Equipment advice for a US roadtrip of a lifetime...

[arad85]

Well, after first talking about it over a few glasses of wine on Friday night, we booked the flights for a 3 week roadtrip for my other halfs 40th b'day at midday Saturday (!). We're flying into Las Vegas at the beginning of August and out of San Fran at the end of August with the idea of a long roadtrip in between. Planning to see the usual areas - Vegas, Grand Canyon, Mojave desert, Death Valley (in August!!!), Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, San Fran etc.. and would like some advice on which equipment to take.

We already have 5D2, 450D, 12-24Sigma, 24-105L, 70-200F4L (non-IS), nifty fifty, 18-55IS and a kenko 1.4x so I think we're pretty well covered by lenses/bodies. Also have a 580EXII...

What we don't have are the ancillary equipment. Things like a decent set of straps (Optech/Black Rapid come to mind) or a decent carry bag for all this. We also have a Redsnapper tripod and I'm wondering firstly whether to take it (although we will hire a car for all 3 weeks, so not a real problem, just don't like to cary 2.5kgs around with me for no reason) or to augment/replace it with a decent monopod.

Whilst neither of us are the fittest people around, we have 6 months to get in better shape and will be hiking to get the best possible views (and hence photos) that we can manage, so weight and portability is important. However, neither of us have done this with cameras before, so don't know what we need to consider when carrying stuff like this around.

I think what I'm asking is:

• For the sort of trip/cameras we have, should we consider anything other than the lenses/bodies we have (I'd love to replace the 450D with a 7D, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon )
• Ideas on rucksacks that don't shout "look, £4ks worth of camera on my back" whilst walking through places like San Fran (I'm 6'8" so that should intimidate enough, but you never can tell). Would like it to be able to have the PC in there plus some room/pockets for other things - drinks/snacks/some clothing etc... Don't want an expidition size case if I can avoid it though...
• Optech vs Black Rapid for trekking/tourism (bear in mind I'm 6ft 8" and a bit padded)...
• Need of tripod/monopod. If mono - which one for a tall person
• Any accessories that we might find really useful when out trekking (i.e. day trekking, nothing more adventurous) that we haven't thought about
• Suggstions of good but cheap insurance for all the above (may be covered on household but...)
• Should I search out a camera shop in Las Vegas and buy everything I need locally for cheaper prices (but possibly less choice)
• Any places that people know that we really must see in that area whilst we're over (slightly OT but...).

This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip as being so tall, I have to fly business class or better to survive and I've just spent 75% of my saved air miles from the last 16 years on flying first class there and back (well, if you're going to do it, do it in style.... )

 

[WinstonSmith]

A couple years back, we did a road trip from SF to Tijuana over the course of two weeks. There's an abundance of opportunities for great photos:

From Vegas, you can do a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon at sunrise, which is bloody awesome. You fly over the Hoover dam, through the Canyon and stop on the edge for a champagne breakfast, then through the Canyon again and land in the Mojave desert to chill out for a bit. Then you fly to the base of the Hoover dam and get a raft down the river through the Canyon for a few hours, finishing up in Arizona somewhere and get bussed back to Vegas. It's not too pricey, check out Maverick Helicopter tours, and I highly recommend it. I wish I'd a DSLR back then.

I'd also recommend driving down the Pacific Coast Highway and stopping off somewhere like The Big Sur or Carmel By The Sea to watch a Pacific Sunset. Breathtaking. The Big Sur also has some great hiking up mountain gorges.

Laguna Beach or La Jolla (just north of San Diego) are nice to chill out on the beach for a day or two.

You can go see the San Andreas fault, or thousand year old giant redwoods. Some of the towns are quite pretty eg Santa Barbara or Santa Clara, and of course Vegas. LA is a bit of a dump, I'd recommend not planning on spending any more than a day there.

If you want to make it a proper adventure, the best way to do it is on motorbikes. But that's a whole other conversation

 

[Wookee]

LA is a bit of a dump, I'd recommend not planning on spending any more than a day there.

