[LaurenOE]

Agonize, no -- I enjoy thinking about what gear I really need for the trip and selecting accordingly. For one thing, it gets me thinking about my photographic goals and priorities for the trip, i.e. well on the way to a shooting plan. My last trip was pretty successful in that regard. I used every piece of equipment I brought, and only a few times missed some of the stuff I decided to leave behind.

Yep, I agree. I make a VERY extensive list of things I will be seeing. I try to have GPS coordinates of locations so that I can do multiple things each day with minimal travel time between them.

[luftfluss]

Don't get me started on lenses... I agonize over what variety of tea to make in the evening...

[mdodrill]

Since I see in primes I have a very light weight choice of my 15, 21, 40 and 70. For a business trip, I would take the 15 and 40 which would be great for walking around vegas, taking night shots, etc.

[nikigunn]

For Las Vegas, I have two words: rocket blower. Despite monsoon season, it's still very dusty (I got back Saturday) and I took my 21mm, 31mm, 43mm, 77mm, 18-135, 80-320 and my Sigma 10-20. I'm of the opinion I'd rather not wish I had X lens with me, and I wanted my Tamron 90mm macro a couple of times but only so many fit in my camera bag. I used the 10-20 and 80-320 for some burros under an overhang on the way back from Mount Charleston and the Red Rock Canyon scenic drive so I would have been fine without them as well. Since the 43mm is my favorite, that's what I used most of the time; I prefer primes.

[interested_observer]

Usually when I travel on business its the Panasonic LX3, or if I feel I can go with my SLR - K5 now, it has either the 31 Ltd or the 12-24. That's it. One body and one lens.

However, this next time - I have put in a request to shoot a particular venue, and so I am going to ship probably 6 lenses (and tripod), since its probably a one time deal. I am even going to probably buy yet another UWA since I will need the FoV - the Sigma 8-16. So, I guess it boils down to knowing your target and and taking the appropriate equipment.

[gofour3]

I take ages to decide on what equipment to bring on a trip, depending on if it’s a driving road trip or a longer airplane trip. Also depends if I’m going to do a lot of walking and use public transportation to get around.

I have to decide on the format, film, camera bodies, lenses, filters, tripods and bags. I spend a tenth of the time deciding on what cloths to bring than which photography equipment to bring!

Phil.

[magkelly]

Yep, I agree. I make a VERY extensive list of things I will be seeing. I try to have GPS coordinates of locations so that I can do multiple things each day with minimal travel time between them.

Dang, and here I thought I was anal about stuff like that with my little marked guide book and a few internet print outs. LOL You got any time for fun (and spontaneity) actually penciled in there? It is actually supposed to be a vacation you know. You're supposed to take some time off from rush, rush, and unwind a bit? Coming back from a trip even more exhausted than before you left is kind of counter productive.

Is this an actual vacation or just a working trip? The one I try not to organize too much. The latter I organize to death usually, admittedly. But I still don't lug anything more than I have to either way. I truly hate lugging 40 lbs of gear across an airport or in and out of a hotels et all. It can get really old after a while. Wheeled bags, I love them, but they are really not all that ideal with climbing 3 flights of stairs, at the beach, or say hiking a canyon.

If I can't fit it all in a big messenger bag generally I tend to just leave it at home. I could pack for a 10 day trip to Europe in one small bag and I would too. Clothes can be washed, toiletries bought there or downsized a lot. Gear comes first, actually, but even then I really don't like to haul too much. Having a backache doesn't make for particularly great pics and the more obvious the gear is the more likely it will get lifted besides.

---

Last edited by magkelly; 07-27-2012 at 10:48 PM.

[Peter Anson]

interested observer is on the right track. i never leave home without my LX1. ( upgrade required). Wide is always my choice when travelling. Vegas is not a place I know, but others here, seem to veer towards wide.

