Going on a trip, what gear to take?

stylgeo

stylgeo

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Hi everybody,
I am going on vacation for three weeks early June, and I was wondering what your thoughts were on the sort of equipment I would take with me!
My equipment goes like this:
Canon 400D gripped
120-300/2.8
10-20
35-105
50/1.8
1.4X TC
2 flashguns
Manfrotto 055XPROB
various filters (NDs and Grads and stuff)

So, the trip goes like this. Cyprus for a week, then fly to athens for a night, take the boat to Crete. There it will be 3 days at Loutro, one whole day hiking Samaria Gorge, then Chania. Then back to Athens for 3 days and back to Luton airport.

So the question is this. What do I take with me and what do I leave behind? I am tempted to leave the tripod home, since I mainly handhold all my lenses and only use it for long exposures. I don't think I can take everything with me. The most obvious thing would be to leave the 120-300 behind, but it's my most used lens and I know that I will regret not taking it. But I'm fearing that it will be a burden, especially in Samaria Gorge. My girlfriend's got a 350D with a Sigma 18-50, and I was thinking of giving her the 10-20 for just the Samaria hike (it's something like 6-7 hours) and I'll have the 120-300, so I'll shoot the wildlife, and then I'll take her camera to shoot landscapes and vistas.
What do you guys think? I don't want to end up regretting either bringing too much or missing something!
 
No matter what you take, it'll feel too heavy and not include the focal length you want...

I take the grip off my D80 when travelling long haul - pocket the second battery; saves a great deal of weight and bulk compared to function. The 120-300's a fair beast - in the good light you're likely to get, is it worth going with a lighter, cheaper lens - for example the 70-300IS or a cheapie from Sigma/Tamron? Watch your kit over in Athens [I personally didn't feel safe in the touristy places, which I found surprising because Greece is a beautiful country - spent a month or two dossing around the Peloponnesse when I was younger...] Anyway, here's me suggesting a Lada when you own a Bentley.. having two bodies is quite a useful thing - as you say, one wildlife and one wide makes a great travel combo..

[Edit - see from your flickr that you have a Greek name - and therefor likely to be much more savvy in Greece than I....]

The sigma 10-20's a good bet, in any case. And it's worth buying a decent bean bag - unfilled, then buy a kilo of rice or beans over there to fill it with.

One place I visited when I was travelling there was Kalambaka/Meteora - and it's on my return list...
 
best answer is to give an idea what nikon gear ime taking on my trip

D700 [no grip] 2 batteries
50mm F1.4
28-105mm zoom

to much stuff i find a burden and easyjets down to 15kg now
 
It wasn't last week... I took 2 1 series, a 70-200, 17-40, 85, 50, 28-105, two flashes and a laptop in my hand luggage. 500mm prime in my case, which came in at about 19.9kg. No questions asked either way.

But I wouldn't bother with all that if I wasn't working...
 
I'm going to NYC very soon and of the kit I have I'm currently thinking of either:

Nikon D300 + Grip
Nikkor 17-55 F2.8
Nikkor 70-300 VR
Sigma 10-20 EX
Nikon SB-800 Flash
Manfrotto 190CX Pro-4 and 488RC2

OR

Nikon D300 + Grip
Nikkor 18-200 VR
Sigma 10-20 EX
Nikon SB-800 Flash
Manfrotto 190CX Pro-4 and 488RC2

OR EVEN

Nikon D300 + Grip
Nikkor 18-200 VR
Manfrotto 190CX Pro-4 and 488RC2
 
Un-gripping the camera is a nice idea, don't know how I'll manage though, I've had the grip since nearly the day I bought the camera, and I don't wanna know how it will balance with the 120-300. Will give it a try.

Thanks danbroad for your advice. Not sure if I'd like to buy a new lens that's worse than the one I've got, just for this trip. When money allows, I'll probably get a walkabout telephoto (probably the 100-300/4, which is cheap, light, and sharp), but I'll have to make do with what I have now.

As for Athens, yeah, I wouldn't trust going to certain areas alone with my camera equipment, the same with every large city really, but yeah, i do feel safer than some areas in london for example, but i dont think muggers would think twice just because i am greek :).

