What kit to bring to Japan?

[Benosaurous]

hmm just back from a bangkok trip..

brought afew lens but in the end i only use 24-70 on 5D which would be ur 40D+17-55
i'd say bring a 24-105 + 10-2217-55(in back pack) use a back pack, just incase you really need the UWA.
most probably you will be using ur 24-105 90% of the time.

other 2 cents.
i went sydney hiking the whold day did not feel the strain with a 40D+10-22.
but when i walk around bangkok a whold day with a 5D+24-70 my neck is dying ...
wah liao little difference in weight can make the strain so much more ....

and when traveling with non-hobbist-photogs (i.e. family members) they are not so "happy" to be waiting for you when your ...changing lens / keeping stuff / cleaning stuff... i kena nag afew times liaoz ...hahaha

i second that, try to carry with backpack bags, my stealth reporter almost kill me. your shoulder will hurt like crazy.

your family member wont be too happy to wait for you to change lens and keeping stuff also, ahaha you'll know it when they start walking infront without you. so dont make the happy occasion to have any unpleasent arguements with your love ones with minimising the change of lens

and to strife, 5D+24-70 on a tour is like doing guard duty leh, haha, your are damn on.

 

[calebk]

My suggestions after been on 2 backpack tours.

24-105 simple great for travels, it will be on your cam for 80% of your shots.
To compensate on wide angle, just bring your 17-50 it is all you need.
For shots that 17mm cant cover, take multiple shots, and stitch with your photoshop, produce better effects than 10-22 uwa (my opinion)

forget 55-250, i believe i only use lesser than 3 times in my trips, you dont need to shoot birds, or pretty girls (your wife is there!)

it will be better to invest on a monopod, or a very light tripod, it helps even more than the other gears for taking good photos for travels.

I guess in his case, he has not much of a choice but to do stitching. That said, stitching will still give you a different perspective from what you get on a UWA.

 

[tyho]

Haha! I have a good friend, pro-photographer now based in Paris. He also complains that with a 5D and one lens his back is breaking when he prowls early morning Paris for photos.

See his work here-
http://www.memphiswest.com/
The Paris monochrome series is the 1st one on the list
http://www.memphiswest.com/_letranger/index.htm

He has some ACS pictures too (including the demolished old Clock Tower) for you ex-ACSians.

I was looking back at pictures I have taken with my Oly SP550UZ superzoom. Actually if I am careful with it, it can give quite decent pictures. Just have to watch the erratic focus and not allow it to auto select high ISO.

Anyway, getting an UWA is not an option right now. So I will pack the 17-50 (it's not the 17-55IS lens unfortunately) and the 24-105. The Oly will come along too. I can use that for the long shots (goes up to 504mm and is stabilised also). I have an old Lowepro backpack (only the bottom half is for cams) which I will be using. It's nearly 15 years old but still good. I'll stitch scenics that I need panoramic views. Maybe I'll be carrying my old monopod (good as a walking stick too) and a mini tripod for the 550UZ. The 40D can sit on walls etc for long exposures on top of a small bean bag.

 

[StrifeYun]

i second that, try to carry with backpack bags, my stealth reporter almost kill me. your shoulder will hurt like crazy.

your family member wont be too happy to wait for you to change lens and keeping stuff also, ahaha you'll know it when they start walking infront without you. so dont make the happy occasion to have any unpleasent arguements with your love ones with minimising the change of lens

and to strife, 5D+24-70 on a tour is like doing guard duty leh, haha, your are damn on.

For our passion :sweatsm:
and i still wanted to mount my battery grip :sweat: (will be getting a new softer stap now )

another 2cents,
would be best if ya can get a light setup and only use a "camera bag POUCH", so no strain on sholders at all
Have a fun holiday :thumbsup:

 

[jsbn]

My frank suggestion.

Leave that 17-50 on most of the time. Your family will appreciate it.

Use 24-105 only when u anticipate a scenery.

And when u see a moment of a lifetime, DON'T GAWK! Spring into action immediately and fire or change lens and fire.
I'm saying this cos I have a tendency to gawk at really beautiful lighting in landscapes.

 

[calebk]

My frank suggestion.

Leave that 17-50 on most of the time. Your family will appreciate it.

Use 24-105 only when u anticipate a scenery.

And when u see a moment of a lifetime, DON'T GAWK! Spring into action immediately and fire or change lens and fire.
I'm saying this cos I have a tendency to gawk at really beautiful lighting in landscapes.

I have a tendency to go into a process of self-reflection as to whether I should pull the camera out of the bag...particularly when it's hard to get to.

It constantly gives me an excuse to get a bag that I can access my camera quickly with... :bsmilie:

Moral of the story: since you probably won't be going to Japan again in the very near future, keep that camera easy to access.

 

[egnaro]

bring your 24-105 will do, then go japan buy more... :bsmilie:

 

[Zohan]

My frank suggestion.

Leave that 17-50 on most of the time. Your family will appreciate it.

Use 24-105 only when u anticipate a scenery.