[stace8383]

I'm a bit jealous of all you people who have so many lenses that agonising is an option! haha

[TOUGEFC]

Vegas, a wide lens and a fast prime is a must.

[rbefly]

Well, I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and risk the wrath (or, at least, friendly disagreement) of the previous posters.
Bring your favorite lenses. Period.
Why? Because if someone loves UWA, thay'll find a way to use that 15mm prime NO MATTER where they go. Astrophotography? Get that BIG sky! Wild animals? Get the WHOLE mountain range!
Same for the tele fans. Grand Canyon? Pick out ONE section of rock. Ocean view? ONE sailboat.
Macro? Don't get me started! And I love macro, but it does tend to make you look for the tiny things and (sometimes) overlook the whole picture.
We don't shoot what's THERE, we shoot what we see. Big difference.
A dozen photographers can go to Vegas, each bringing ONE lens, their favorite (all different) and each will go home happy, because they brought the RIGHT lens. And they did.
JMO,
Ron

[LaurenOE]

Dang, and here I thought I was anal about stuff like that with my little marked guide book and a few internet print outs. LOL You got any time for fun (and spontaneity) actually penciled in there? It is actually supposed to be a vacation you know. You're supposed to take some time off from rush, rush, and unwind a bit? Coming back from a trip even more exhausted than before you left is kind of counter productive.

Is this an actual vacation or just a working trip? The one I try not to organize too much. The latter I organize to death usually, admittedly. But I still don't lug anything more than I have to either way. I truly hate lugging 40 lbs of gear across an airport or in and out of a hotels et all. It can get really old after a while. Wheeled bags, I love them, but they are really not all that ideal with climbing 3 flights of stairs, at the beach, or say hiking a canyon.

If I can't fit it all in a big messenger bag generally I tend to just leave it at home. I could pack for a 10 day trip to Europe in one small bag and I would too. Clothes can be washed, toiletries bought there or downsized a lot. Gear comes first, actually, but even then I really don't like to haul too much. Having a backache doesn't make for particularly great pics and the more obvious the gear is the more likely it will get lifted besides.

LOL. I call it "Planned Spontaneity". I have no problem "scrubbing" a location for a day if something goes wrong or a location is not "photogenic". The more planning that I put in, the easier it is to relax.

This was last year's plan. During the trip I did more/less and added/subtracted as needed. This year will be even MORE ambitious and a full month.

During a vacation like this you never know what happens, but a framework is always better.

Thursday - 9/8/2011

Activities - London and Show
•Sleep
•Catch a show

Hotel
•Premier Inn - Heathrow
•51.480741,-0.424862

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Friday - 9/9/2011

Activities - Head North and Follies on the way
•Gaveston Cross - 1st 52.305599,-1.577053
•Kirby Muxloe Castle - 2nd 52.636970,-1.228087
•Roche Abbey - 3rd 53.402311,-1.183509
• Conisbrough Castle - 4th 53.484394,-1.226220

Hotel
•Premier Inn - Huddersfield
•53.644554,-1.773547

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Saturday - 9/10/2011

Activities
•Rievaulx Abbey 54.257441,-1.116614
•Helmsley Castle 54.245105,-1.064193

Hotel
•St. Georges Court - Ripon - Already paid $131.43 (one night / deposit)
•54.122852,-1.640696

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Sunday - 9/11/2011

Activities
•Richmond Castle 54.402071,-1.737621
•Hack Fall / Mobray Castle (Folly) 54.192863,-1.647874
•Druid's Temple (Folly) 54.203897,-1.733651

Hotel
•St. Georges Court - Ripon - Already paid $131.43 (one night / deposit)
•54.122852,-1.640696

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday - 9/12/2011

Activities
•Fountain's Abbey 54.109723,-1.581323
•Studley Royal

Hotel
•St. Georges Court - Ripon - Already paid $131.43 (one night / deposit)
•54.122852,-1.640696

