26 Day Himalaya Expedition - Lens choices

Stephen, I'm sorry to say that I won't be much help. Your trip sounds like a photographer's dream! I love my 18-200 on my D300 so that would be, and is, a good travel choice. But, if you have been waiting for full frame to upgrade from the D200, this sounds like a great time, or a great excuse! What a wonderful dilemma! I wish for you an excellent trip!

Dick

If I could go on that trip, it would be the 18-200mm and the 35mm f/2 for me.

If you have porters that will carry extra lenses, why not?

If you haven't already done so, google Galen Rowell. He certainly used long lenses in the mountains from time to time, but he traveled relatively lightly and came back with the best photographs (check out Mountain Light for sure, and he had are several other wonderful books).

Before I answer your primary question, I would like to suggest taking a fully mechanical body as a backup to your digital gear, in case your batteries die up in the cold mountains. Maybe a recently serviced Nikon FM2n or FM3A with your 35 f/2 attached, and a few rolls of film just in case.

As for lenses, I would leave the slow 18-70 at home and take the 17-55 instead. Take the 50 1.8 and the 12-24.

If you can spend the money, buy the 70-300 VR. If you want to go the unlimited bankroll route, I'm sure hundreds of PN members will design a dream kit for your trip!

if you have porters to lug your stuff, this is the perfect time to splurge on a 200-400 or a sigma 120-300 (if you're watching your budget), right? alternately, you could just get a TC for the 80-200, which you may actually find not long enough. you appear to have all the other focal lengths covered, except 55-80 or 70-80, depending on which zoom you take.

if you were going ultra-light, an 18-70/70-300/50 set-up would be optimal, but since you have help and are insisting on the 12-24, the strategy changes.

really, i think you could do the trek with a bare-bones 12-24/50/80-200 kit in the mountains; in the cities just add the 35/2. the 18-70 is nice and light, but slowish. again, you have porters, so conceivably you could take the 17-55. and nice as the 85 is, that seems the most extraneous of all your lens choices.

a backup camera is also a good idea. if you take a film camera you might want to pop the 35/2 in the bag to pair with the 50. unfortunately none of your DX lenses will work on film, so that's a major consideration.

along those same lines, if you go for a d700, all of a sudden you have nothing for the wide end, so that's not a super great idea unless you want to pick up a 14-24 or 17-35 too, although i suppose you could stick with the 24, but you'd end up with a smaller wide angle than a d200/12-24 set up!

a better idea IMO is get a d300. the control layouts and form factor will be familiar to a d200 owner, except it's a better camera in almost every respect. alternately, you could pick up a lightly used d200 for seamless switch-offs and more intuitiveness (the d300 definitely has a learning curve, but it's worth it for the LCD, the high ISO, and the better AF over the d200).

you're gonna get a lot of other opinions, but even though i threw out some ideas, try to consider only taking what is absolutely essential (what exactly that ends up being, is entirely up to you!) sometimes too many choices arent always a good thing, and it sounds like you have a lot of good gear already -- do you really need to add more? remember, a purist approach to photography can lend itself to a Rowell-esque naturalist aesthetic--and possibly better photos. chances are, no matter what gear you have, you'll be inspired enough to not miss what you left behind.

If it were me I'd go 12-24, 35, 50, 80-200 with what you have (or if you want long but not the weight, buy a 180/2.8 prime). I wouldn't dismiss the 35, I think it is one hell of a small travel lens; far more useful than a 50 on DX.

If you want even lighter, 12-24, 18-200 (bought new) and 50 for lower light.

hint based on my extensive travels. Invest in those cheap/light waterproof bags to put your stuff in. They are worth their weight in gold.

I have been to Nepal 3 times and I have to say that photography slides down the list of priorities as soon as you get out of the airport terminal.

It's a wonderful place for photography, of course, but don't get too carried away with it.

If you want to cut down on weight then I suggest:

12-24mm; 50mm; 18-200mm

Enjoy the trip,

Namaste!

Three lenses looks too much to me... even with porters. I`d take one lens for all-day neck-hanging use, and perhaps another longer one if you think you`ll like to take remote peaks photos.

The 12-24 seems a right choice if you like this lens (althought a very heavy setup with a D200) that I would pair with a 55-200. The 18-70 + 70-300 seems a better option to me with 67mm filter threads on both. Nothing else.

I`d check previously the better apertures and "real" infinity focus, to avoid surprises.

I`m supposing that it is a "comfort type" expedition... electrical plugs, hotels, one day walks, etc. If you definitely need solar chargers I would avoid that pain and switch to film gear. Nothing better than a FM2n + 45/2.8P (this is the Nikon forum... ) and a 105/2.5 for that longer shots (if so). No worries about batteries, freezing, bumps, excessive weight, etc., etc., etc. Very small lightweight tripod, Sekonic L208 and cable release. It has been my choice for years. I like to enjoy the trips while photographing, thought.

Thanks for all the responses. Few comments in no particular order.

I'm sticking to Digital. I travelled a lot before, including (3 years ago) 9 months with a D70 with 12-24, 18-70 and 80-200f2.8, including -25C in Mongolia without power for 10 days and found it fine. No moving back to film for me. I've now got 5 EN-EL3e and 50GB of CF so I'm not concerned - put spare batteries in your inside pockets to keep warm if necessary.

Backup - I've got my old D70 which I could throw in. Shares batteries etc. Good point. btw, 12-24 DX works fine on film or the D700 in the 18-24mm range, but I'd worry about film cracking in the cold (and I've not shot film for 4 years now!). I certainly wouldn't buy another DX camera, it would be a D700 or nothing new.

12-24 f4 DX isn't heavy in my opinion and even fits nicely on my old D70, and optically beats anything else I've ever had in this range (including primes) except for my old 17-35mm... which sadly went when Nikon convinced me FF would never come...

The trip isn't a 'comfort' expedition. We're not doing the usual circuits - so no tea houses or power (or even food). We have to be completely self sufficient. This is an expedition rather than a simple trek, although we won't go above 6000m or so.

I have the luxury of taking a load of gear with me to Kathmandu and then leaving behind whatever we decide not to take. I'm thinking I'll probably take the lot and then cherry pick once I'm there, but I'll need to fill any gaps.

SUMMARY I need something lightweight that I can carry day to day in my pack (think a Galen kit) but with some extra weight the porters will carry.

BIG DECISION: 1) Buy the 18-200mm DX as an all purpose solution for most use, and fill gaps as necessary. 2) Buy the 55-200VR or 70-300 VR and pair with my existing DX lenses? 3) Buy a D700 and find a remarkably good sample of the 24-120VR.

I need something to reach to 200+ that I can carry all the time in my pack. I'm probably split between option 1) and 2). Option 1 is great as I would have the option to put the 12-24 and others in my bag with the porters. However, the lense will be redundant once I go back to FF. I like 2) because the 70-300 shares my 68mm filter with the 18-70.

Decisions...

Hi Stephen Edwards [Subscriber] Last year I made a tour in the Himalayan range from Manali-Leh-Kashmir in the Indian side. I suggest, even though you have porters travel light. Most important, carry a backup camera. If you are living in tents then you need more than 3 batteries for D200 because this camera need lots of power. You will not only see breath taking landscapes but also have opportunity to shoot portraits. People over there are very friendly and enjoy their pictures taken. Therefor I recommend carrying 12-24, 50 and 85 or 80-200. Preferably, skip the 85 and take 80-200. I hope you know it will be very cold now.