Travel Tripod & Bag - Advice Please

[PindyBlitz]

Hi everyone,

In February I will be travelling in Africa and India over a four month period and want to take my camera and equipment.

I have searched through loads of other threads but can't quite get the answers I need, hence making a posting of my own - hope someone can help.

Recently, I have just sold my Lowepro Slingshot 200AW as my equipment is expanding beyond the capacity of the bag, so am looking for a new one that will be ideal for travelling. It must have two straps and in a backpack style, as I will have to probably wear it on my front at times with my main rucksack on my back! Also it must double up as a day type bag so I can put maps, water bottle, etc. in it.

I have a Canon 30D with 70-200 F4 L, Nikon SB-26 flashgun, Cactus triggers, 18-55 kit lens, filters, memory cards, and bits 'n' bobs. I also plan to get a wide angle lens as well as a better kit lens equivalent with F2.8. Would prefer it if the bag would hold the camera with 70-200 attached.

I have looked at the Tamrac Expedition 5 but wonder if it is too big? Any suggestions?

Last question (sorry for the long post), which tripod would be best for travelling? I have a Redsnapper at the moment - but that is far too big to take. Would a Gorillapod SLR Zoom be any good? I am worried it would lack the height for landscape shots. Anything else I have seen, Manfrotto 785B for example, would buckle under the weight of 30D and 70-200.

Plus I don't have a huge budget so looking for something around £30 really and it must be compact enough to attach to whichever bag I get.

Thanks everyone.

 

[rpcrowe]

I urge you, if possible, to get a second camera to take on your trip. I spent 10 days on Alaska's very photogenic Kenai Peninsula this past summer. I fell on the first day climbing a slippery slope and broke my 40D camera. if I did not have a 30D along with me, I would have missed out on some very interesting photo opportunities.

A second camera also allows versatility in having two focal length lenses immediately available without the need to switch lenses.

If funds are short (Aren't they always?); a used 350D would fill the second camera needs very adequately and would be relatively light in weight. You could buy your second body on eBay and then sell it (If you can part with it.) upon your return home.

Regarding a bag to carry your photo equipment, I like backpacks, especially rolling backpacks, for transporting my gear, but don't particularly like them for shooting. I don't like shooting with a backpack because it is too hard to get to the gear while it is on my back, yet this method of carrying leaves the gear very vulnerable to theft. This is exceptionally true in crowded bustling conditions which you find in India (and also most other parts of the world).

I carry much less equipment now than I did in my younger days. I am getting older and the extra weight is a burden to me and I am getting smarter and realize that I don't really need as much equipment as I once thought that I did.

My kit for standard traveling venues is as follows (Note: if I were expecting to shoot wildlife on other than zoo locations, I would additionally carry a 300mm f/4L IS lens):

Lowepro Mini Trekker (AW) for transporting my gear, not necessarily to use when I am shooting.

Two cameras:

30D and 40D cameras with extra batteries and charger (make sure local voltages are compatible with your charger)

Two lenses:

17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens - This lens gives me roughly a 28mm equivalent on my 1.6x cameras and is wide enough for most of my shooting since I am not a particular fan of wide angle shots. The constant f/2.8 aperture plus IS capability makes this a very viable low light lens. However, a less expensive option might be the 17-50mm f/2.8 Tamron. No IS but, a constant f/2.8 aperture. When shooting, I carry this lens around my neck on an OPTECH neoprene strap. I use a Chinese knock-off hood which suits me just fine.

70-200mm f/4L IS - I love this lens but a 70-200mm f/4L non-IS lens or a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens would do the job at a lesser price. When shooting, I Carry this lens in a Tamrac Zoom-19 holster case at my left hip. I equip the camera with a hand strap and a round-screw-in lens hood which allows me to carry the camera/lens with hood attached.

1.4x TC - which will extend my 70-200mm lens range to 280mm f/5.6.

MY PHOTO VEST WILL CONTAIN:

Filters:

67mm and 77mm CPL filters for the two lenses. Using a larger filter and an adapter ring is a less expensive way to go, but, is a big PITA.

67 and 77mm UV filters to protect the lenses in adverse conditions. I don't shoot all the time with these filters attached but will use them in rainy conditions or blowing sand.

I carry 67mm and 77mm ND filters to allow me to attain slower shutter speeds in order to blur water.

Cleaning supplies:

Lens brush and soft cloth

Flash:

I have a 550ex and a 420ex flash. I always carry one of these flashes especially for daytime fill light. Most of the time I carry the 420ex because of the light weight. I will also carry spare batteries for the flash

Protection:

I will carry two OPTECH Rein Sleeves. These are very light weight and inexpensive and will protect your camera/lens from precipitation or from blowing sand or dust.

Data:

I use a Samsung 4GB MP3 player which has voice record capability. I can also carry some "books on tape" and some music for entertainment.

Guide books;

I will carry guide books if needed or will copy sections and print them out.

A lightweight monopod will solve "some" low light problems. Two one-meter strips of back to back Velcro material will allow you to secure the monopod to a post, fence or some other structure. Although, this will not totally take the place of a tripod, it will allow some night and low light shots. A monopod also makes a nice walking stick. I do not carry both tripod and monopod and will make my selection depending on what I expect to shoot.

I also carry a notebook computer and a mini external hard-drive to download and backup my images. The notebook USB port also charges the Samsung MP3 player.

 

[PindyBlitz]

Thank you very much for the tips, I will have to look into the kit lens replacement and also the 1.4x TC. Am I right in thinking that the TC on a 30D will not auto focus, or am I getting my wires crossed somewhere?

Does the Mini Trekker AW hold a body with 70-200 attached by any chance? The Slingshot 200AW did but at a very tight squeeze, hence one of the reasons I got rid of it.

Anyway, thanks again for all the tips, will spend plenty of time looking into each bit and seeing how much i can afford to part with to get what I need.

Oh and one other thing, did you ever take a tripod or not?