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Tuesday - 9/13/2011

Activities
•Hadrian's Wall - Roman Army Museum
•Thirlwall Castle
•Ambleside Roman Fort 54.421592,-2.965038
•Birdoswald Roman Fort 54.989828,-2.603123

Hotel
•Holmhead Guest House - Green Head Northumberland - Already paid $129.79 (one night / deposit)
•54.982684,-2.533164
•Hadrian's Wall Caravan and Camping Site (Laundry) 54.985640, -2.422697
•Poly Clean Coin Operated Laundry - Carlisle 54.892489,-2.951422

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Wednesday - 9/14/2011

Activities
•Hadrian's Wall - Hike to Once Brewed (Heading East from Holmhead Guest House)
•Once Brewed 54.996167,-2.387971

Hotel
•Holmhead Guest House - Green Head Northumberland - Already paid $129.79 (one night / deposit)
•54.982684,-2.533164
•Hadrian's Wall Caravan and Camping Site (Laundry) 54.985640, -2.422697
•Poly Clean Coin Operated Laundry - Carlisle 54.892489,-2.951422

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday - 9/15/2011

Activities
•Hadrian's Wall - Vindolanda 54.9912,-2.360129
•Handrian's Wall - Hike to Housteads (Heading East from Once Brewed)

Hotel
•Holmhead Guest House - Green Head Northumberland - Already paid $129.79 (one night / deposit)
•54.982684,-2.533164
•Hadrian's Wall Caravan and Camping Site (Laundry) 54.985640, -2.422697
•Poly Clean Coin Operated Laundry - Carlisle 54.892489,-2.951422

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday - 9/16/2011

Activities
•Hermitage Castle 55.256009,-2.793381
•Kilchurn Castle (Evening) 56.403739,-5.027404

Hotel
•Glenorchy Lodge Hotel - Dalmally, Scotland UK
•56.402048,-4.977573

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Saturday - 9/17/2011

Activities
•Kilchurn Castle (Morning)
•Dunstaffnage Castle 56.454713,-5.437160
•Urquhart Castle 57.324094,-4.441717

Hotel
•Glenorchy Lodge Hotel - Dalmally, Scotland UK
•56.402048,-4.977573

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Sunday - 9/18/2011

Activities
•Threave Castle 54.939149,-3.969455

Hotel
•Aston Hotel - Dumfries - Paid in full - $203.71
•55.052308,-3.592367

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Monday - 9/19/2011

Activities
•Sweetheart Abbey 54.980243,-3.619115
•Dundrennan Abbey 54.806856,-3.947353

Hotel
•Aston Hotel - Dumfries - Paid in full - $203.71
•55.052308,-3.592367

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Tuesday - 9/20/2011

Activities
•Caerlaverock Castle 54.975656,-3.524069
•King Edward Cross 54.938391,-3.054017
•Castlerigg 54.602835,-3.098381
•Shap Abbey 54.530234,-2.700298
•Haweswater Hotel 54.517513,-2.799765

Hotel
•Wild Boar - Windermere - Paid $150 - 1/2 Balance of 202.00 lbs
•54.350474,-2.870071

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Wednesday - 9/21/2011

Activities
•Ravenglass Roman Bath House 54.350716,-3.404217
•Hardknott Roman Fort Coordinate = 54.402746,-3.205456
•Furness Abbey 54.135232,-3.197764

Hotel
•Wild Boar - Windermere - Paid $150 - 1/2 Balance of 202.00 lbs
•54.350474,-2.870071

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Thursday - 9/22/2011

Activities
•Beeston Castle 53.128826,-2.693496
•Brougham Castle 54.654098,-2.718807
•Penrith Castle 54.661782,-2.756499
•Dunstall Castle (Folly) 52.084286,-2.168319

