Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

I am 55 years old, and in reasonably good shape. I am going to do a 60 mile hike over terrain that will prove somewhat challenging, (Killarney, Ontario - Cloche trail), and am trying to figure out what I should take in terms of camera gear. So here are the selections that are fixed:

1) D800 camera - mandatory;
2) CPOL, 9-stop ND - with conversion rings to fit all lenses;
3) Light Tripod - (carried by another photographer);
4) Two batteries; 3 - 32GB cards;
5) Cable release.

Optionals - Lens choices.

1) 14 - 24 mm
2) 24 PCE - tilt-shift
3) 50 f1.8
4) 105 macro
5) 135 DC f2
6) 300 f4.

My inclination is go with 2 thru 4. My main aim is to get some good landscape images, and a nice starscape or two. I will pick up a camera condom since bad weather will likely express itself on one or two days. I think that about covers it.

If anyone has ideas about the lenses, or if I have forgotten any other must haves not mentioned in the list, please comment.

Thanks,

Nick.

Superman6869 Loc: Iowa

Lots of toilet paper!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Personally I would take nothing. I would concentrate on the challenge and the end accomplishment.

Unless you are by yourself doing this you need to keep up and adapt to other walking/hiking style, a challenge all by itself. Photography opportunities will diminish because of that.

As to take anything if I had no choice I would select light weight, small and performance vs bulky and heavy especially the D800.

As to have some other guy carry your tripod??? Wow! Get a walking stick that transforms into a mono-pod instead.

Superman6869 Loc: Iowa

1,3,6 and get a good monopod

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

As an avid hiker and photographer, I'd want three lenses but could live with one after filling my backpack with what is truly needed for multiple days in the outback. The 50 is the must have for low light and in-camp memories as well as knowing it could cover everything else if I can't carry more weight / space. Next I'd go wide angle. If I could still add more, I'd debate between the 135 and 300 if these were my only choices as I'd rather take a zoom that gave me longer reach as well as flexibility (and hopefully less weight). The specialty lenses like a tilt-shift or macro I'd save for a shorter trip where their use is a specific purpose of the trip.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I would take a 7 day cruise instead.

Or one of those 30 day rail passes that allows you to get on and off to visit places along the way.

I got more than enough of that walking and camping out stuff in the Army. One uncle got so adverse to that stuff that for 10 years after he got out he took his food in the house to eat at family BBQs.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Wow! That reminds of a certain someone who could not even look at cheese after having too much of it while a prisoner during WWII (after half starving to death). (long story)

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

You should re-think all that photo equipment. If it were me, I'd look for a mirror less camera, with a wide angle zoom lens from 50mm to 24mm at least. Plus, you'll need a way to charge your batterys, using a solar cell. You'll not want to hump any more extra equipment than necessary. Be sure to take large memory cards too. Happy camping.

B

Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

The camera is what I have so that is what I will take. Taking the 50 makes sense as has been pointed out. In the wide angle department it is the 14-24 or the 24mm tilt-shift. As I would like to do some near-far landscape shots, it probably makes the most sense to use. (Also the 14-24 does not support my filters - which is a bit of a PITA, but there you have it.) Next is, what about moderate telephoto? That leaves the 105 or the 135 DC. Could go either way on that.

The tripod was a bit of a no-brainer for me. Two photographers - one tripod makes sense for a multi-day backcountry hike, and he just went and purchased a lovely light Gitzo with a RRS head. It was share or carry in my aluminum Manfrotto which is a little heavy and hence was never really something I was willing to consider.

The 300mm is heavy, and while wildlife will no doubt appear, it is not at the top of my subject list - me being more landscape oriented. With the D800, I can also crop a fair if the wildlife appears - if I don't want to print big. That leave me with the 105 or 135 as my choice for a moderate telephoto, (or if I want to go light I take just the 24 and the 50.)

Thanks again to everyone for contributing. You each bring your own experience and perspective, and I appreciate that.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The 135, more reach but still not too long a reach, many use them as a portrait lens.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

double up on your batteries and cards just to be safe

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

Depending on "your" physical fitness and the "challenge" of the hike, I would bring one decent lens, personally probably the macro, a battery grip and two EN-EL18 batteries, with many spare memory cards, both CF and SD cards to cover your bases. The only reason I would allow anyone to carry the tripod or any of my gear, would be if it was theirs, and I was just hoping to use it every once in awhile, or in the case of my wife I shamed her into it. If it was my tripod I would have at least one of the legs fully extended with the other two velcroed or tied into a single shaft. A spiked foot would come in handy. Otherwise I would bring a monopod to double as a walking stick.

I made the mistake of bringing too much gear on 10 day trek and ended up throwing away over half of some of the useless stuff, my wife and I had brought, like food, spare flashlight batteries/w included flashlight and my favorite trench shovel. My camera gear and sidearm were the only things that did not face the chopping block that first night, I even contemplated ditching the tent the wife bought, which could fit everyone in our party but was roomy for the two of us.

Lessons learned

1# do not allow the wife to use the rut I am familiar with, and have broken in, it wouldn't have mattered what she hauled she still would have complained.

2# do not allow the wife to pack food without having to carry it herself, or without being thoroughly supervised. After digging into my 60lb rut I found a ton of canned food, at almost 1lb per can the weight added up quickly.

3# no matter how fit you are, if you do not know the terrain well, and are not accustomed to walking large distances daily, the few moments of stopping were spent resting, rearranging and cursing, to worry too much about the photo opportunities I was missing out on.

4# 99.5% of all my photos were taken at either the end of the day after we all were setup and relaxing by the fire, or bright and early, trying to delay the inevitable, by looking like I was trying to get a photo just right. In reality I just didn't want to start walking again.

5# It is hard to stay motivated without a direct superior, constantly berating you and pointing out your quite visible inadequacies, and shaming you into moving faster or grumbling less.

All in all though it was a great trip and we still do it every year except now we tend to slim it down to 7 days

JMHO YMMV

Jcmarino

Do you really want to carry all that for 60 miles? I would invest in a good bridge or lightweight camera such as a Sony, Canon, Nikon or Olympus, a mono pod walking stick and a snake bite kit. The Sony A7 or 6000 would be my choice. That 800 gets pretty heavy after a while.

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

I would double the amount of batteries. Sacrifice even carrying a lens in favor of more batteries. Solar recharger? Probably gets too complicated, assuming you could even find one compatible with your gear.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I would take the 14-24 and 105G.