In May we are off to Italy, Greece and the Holy Land. Then in August, Alaska. I have been stressing over what camera and lenses to take. Then I remembered. About 30 years ago we went to France, Germany, Switzerland, and England and all I had with me was my Olympus XA2 and came back with hundreds of wonderful photos and slides. And then I remembered a very recent trip to Yosemite loaded with cameras and lenses and spending a lot of time changing lenses, lugging around stuff and seeing more of Yosemite through my finder than with my eyes. I missed a lot. Although I will probably take more than an XA2, I will simplify, simplify, simplify. When did it become so complicated? Serious gear for birding, at the shore, in the woods. Simple gear for vacations.

As a wildlife photographer I usually travel with two camera bodies, Nikon D-7200 and D-7500 along with an adequate collection of lenses, mostly DX, from 10-600 mm. I also carry a little pocket camera, and have been considering replacing one of the larger bodies with the Nikon Z50 with their FTZ attachment since it is a compact little fellow, but could use my existing lenses thus eliminating my little pocket camera. Plus, I can start on what will be the eventual change to mirrorless photography. My wife and I regularly travel to Alaska for coastal brown bears, and to parts of Africa for safaris. I wonder if any of you fine folks have any experience with the Nikon Z50 as a travel camera and/or a second camera body. The jump to full frame at this point would be very expensive. Thanks, and have a good weekend!