Cuba - To travel light on not?

psybear

psybear

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Okay, at the end of the day I know no-one can answer this for me, it will be a personal decision, but I'd like to hear views, particularly from anyone who has faced a similar dilemma.

I head to Cuba for a two week break with my wife at the start of July. Never been, always wanted to go etc. Three days/nights in downtown Havana then off to resort hotel in Varadero. Even when in Varadero I don't plan to spend all my time at the pool, I hope to get out and explore a bit.

My dilemma is whether or not to bring my D700 (and if so, what lenses) or whether I should buy that Fuji X10 I've been hankering after, and leave the heavy stuff at home.... I know there will be lots of great photo opportunities in Havana in particular, but I'm not sure that I want to lug around the D700 all day, plus the additional weight of (at least) my 24-70 and 16-35 lenses. I'm certainly going to leave the 70-200 at home! Plus there's the additional worry of all that expensive kit lying in hotel rooms when I don't have it with me...

Anybody faced a similar dilemma?
 
We went to Cuba and had to make the same decision. At the time we only had a D60 and 2 lenses but it was worth it and if going again would not hesitate at taking either our D90 or D7000. The photo opportunities are amazing.

We did not do Havana so can not comment about there but our hotel in Holguin felt safe and secure. The camera actually did not leave our side very much! Just because we were taking photos a lot. We had a room safe so you could store a lens in there if you were not using it. I can not remember if it was big enough for the camera itself. I think it was but can not be 100%.

Enjoy whatever you decide, its a stunning place!
 
That's a really useful response Alex, thanks. I'm tempted to bring just an 85mm for portrait shots and the 16-35 for landscape/scenery stuff. Seriously thinking about squeezing a tripod into the case too.
 
I think the main point of having a good camera is to be able to take photos in interesting and exotic locations so I would take the camera, but not let it out of my sight when out & about and keep it on a strap across my body (eg Blackrapid type of strap) so it can't be easily snatched.
I'd probably just take my favourite lens rather than a bag full of lenses as I hate being weighed down.
 
I just (literally am in London Gatwick now!) Came back from Egypt and left the D7000 at home and instead brought my compact olympus (which is very good and captures RAW)...

I'm glad I left the DSLR but would have loved the X10.

I told my girlfriend for our next holiday in January i'm getting it!!

It's quick, very good quality, motion panorama is a real nice touch, it's light and performs amazing in good light (which you will have).

The only thing you'll miss is...nothing ;)

Go for the Fuji!
 
I also have a D700 (and the same lenses as you!) and an X10. Great though it is, the D700 rarely goes on holiday with me due to its size and weight, if it does then I take a lighweight 28-105 and ditch the grip. Prior to the X10, I had a Panasonic LX3 which was a bit smaller and tended to go away with us. The X10 is far superior to the LX3, and since I got it in January, the D700 hasn't seen much use, and I'd have no hesitation in taking it away with me as my only camera.
 
psybear said:
Anybody faced a similar dilemma?
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Of course we have, I don't go anywhere without my camera :) ha ha

It's a tough one. I was in the same situation but with not as expensive gear. I would firstly make sure it's covered under your travel insurance. You may need to specify the gear before you go. I remember when I was in Rome I could not carry my tripod due to weight restrictions. I was so ****ed off when I got there not having it for beautiful night shots, so beware anything you don't take you might miss.

Within reason though, there's nothing worse than luging around gear in the heat so I would say take your minimum gear but your regular camera or you will miss it's capabilities.

As far as I remember my camera body fitted in the safety deposit box in the hotel room. Without the grip, thats one thing you don't need in my op.

And finally when transporting your gear keep it on you, around your neck etc just be careful and have fun snapping. If you think it will spoil your fun,with the worry, don't bring it

Have fun in Cuba :)
 
I went last year to Havana, Trinidad, Vinales, and Cienfuegos. Took my 18-50 mm and a 50-150 mm. Hardly used the latter and could probably have done with something a bit wider (on a 1.6 crop).

I never ever felt threatened about safety to my equipment or myself. ( That could just be me as my missus says I live on another planet most of the time. ) It's a marvelously photogenic country. Enjoy your trip !
 
Sorry but can't understand why buy such nice stuff,then a chance to really use it,then leave at home :)
 
Ive been in cuba once but it wasnt la habana, it was mayo coco. You will need a wide angle lens for old buildings,cars and seascape.i would take 70-200mm for interesting portrait shots as well. The area that I stayed was very secure so dont hesitate to take your expensive gear ;)
 
I took my DSLR + kit lens, 70-300mm and nifty fifty, tripod, If you go to Havana go to the Tropicana show its fab, we went all over the Island, we did quite a few trips with the reps, as its a good way to cover as much as you can :thumbs: as well as doing our own things by taxi or bus, wish id have had my wide angle lens then
 
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Just a tip, go to Santa Clara...
 
97 miles from Varadero I see. I take it I can get a bus?
 
Take it all!

I went there last year and was so gutted i took a compact!

Make sure you go to the dolphin centre! And mangrove fishing :-)
 
psybear said:
97 miles from Varadero I see. I take it I can get a bus?
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A bulldozer is more traditional B-)
 
seriously you must take it!

Cuba is beautiful people are lovely and photo ops are screaming out to be taken we were meant to go back for our honeymoon but the damn ash cloud ruined it then we had our little one so won't be going back anytime soon (at least 16 years and counting lol) :-(
 
In 2002, I got by fine with a Canon A-1, a 50mm lens and several rolls of Kodachrome :)

P.S. If you have any love for jazz, set aside an evening to visit La Zorra y El Cuevo (The Fox & The Crow) while you're in Havana.
 
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Forgot to say take a shot of someone and your expected to pay, the hand comes out, yeah right I did NOT their on the street, OK I did cross their palms with silver for some posed shots
 
I went last year - took my D5000, 18-200 and 35. Glad I took them. Didn't feel unsafe at any point, but even so;
1. I used an across the shoulder sling strap
2. I had it insured
3. I took a compact as back-up

It's an amazing place - enjoy it.
 
You should take it. The worst thing would be for you to come back wishing you'd had it and not being able to make the most of those once in a lifetime shots.

Whenever I leave my gear in a hotel room I do get that "I hope it doesn't get stolen" worry, but provided the gear is insured, it's worth the risk. If you're that worried about losing the images you've taken so far on the trip, make sure you take your memory cards with you when you leave the camera gear.

I'm sure many other people on here have left large amounts of camera gear in various hotel rooms too and they've been fine. All the birders on here with the big boy lenses are probably leaving 10k plus in their rooms! Just make sure you're travelling with a decent airline in terms on carry on, BA has a 2 bag carry on which I usually find enough and then tripods etc in the hold, (I know from a dreadful never to be repeated past experience that some airlines have a 1 bag WITH a 5kg limit and charge £30 for the privilege of going over it, lovely :( read small print!).
 
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Just Dave said:
Forgot to say take a shot of someone and your expected to pay, the hand comes out, yeah right I did NOT their on the street, OK I did cross their palms with silver for some posed shots
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I would just say that MY fees are higher than their fees so they can just give me the difference :lol:
 
As per most of the other replies - take it! I had a 2 week trip to Costs Rica and took my 5D plus 3 lenses. I just wish I'd taken my tripod too!
 
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