Do you travel with all your gear?

1 body + 1 lens, that is all I bring with me.  

As the years run down, I travel less.  Thus pack more gear than ever.  As each visit is very likely my last visit to that location.

ohwell

As at this point in time I only have the 1 camera body and 4 lens, so I guess I would still take all with me. 

However I do need to invest in a new tripod as my last one just broke.

I learned the hard way, usually packing a half ton of gear I never used. Now, a body and a couple zooms if planning to fly then hike, much more gear if driving....

Not even close! One body and a couple of lenses is all for me.

Alex wrote:

Scotty wrote:

Alex wrote: I had the opportunity to speak with a new PT member today "John C." who is heading up to his cabin with family and fishing in Colorado this week.  Sounds like fun right?!  

This had me thinking about our upcoming trip to Hawaii.  And for some reason I started to chuckle about how much gear I use to carry with me while traveling.  And these weren't for gigs, I'm talking just vacations.  Man, I would bring just about everything I could.  My Think Tank Airport Security would be FULL, and when I say full... I mean you couldn't fit another micro fiber cloth in it!  LOL.   Oh, and the kicker?  I can remember MANY (who am I kidding, MOST) trips, where nothing but one camera, and one lens got used.  

While other trips, I felt obligated to use a flash, or one of a half dozen other lenses, or what ever that was in there.  Just so I mentally could say,... heck... "I used stuff".  As if to sell my self that I really needed to break my back lugging all this stuff with me.  

Fast forward to today.  Stream line and lean and mean.  Our upcoming Hawaii trip, I'm bringing one camera: Sony A6300 and two lenses.  That is it!  LOL.. don't ask me on which lenses I'm bringing.  

I've shared my story, do you have a similar history with what you bring with you today vs 5 or 10 years ago? 

Post up, let's hear your story!  

I usually know what i'm trying to accomplish and only bring the right tools for the job.

Scotty, Scotty... come on bud.  You just gave the perfect answer of what you SHOULD do.  Have you ever brought more gear than that you needed on a vacation?  

Not that I can remember.    

As you have undoubtedly noticed, the airlines are using luggage weight to get more money out of us, especially on international flights. Returning from Paris, they (Air France) gouged me by springing a requirement to weigh my carry-ons- both of them, and demanding payment if I didn't want one of them to go steerage. That's a deterrent to heavy packing from now on...No more taking my pet lenses along, just in case...

Depends on where I'm going and how long

I am not a pro so this is probably of no consequence. I don't fly anywhere I can drive and couldn't afford to fly anyway. But when I go to field trials, I carry two bodies and two lens.  A D5000 for backup and a D7000 I use for primary. I also carry a 18-140 and 55-300 lens an extra battery for both, extra card's and charger. Also carry a printer. People like it when you can make a print for them before they are ready to leave! Every thing fit's into a camera bag, the box the printer came in, with extra ink tanks, and a paper box for paper. Oh yea, I also have an Fiskars inexpensive paper cutter! All fit's on the floor on the passenger side and room for more thing's if i want. 

I don't concern myself with prime lens's or 2.8 lens's, people at the trials couldn't tell a photo from a prime lens from simply a good zoom. In fact I don't know that I could! If I don't take enough to cover the range I might need, it reach's the point where I can't get what I want.

No, just what I need

Light and fast for me. One camera and two lenses more often than not.

Yes I travel. It is really good experience to travel.

I'm part of team minimum when traveling

Depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing. These days I travel lighter than I ever have. Might be a function of my age more than anything!

I admit that I used to carry everything I owned when I traveled. I went to Europe and hauled around two bags worth of gear. I spent my time trying to keep up with everything and making sure it wasn't being stolen. I eventually learned my lesson 4 or 5 years ago. When I fly on a trip now, I take my Olympus E-M10 and 14-150 lens along with extension tubes and a 9mm fisheye body cap lens. A lightweight tripod in the suitcase. My camera bag is now tiny. If I'm driving for a trip, I still take it all. The best advice I can give people is not to take everything when going to far away places. You will enjoy the trip more if you are not a camera gear pack mule.