Gear for Kilimanjaro

[gad-westy]

Hi all, I'm trekking up Kilimanjaro in September and just starting to think about what to pack and anything I need to buy. Of course, photos are at the forefront of my mind.

Currently I have an X-T4, 12mm f/2, 16-55mm f2.8 and 50-140 f2.8 and 1.4x TC. Oh and an X100F.

Baggage limit for Porters to carry is 15kg. Baggage limit for my own pack is up to me but obviously the lighter the better.

Interested in big vista views, maybe some wildlife at lower altitudes on first couple of days. And hopefully some astro at camps at night.

I'm quite aware that it could be pretty dusty at times and towards the summit, very cold so lens changing might not be ideal. So, although I don't love superzooms and I certainly don't like spending money, I'm starting to think I should consider buying the Fuji 18-135mm lens and carry only that and the X-T4 during the day. There is also the the Tamron 18-300 option but I suspect that is needlessly heavy for this trip and certainly more expensive.

If I go for the above option I'll then have to think about whether I take any other kit in my porter luggage for around camp in the evenings. Would love to have my nice lenses there but that gear with tripod could easily consume 20% of my weight limit on its own. That takes me back to a full circle of wondering if I should just commit to carrying my 16-55 and 50-140 in my own pack and save some money as well.

No right or wrong answers to this I'm sure but would be great to hear other's experience on trips like this and what worked and what didn't.

 

[Craikeybaby]

I would probably just take the X100F, it is going to be hard enough, without carrying extra camera kit.

 

[RobbieCurrell]

I am envious, its always been something I wanted to do, one day I will get there.
Unless you are experienced at carrying weights ie long hikes with a heavy pack you want to go as light as possible.
15kg is not a lot of weight and you will be surprised how quickly that will fill up.
Make sure you line the inside of your pack with a heavy duty garbage bag, that will help if it rains.
Personally I'd try to take as much options as possible, carrying it myself as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
However, I would also be testing it out, once you are up there it will be too late.

 

[Nod]

I reckon the X-T4 + 18-135 would be close to ideal as a one lens solution and will deliver far better IQ than a bridge or compact. The 18-135 isn't quite as good as the 18-55 but that's only because the 18-55 is so good for a kit lens! In real life, you'd be hard pushed to see the differences in landscapes, although the slightly greater distortion from the 18-135 does show when there are buildings in the frame.

 

[The Duke of Bork]

Don't underestimate the physiological effects of altitude. Pack lightness.

 

[LeeRatters]

I think I'd just take the zooms!

 

[Fuji Dave]

Hi all, I'm trekking up Kilimanjaro in September and just starting to think about what to pack and anything I need to buy. Of course, photos are at the forefront of my mind.

Currently I have an X-T4, 12mm f/2, 16-55mm f2.8 and 50-140 f2.8 and 1.4x TC. Oh and an X100F.

Baggage limit for Porters to carry is 15kg. Baggage limit for my own pack is up to me but obviously the lighter the better.

Interested in big vista views, maybe some wildlife at lower altitudes on first couple of days. And hopefully some astro at camps at night.

I'm quite aware that it could be pretty dusty at times and towards the summit, very cold so lens changing might not be ideal. So, although I don't love superzooms and I certainly don't like spending money, I'm starting to think I should consider buying the Fuji 18-135mm lens and carry only that and the X-T4 during the day. There is also the the Tamron 18-300 option but I suspect that is needlessly heavy for this trip and certainly more expensive.

If I go for the above option I'll then have to think about whether I take any other kit in my porter luggage for around camp in the evenings. Would love to have my nice lenses there but that gear with tripod could easily consume 20% of my weight limit on its own. That takes me back to a full circle of wondering if I should just commit to carrying my 16-55 and 50-140 in my own pack and save some money as well.

No right or wrong answers to this I'm sure but would be great to hear other's experience on trips like this and what worked and what didn't.

If it was me then the only lens I'd take is the 50-140mm with the 1.4x TC.

 

[gad-westy]

Wow, loads of great replies, thanks.

I would probably just take the X100F, it is going to be hard enough, without carrying extra camera kit.

I do sometimes take the X100F up mountains when I want to travel light but I must admit when it comes to mountain stuff, I nearly always prefer extreme focal lengths and the X100F sits way too in the middle so I think it's going to stay at home, sadly.

