So a recent convert here. I've recently dumped my arsenal of Canon gear for a modest nikon set up. I'm heading to Colombia for 3 weeks and now that I'm using all this crazy new stuff that I'm not used to,

I wanted to ask opinions... anything I'm desperately missing, should seriously consider adding, haven't thought of, etc?

This is the kit I'm taking

D700, 14-24g, 24-70g, 50g, 70-200vr, MC-36 remote, + Gitzo and RRS tripod gear.
Spare batteries and a Krumpler pack.

I aim to do as much landscape as possible, birds and animals as they are available / convenient (when I have the 70-200vr on and there is good light, I'm not waiting for them though or hunting)... city / street / community.

Yes I know it's what many would call 'too much' for travel... but I travel to shoot... I have brought more gear than this to places further away. So aside from 'you're gonna hurt your back!' what can you all tell a fledgling with nikon gear?

That's what I call "traveling light" Seriously. I "travel to shoot" too. How about a CPOL for the 24-70 & 70-200?

Ahh another voice of reason .
Yes it can be a pain in the rear, but in the end, the shots justify the work

Yup, I have a 77mm CPL for the 24-70 and 70-200... need to pick up a little one for the 50 if I feel like using it during the day as a walk about.

a bodyguard and some sidearms? only other thing I'd suggest you bring is a flash...and that's assuming that plays into your style of photography.

seriously - watch yourself while you're down there.

Shutterslam wrote:
seriously - watch yourself while you're down there.

No worries, while it's my first trip to Colombia, I'm a seasoned South American Traveler, I speak Spanish fluently, and will be staying a with a local , though caution is never bad advice.

Flash is a good idea, though I don't really use flash too much... maybe nikons cheap baby flash would be worth the 100 bucks or so.

Thanks!

Sean, the SB-400 that I think you mean, has two settings, On and Off. I use mine with my D50, usually on an SC-17 flash cord

Sean Mills wrote:
Flash is a good idea, though I don't really use flash too much... maybe nikons cheap baby flash would be worth the 100 bucks or so.

Thanks!

You're not going to capture much in the way of wildlife with a bare 70-200. You might consider adding a TC, or taking an 80-400/VR in its place.

Elan II wrote:
You're not going to capture much in the way of wildlife with a bare 70-200. You might consider adding a TC, or taking an 80-400/VR in its place.

+1 on the TC. BTW, I don't think you are carrying too much gear. I can fit it all (sans tripod) in my MP 3, with room to spare and it will all fit in the plane's overhead.

How is the 80-400 on the IQ scale? Anything like the Canon 100-400IS? I don't mind the smaller aperture, but IQ is king.... I think I might lean more towards a 1.7 or 1.4 before a long tele like that.

Thanks for all the input so far guys!

Sean Mills wrote:
How is the 80-400 on the IQ scale? Anything like the Canon 100-400IS? I don't mind the smaller aperture, but IQ is king.... I think I might lean more towards a 1.7 or 1.4 before a long tele like that.

Thanks for all the input so far guys!

IQ is about the same or just a little bit less but AF is much slower.
Stopped down the IQ is good

The 70-200 is quite good with 1.4 and 1.7 TC (skip the 2.0).

Do you really need the 70-200? It's not the best lens for landscapes on FF
I would opt for the 80-400 as well.

Um. D700 and 50mm g sounds like it'd fit the bill perfectly. Anything else is superfluous.

Chris, I think a TC will work... I know the 70-200 isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but with a TC it will get done what I need, and I don't have to drop the money on a pricey lens. Animals... as they present themselves, will be sufficient with the 70-200... I'm not going on safari, if something gets close I'll nab it .

phatnev... It's not superfluous at all. I don't stay in resorts, drink cocktails, sunbathe, or go on tours.. I don't travel for snapshots, I travel to shoot. As I posted above, I've brought more gear farther than this. It is a common style choice just to bring one small lens and a body on vacation.... but it's not my style or choice.
Having these lenses in every day Toronto, now that is superfluous.

Really looking forward to this trip, thanks folks!

Modest?

You might consider the Nikon CPLII polarizer and Singh-Ray or Hi-Tech graduated ND filters. The TC-17eII would be nice and a Canon 500 close-up filter for your 70-200. Oh, and a gun.