If you want to make it a proper adventure, the best way to do it is on motorbikes. But that's a whole other conversation

I don't think I'm qualified enough to comment on your equipment questions, but I can echo the sentiments above about LA. I found the attitude of those there very odd for Americans having gone there for a shopping/sightseeing trip a few years back. The only decent people I met there were emigrants from north London who were running a motorbike shop! I cut short my stay there and went to Vegas instead

I might be heading over in the not too distant future complete with DSLR this time so would be interested to hear how you get on.

 

[arad85]

Hi Winston,

Thanks for that. I should qualify that I've been to California a number of times on business, but only once stayed and did touristy stuff. Consequently, we're thinking of avoiding LA (both been there before and aren't interested in doing anything that LA offers) and were thinking of heading North up towards Lake Tahoe behind the mountains containing Yosemite. We may do San Diego (love the place and have visited La Jolla once - beautiful) as a day trip if we can find cheap enough internal flights from a sensible stop though - I love the fact that commuting by 'plane is dirt cheap between big population centres.

Yes, we were thinking of a helicopter flight from Vegas - will look into that recommendation - thanks.

 

[The Human Tripod]

...... 3 week roadtrip ........We're flying into Las Vegas at the beginning of August and out of San Fran at the end of August with the idea of a long roadtrip in between. Planning to see the usual areas - Vegas, Grand Canyon, Mojave desert, Death Valley (in August!!!), Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, San Fran etc.. and would like some advice on which equipment to take.

Hmmmmmm. Snap! I've done that all before (several times) and I will be doing it again this year. I will be taking most of my gear with me as it will be mostly a photographic trip for me.

What we don't have are the ancillary equipment. Things like a decent set of straps (Optech/Black Rapid come to mind) or a decent carry bag for all this.

I normally use hand-straps (herringbone leather), but I also have a Cotton Carrier system which I will probably take for the cooler places where I will be walking a lot.

We also have a Redsnapper tripod and I'm wondering firstly whether to take it (although we will hire a car for all 3 weeks, so not a real problem, just don't like to cary 2.5kgs around with me for no reason) or to augment/replace it with a decent monopod.

Yes, I would take it for sunrise and sunsets at the Grand canyon, monument valley, long exposures in Yosemite, and for city shots of Vegas and the Golden Gate bridge.

I think what I'm asking is:

• For the sort of trip/cameras we have, should we consider anything other than the lenses/bodies we have (I'd love to replace the 450D with a 7D, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon )
• Ideas on rucksacks that don't shout "look, £4ks worth of camera on my back" whilst walking through places like San Fran (I'm 6'8" so that should intimidate enough, but you never can tell).

• 
  I have a Lowepro fast pack 350 which will hold a laptop. I'll probably take it on the flight unless I buy a roller case before then. I'll also probably take a Velocity 8X for walk around as it's very comfortable.
  
  

  Would like it to be able to have the PC in there plus some room/pockets for other things - drinks/snacks/some clothing etc... Don't want an expidition size case if I can avoid it though...
  [*]Optech vs Black Rapid for trekking/tourism (bear in mind I'm 6ft 8" and a bit padded)...
  [*]Need of tripod/monopod. If mono - which one for a tall person

  Tripod. Monopods won't help if you need 1 second +.
  
  

  [*]Any accessories that we might find really useful when out trekking (i.e. day trekking, nothing more adventurous) that we haven't thought about
  [*]Suggstions of good but cheap insurance for all the above (may be covered on household but...)

  Need to look into insurance myself.
  

  [*]Should I search out a camera shop in Las Vegas and buy everything I need locally for cheaper prices (but possibly less choice)

  There are only a couple I know of and they are small and very limited in choice. I've bought lots of lenses in USA in the past, but the exchange rate doesn't make it worth while buying from bricks & mortar stores there now.
  
  

  [*]Any places that people know that we really must see in that area whilst we're over (slightly OT but...).

