chez wrote:
I take vacations to take photos. I bring a pack full of equipment and another smaller daypack which I use on daily excursions.
The same for me, except I don't bother with equipment subsets and carry everything around all the time. Of course, that doesn't mean I take all the lenses with me all the time - usually 16-35 + 70-200 + one of the other three (50/1.8, 14/2.8, 24-85).
Would you take a 1D3 or a 5D? I'm torn between FF w/ the 5D and the better build quality/focus of the 1d3. The 1d3 also has anti-dust functionality which I feel may be important when in cancun, which in my mind means dusty conditions.
For lenses, I'm leaning towards a 16-35, 24-70, and a 35,50, or 85 prime. Prob the 50mm macro in case I want to shoot something up close. I wouldn't want to bring more than 3 lenses because that's the max I'd be willing to carry with me. Also don't want to bring a telephoto lens because from what I've read, there aren't many opportunities to use that lens in cancun.
Again, to each his own. last time I was in cancun, I did not find it particularly dusty. I have extensively shot with my 5d2 in all sorts of environment, and never had any issues with it. How about 16-35 an 85mm prime, or 24-70 and 35 prime? if your 35 is f2 by the way, not worth taking over the 2.8 zoom.
My last vacation with "big" equipment was a visit to my brother and sister-in-law near Mt. Rainier. I'm originally from that area, so thought I'd like some memorable shots of the trip. I took the RB67 Pro SD body, 50mm WA and 90mm normal lens, as well as Vivatar 285 flash and a 3051 tripod. Most of the shooting was handheld.
Dragging that camera on tripod with uphill a mile from Paradise Inn was not fun on a warm summer day. Not fun at all. Maybe when I was a little younger and about 60 pounds lighter!
If I have another big scenic spectacular vacation, I'll probably take a full frame with an all-in-one lens like 28-300L (or Kevin's suggestion of the 24-105L), a fast normal lens, and a small flash (along with a quality P&S). I can handle one hulking-big body and lens, but not a 30-40 pound bag full of gear. No tripod for touristy city shots or a cruise -- outdoors and landscape, maybe-yes.
But if you are young, and full of vinegar, by all means do as I did -- take as much as you can physically muscle around for a week or two! It's a great way to put your best gear to use. And ultimately, it's there to have fun with, right? Not leave at home.
I'm going exactly where you are and at the same time. What resort? I'll be taking everything plus the kitchen sink. 7D, 5DmkII, Canon D10underwater, 17-40L, 24-105L, 100-400L 100L, Lee and Singh-Ray filters, B+W Polarizer, 8 16GB CF cards, 4 Batteries, Charger, 11"MacBook Air, Ipad, Kindle, 2 external HDs, RRS 34L, Bh55head. Amazingly, this all fits nicely in my compact F-Stop Guru backback (tripod will go in suitcase). I rarely leave any gear at home when travelling. When I did a Peru/Galapagos I did leave the 100-400 in the Cusco hotel while at MachuPicchu but that was the only exception I can think of. Take everything you can get into a carryon legal bag and just go with it. Then if you are going out one day to the ruins then maybe just bring along the gear right for that situation. If you're out to do birding on the beach then maybe just bring out a longer lens.
3 years ago I went to the same place in the Riviera and had all my stuff stolen...... (friends car broken into)......when I was back in Vancouver before flying home to Whitehorse!! Insure it and use it as others have said. And always have backups for the files and the bodies.
For my family vacations I bring tripod, 5D II with 2 or 3 lenses (21/24, 30/50, 100mm), filters and also a P&S. I never carry all of it, but instead pick and choose every day. For example, I may get up early morning at 4 AM and head out without wife and kids. I bring my entire kit with all lenses and tripod to take interesting shots with the morning light before tourists show up. Then during the day when I'm out with the family I carry either P&S or body with only one prime lens to minimize size and weight (35 or 50mm one day, 21 or 100mm next day). If I see something interesting during the day and I only have P&S, I may return the next day with DSLR. It works fairly well for me. Having insurance is really important - no more worries that equipment is stolen from the hotel or that sea wave will splash onto my camera. With the insurance, I'm now regularly waist or chest deep in the pool or ocean taking eye level shots of my son having fun. This with a 5D II and Zeiss lens
datousteve wrote:
Great tips everyone! Bringing a 5DII and Zeiss into the water?!? You must have no deductible on your insurance!
