Robert Yates 
, Dec 29, 2009; 05:17 p.m.
We are leaving in three weeks for a 19 day trip with stops in California, a 7 day tour of Australia and a 12 day cruise from Sydney to New Zealand. The land portion has stops in Sydney, Alice Springs, Uluru and Cairns. The cruise has port calls in Melbourne, Hobart, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tuaranga and Auckland. We are also doing a layover in Los Angeles before departing to Sydney.
And, as usual, I'm collapsing in my usual welter of indecisiveness as to whether or not to take my D70s and, if so which lenses. In the past, when I have taken the D70s, I have taken at least the 18-70 and 55-200VR, sometimes a 12-24. I also have the new 35mm 1.8 and and a 50 and the 28-105 from my film days. I have a G10 for walking around and my wife has a Canon 800SD, so I'm not sure that bringing the DSLR kit will be useful, especially as it is a lot of weight to lug through multiple airports and fit into a Think Tank Urban Urban Disguise 50.
The other members of our traveling party are not photographers. On the other hand, it is the trip of a lifetime for us, and I don't want to be kicking myself later for not bringing the equipment that will get the maximum results.
If anyone out there has done a trip like this, or something similar, I would like very much to get your thoughts on whether I should just bite the bullet and bring the DSLR and which lenses would be the most useful if I do.
Devon McCarroll , Dec 29, 2009; 05:37 p.m.
Well, I have heard on the news that in light of the latest attempted terrorist bombing on that flight last week, US security is not allowing you to carry much on with you, and in some cases nothing other than one bag that you can't have in your lap or with you during the flight. I personally don't like putting my gear in a carry on bag that's going up in a bin somewhere that might not be near my seat, but that's just me.
If you do want to take some of your gear, I'd stick with the 55-200 VR and maybe the 18-70. If you have a lightweight tripod or monopod that you can put in your suitcase, it would be handy to have one along, although the VR on your 55-200 should help. I definitely wouldn't carry everything! Oh, and carry lots of memory cards, and something to back up your photos on.
albert lee , Dec 29, 2009; 06:12 p.m.
or carry the dslr with the 35mm 1.8 only, and use it for both nice bokeh portraits, night shots and landscape views, i know its not super wide, but u'll probably be far back enough to take good pictures of any landscape at certain points in the trip. that would be a cool exercise in photo discipline.
Jerry Litynski 
, Dec 29, 2009; 06:23 p.m.
If you can get one in time, I'd suggest the AF-S 18-200mm VR DX Nikkor lens and one 67mm polarizer filter for your trip. One camera, one lens and you have just about everything covered for your cruise and shore visits. [Also, less chance of dust if one lens remains on the camera.]
Mihai Ciuca , Dec 29, 2009; 06:36 p.m.
Robert,
This is the time when you can feed your passion for photography, especially since the other people from your group are not involved in it! That means that you'll have great and unique opportunities to shoot... If I'd be in your place I'll consider a nightmare trip with no DSLR with me.
IMHO you have to take 12-24, 35/1.8 and 55-200. Or at least the 35/1.8 and the 18-70... Eventually a tablepod or no tripod at all in order to keep you lightweight.
I have serious problems with my back, my hip and my knee but I never travel without D5000, Nikon 10-24, Tamron 18-270, Nikon 35/1.8 or 50/1.4...
Dieter Schaefer , Dec 29, 2009; 06:42 p.m.
D70s, 12-24, 35 would be the minimum I'd take along - if there is still space, add the 55-200. Still a fairly compact package IMHO. Certainly a lot more capable than the G10. Whenever I decided to leave the "big guns" at home, I regretted the decision afterward. Are you planning on hauling a notebook along? Or another device to back up your images? Or plenty of cards to last you the entire trip? Don't forget the charger and a spare battery.
ross b , Dec 29, 2009; 06:43 p.m.
To much stuff is always a problem. I would keep it simple and light. I have a Crumpler 6million dollar home and it will only hold so much. I would limit my gear to what will fit inside of it, I would also want to have a mini tripod. I cannot tell you what to take however because I do not know what stuff you favor.
Charles Beddoe 
, Dec 29, 2009; 06:46 p.m.
You will regret not taking the an SLR and a range of lenses. If I were taking that trip, I would carry two SLR bodies, a wide zoom, a telephoto zoom, a fast lens, and a monopod as a minimum. You say it's the trip of a lifetime.
I would probably pack:
- D300 w/17-55
- D700 w/17-35, 28-70, 70-200, TC-17
- macro lens
- flash
- monopod
- tripod
- lots of memory, batteries, charger, polarizer
- and probably a laptop.
But that's me.
Alvin Lim , Dec 29, 2009; 06:46 p.m.
Since you are bringing your G10, you would have covered about 28-140mm so if you really want to bring your D70s, you may just want to bring either the 12-24mm and 35mm (if you shoot lots of wide) or the 35mm and 55-200mm. The other lenses seem to overlap too much with the G10.
Luis G 
, Dec 29, 2009; 06:54 p.m.
Put me down on the "carry the DSLR" list. The ability to work rapidly is particularly valuable when with a group/tour. You can get more pictures without lagging and dragging. I would pare down considerably, to two lenses to avoid problems with carry-ons and the present situation with traveling. The suggestion to take an 18-200VR is a good one, though I might prefer the 16-85VR, specially if you take the 35/1.8 for available light. From your present quiver, I would consider the 18-70 and the 35/1.8. Highly portable, light and effective.
