Family Holiday - What to pack

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Going back home for Thanksgiving ( the CDN one on Oct 10).

Flying down next week for eight days in southern Ontario.

Hoping the leaves are still on the trees down there.

Most of the time I'll be visiting family - lots of family snapshots I'm sure. Maybe a group one or two but not formal by any means.

HOPE to get some travel shots done, might get to Niagara Falls or try my country cousin hands at some urban shots.

But what lens and camera(s) to take.

Probably have to select one camera (most likely the D610).

I know I'll have to shoot groups in tight spaces so probably will pack my 17-35, and my 24-70.
Doubt I'll pack the 200-500 due to the size. Maybe the 70-300 and Crop-A-Lot if I get any birding done.
May through in the 50mm as it is so compact, and perhaps the Lensbaby fisheye for some fun shots.
One speedlight (SB700) but maybe the SB400 because it is so compact.

If I go with the D7100 - then I'd have the 16-85, the 35mm 1.8, and 55-300 which takes the T.C. much better than 70-300 FX one does, and the fisheye.
Wish I had a much wider lens (10mm ish?) but the 16mm is still OK (about 24 on FX). This would be a much lighter load.

The 70-200 is a bit big - but oh such a nice lens.

....

Given my lens collection any recommendation from seasoned air travellers.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
17-35, 24-70, 70-300, sb400 if you go with the D600. But the D7100 with 16-85, 35 and 70-300 would be so much lighter...

Enjoy your family, take pictures on the time you have. It's not like you're going on a shoot for National Geographic. Family is (might or should) be more important than pictures you'll take home.

Have fun.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
17-35, 24-70, 70-300, sb400 if you go with the D600. But the D7100 with 16-85, 35 and 70-300 would be so much lighter...

Enjoy your family, take pictures on the time you have. It's not like you're going on a shoot for National Geographic. Family is (might or should) be more important than pictures you'll take home.

Have fun.

That would be my choice if space and weight were an issue. (plus the flash)
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
as one who doesn't fly anymore take all the camera gear that will fit in your carry on. A change of clothes or toothbrush purchase as needed. Otherwise i would go with the 610/24-70/70-300 batteries and memory cards.

 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
My camera bag is packed

Looked up Westjet's carry on restrictions (and fees for checked baggage :(:()

My Lowe Pro video bag met the limitations of the smaller carry on. The big black hard case in the photo was bought because it maxes out the carry-on allowances.

In the Lowe Pro bag I have:

D610
70-200 2.8 - + the Kenko 1.4 TC (instead of a 70-300)
24-70 Tammy 2.8 (really looked hard at the 17-35 for indoor shots in tight space but the VR and longer zoom won the day after some test shots in my living room).
Lensbaby Fisheye - gotta have some fun, I had room for one small lens, this one won, it gives me some creative options.
SB700 and SB400 (If I took onlyone it would have been the SB700 but the SB400 was small enough to fit into one of the remaining spots, did think about a lens instead of the SB700 but it was slim enough to slide beside the 70-200 which a lens was not, and while the SB400 is dandy in most cases, it's lack of swivel can limit bounce options.
Batteries & Chargers & SD Cards

ASUS - Transformer - tablet - it is older & slower but has regular USB in and SD card reader (unlike the latest renditions of tablets) and some OK Android photo apps. Had tried to fit my big 17" ASUS ROG Laptop but decided in favour of having a change of clothing instead.

Had given some thought of making this a "prime" holiday by taking my 50mm and 85mm instead of the 24-70 but I needed a wider one. (Had I had a 20mm prime I might have).

My wife asked the critical question though - where is the room for the new gear I'll buy at the camera shops?


IMG_20161002_131418332+2016 10 02 Gear Packed-0001.jpg
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
17-35, 24-70, 70-300, sb400 if you go with the D600. But the D7100 with 16-85, 35 and 70-300 would be so much lighter...

Enjoy your family, take pictures on the time you have. It's not like you're going on a shoot for National Geographic. Family is (might or should) be more important than pictures you'll take home.

Have fun.

This. I just got home from a family weekend and had planned to take my 16-35/f4, 24-120/f4 and 70-300, plus a 568EX flash. I ended up not taking the 70-300, which was good because nothing other than the 16-35 ever made it onto the camera body. In tight spaces or dealing with crowds, I just found the up close perspective with the 16-35 to be a better fit then anything putting me further away.

*Edit*

Just saw you already packed and are on your way. Enjoy your trip and time with family. You've got what you need to capture some great images, so ignore my ideas. :)
 
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