Speaking of insurance, where can I purchase some? I don't own a home myself.
you don't really want it attached to home insurance usually
get a state farm personal articles policy, low costs, no deductible, covers loss world wide for any reason (tossed into swamp, stolen, dropped, etc.), doesn't affect home owners insurance chances, etc.
but do be careful since if you do make more than one claim they may permanently drop you, etc.
Pacsafe has a really neat bag that you can stow your stuff in, lock it up, and attach it to something permanent in your hotel room (like pipes in the bathroom). It fits my macbook and a dslr and lenses. It's nice when you want to get out without your gear, but makes it a little more difficult to steal. It is part of a larger backpack type of bag that we always travel with…perfect for carrying our photo gear without it screaming that we have thousands of dollars of gear in it.
I have brought my DSLR, 3-4 lenses, and tripod to Cancun and other vacations on 5 continents. You never know when you can get back there to shoot. My wife and family like to get up late so it works out great for photographs since the best light is often right at or before sunrise.
I did not get to Playa, but I have heard it is pretty. Maybe next time.
jerrykur wrote:
I have brought my DSLR, 3-4 lenses, and tripod to Cancun and other vacations on 5 continents. You never know when you can get back there to shoot. My wife and family like to get up late so it works out great for photographs since the best light is often right at or before sunrise.
Thanks. If you have recommendations on places to shoot, it'd be greatly appreciated. BTW... did you use your telephoto at all?
The timing of this question is perfect for me. We are headed to Disney in April and I want to define my gear to bring. I picked up an S100 for the Point & Shoot. I was going to take my 1dIV but believe it will be too much to cart around every day. As a result I think I will be taking the 5d2 instead. My only other concern is flash. I only have the 580v2 and believe I may need to consider picking up the ex320 to make it easier to cart around. Or do I even need a flash for this trip with my 5d? Thoughts anyone? Thanks.
I've done playa del Carmen with family 3 of the last 4 years. First two times I took DSLR (7d or 40d) plus 24-105, 10-22 and a fast prime. That small kit will cover most shooting situations imo, and is definitely worth taking. I also took a small gorilla pod but used it very little. Because playa is on the east coast there are limited sunset, low-light shooting opportunities.
Last time out I took just my G12 and was pretty happy with that decision when hanging out n the beach, but not so much when walking around town or seeing sites. If I were to go back this year I would take my 5d MkII 24-105, 17-40 and 50 1.4. If I had room in the luggage I would also take a tripod, but would not carry it with me unless there was a specific shoot need.
Dgw2 wrote:
The timing of this question is perfect for me. We are headed to Disney in April and I want to define my gear to bring. I picked up an S100 for the Point & Shoot. I was going to take my 1dIV but believe it will be too much to cart around every day. As a result I think I will be taking the 5d2 instead. My only other concern is flash. I only have the 580v2 and believe I may need to consider picking up the ex320 to make it easier to cart around. Or do I even need a flash for this trip with my 5d? Thoughts anyone? Thanks. ...Show more →
Not sure which disney you are heading to but I brought a 5D with me to Disneyland in Los Angeles and had a good time. Used the 24-70 most of the time. There wasn't much that required anything else. I'd also take a fast prime because those always come in handy for creativity or low light.
Did I take any photos that I think I couldn't have gotten with a s95? Not really. I haven't processed many of the pictures from that trip because they didn't really stand out. That could have been because I was more interested in collecting pins
In Cancun we went into town and I used all of the lenses to get street screens. The early morning light is good because of all the haze. We also took a ship to a water park and I got a lot of shots of the kids playing with dolphins.
Feb 07, 2012 at 09:28 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Thanks everyone. Decided to go w/ the 35, 135,1.4x, UWA zoom, normal zoom, and flash. Everything fit within a lowepro bag. I think this will be just right.