Meteora is an AMAZING place, i went twice (last time was 7 years ago and my photos are somewhere lost in a pile of negatives) and it's definitely in my places-to-visit (or re-visit) list, along with Santorini. But unfortunately I wont have the time, I'm visiting my parents in Cyprus, my sister in Crete, my best friend in Athens (with my German girlfriend, and I stay in the UK ... I never realised that my life is so complicated :thinking: )

I am thinking more of the convenience factor instead of weight, since I always travel light in terms of clothing and everything else.

I decided to take the 120-300, the 50/1.8, give my girlfriend the 10-20 and that's it. Now I'll have to decide if I'll take my tripod or not. I should, shouldn't i? There are some amazing sceneries to photograph, but what I was thinking is that I probably wont have the time, since my girl isn't really into photography, even though she is always supportive and she patiently waits for me or lets me go on my own, but we will be on vacation and I don't want to be an ar$e.
 
You'll be walking DOWN the Samaria Gorge, presumably.....so possibly not TOO onerous?

Will you be doing it on an arranged tour? A few years ago, we got a local bus to the village at the top, spent all day walking down and stayed in the guest house at the bottom. More quiet time that way...
 
From Loutro, it's a LONG day to do the gorge walk. Boat trip to Sougia or Sfakia, bus to Chania and then another bus to Omalos. We did the walk a few years ago and we were picked up from just outside Chania at 05:30 - we arrived at the top of the steps at 07:30. Even at that time and altitude, it was 22 degrees C. Take plenty of water. You can refill bottles at the village of Samaria but you'll have to queue for the tap (the bogs there are quite basic - agaion, be prepared to queue!). Just as you're nearing the bottom of the gorge, it opens out and is stinking hot and there are a couple of km still to go. The bars in Agia Roumelli are a most welcome sight! We've stayed in Chora Sfakion many times and always enjoy watching the walkers stagger off the boats and up to their coaches; the boat ride is just long enough for all the muscles to tighten up!

As you may have guessed, we've been to Crete a few times (and will probably overlap your stay - we arrive May 26th for a 2 week stay. First week in the west [a few nights just outside Chania then a few down at Elafonissi] then the second in the south in Agia Galini). Despite having been before and taking hundreds if not thousands of photos, I still take a full range of kit, from 12mm up to 300. In the past, I've also taken a 50mm f/1.8 but I'll probably leave that behind this visit and rely on the high ISO performance of the D700 to get me reasonable shutter speeds in low light. I would suggest you leave the big tripod behind - there's generally plenty of light to not need one and a beanbag or similar on a wall/rock/table is a decent substitute. I'll be taking my Gorillapod SLR Zoom this time, just to see how it gets on.

Kalo Taxithi!
 
It's always hard to know what to take on holiday and it depends on what you like shooting. My first trip to Florida I took just the D3 with 28-70 and 70-200 VR with a 2x and regretted it massively.

All trips since then have been the D3 & D300 with 200-400 and 1.4x in my hand luggage, with either just a 50mm or the 28-70 in my check in for the odd landscape (but mainly just for the 'holiday snaps'). Thats a fairly easy to manage setup then that I can carry about easily enough in one bag when I'm away.

I also have a tripod and monopod in my check in, although last time I didn't use the monopod and only used the tripod once...the rest of the time it was a beanbag.
 
I'm taking kit on holiday for the first time this year (Kefalonia). I've narrowed it down to the following.

Sony A700
Sigma 10-20
Sigma 24-70
Sony A100
Tamron 18-250

All in a Tamrac Aerospeed 85 back pack as hand luggage. (The Sony A100 and Tamron 18-250 are for Sue to use). I'm hoping that I won't miss the longer focal lengths but hopefully it will make me think more about my shots (But then I'm not really planning on shooting any wildlife).

I have thought about the tripod but it is just too heavy. I have thought about getting a lightweight one but will probably not bother.
 
What about a gorillapod instead of getting a lightweight tripod, bit more useful and could be useful in some situations back home!
 
Thanks everybody for your thoughts!
Yeah, Jerry, we'll be walking down the Gorge :).

