Best Canon Body option to take on world travel

boccers_2000

boccers_2000

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Hi Guys,

Looking for a general opinion on this one.

I currently have a 500D but i'm looking to upgrade it soon to full frame. Throw into the mix that i'm hoping to be going on a world travel trip (not sure yet where) in the next year or so.

I have always considered the 5D Mark II to be the next body I invested in but given I will be doing lots of travel perhaps a 1Ds Mk II (second hand of course) would be more suitable given the durability/weather sealing.

I will be looking to sell the 500D (plus grip) and my 10-22mm to fund in part the upgrade (the other lenses I currently have are the 17-40mm L, 50 mm (1.8) and 70-200mm f4 L. I addition I may look to purchase a 85mm to add to the lenses to take on the travel (although I am wary of the weight of the 85mm).

Just wondered what frame you guys would plump for? I could go upto around £1,500 for a new body which should cover the options I set out above.

Any other views on lenses as well would be appreciated. i generally take landscape shots and some portraits.

Thanks for reading and any help.

Cheers
 
I read an article last night which was an interview by the only stills photographer to work on the amazing Human Planet series.

For two years of amazing stills, coming from locations like, jungles, the himilayas and even inside a sulphur mine he was using a pair of 5DmIIs and every canon prime up to 400mm. No zooms apparently. He had one body with the 85m 1.4/or 1.2 and the other with a 35 i think it was, then changed when necessary.

So maybe a 5D2 is worth throwing into the mix?
 
Personally I would be reluctant to take so many lenses on a world trip. Weight when flying would be my first concern, my next concern is that I wouldn't want such an array of lenses to be targeted by theives. If you are planning to stay in hostels the lockers aren't always the most secure and I wouldn't want to carry all of those lenses with me the whole time!

If it were me going, and using full frame, I would take:
24-105 as my walkaround 'everyday' lens,
50mm as a low light lens (I'd prefer the 1.4 though)
and either the 17-40 or the 70-200 depending on what you use the most.
 
DaveKing said:
Personally I would be reluctant to take so many lenses on a world trip. Weight when flying would be my first concern, my next concern is that I wouldn't want such an array of lenses to be targeted by theives. If you are planning to stay in hostels the lockers aren't always the most secure and I wouldn't want to carry all of those lenses with me the whole time!

If it were me going, and using full frame, I would take:
24-105 as my walkaround 'everyday' lens,
50mm as a low light lens (I'd prefer the 1.4 though)
and either the 17-40 or the 70-200 depending on what you use the most.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave, food for thought. And which body would you invest in
?
 
ACW said:
I read an article last night which was an interview by the only stills photographer to work on the amazing Human Planet series.

For two years of amazing stills, coming from locations like, jungles, the himilayas and even inside a sulphur mine he was using a pair of 5DmIIs and every canon prime up to 400mm. No zooms apparently. He had one body with the 85m 1.4/or 1.2 and the other with a 35 i think it was, then changed when necessary.

So maybe a 5D2 is worth throwing into the mix?
Click to expand...

Interesting! I suppose my concern with the 5D Mk II is being out and about and not having weather sealing. But, as you say, looks like it is the choice of some professionals who do the job for a living!
 
DaveKing said:
If it were me going, and using full frame, I would take:
24-105 as my walkaround 'everyday' lens,
50mm as a low light lens (I'd prefer the 1.4 though)
and either the 17-40 or the 70-200 depending on what you use the most.
Click to expand...
And this is exactly what I'd take as well. Having lugged gear around the USA for 3 weeks last year, I used the 24-105 for 80% of shots, the 17-40 for 15% of shots and a 100L macro, 12-24 Sigma and 70-200L for 5% of shots (which, other than the few I took wide at 12mm and zoomed at 200 with 1.4x TC could have been covered by the 17-40 or 24-105). In the end I didn't use the 50mm 1.8, but it does just slip into your pocket just in case....
 
boccers_2000 said:
Thanks Dave, food for thought. And which body would you invest in
?
Click to expand...

Personally, if it was me I and I had to take a DSLR I would take a 5d2 with the above lenses. However I would also take a compact for the days (and nights!) that you don't want to take a DSLR.

To throw a massive spanner in the works though, I really like the look of the Canon G1X and I think it is made for world travel. It has a big sensor (for a compact), a flexible zoom range and is light when compared to a DSLR and lesnes. It just depends what the IQ comes out like...
 
I'd probably take a slightly wider prime than 50mm, as half the time if it's dark you'll also be indoors and even on FF 50mm is a little long for many situations. The other half the time you'll be outdoors wanting a bit more reach. So I'd be tempted to say bin the 50mm and get something 24-35mm prime, and an 85-135mm prime. And even consider swapping the 70-200 for a 24-105 as I think you'll find it much more versatile (and lighter). 5DII is more tempting than a 1DS MkII given price and low light performance - consider if you want to be taking a backup body also.
 
Personally, I'd be as concerned with weight and size as much as quality.

The 600D has same sensor as 7D. Small, lightweight, economical.

Take the 10-22mm and 24-105mm.