And when u see a moment of a lifetime, DON'T GAWK! Spring into action immediately and fire or change lens and fire.
I'm saying this cos I have a tendency to gawk at really beautiful lighting in landscapes.

That said, gawking is not a bad thing. In fact, it could be better that you spend time to soak in the beauty of the scene, instead of taking the picture straight away. Of course the light might change after gawking. =)

The Zohan.

 

[xxpmrong]

That said, gawking is not a bad thing. In fact, it could be better that you spend time to soak in the beauty of the scene, instead of taking the picture straight away. Of course the light might change after gawking. =)

The Zohan.

and most of the time I shoot too much forgetting to aprecieate the view.. just have to learn to put that cam down =)

 

[StrifeYun]

I have a tendency to go into a process of self-reflection as to whether I should pull the camera out of the bag...particularly when it's hard to get to.

It constantly gives me an excuse to get a bag that I can access my camera quickly with... :bsmilie:

Moral of the story: since you probably won't be going to Japan again in the very near future, keep that camera easy to access.

wahaha me too , now thinking of "new" bag already :lovegrin:

 

[lennyl]

Leave that 17-50 on most of the time. Your family will appreciate it.

Use 24-105 only when u anticipate a scenery.

And when u see a moment of a lifetime, DON'T GAWK! Spring into action immediately and fire or change lens and fire.
I'm saying this cos I have a tendency to gawk at really beautiful lighting in landscapes.

What's the reason for 17-50 for people and 24-105 for scenery? The 17-50 would certainly be good for people, but also for scenery. The 24-105 is not usually wide enough for scenery, unless you're trying to get in close on some feature.

I'm not so sure springing into action immediately is a good idea. Unless it is something that will pass by quickly, I like to reflect on the scene and think about how best to capture it. Of course, you can also do that after you set up the equipment and took a couple of insurance shots.

 

[lennyl]

wahaha me too , now thinking of "new" bag already :lovegrin:

Lowepro just announced some new ones, including a "everything including the kitchen sink" Slingshot, backpack, and a Crumpler shoulder bag style bag.

 

[charlesleong]

Lowepro just announced some new ones, including a "everything including the kitchen sink" Slingshot, backpack, and a Crumpler shoulder bag style bag.

wahahahaha "everything including the kitchen sink" slingshot.

if i put my whole "everything including the kitchen sink" into ANY bag, my back will break!

 

[lennyl]

wahahahaha "everything including the kitchen sink" slingshot.

if i put my whole "everything including the kitchen sink" into ANY bag, my back will break!

Well, obviously from your sig, your kitchen is larger than mine :bsmilie:

 

[michhy]

Maybe you wanna read this photographer's experience on his trip to Japan.
Also, with a 3 year old toddler means you need to carry extra luggage already, why let your clumsy dSLR makes it worse for you? I suggest bring an ultra compact camera so your trip wont be ruined.

 

[tyho]

Maybe you wanna read this photographer's experience on his trip to Japan.
Also, with a 3 year old toddler means you need to carry extra luggage already, why let your clumsy dSLR makes it worse for you? I suggest bring an ultra compact camera so your trip wont be ruined.

Like I said in my original post, I have the use of a car for the first 3/4 of my trip so weight is not a big issue then. it's Tokyo-Kobe-Osaka (not sure where we will end up going actually) I'm more worried about. Arguably, I need to use the DSLR more in Hokkaido than when I am in Tokyo as I have been in Tokyo several times before for work (no longer have this opportunity though). I suppose I'll leave the DSLR in the hotel and carry the superzoom PnS once we get to Tokyo.

Very interesting blog though. Thanks for the link!

 

[michhy]

Like I said in my original post, I have the use of a car for the first 3/4 of my trip so weight is not a big issue then. it's Tokyo-Kobe-Osaka (not sure where we will end up going actually) I'm more worried about. Arguably, I need to use the DSLR more in Hokkaido than when I am in Tokyo as I have been in Tokyo several times before for work (no longer have this opportunity though). I suppose I'll leave the DSLR in the hotel and carry the superzoom PnS once we get to Tokyo.

Very interesting blog though. Thanks for the link!

Glad you liked the link. I too, share the sentiments of the author. I mean, we travel to other countries with our loved ones for vacation and sight-seeing, right? If that is your primary intention, then do your wife a favour, dont walk off taking photos midway - it spoils the mood for your companions (esp those who dont really care about photography). Eventho using a car most of the trip, most of the times, the attractions (eg, meal times, shopping, etc) requires you to get off on foot. This are the times when lugging large cameras can be cumbersome, and worse - frustrating too.

 

[mrhobbit]

hmm if its possible for you to get your hands on a rebel series.....a 10-22 and 24-105 with the rebel shouldnt break your back;p

but if you want to bring your 40D along, i would suggest 10-22 and perhaps a 85 prime? see if can beg steal or borrow, but if not, 10-22 and 24-105 should work very well

 

[charlesleong]

or go minimalist - xxxD+kit.

 

[lennyl]

or go minimalist - xxxD+kit.

That's not minimalist. Minimalist is camera phone.