Traveling Heavily, Camera Questions

Rode windmuff isn't that great from what i hear, get one of these, I have one and it's worked very well

http://www.amazon.com/Micover-Slipover-Windscreen-RODE-VideoMic/dp/B0076EHMRW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1353727363&sr=8-6&keywords=rode+windscreen

As for a tripod, get one of the manfrotto video monopods and a light compact photo tripod. It will cut down on space dramatically and give you the pan/tilt functionality with the monopod, and then the light photo tripod will work well for static shots.

You're going to want to invest in a bag lock and NEVER let your bag leave your sight. EVER. If you're crashing in a hostel you put that in your bed with you, put a strap around your arm/leg and make sure it's locked.

This is why Fstop has the best bags for travel. You access the ICU from where the bag rests against your back so there's no way of pickpocketers getting at your gear in a crowded space. When you're carrying around stuff like that Jamie's point is clear, don't ever let it leave your sight.

Assuming you are going to Europe, many train stations have lockers for travelers, and not the little ones like at ski resorts, some of them are big enough to get inside comfortably. They aren't too expensive either. Could be a good option if you know you won't want a big bag with you, or if you are staying near the station

THIS THIS THIS

Not to worry on the gear boys, I will be overly protective of it - bringing the Retina display as well..

Looking for audio info and maybe the top 3 lenses I should have for travel. Should I sell the 50 and invest in something else? Looking for two good primes and a good telephoto for the occasional photos.

Also, digital recorders...dr-40, 100, h4n? I mean, I dont know much on audio editing but I dont want any hissing, and incase of higher winds (5-10) and and other noise around me, I'd liek to be able to capture someone speaking a few feet away, etc..

Thanks!

this thread makes me want to stop leaving my pelican case full of lenses at the top of keystones park unattended

A wide angle, a fast normal prime, and a telephoto zoom would be a good set. So for a 7D keep your tokina, sell the 50 and pick up a 35mm f1.4, and get a 70-200 f4.

Also if you are considering "upgrading" cameras, why not pick up a gh2 or a gh3? Superior video IQ to the 7D or 5DmkII, and MUCH smaller and lighter. You could get a set of three great native m4/3 lenses that would be really compact. If I were I would go for this set:

wheeeew, would this work on a canon?

I don't know much about the gh2/gh3...prices are definitely reasonable but I think I'm caught up in the 'brand' whore game which is Canon, Nikon, etc..everything I see is by the two in edits but some vimeo footage from these that I looked at looks good, thena gain, I could probably capture the same with picture styles and such on the 7D/5mkii..

No, its a m4/3 lens so even if you tried to adapt it the image circle wouldn't cover an APS-C sensor.

Yep, the GH2 is wonderful. I shot the ON3P Factory tour edit on it:

http://www.lunarsolarcreative.com/on3p-factory-tour-video/

If you're looking for a camera just for vid you CAN'T beat it... especially for this incredible trip and traveling in general. it's light as shit. If you're looking for a camera that will shoot incredible photos as well i would suggest sticking with Canon - although I haven't seen what the GH3 can do yet, it might be better than the GH2. I do not like using the GH2 for photo at all.

As for the UWA - if you go FF get the Tokina 16-28 f2.8. It's a great lens.

How are you planning on stabilizing your footy? that's a big consideration too. Tripod?

Also - where are you going? I can give some feed back on traveling with cameras depending on where you're headed.

good lens, bad design, no ability to use filters when filming follow cams is a big no no

It's hard to make a FF UWA that's not giant without having the large bulbous front element. Nikon has been doing it for years. You could pay a lot more and get something else, but for the price this lens can't be beat.

The tokina 11-16 will cover a full frame sensor at 16mm too, so follow cams on a FF can still be achieved if not having filters is an issue, and there's no money to upgrade.

16-35 2.8L (mk1) isn't that expensive

love my 16-35

as far as primes go, you can't go wrong with a 35/50/85 combo, or maybe something like 21/35/85?

Is there something that isn't over $1k for these primes? I'm itching to pull trigger on a 35L but Canon is bank. I will look into the gh3 a bit more since I'm trying to sell my 7D for around $950 and the difference for the 5dmkii would cut into the travel funds a bit...

Trevor: for stabilization I'm still debating, I'd love to take a glidecam and tripod but I doubt it. Looking for some solid legs and obviously a ball or fluid head as well, 701 or 501? Something light too - need a little help in that dept. since my old tripod was from a camcorder I had in 02 and legs got bent when it was buried in the sand for a beach shoot? Don't ask..ha.

