Photo Gear for Vacation to UK?

[dbaldock]

So, for those of you who travel on vacation via commercial airlines to places like England --- What photo gear do you take?


Take Care,
David Baldock

[Tom]

This is what I packed when I went to Europe this summer:
What’s in the BAG? Travel to Europe and Beyond! » thomascampbellphoto.com

[dbaldock]

Thanks for the reply.

I just sold all of my old manual focus Nikon bodies and prime lenses, along with a couple of Tokina lenses, and a newish 18-200mm Nikon AF lens to the Used Dept. at Adorama. It was ~28 Lbs. of equipment, and it netted me enough to pay for the new D7000 body.

So, right now, my camera equipment consists of -

01.) Nikon D90 with Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DX
02.) Nikon D7000 with Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 FX
03.) Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX
04.) Nikon SB-600 Flash
05.) B+W 77mm XS-Pro Nano Kasemann MRC CPL (thin profile, brass-mount, circular polarizer)
06.) Schneider / Lee 4x4 Filter Holder (modified with Lee 2mm Guides to hold the Hitech resin filters)
07.) 2x 77mm Wide-Angle Lee mounting rings
08.) Hitech 4x4 Neutral Density Filters 3x (1, 2, 3 Stops)
09.) Hitech 4x6 Soft Gradual Neutral Density Filters 3x (1, 2, 3 Stops)

I've also ordered the next two items, for when I want to use CPL and Neutral Density filters simultaneously -

10.) Lee 105mm Front Mounting Ring for the 4x4 Filter Holder (it screws on using the same screws that hold the 2mm guides)
11.) Lee 105mm Glass CPL (I don't think it's multi-coated - apparently the furnaces that are used for depositing the multi-coatings can't take blanks larger than 82 - 86mm)

Items 06 - 11 should fit in Item 12 -

12.) Lowepro S&F Filter Pouch 100

13.) Op/Tech Dual Camera Harness
14.) Op/Tech Super Classic Strap
15.) Op/Tech SLR Wrist Strap
16.) Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom mini-Tripod

All of this goes in the main section of my Pelican PCS-2552 RSV camera bag, or in the "top" organizing pocket area with the spare batteries for the camera bodies and flash.

My Asus EEE PC 1215B-PU17 Netbook (modified by installing 8GB RAM and a 1TB H/D) fits in the Laptop pocket, along with the spare 1TB external backup H/D and the Lexar USB 3.0 Card Reader.

Once I get everything situated, I'll take a couple of shots with my point-n-shoot. I'll also weigh it to see how much gear I'm hauling around. The Netbook, external H/D, and any electronics/chargers will be left at the Cottage we're renting in England, so it will only be the camera gear that gets taken out on our daily sight-seeing trips.

Take Care,
David Baldock

[dmcantrell]

This is what I took on my recent trip to Denmark and Norway

Nikon D300
Nikon 17-55 /2.8
Nikon 50 /1.8
Nikon 35 /1.8
Nikon 70-300 /f3.5-5.6
Tokina 11-16 /2.8
Nikon SB800
3 CF cards
Hyperdrive Colorspace
various filters / cables / power supplies / remote triggers

which all fit into my Lowepro Slingshot AW200

+ Velbon lightweight tripod in my large suitcase (tubular aluminum)

I used the 17-55 for >90% of my photos
I used the 70-300 one day at a zoo
I did not use the other three lenses once :(

[texxter]

Fuji x100 & comfy sneakers

[shnitz]

I just came back from Vancouver with my D90, and I don't think I'm ever going to take it with me again, unless it's a photo trip. As Tom says in his blog, it's heavy. I kept having to decide whether I wanted to be a photographer or be a vacationer (vacationer won out). I definitely wouldn't want to be carrying multiple bodies, as you're planning on doing. Decide on what you'll be shooting. For me, the 28-300 wouldn't have a place in a DX setup, unless I was on the verge of moving to a D700 (which, considering your purchase of a D7000, doesn't seem likely). I say sell it for the $600 you'll get, and invest that in a 16-85 + 70-300. Then, you'll have a similar setup to David. If you're set on taking an SLR, I recommend:
-D7000
-16-85, wide enough for most shots, long enough for most shots :)
-35mm, in case of fast normal shots
-70-300 if you think you'll need more than 85mm

One body, relatively light setup. Of course, I'm more inclined to recommend Paco's recommendation. One small body. Choose from the super point and shoot crowd (Oly XZ-1, Canon S95/G12, Panasonic/Leica LX5, etc), a micro-4/3 camera, or a Sony NEX. All will give superb photos, and will allow you to be a vacationer rather than a photographer.

[Bentley]

d7000
10-24
28-300 TRIPOD
A couple of empty zippered sandbags, you can put full water bottles in.
about 10 folded gallon ziploc bags.

[Bentley]

Actually, just the d7000 with 28-300 and ziplocs
+1 on the comfy sneakers.

[hdctx]

David,

My wife and I took one trip to Europe and another to London a few years ago. I spent way too much time guarding the camera bag from theft every second we were out. Granted you're staying in the country, but a tourist is a tourist, and as such, you're targeted everywhere you go. My personal recommendation is a Sony HV9V for around $325. It has great built in stabilization, a fairly sharp wide to long zoom, and can shoot stellar video as well. For the churches you'll want to shoot, carry a monopod. If you're a stickler about framing, get a viewfinder for the LED screen like the video shooters use.