I am envious, its always been something I wanted to do, one day I will get there.
Unless you are experienced at carrying weights ie long hikes with a heavy pack you want to go as light as possible.
15kg is not a lot of weight and you will be surprised how quickly that will fill up.
Make sure you line the inside of your pack with a heavy duty garbage bag, that will help if it rains.
Personally I'd try to take as much options as possible, carrying it myself as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
However, I would also be testing it out, once you are up there it will be too late.

Cheers. I'm a bit lucky with the Kilimanjaro thing as one my mates runs an adventure company and he runs a few trips there each year. This year he's doing an extra one for some pals and I, so it will be just 5 of us and porters. Been booked since 2019 but pushed back two years due to you know what. Really looking forward to it now it looks like it might actually happen.

I do quite a bit of backpacking so I'm used to the load but not the altitude. Though in this case, the 15kg is carried by a porter. What I carry myself is up to me, but there will be 2kg of water, extra layers and some snack bars in as a minimum. I think at lower altitudes, I'll probably be happy enough with the camera and 2.8 lenses in there as well but starting to wonder if I should haver a compact there for when we get higher and put the big camera in the porter bag once it starts to become a burden.

I reckon the X-T4 + 18-135 would be close to ideal as a one lens solution and will deliver far better IQ than a bridge or compact. The 18-135 isn't quite as good as the 18-55 but that's only because the 18-55 is so good for a kit lens! In real life, you'd be hard pushed to see the differences in landscapes, although the slightly greater distortion from the 18-135 does show when there are buildings in the frame.

Cheers. It's definitely seeming like a strong option. Fuji are also due to bring out an 18-120 f/4 anytime now but I assume it might be bigger and pricier than I'd like but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled. Not too adverse to buying something specific for this trip with the intention of selling it afterwards though I think I'd lose a chunk of money if I had to buy new.

Don't underestimate the physiological effects of altitude. Pack lightness.

Cheers. Certainly not underestimating it but always tricky weighing up (pun not intended) the photographical aspect vs physical effort. Same everytime I go out quite frankly. The idea of maybe planning to lighten the load as I get higher is starting to seem sensible though. Summit day in particular sounds like it will be a big slog and all about just getting to the top and photo taking will be way down the pecking order. I've had plenty of days in the UK where I've carried my camera up and it's never left my bag but I sometimes get shots that make it all worthwhile.

I think I'd just take the zooms!

I might yet do so. I have an excel kit list on the go so once I've weighed everything that is going I might be able to make a more informed decision. If I have enough capacity left over that the zooms could end up in the porter bag as we get higher, I might just go with this.

If it was me then the only lens I'd take is the 50-140mm with the 1.4x TC.

I do love high altitude longs lens stuff so I definitely want something reasonably long with me and at present that is my only option. Would still want something wide for astro though if nothing else and the 12mm itself weighs nothing. Trouble is, it also necessitates taking a tripod. Might share that with someone else though if we can double up on some things.

 

[Nod]

Trouble is, it also necessitates taking a tripod.

Not necessarily. A beanbag (and a flip out screen) is close to ideal and can be carried up empty and filled with pretty much anything - sand. gravel, even beans.

 

[gad-westy]

Not necessarily. A beanbag (and a flip out screen) is close to ideal and can be carried up empty and filled with pretty much anything - sand. gravel, even beans.

It's cerainly an option. A tripod will certainly be one of the first things to succumb if I'm struggling to get down to weight limit. Have a manfrotto poscket tripod thing too.

 

[Topsy]

Whatever lenses you choose to take with the X-T4 I would take the X100F as well, in the worst case of camera failure you will still be able to get shots. I'm personally not a fan of long lens landscapes so with your kit I'd just opt for the 16-55 and the X100F.

 

[gad-westy]

Since I first posted, I've weighed all the kit that will be going. Not as bad as I thought but the daypack stuff adds up so I've decided the 2.8 zooms will be staying at home. I think I'll be taking X-T4, Samyang 12mm, 18-135mm and maybe a 50mm f/2. I'll just take a mini manfrotto tripod thing, weighs nothing. The X100F will be coming as well. I'll also look to pick up a Peak Design Clip for my rucksack. Should have bought one ages ago TBH.