Nod, that's most helpful! I have been to Crete twice, but I've only visited the north of the island, and mainly Chania and Heraklio! I bought a Crete travel guide for my girlfriend to keep her occupied and make her believe that she'll organise the trip :thumbs:.
I am used to high temperatures, but I'm afraid my girlfriend isn't (she's from the northern part of Germany), so lots of suncream for her, a big hat and long-sleeved shirt I suppose.
What I was thinking was to take the bus to the top of the Gorge early in the morning ( 05:30 sounds right), walk down the Gorge and then take the boat from Agia Roumeli to Loutro. Either that or do Loutro on a different day (we'll stay there for 3 days). We never do organised trips, I think that way you miss opportunities that you otherwise wouldn't. I remember 3 years ago, I was driving near Sfakia, and I stopped at a house for directions and the family there "forced" us to stay for lunch. The guy actually took my car keys and refused to give it back unless I agreed that we would stay for lunch and some raki. We had a wonderful time, the people were so friendly!


Nod, any other places you suggest we visited? Our base will be Chania, but we wouldn't mind spending a night or two somewhere else. We can hire a car or motorbikes.

As for the gear, I think you guys are right, I wont take my tripod with me. And Richard says that he'll be taking his 200-400/4, which is a monster of a lens and a full 500g heavier than my 120-300/2.8, then I'll definitely take mine.
But do you guys think that I'll manage lugging it around with me at Samaria Gorge? I think I'll take it anyhow :p

I'll check for prices for gorillapods. The only reason I would like a tripod is for early evening landscape shots with Grad filters. Can they support the 400D with 10-20 steady enough for a few seconds exposures?

EDIT: Nod, I arrive at Chania on the 4th of June, We'll go to Loutro on the 5th, since the 8th is a Bank holiday in Greece, so my sister with her husband can join us and stay until Monday, then we'll leave for Athens on the 12th or 13th! Imagine, a random TP meet in Crete, that would be one for the books! :)
Kalo Taxidi kai se sena!
 
stylgeo said:
Thanks everybody for your thoughts!
I'll check for prices for gorillapods. The only reason I would like a tripod is for early evening landscape shots with Grad filters. Can they support the 400D with 10-20 steady enough for a few seconds exposures?
Click to expand...

Definately!! :) The only problem you may have is finding something to attach it to/lean it unlike a proper tripod. :D
 
I travel alot! for work and holidays. I'm a big fan of travelling light but what I would say is that I've really regreated not taking a tripod with me more than one time.

I think it really depends on what you are planning to shoot...I tend to shoot landscapes and city with a bit of candid people while on holiday.

I own a 10-20 sigma, 24-105, 35, 50 & 100-400 and find that just taking the 24-105 is the best option.

I tried taking more lenses and found that the 10-20 was a good option given it's so small and light wieght but I found i didn't really use it enough to bother.

I'm not familiar with the 35-105 but it might be a good mate with the 10-20.

if on the other hand your going to shoot something that needs more zoom you might need to take that 100-300.

take the filters, again another thing that's worth the wieght.

ditch the grip, I leave mine at home, you can really do without it.

I would also say live with 1 battery and a charger, for a couple of weeks it's not going to hurt you to charge it up as you get low, I doubt you'll drain a full battery in a single day if you don't use live view!

I also invested in a light weight tripod rather than the big Manfro I use at home. I went for a Velbon ultra max iF, it's a great bit of kit that srinks down to the size of your forearm but still extends to almost the size of the manfro. Not as stable as a big tripod but half the size and a 3rd the wieght, certainly worth the trade off and much much better than a bean bag as you can use it anywhere.

I've tried to live with a guerilla pod and bean bag but they just don't cut it for me.

so ideal travel kit for me is:- body, 24-105, 2 ND + polarizer, 1 battery, charger and lightwieght tripod.

I can fit all that in a modest size bag, fling the tripod and charger in the suitcase and I take it on with hand luggage!

Hope that helps.

Enjoy the trip
Phobic
 
If you've got your own transport in Crete and are based in Chania for a few days, I would recommend you visit Lake Kournas (a few km South from Georgiopolis). A bit closer to Chgania and a little harder to find is the lake at Agia (a few km South of Platanias). Elafonisi (on the South Wester tip of the island) is well worth the drive but isn't as much fun if it's windy. We're staying there for a couple of nights - nothing like sharing a small bottle of Ploumari and watching the sun go down from the beach!!! The beach at Falassarna is worth the drive too. Just head west as far as you can then head downhill!