Enjoy your trip. :cool:
 
weather sealing on the 1D wont help with these lenses (unless the 70-200 is an IS) - 50 mm (1.8) and 70-200mm f4 L

personally id get a 5Dmk2 and a rain cover. the 5D isnt a flimsey body, its still a mag chassis same as the 1Dsmk2.
 
Having owned a 1 series DSLR I would not want to take it travelling, they are too heavy and too obvious. At a glance a 5D could be a 500D etc, a 1D is obviously a 1D.

I'm going to central America next month and have the same sort of lenses available as you, I am going for 17-40, 50mm and 70-200 (but swapping my f2.8 version for my Dad's f4 version to save weight and space). Leaving the 85mm at home as the focal length is covered and wide aperture is also covered.
 
boccers_2000 said:
...I have always considered the 5D Mark II to be the next body I invested in but given I will be doing lots of travel perhaps a 1Ds Mk II (second hand of course) would be more suitable given the durability/weather sealing...
Click to expand...

Why does the body need to be more durable and weather sealed for use when travelling than for use in the UK? I don't really see the difference. :shrug:

You mentioned the G1X, which certainly looks like it might be a great travel camera, depending on image quality obviously.
 
Jackwow said:
Why does the body need to be more durable and weather sealed for use when travelling than for use in the UK? I don't really see the difference. :shrug:

You mentioned the G1X, which certainly looks like it might be a great travel camera, depending on image quality obviously.
Click to expand...

Well, when I shoot at home I generally know what the weather will be like. What the climate and temperature will be like and I know that the camera will usually be safe at home after a day of shooting.

When i'm travelling i'll be constantly on the move in planes trains and automobiles in new and unusual locations. I would just like the added comfort of knowing that the camera can easily take knocks and can deal with weather i am not expecting.
 
boccers_2000 said:
Well, when I shoot at home I generally know what the weather will be like. What the climate and temperature will be like and I know that the camera will usually be safe at home after a day of shooting.

When i'm travelling i'll be constantly on the move in planes trains and automobiles in new and unusual locations. I would just like the added comfort of knowing that the camera can easily take knocks and can deal with weather i am not expecting.
Click to expand...

see my last, the 5Dmk2 and 1Dsmk2 are both mag chassis and the 1d wont be weather sealed on half your lenses so its a void point really :)
 
neil_g said:
see my last, the 5Dmk2 and 1Dsmk2 are both mag chassis and the 1d wont be weather sealed on half your lenses so its a void point really :)
Click to expand...

Neil, on the weather sealing point maybe, but what about durability generally?

I know you say that they are both mag chassis but will the 5D Mk II take a knock as well as a 1Ds Mk II?

You will be better placed to know than me so i'm not disagreeing, just asking the question.
 
Well, the buttons on a 1 series are weather sealed, surely it's only the lens mount weather sealing that needs the weather sealed lens and body to actually be weather sealed. The rest of the sealing will be fine.
 
boccers_2000 said:
Neil, on the weather sealing point maybe, but what about durability generally?

I know you say that they are both mag chassis but will the 5D Mk II take a knock as well as a 1Ds Mk II?

You will be better placed to know than me so i'm not disagreeing, just asking the question.
Click to expand...

its pretty solid to be honest, my 1dmk3 is a tank but i think thats because its more weighty. the 1D is rubberised all round so wouldnt show any knocks. but i still say the 5D is a solid camera, its standing up to my abuse well anyway :lol:

seriously though look at how many pros, wedding togs use the 5D and we dont hear of them falling apart.
 
Don/t take more that you can carry with you everywhere. 3rd world buses and trains are hot, stuffy and crowded. Train and bus stations are dodgy. I am heading out in Sept and will take a D7 with 15 85 for walking around and perhaps a 70 300 and a 50. Not only do you have to carry this kit onto the bus and train but you have to consider fitting into a toilet stall with it as well cos you wont always have anyone to watch your kit and you wont be able to put it in the floor as they tend to be nasty and sometimes flooded.
 
Agreed, the more I travel the less I want to carry gear..

Last trip to South Africa, I had a S95 compact always at hand and a 7D + 10-22 + 70-200 in the backpack - when I had it. Most of the time the backpack stayed in the hotel though...

Consider a Panasonic FT3 or other tough camera.. Don't lug along a 1Ds. I have one and I'd take it along if I had a porter following me with Peli cases :D
 
For £1500 I would get a Panasonic GH2, 14mm and maybe 20mm pancake lenses then whatever other lenses take your fancy. I would then use the hack to give it arguably THE best video quality on ANY non pro video camera.

Then you have a great stills camera, fantastic video camera, it's very unobtrusive, very lightweight, you only need a small tripod etc etc.

Having got into M4/3 with a Panasonic GF2 I doubt I will EVER travel with a DSLR again. Having something so lightweight as the M4/3 system is a real plus. Unless you are a pro making money imo weight is more important than image quality.

I have used my GF2 in some pretty nasty weather and it's been no problem. Trekking in very remote Norway in torrential rain didn't pose much problem. If you are worried get a plastic bag, cut a hole for the lens and job's done.
 
boccers_2000 said:
Interesting! I suppose my concern with the 5D Mk II is being out and about and not having weather sealing. But, as you say, looks like it is the choice of some professionals who do the job for a living!
Click to expand...

Il find a link for the article when I get home, it was quite an interesting read.
 
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