Advice on gear for a French River Cruise
Apr 13, 2018 09:51:31 #
Next week, I will be taking a French river cruise from Lyon to Arles and a follow-on visit to Marseilles. I have set aside the following gear for the trip. I have a Canon 6D with 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm lenses; a Canon G10; and a Canon SX50. I thought my 6D with the 24-70 mm lens would be my "walk-around" setup, with the 70-200 mm lens to used for shots requiring more reach (i.e. photographs from the boat to objects on shore, etc.). The G10 would be used for in-door photos and situations where a bulky camera setup is impractical. I plan on using the SX50 when extreme reach is needed. I practice packed this equipment, along with associated battery chargers, filters, SD cards and a flash attachment in my "back pack" camera bag and, needless to say, it is rather heavy. My question is: Should a just suck it up and go "as planned" or should I pair down this gear to lessen the weight? If the latter is suggested, what should I do without?
Apr 13, 2018 10:16:14 #
Would you really be carrying it all all the time?, do you really need the flash? I love my g 15 but if it were me I'd leave it home, I'd pick the sx50 or the 70-200 not both, now that's me, over the years I gone from a telephoto guy to a wide angle guy , I would add a 50mm 1.8 or a 2.8 40mm or 24mm to my bag for low light, main lens would be Sigma 17-70, that's on my T4i, WA would be Canon 10-18, if I had the extra weight capacity I'd add a back up body
Apr 13, 2018 10:40:47 #
I'd live with just the 6D and the 24-70. This zoom range and full-frame sensor already will cover the vast majority of your situations. Having less equipment / weight to worry about will make for a more enjoyable trip.
Apr 13, 2018 13:08:31 #
Next week, I am carrying the Nikon D810, Nikon 28-300 and Tamron 24-70. A UV and CPL for both, 4 batteries, associated brushes, SD/CF cards and maybe a small Manfrotto BeFree tripod or the Platypod.
Oh, I am also taking a Sony RX100M4 also.
Oh, I am also taking a Sony RX100M4 also.
Apr 14, 2018 06:56:32 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
PaulB wrote:
Next week, I will be taking a French river cruise ... (show quote)
If you want your wife to take to you again, take a small pocket camera and don't ignore here making a spectacle of yourself. TRAVEL LITE, TRAVEL RIGHT. trust me, it is the ONLY way you will enjoy the trip
Apr 14, 2018 07:23:29 #
Assuming you'll do some street photography in some of the oldest cities on the continent (Lyon, Arles and Marseille) you better travel as light as you can. Backpack if fine, but you'll carry it all the time you are on your legs...
Apr 14, 2018 07:27:15 #
allan catt
Loc: gillingham,kent,uk
Get a good point &shoot.ie.lumix tz80.and enjoy your holiday.do you really want to do the work of a pack horse.
Apr 14, 2018 07:58:38 #
I did a similar cruise last year. I took a mirrorless camera (Panasonic G85) with a 12-60 mm lens and a 14-140 lens instead of my heavier Nikon 7100 and several lens combinations. I also took an Olympus Stulus 1s (which takes great shots and is much more than a point and shoot. I could carry it in my pocketbook or jacket pocket, too). Didn’t miss the Nikon and now will not travel with a heavy camera again! All my camera stuff fit in my overnight carry on and was with me all the time!
Apr 14, 2018 08:04:16 #
Apr 14, 2018 08:27:28 #
Don't forget your 'Speedos'...
Travel Light is the key, including cameras. Pair down and take only what you absolutely need. The more you have to carry the less you'll enjoy the trip and photography.....All In One's like the Sony RX10 Series, LUMIX DMC-FZ1000/2000/2500, Canon SX-60 seem to be doing great jobs these day, especially for travel.
Travel Light is the key, including cameras. Pair down and take only what you absolutely need. The more you have to carry the less you'll enjoy the trip and photography.....All In One's like the Sony RX10 Series, LUMIX DMC-FZ1000/2000/2500, Canon SX-60 seem to be doing great jobs these day, especially for travel.
Apr 14, 2018 08:58:16 #
I had great results in Arles with my Sony RX100IV. I left my D800e at home and didn’t regret it. Arles is a great place for photography—enjoy!!
Apr 14, 2018 09:08:16 #
PaulB wrote:
Next week, I will be taking a French river cruise ... (show quote)
If you have been hired to do a shoot, take every thing. If you are "just" a tourist take the SX50 and cards and batteries. travel light. A hint about shooting from a boat. Use higher shutter speeds, as boats are always moving.
Apr 14, 2018 09:12:52 #
I would go as light as you can. If you take the 6D, I would suggest the 24-70 and if time and budget allow get one of the f24, f28 or f40 f2.8 primes. If you’re sure you need the 70-200, I would skip the 24-70 and add one of the primes for walking around. I would also take the G10 or an upgrade. I would not bother with the flash or the SX50, unless you would carry the latter in lieu of the 6D. In that case, don’t bother with the G10. Obviously there are other combinations. My point is weight and as simple as possible, since you want to experience the trip, not just photograph it. I would also take the best pair of compact binoculars you can afford.
Apr 14, 2018 09:58:05 #
StevenG
Loc: Long Island, NY
PaulB wrote:
Next week, I will be taking a French river cruise ... (show quote)
I have taken a number of European trips, including river cruises. The vast majority of my photos are taken off the ship, while waking around the beautiful villages, towns and cities. IMO it is essential to travel light. Not only does the equipment get heavy, but there is very little time to change lenses and set up shots. I would highly recommend taking only one camera and one lens. In my experience wide angle is used more than telephoto. While I would prefer something longer than 70mm, (for those times a telephoto is needed) if I was taking only one lens, I would go with the 24-70.
Steve
Apr 14, 2018 10:23:50 #
The easiest, most perfect answer to your question is to take me with you. I'll carry the equipment, take the pictures and process all of them after the trip. If I sound jealous, I am. :)..
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