons every other year and the wider the better. And you want to have the camera out all the time, no need for taking too much gear you won't use.

I'd take the 5D2...the 1D4 will be bulky and will add to the weight. For lenses, maybe something in the 24-70 and a 70-200 range. 24mm on a 5D2 is still pretty wide, and a 70-200 will allow you to compress images for a different look if you happen to be shooting from the rim. If you need wider than 24mm, an option would be to stitch multiple frames. As far as batteries, plan on 1 battery per day, with maybe one extra, for a total of four. The LP-E6 battery holds a charge really well...give them a good charge the evening before you head out and you should be good. If you use Live View a lot, this will drain the battery more quickly which is where the extra battery will help out. I recently shot for three days at Monument Valley and only used two out of the four batteries that I brought along.

As far as accessories goes...tripod, polarizing filter for each lens, and maybe a graduated filter or two.

Take me with you. I was there once 6yrs ago. Beautiful place. Unfortually I only had a point and shoot at the time. But hey, I still got pictures.

Take around a 18-24mm range for landscape shots. If you shoot wildlife, having the range of 70-300 is good too.

Thanks everyone! I'll pick up a few extra batteries for the 5Dii and go that route. As for lenses, I'm leaning towards the 16-35 2.8LII and my 70-200 2.8 ISLII. Maybe I'll throw in the 400 5.6L - it's pretty light and will give me that extra reach if I need it.

When you say "heading into" the Grand Canyon and mention carrying camping equipment, it sounds like you're going down below the rim. If so, here's the answer about what gear to take - take LIGHTWEIGHT gear.

Remember - hiking into the canyon is the easy part - hiking out of the canyon will test your stamina! I would bring as few lenses as possible (not more than two). Leave the 400 at home, you won't need it anyway. Rent the 70-200 f/4 - it is lighter than the 2.8 by quite a bit. Here's a radical thought - just bring a 24-105 and be done with it.

Again thanks. When I said "heading in" I did mean it. We're going to hike to the bottom, camp for a few days and then hike out. I understand that the trip out is going to be harder. I like the suggestion from 5Dmaniac that I bring the 24-105 and that's it. I'll probably schlep the 70-200 just in case.

Brad, if you go down any of the trails where there is no water supply along the way (which is the majority), you are going to have to carry A LOT of water. The hotter it is, the more water you'll have to carry. Before you start thinking of all the camera gear, think about just getting YOURSELF through it. The canyon is 5000 vertical feet, steep, 10 miles long each way. Visualize hiking up the Empire State Building five times with all of your gear plus ten pounds of water.