Cornman Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hello All,
I need a bit of help from all the Hogs! My wife and I are going to a convention in Banff Canada in July for a week, flying there from Michigan, and I am in a quandry as to what camera gear to take with me. Here is a list of my stuff:
Nikon D7000 Body (obvious take!)
Nikkor 18 - 105 kit lens
Sigma 10 - 20 mm F3.5 wide angle
Sigma 70 - 200mm F2.8
Sigma 150 - 500mm F5-6.3 OS
Nikkor 50mm F1.4G Prime
Manfrotto Tripod and quick release head
Gorilla mini-tripod
Monopod.
LowPro backpack to fit all but the tripods and monopod.
If I take all the camera gear, the backpack weighs about 30 pounds, so I was wondering what thoughts you all might have about limiting the gear for the plane ride, so I can take maximum advantage of weight and picture taking ideas. Will be taking shots outdoors as well as indoors, at parties, dinners etc. in addition to nature. HELP, what do you think? Thanks in advance for the help!!

notnoBuddha

It is more than I would take but than I can be lazy. I would go with the 18-105 and maybe the 15-500 and a monopod. May your fifty. You know better than I what might be needed and you care to lug around.

scooter

Hello Cornman
I have shot in the Canadian Rockies many times over the past 20 yrs and it is my favorite photo op on the planet for landscape photography. If you plan on hiking I would recommend only an medium range zoom like you Nikkor 18-105
I would only take this lens and the 70 - 200 as telephoto shots of some of the distant mountain peaks are spectacular. The Manfrotto tripod should suffice.
I would also take a macro for wildflower photography

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Convention, parties, indoors, most likely minimal time outdoors === I'd would NOT take the big mamma.
I'd take;
Sigma 10 - 20 mm F3.5 wide angle
Sigma 70 - 200mm F2.8
Nikkor 50mm F1.4G Prime
Monopod
AND a flash!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

And LOTS of mosquito repellant!!
Seriously, I would take all your lenses. The 150-500mm will get LOTS of use with all the moose, mountain goats and bear in the area, you won't get them without it. The wides for the lake and mountain scenes, and the nifty fifty will be needed inside the Lodges, especially at Lake Louise. The tripod? Not so essential if the light is good, and it usually is in July, but would be handy if you want morning or evening shots with the mountains or lakes, as well as the Northern Lights if they present themselves.

EricLPT Loc: Jonesborough TN

Take me, I'll haul all your gear for you and you won't have to leave any of it behind! ;-)

Eric

Cornman Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thanks very much to all of you for your input, I am leaning toward taking everything so I am not found short (thanks MT for that idea, I was kinda headed in that direction anyway), but sorry Eric, I do have to take my wife, she is quite capable of carrying my stuff around, as I do the shooting!! (NOT!!). Thanks again to all, look forward to posting shots when we get back!!

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Yep, lot's of bug juice. Black flies are brutal during the spring.

PipesCJ7 Loc: Cordova, Alaska/Shoreline, WA/ Merritt, BC

Bring it all!! I was just there, Lots of different opportunities in the Banff area. Don't forget to take a day and drive to Lake Louise, you won't be disappointed. CJ7

TaraMar Loc: Kingston, RI

I would take everything except the 10-20 wide angle. I am heading to Costa Rica next week and am taking all my lenses and two tripods. Luckily my boyfriend insists on carrying my gear.

ArtSeaMom Loc: Cocoa Beach, FL

Amazing shots PipesCJ7! The only topic I didn't see was regarding handwarmers. I'm heading to Alaska in a month and going through a similar decision making process. I'd read that batteries are very sensitive to the cold and that it's a good idea to bring along hand warmers to keep the battries happy (to h*ll with the photographer LOL). Curious if any of you have hear similar advice.