If you insist on an SLR, get a monopod, and take the 10-24 and the fast 35mm on a crop sensor body. Leave the laptop at home. Your wife will give you a world of grief for cutting into her vacation time to edit pictures. Just bring lots of small memory cards so you don't have all your vacation pics "in one basket" and it's easier to label them where for each day of shooting. Besides, a laptop in your room is another theft magnet for you to worry about.
Trust me, you'll actually take more pictures if you can carry the camera in your pocket. Heck, carry two. Have a great trip!

[lfmerrell]

A small light pocketable, waterproof and drop proof camera.
Say along the lines of (or similar to) an Olympus Stylus Tough series.

[lfmerrell]

This just came up while browsing the iPad app Flipboard,
perhaps something of interest?

Britain’s best one-day walks
Britain

(Sent from Flipboard)

[dbaldock]

Originally Posted by hdctx

David,

My wife and I took one trip to Europe and another to London a few years ago. I spent way too much time guarding the camera bag from theft every second we were out. Granted you're staying in the country, but a tourist is a tourist, and as such, you're targeted everywhere you go. My personal recommendation is a Sony HV9V for around $325. It has great built in stabilization, a fairly sharp wide to long zoom, and can shoot stellar video as well. For the churches you'll want to shoot, carry a monopod. If you're a stickler about framing, get a viewfinder for the LED screen like the video shooters use.

If you insist on an SLR, get a monopod, and take the 10-24 and the fast 35mm on a crop sensor body. Leave the laptop at home. Your wife will give you a world of grief for cutting into her vacation time to edit pictures. Just bring lots of small memory cards so you don't have all your vacation pics "in one basket" and it's easier to label them where for each day of shooting. Besides, a laptop in your room is another theft magnet for you to worry about.
Trust me, you'll actually take more pictures if you can carry the camera in your pocket. Heck, carry two. Have a great trip!

WOW, quite a lot of replies on Sunday. Thanks!

Well, after buying the 28-300mm from Drew (lokerd here on Pixtus) in July, and getting the D7000, 35mm, and Filters in August, I'm not planning on buying any additional camera equipment before the trip this month.

Before my last trip to England in 2001, I bought a Manfrotto 3249B 4-Section Mono-Pod that collapses to 20", and will fit in a carry-on bag. I can't find either Mono-Pod or Tripod in a Search of the TSA web site, but I don't think I want to deal with the potential hassle of trying to carry one on. So the bag would have to be checked, which would slow us down at both airports. I still need to discuss this with my parents.

I made a conscious decision to buy a Netbook and a 2nd 1TB 2.5" Backup H/D, rather than a bunch of large, fast, expensive SDHC cards. As I mentioned above, the only thing in the camera bag when we're out sight-seeing daily, will be the 2 cameras, 3 lenses, Filters, Flash, Gorillapod, Spare Batteries, a couple of Memory Cards, and camera straps. Everything else will be locked in the Cottage we're renting, including using a Laptop Lock to attach the Netbook to a piece of furniture.

The reason I decided to go with 2 cameras using the Wide and Telephoto lenses, is so I can keep shooting without having to stop and change lenses. My parents are fairly patient when I'm taking pictures, but this should allow me to be quicker, and a little less annoying. When we're going to tour a building that allows inside photography, I'll stop and put the fast 35mm lens on the D7000.

Thanks again,
David Baldock

[rfortson]

From your gear list, I'd take the D7000 with 28-300 and put the 35/1.8 in your pocket. I've traveled to Europe and South America and that's pretty much what I've taken (okay, I used the 18-250, which is wider), and a small, fast prime lens for indoors. I shoot Pentax, and the body stabilization helps me get away without a tripod for indoor shots in low light. You can do the same with your gear, but it just depends on your technique.

If the point of the trip is to see sights with the family, then don't take a ton of gear (unless they are all into photography as well). Not having to stop and change lenses or set up gear is one key to an enjoyable vacation for everyone.

If it's a photo vacation, then all bets are off, and pack as much as you can carry! :) The family went to Yellowstone, but I planned some photo shoots on my own before the trip, so I packed two cameras and half a dozen lenses and accessories, plus a tripod. It was fun.

[dbaldock]

Originally Posted by Me

...

Before my last trip to England in 2001, I bought a Manfrotto 3249B 4-Section Mono-Pod that collapses to 20", and will fit in a carry-on bag. I can't find either Mono-Pod or Tripod in a Search of the TSA web site, but I don't think I want to deal with the potential hassle of trying to carry one on. So the bag would have to be checked, which would slow us down at both airports. I still need to discuss this with my parents.

...

After discussing it, we've decided to check one bag through, so I will be able to take my Mono-Pod.

The Mono-Pod did come in handy 10 years ago, when I was shooting with my Nikon FE2 using Fuji Professional ISO 400 film, a Nikon TC-201 and a Tokina 100-300mm f/4, which gave me the equivalent of a 600mm f/8. This time around, I'll be shooting with the D7000 using the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR, which gives me the equivalent of a 450mm f/5.6. So, I won't have quite as much reach, but I'll have a faster lens with VR, and a camera capable of regular ISO settings up to 6400.

[hdctx]

curious, what are you shooting (in England), on long telephotos?