randy pitts

We are planning a trip to Morocco in 2 weeks. We will have a guide and be there traveling around for a 2 week period. I plan on taking Canon 5D/4, 60D, Sony alpha 6000. 70-300 canon L lens, 24-70 canon lens and sigma 19/2,8 lens.
No drones.

Questions that I would like to have a better idea on-
1- recommendations on the gear?
2- any problems getting into the airport with that gear?
3- is dust and sand a major concern, if lens are not changed?
4- is it as difficult and awkward to take photos' of the people as I have read?
5- scams and pick pocketing as rampant as I read?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I get that your intent is to take 3 cameras to cover the range without having to change lenses in a dusty environment. Let me suggest that instead you take one body and rent a wide range zoom and save your self a lot of pain? Lots of weight and carrying all 3, even on a harness, would be more like work than pleasure, and switching constantly between bodies invites mistakes and missed shots.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

In about two weeks time you will have the answers. Kinda late now for those concerns.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Your guide should be able to answer 3 - 5. Where valuable camera gear is concerned, thieves are a problem world-wide. I travel with a small camera.

Nancysc

I was in Morocco in March 2020 on a tour before the country closed down and I had to take an Air France charter/rescue flight at great expense in order to get home. However, up to that point the trip was great. I agree with those suggesting you take only one camera body with one or two all-purpose lenses. In the desert and in many parts of the country it is dry and dusty, but not necessarily windy. I would worry less about dust and more about not burdening yourself with a lot of gear.

Pickpocketing is not common, esp if you carry your money/wallet in an inside zipped pocket. I witnessed no scams (like someone distracting you while another one rifles your belonging). The markets are crowded and in Marrakech motorscooters are allowed in the souks. In Fez there are no motorized vehicles in the medina but plenty of donkeys.

Photographing people can be tricky. It's best to acknowledge the person you want to photograph, with a nod and a gesture with your camera. Most vendors are used to it. Photographing people in the street is okay, but be prepared to be asked for a bit of money, esp if there are festooned camels about. I would take a wide angle lens that you can point in one direction while your subject is to the side as a less obvious way to capture people.

You cannot enter any mosques except the big new one in Casablanca.

Airport immigration was easy for me but I was not carrying any gear. The main suspicion is that you intend to sell equipment. Again, limit yourself to one camera and at most two lenses. No tripod, very small flash if any. Be there for the experience. It's a beautiful country.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

You are taking way too much and will grow to hate all of it by the time you get home. I made that mistake on a 6 week National Park tour. I’d take a wide ranging zoom, a nifty 50, and maybe a good point and shoot.

StevenG Loc: Long Island, NY

I was in Morocco about 7 years ago for about a week, as part of a Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour. It was vey interesting and a highlight of the tour. However, you must be careful and follow all rules and laws. If you are in a spot where photos are not allowed, DON’T take photos. Your camera will be confiscated. In most instances I had no problem taking street photos of people. But be cautious. Regarding equipment, as has been said, take one camera and one zoom lens.

Garty Northrop Loc: SE Washington State

We took a thorough photo tour of Morocco about 5 years ago. There were no issues with
safety or doing street photography. I'd take mizzee's advice on equipment,

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

We spent almost four weeks in Morocco in 2017--one of our favorite trips. We were all over. I would agree with the others about reducing the amount of gear--specially if you are moving around a lot. It's too late to drastically change what you have but I could recommend the 70-300 lens with whichever body you prefer (sorry, I'm not a Cannon shooter). That should be your main lens. The only other lens I would recommend would be a very fast 35mm or 50mm 1.4 or 1.8. We were in a number of mosques and the artwork is fantastic but the light very low and no flashes. Also there are times when the fast lens will be very useful at night. Other than that the 70-300 should cover everything. Dust is mostly a problem if you camp on the Sahara desert but not more in the cities and towns than anywhere else. If you just take the two lenses I've mentioned you'll have no trouble. Like the others, we found Morocco to be as safe as anywhere else and maybe better than a lot of places. Street photography is well worth it but like everywhere there are people who don't like cameras pointed at them. That's one reason I shoot most people shots at a distance. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

Seabastes

[quote=randy pitts]We are planning a trip to Morocco in 2 weeks. We will have a guide and be there traveling around for a 2 week period. I plan on taking Canon 5D/4, 60D, Sony alpha 6000. 70-300 canon L lens, 24-70 canon lens and sigma 19/2,8 lens.

I believe one should always have a second camera, usually a small P&S as a backup incase your main camera fails.

Amaize

There is nice sea side stuff btwn Casablanca and Rabat. Marrakech is one of the most interesting places. You are on the edge of a desert. Consider bringing the lightest, long sleeve shirt - keeps sun off and keeps you a bit cooler in heat of day. My photo recommendation especially around the markets is you Sigma 19. Don’t know those cameras but it’s nice to have a flip back screen and carry it and shoot from the waist - screen pointing up. People don’t pay much attention, especially the kids, to your shooting. As soon as you pull the camera up to your eyes, it’s game over. Get outside the market in Marrakech an hour or so before the sun starts setting - lots of activity, music, snake charmers, you name it. It’s always interesting in the markets when you stop at a stand and look at an item, then a few doors down you stop and the merchant pulls out the very same item. The kids will follow you through the market and alert the next shop - kinda like on the internet when they nail your algorithm.

Douglas Paal Loc: Carlsbad, CA

My best photo opportunities in Morocco were in the shady streets of the various valley cities. Something 24 to 35mm (not necessarily zoom) in as low light lens as you own. I used Leica M, no problems. Some people (mostly mature ladies) object to photos. Kids never.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Why take two crop sensor bodies with different mounts? Why take more than one interchangeable lens body?

You didn't say which 24-70. If this is the f/2.8 model, that and your 70-300 and just the 5DIV is all that is needed, unless "we" means a second shooter and they'll need a second camera from all this potential equipment. Alas, the lens options don't lend themselves to two people shooting the same mount with different lenses. Add an 18-135 lens to either of the cropped bodies that come along for the second shooter, if "we" is both shooting together. I'd stick to the same mount to share, therefore just probably the Canons.

faustincpa

If I were you, I would be more concerned about scammers than lenses because there are a plethora of them there. Hope you have a lot of fun.

ELNikkor

What CHG said