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Kit for Amazon and Machu Picchu
Jul 12, 2017 13:45:50   #
Hip Coyote
 
Dear Fellow Hogs:

My wife and I are headed to Machu Picchu and the Amazon in March or April. We are hiking (not taking the train) up to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Pass which is very high altitude. I carry an Oly 4/3 system and have my kit set up for Machu Picchu. I generally shoot in wide angles in the mountains so will limit my kit to that. (I backpack a bit and am well aware of altitude issues. Will be taking meds, training, hydration, etc. )

In any event, we are headed to the Amazon after the Machu Picchu trek which presents a different set of photographic challenges. I can take my 60 mm macro (for critters and flowers) and I have the Oly 14-150. My question for the Hogs who have been in the Amazon, did you use or wish you had a longer lens? I have the small Oly flash and a larger Oly flash that acts as a slave. I wont carry the heavy gear up Machu Picchu but can arrange to leave it behind at the base until I take it into the Amazon.

Any advice you have will be appreciated. Best regards,

Rick

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Jul 12, 2017 14:10:58   #
Robeng Loc: California
 
RWebb76 wrote:
Dear Fellow Hogs:

My wife and I are headed to Machu Picchu and the Amazon in March or April. We are hiking (not taking the train) up to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay Pass which is very high altitude. I carry an Oly 4/3 system and have my kit set up for Machu Picchu. I generally shoot in wide angles in the mountains so will limit my kit to that. (I backpack a bit and am well aware of altitude issues. Will be taking meds, training, hydration, etc. )

In any event, we are headed to the Amazon after the Machu Picchu trek which presents a different set of photographic challenges. I can take my 60 mm macro (for critters and flowers) and I have the Oly 14-150. My question for the Hogs who have been in the Amazon, did you use or wish you had a longer lens? I have the small Oly flash and a larger Oly flash that acts as a slave. I wont carry the heavy gear up Machu Picchu but can arrange to leave it behind at the base until I take it into the Amazon.

Any advice you have will be appreciated. Best regards,

Rick
Dear Fellow Hogs: br br My wife and I are headed ... (show quote)


Rick,

A couple of things. In regards to Machu Picchu bring your passport. They have a special passport stamp at the entrance which is pretty cool. Don't bring a lot of gear or look professional, or they will make you get a permit which cost more to get in.

As for the Amazon, I had a Sigma 150mm-500mm telephoto lens for the long distance monkey and parrot shots from my canoe. I'm glad I had it.

Rob

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Jul 12, 2017 14:29:19   #
Hip Coyote
 
Thanks for the info...I may go for the Oly / Pan 100-300 which could reach out quite a bit.

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Jul 12, 2017 15:11:04   #
Robeng Loc: California
 
RWebb76 wrote:
Thanks for the info...I may go for the Oly / Pan 100-300 which could reach out quite a bit.


Have a great trip. Peru is a beautiful country. Cusco is a huge city. I recommend you drink the coca tea when you get there for altitude sickness.

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Jul 13, 2017 07:02:48   #
GibsonGuy Loc: Danbury, CT
 
I have traveled to much of the Amazon starting in 1992 with many trips to the Iquitos (Peru) area. One of the surprises is the lack of light when in the rainforest. Bring something fast for those flower/bug shots. I relied on a 100 - 300 for the longer shots and was pretty happy with the coverage. You will love it.

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Jul 13, 2017 11:02:43   #
jaycoffman Loc: San Diego
 
You're in for a great trip. A small point about Machu Picchu--I think they technically will charge you "professional" fees if you have over a 200mm lens. I got a Nikon 70-200 for that trip but could have gotten by with my Tamron 16-300 because it's not a big lens and they didn't look at all. But that's on the books. I still liked having the 200mm there but I like shooting with telephoto. Lots of clouds and rain--we had to wait at the top of the sun gate for a couple of hours for the clouds to clear enough to get pictures. The walk back down was fantastic with the best photo opportunities of the day (for me).

As far as the Amazon is concerned--that was amazing to us. But it is very primitive and very wet and very dark (as someone else mentioned). That's where it gets tricky--I got two pretty good shots with my Tamron 16-300 of an iguana and a sloth that no one else got because I was able to zoom in on a small dark spot and shoot and somehow they both turned out pretty well. So, the faster the lens the better when in the rainforest but do have some reach. Also, almost all your travel in the rainforest will be by boat so be prepared for that--no long exposures and you don't want to be changing lenses while bouncing around. The hiking we did through the rainforest was fantastic and you'll want to be able to get some macro as well--the little flora and fauna is fantastic with colors you won't believe so keep that an option.

Wishing you a great trip--it was for us.

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Jul 13, 2017 11:46:18   #
Hip Coyote
 
Great advice...thanks.

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