SF: Alcatraz. Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard street, Golden Gate overlooks at night.
DV: Dante's View, Badwater, Sand Dunes, Scotty's Castle, Ubehebe Crater, Artist's Palette, 20 mule team drive, The Racetrack, Zabriskie point, the chracoal kilns, Titus Canyon, Rhyolite Ghost town, Aguereberry point, Salt Creek. Look out for desert flowers, I'll probably take my macro lens for them. It's 2.5 hrs from Vegas, over the hump to Pahrump (don't stop in Pahrump, it's not nice).
LV: All the hotels You might be able to get a sneaky shot in the casinos, but expect to be told to put the camera away! Hoover Dam is worth a day trip, photos are allowed inside the Dam. Red Rock Canyon.
Lake Tahoe: Only stayed a few nights in the Hyatt Regency and we were snowed in. It was a nice hotel though, with restaurants, Casino, outdoor pool (in the snow!)
GC: Sunset and Sunrise. I prefer the North Rim, but it's less accessible (more of a drive). Sunrise at Point Imperial is good if the weather plays ball.
Yosemite: Numerous Falls, meadows, Glacier Point (view of the half dome from there).
San Diego: Gaslamp district, The yard house Bus/Trolley tour was good. People say the zoo is good but I don't like seeing caged animals.
Monument Valley: Definitely worth a visit if you are near.

This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip as being so tall, I have to fly business class or better to survive and I've just spent 75% of my saved air miles from the last 16 years on flying first class there and back (well, if you're going to do it, do it in style.... )

Absolutely, the flight then becomes part of the holiday with zero stress and a glass of champagne.

 

[arad85]

Great reply THT - thanks. I'm not an experienced landscape 'tog, am I going to need a filter system if I do want to do some sunrise/sunset shots? Also, the 12-24 is difficult to fit filters to, but is the 24 (on FF) going to be wide enough for these locations?

 

[RobertP]

Been there done some of that and going back again this year to do some more

The 24-105 on the 5d2 will do 95% of what you need - or it does for me anyway.

Filters is a personal choice thing. I have some ND grads but rarely use them as I'm not keen on the effect as they are a bit obvious. Main thing with sunsets is to get the best balance for the exposure. I tend to use manual or partial metering and get just a bit of the sun on the edge of the metering circle and then AE lock to recompose. A polariser can make for some very dramatic dark blue skies but again I rarely use mine because the effect is a bit obvious for my liking.

You mention fitness in your first post. Quite a lot of the places you are going to are quite high up. I know I felt the altitude a couple of times so if you think you are breathing harder than you should you know why.

There's a link to my somewhat neglected gallery site in my sig where you can find some of my USA pictures taken with a 20D.

If you are going to Yosemite don't miss lake Tenaya on the 120 Tioga pass road. It was stunning.

 

[RobertP]

Few more answers

Whilst neither of us are the fittest people around, we have 6 months to get in better shape and will be hiking to get the best possible views (and hence photos) that we can manage, so weight and portability is important. However, neither of us have done this with cameras before, so don't know what we need to consider when carrying stuff like this around.

Americans like their cars so you can drive to a lot of the good view points and that is often where the car park is. We saw loads without lots of hiking.

I think what I'm asking is:

[*]For the sort of trip/cameras we have, should we consider anything other than the lenses/bodies we have (I'd love to replace the 450D with a 7D, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon )

no

[*]Ideas on rucksacks that don't shout "look, £4ks worth of camera on my back" whilst walking through places like San Fran (I'm 6'8" so that should intimidate enough, but you never can tell). Would like it to be able to have the PC in there plus some room/pockets for other things - drinks/snacks/some clothing etc... Don't want an expidition size case if I can avoid it though...

I use a Crumpler bag. getting more common now but looks like it could have your lunch in it instead of a camera

[*]Optech vs Black Rapid for trekking/tourism (bear in mind I'm 6ft 8" and a bit padded)...

Don't know the other one but Optech is fine for me

[*]Need of tripod/monopod. If mono - which one for a tall person

A small tripod is better than none. I rarely used it for everyday shots but invaluable for low light and shots of you and mrs together for a change

[*]Any accessories that we might find really useful when out trekking (i.e. day trekking, nothing more adventurous) that we haven't thought about

I geotag all my picture with a small GPS data logger. Means you know exactly where every shot was taken and pictures can be clicked to show on google maps. And you end up with a track file showing where you travelled that day.