Hotel
•Castle View Hotel - Chepstow
•51.644541,-2.672717

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Friday - 9/23/2011

Activities
•Wye Valley Hike - Tintern to Chepstow
•Chepstow Castle

Hotel
•Castle View Hotel - Chepstow
•51.644541,-2.672717

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Saturday - 9/24/2011

Activities
•Richborough Roman Fort 51.293364,1.331899
•Reculver Towers 51.379549,1.199548

Hotel
•The Kings Arms - Sandwich
•51.277489,1.338551

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Sunday - 9/25/2011

Activities
•Barfrestone Roman Church 51.205633,1.240066
•Dover Castle 51.129485,1.321245
•Mad Jack's Folly Complex 50.963671,0.396761 (Close to Battle Abbey)
•Battle Abbey and Battlefield 50.914229,0.486658
•Bayham Old Abbey 51.103866,0.355209
•Pevensey Castle 50.819734,0.335211
•Seaford Head Nature Preserve 50.762658,0.131879 (White Cliffs Parking lot)

Hotel
•The Kings Arms - Sandwich
•51.277489,1.338551

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Monday - 9/26/2011

Activities
•Rochester Castle 51.389378,.501251
•Darnley Mausoleum 51.389151,.433810
•Lullingstone Roman Villa 51.364091,0.196463
•Eynsford Castle 51.370501,0.213298 (Very close to Lullingstone - less than a mile)
•Sutton Valance Castle 51.212407,0.597746
•Upnor Castle 51.407264,0.52646
•Ace Cafe 51.541237,-0.277893 or London or ???

Hotel
•Premier Inn - Heathrow
•51.480741,-0.424862

[northcoastgreg]

Choosing which lenses to take, along with planning the trip, should be part of the fun. Unless you're being paid to shoot, there's absolutely no pressure.

I start with the DA 15, the FA 24-90 and the F 70-210 and just add what I suspect I will need (from extensive research). If I'm going to a familiar place, I'll probably add some more primes. If it's a less familiar place, I'll take the DA 16-45. I generally will not take a real expensive lens unless I'm pretty sure I'll need it.

Besides, what's the big deal to leave what you don't use (that day) in the Hotel or Car.

The worry is that your gear can be stolen or damaged (by the heat, for example, if left in a car). While I do tend to take a lot of lenses on trips, I generally don't leave them for long periods of times at hotel rooms or in a car. If a long hike was going to be part of a trip, I'd probably take less gear — only what I could carry on that hike.

[LaurenOE]

Choosing which lenses to take, along with planning the trip, should be part of the fun. Unless you're being paid to shoot, there's absolutely no pressure.

I start with the DA 15, the FA 24-90 and the F 70-210 and just add what I suspect I will need (from extensive research). If I'm going to a familiar place, I'll probably add some more primes. If it's a less familiar place, I'll take the DA 16-45. I generally will not take a real expensive lens unless I'm pretty sure I'll need it.



The worry is that your gear can be stolen or damaged (by the heat, for example, if left in a car). While I do tend to take a lot of lenses on trips, I generally don't leave them for long periods of times at hotel rooms or in a car. If a long hike was going to be part of a trip, I'd probably take less gear — only what I could carry on that hike.

True. Theft or damage is always possible. I have everything insured, plus I have a separate policy for gear in excess of $10k (which is the upper limit of what most homeowner's policy pays). As you can see by my post above - during one of my photo excursions/vacations - there are so many different settings and locations I go to, that it would be pretty hard to take just a few lenses. Sometimes I take a friend along with me who is interested in going to the same kind of places - and that friend is usually a Pentaxian - and they get to use lenses of mine that they would never get to try if I didn't take them along.

[GlennG]

Charles, will you be with others in a group? Having the flexibility of zoom may be preferential in that case. As for planning, I don't have much, so planning is easy. And, mostly I'm with others and in that regard I can't take the time to switch lenses, so my da 17-70 zoom is almost always the only one. I agree with others, on my trips to Vegas I've wanted wide - wide streets, tall buildings, lots of night lights. Lots of stuff at night, so, yes, faster is preferable also.