Comments on: Packing 102

By: Jeffrey Chapman

Jeffrey Chapman — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:45:29 +0000

Hi Geir, I always pack two chargers (one as carry-on). Redundancy is a must for everything that is vital. Batteries and their chargers are vital.

By: Geir

Geir — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:59:33 +0000

Great idea with the dividers and the skins, I’ll pick that one up. But here’s one suggestion after doing this mistake when visiting Ethiopia. Instead of only bringing one DSLR battery charger, pack two, and always keep one in the bag. I left mine at home, and found out too late only to discover that there’s nowhere in Ethiopia where they sell battery chargers for the Olympus E3. I ran out of steam so to speak long before the trip was over, and cursed myself the whole flight back to home.

By: Lisa O

Lisa O — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:59:53 +0000

Jeffrey,
One more thing I would like to know about your cell phone and internet strategy while abroad. When you are in Italy for 4 weeks do you get a phone or sim card for that country?

I will probably buy a italian data plan/sim card when I arrive for my android phone. I”ll probably add so international calling for my iphone but with the android I can tether from and get a sim card more easily.

I know it doesn’t directly relate to this topic so if you don’t want to reply here maybe you could let me know at a later date.

Thanks

By: Lisa O

Lisa O — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:13:38 +0000

I’ve switched Nikon/Canon/Nikon/Canon I was sort of waiting to see what Nikon was doing with the fast primes but they are $2200 each for the 24 1.4 and 35 1.4 and after a year the 24 is still nearly impossible to get and likely so will the 35 so I went back to Canon.

I’m interested in how the TT Retrospective works out for you. I am thinking of that as a shooting bag but I would pack it empty (or stuffed with clothes and my gitzo traveler tripod) while traveling. Do you think it will pack well? I’ll look at it a photo plus next month.

By: Jeffrey Chapman

Jeffrey Chapman — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:41:27 +0000

I’m a whatever-works guy. Nikon doesn’t sponsor me; so I’ll switch to Canon if they’re willing to send me gear.

By: Lisa O

Lisa O — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:30:51 +0000

So you are a Nikon guy and David is a Canon guy. Keeps things well rounded.
Between the 14-24 and the 70-200 you’ve got some big glass just with those. I primarily use wide angles but often like to keep a tele on the 2nd body. I’m already working on my gear list for Venice. Yes, I’m a nerd.

By: Jeffrey Chapman

Jeffrey Chapman — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 01:30:33 +0000

Lisa, the lenses I bring change with virtually every trip. What I have with me now might be different from what I’ll have in Italy. I like to use different lenses, but I can’t bring them all. So I mix them up. However, some are almost always a part of the mix. Those are the 24-70/2.8, the 70-200/2.8 and the 50/1.4. Then I decide between the 14-24/2.8 and the 17-35/2.8. I like both a lot, but the latter is far more filter-friendly; so if I plan on using filters, then the 17-35/2.8 will be the choice. Sometimes I’ll just bring those four. In fact, I think that’s what I had in Italy this year. I probably used the 17-35/2.8 more than any other in Italy. So there’s a very good chance that you’ll see it with me in Venice!

By: Lisa O

Lisa O — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:29:27 +0000

Thanks for the lists Jeffrey. Very interesting. I’m a ThinkTank fan too. While I have a MacBook Pro 15 I use a MacBook Pro 13 for plane travel. I’m starting to work on my packing list for Venice next spring and will practice on several other short trips I have upcoming. Care to share what lenses you carry?

By: Jeffrey Chapman

Jeffrey Chapman — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:35:15 +0000

I’d love a roller, but with trips that start on puddle jumpers they’re just not ideal.

By: Jack Kurtz

Jack Kurtz — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:47:12 +0000

Jeffrey,

My list is pretty similar for luggage. I use the Airport UltraLight vers1 (I got a smoking deal on it – less than $100 new when vers2 came out), the Retrospective 30 (which I love) and Blundstones. A special word about Blundstones. Best Boots Ever.

Everyone raves about rollers for gear, and they are nice, but they don’t fit in the overheads of the little puddle jumpers. I picked the UltraLight cause it goes anywhere.

jack