[*]Suggstions of good but cheap insurance for all the above (may be covered on household but...)

I just have sufficient all risk cover on the household cover

[*]Should I search out a camera shop in Las Vegas and buy everything I need locally for cheaper prices (but possibly less choice)

Waste of time. they are all tourist traps. No stock of anything you might actually want and if they do its overpriced. if you are in one place long enough to order online and have delivered then maybe.

 

[arad85]

Thanks Robert. Great replies. I also have a geotagger and yes, it will be coming with me (if I can remember to take the darned thing - keep forgetting in the UK!!!). We're planning Tioga Pass so should see the lake nicely. I think we'll probably limit any real trekking to Yosemite - will probably book a hotel for 2 nights there I think before we go, giving us 3 fixed points - 2 nights Las Vegas, 2 nights Yosemite, 3 (or so) nights San Fran. Everything else will be a bit of an adventure....

 

[casts_by_fly]

Sounds like you've got the equipment covered, but if you're looking for the best value for money, then you'd do well to order from Adorama or B&H beforehand and have it shipped somewhere like your first hotel. They have the cheapest prices in the world (and I've been looking) for new gear. Since I'm from the US and travel there regularly, I usually use them and have things shipped home. I haven't found better prices with the current exchange rates anywhere including china (where I'm sitting now) and HK. Now if the Yen were to fall a little bit...

Oregon is high on my list of places to go. Lots of wineries, beautiful scenery, wildlife, etc. Seattle would do it for me too. I recognize they are a little outside of your target zone though. Russian River area California would be good too and is definitely in your zone.

Thanks
Rick

 

[Carlos Fandango]

Not a Canon expert - but I'd take a small compact to keep in your pocket. There are moments when you just can't be arsed to lug the big stuff around on a trip like that and something like a S95 tucked in your pocket is a good idea.

My other bit of advice would be to hire a bigger car than you thought. Three weeks is a lot of luggage plus camera gear. You want to be able to lock everything in the boot and the "trunk" on domestic cars in the US never seem that big. We did something similar some years ago and got a huge boat of a Car (Lincoln?) and even then it only just took two full sized Samsonite cases.

Sounds like a great trip - I lived in Sacramento for a few years and California is a fabulous place. Try to get up north of SF into the wine areas as well - some great hotels and restaurants as well as stunning wineries. Hess mmmm...

 

[arad85]

Thanks for the advice Rick/Mike.

Given the feedback, I think I'm down to small items now (I spent a lot of yesterday and ordered a green Lowepro Flipside 400 AW as my camera carrier). I needed a new bag and it's about the only one that seems to have a reasonable design and zips facing your back (I'm paranoid about someone opening the case and taking something in a crowd). Hopefully, it'll be a good enough size and hold cameras plus sunscreen/water bottles (thinking of getting some insulated ones - I really dislike drinking warm water yukk...).

As to cars/luggage, we both travel fairly light and it will be carry on plus probably a single medium hold case. For cars, we were looking at a Mustang, but decided that I probably wouldn't fit in it plus absolutely no space whatsoever... Currently thinking of something like a Chevrolet Impala (which looks to be Ford Mondeo sized and which I have here) or Buick Lucerne which seems bigger again. Will check class boot sizes though but petrol prices do have to be considered! We're also intending buying a hard coolbox to fill with ice every day when we get to Vegas so need a boot that will take that too. Should help with transporting food/cold drinks.

 

[MisterE]

Look at my previous posts here about the areas you'll be travelling round.


http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=142380 Post No. 9

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=153169 Post No. 13

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=86735Post no.9

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2863551#post2863551 Post no 7

Of course, other people in the posts have good info too!


One place not mentioned in my info and I haven't visited, but will do next month is Canyon De Chelly in Arizona. Have a look for yourself and see if it's worth a visit.

 

[arad85]

MisterE - brilliant - thanks.