As for audio, sent a little wishlist to Santa last night for the video mic pro and a windcat, if I bought the dr40 what would be the best way to mount? Correct me if I'm wrong but it's not going through the camera and then thru the mic is it? I'd moreso need the recorder if I had an ntg2/3 yes?

sigma 50 1.4 rivales the 50L in many ways and comes in at $500, just make sure you get a GOOD copy without focus problems

rokinon 35 1.4 is also pretty nice, so is the new sigma, both are under a grand

85 go for the 1.2 if you don't mind slow as fuck focus, or the 1.8 if you want faster AF but don't mind the 2 stops loss in light. OR you could do a zeiss 85 1.4 if you don't have a problem with manual glass, they are really really really nice.

Look into the rokinon primes if you don't mind manual focus. Especially the 35 has gotten great reviews.

Any adapters for sig, rok, etc on a canon or Panasonic?

love this lens

if you went the dr40 route, audio would be completely separate. Maybe check out juicelink/beachtek, I use one with my T2i and NTG1 and it works great

How's it hooked up? I think using an xlr mic like an ntg on the trip is a bit much.. Basically no dr40 = rode on cam, decent sound. But, dr40 + xlr mic or rode on boom. = better sound with option to separate channels? I don't even need a mic with the dr40 correct? I can use that as my mic and get a windcat for that? Any info on that route?

that could work, just have to sync it up in post and if you were going the boom route you wouldn't be able to monitor it..

here's how my setup looks on a glidecam, but if i'm booming the mic I don't have the shockmount, I just have a long XLR cable going to the boom

Rokinon makes some great primes if you don't need AF and can get used to/like a manual aperture ring, for this reason they are especially great for video. My buddy has a 8mm and likes it. Groupon has a deal on their 85mm 1.4 today, I have heard great things about it, but have never used one

Where are you travelling, and for how long is the first question I would ask. 

I will have travelled for 11 months out of the last 15 throughout Southeast Asia, and Now Central America and Colombia.  I have not had any camera gear stolen, although many other things have disappeared. 

Heres what I think:  Buy a sufficient backpack that looks nothing like a camera bag, preferably black.. less memorable and obvious of course.  Buy a camera bag insert off ebay and keep everything safe in that.  Have locks obviously, and do cuddle your bag in hostels if you cant get a locker near to your bed.  Stay at family owned places and actually couchsurfing is a good option as well to keep costs down and your stuff safe; just stay with people that have loads of good feedback on their profiles. 

Currently Im travelling with a 5D III, 70-200 F4 IS, 100 2.8 macro, 50 1.8, tokina 10-17, a set of kenko extension tubes, a gorilla pod DSLR and a 15 inch Retina MBP.  Its totally ridiculous and I think the next trip I think Ill bring less, but all of that can fit in my one normal looking backpack, without drawing any attention.

If you can avoid it, dont tell anybody in hostels youre a photographer and also dont bring your gear out until you are a block or two away from the hostel so nobody will know where your gear is staying for then night.  Obviously you cant always keep your bag within a fucking foot of you, be realistic.  Youre going to be partying a ton and you have to leave your bag at the hostels so figure out a locker or just lock your bag and leave it under your bed following all the steps above.  If it doesnt look like a camera bag and people dont know that youre a photographer nobody is going to bother looking at a regular old bag.  There will be exceptions to the rule of course, like when you go on an excursion with your hostel and you have to bring out your camera.. Just be careful is all.

Keep your memory cards seperate from your camera gear in just in case, with your passport is always a good bet because youre not going to lose your passport (I hope?)  Thats about all I can think of for now!

Above all else enjoy your trip, dont be overly worried, just use common sense and youll be fine. 

Great info! thanks guys! I'll be traveling here shortly and have never taken my camera equip on a plane before I was very curious what the deal was!

beautiful, what recorder is that and do you know overall weight? Hd2000 I assume?

IS that your chair in the ass of the camera or is that some sort of 'hold' for the gear..can't tell

^ nvm on the chair question ,enlarged it and brightened it.

That's just my chair in the background. It's the 2000hd and it's not a recorder, it's a XLR adapter which allows you to use XLR mics and record straight to the camera. It uses the preamps from the adapter and it can also provide phantom power if you need it