I would be up for a meet but typically, we will be in Agia Gallini when you are in the Chania area, having been in Chania until 2 days before you arrive! Don't plan anything strenuous for a couple of days after the walk - it was all we could do to get to the bar the day after! While you're staying in Chania, it's worth getting to the Koukouvaia café/bar near the Venizelos grave on the Akrotiri penninsula for a sunset. The view is amazing (so are the chocolate cake desserts!!!) and you can see the whole city beneath you (and the sunset reflects off the harbour).
 
Thanks Phobic, I think I settled with the gear I'm taking, but I should decide what I'm gonna do tripod-wise. The 055 is just too big and heavy to carry, and I'm not really convinced with the gorilla pod. It just looks too flimsy to me, probably I should go to a store and check it out, but I think for £40, I could do better with a cheap lightweight tripod that would fit in my backpack. Will do some window-shopping and decide!

THanks Nod. Funny you mention Koukouvaia, because 3 years ago when I was at Chania again, my sister took me there, and you know what for? For the view and the chocolate cake! :p. You are right, both were amazing!
I do like the idea of Elafonisi, and my sister told me about Falassarna. But she-who-shall-be-obeyed will probably decide on which of the two :p
Can't wait for that chilled ouzo at a nice taverna near the beach, or those warm shot of rakomelo with friends. Last time I went, my brother in law took me for a round of rakomelo at a "bar" near the port of Chania, called "Ta Dhio Lux" (Τα δύο λούξ) and it was great fun, nice place, lively people. And for food, I don't know if you've been there, we went to this restaurant called "Typografio" (Τυπογραφείο), and the food and service was amazing, along with the pianist. Weird salads there though, I had one with lots of vegetables (lettuce, tomato) and fruit (strawberries, mandarin and sultanas) and must say that it was the most horrible thing I tasted in my life! My sister loved it though :p
 
Not seen "Typografio" (Τυπογραφείο), any idea what the address is, or can you give easy directions from the fountain in the square by the harbour? When we're in Chania itself, we tend to eat at the Amphora (great for people watching on saturday nights!) or the Karnagio (although we've seen that that was up for sale - the new chef/owners may have made changes for the worse). We also quite like Éla which is up one of the side streets in the old town. Never had a bad meal anywhere in Crete - some have been better value than others but we've never felt ripped off.

Just over 4 weeks until we go and we're already planning which bar to hit first and where to grab the first meal. Depending on whether our flight is delayed and how long we have to wait for our lift from the airport, we're pretty sure but it's possible that the restaurant will be shut so we'll have to grab a pizza from the place opposite the Edem Bar in Anallipsi.
 
Nod said:
Not seen "Typografio" (Τυπογραφείο), any idea what the address is, or can you give easy directions from the fountain in the square by the harbour? When we're in Chania itself, we tend to eat at the Amphora (great for people watching on saturday nights!) or the Karnagio (although we've seen that that was up for sale - the new chef/owners may have made changes for the worse). We also quite like Éla which is up one of the side streets in the old town. Never had a bad meal anywhere in Crete - some have been better value than others but we've never felt ripped off.

Just over 4 weeks until we go and we're already planning which bar to hit first and where to grab the first meal. Depending on whether our flight is delayed and how long we have to wait for our lift from the airport, we're pretty sure but it's possible that the restaurant will be shut so we'll have to grab a pizza from the place opposite the Edem Bar in Anallipsi.
Click to expand...

Well, Typografio was in the big plaza where the main Greek Church of Chania is, the big one! When you face the main entrance of the church, it's on your right, behind the statue of the Archbishop. LOTS of great tavernas and restaurants there (last time I went, I gained 4kg in one week :p ). If you've never visited during Greek Easter, i strongly advice you to do so, and if you have friends there, spend Easter Sunday with a Cretan family up in a village. It's just a great experience!
Thanks for your help and suggestions so far Nod. Kalo ta3idi, and all the best! :thumbs:
 
Thanks! Should be able to find it from that. Hope to get there for an Easter at some point if/when finances and work commitments allow.
 
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