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Comments
In a weird turn of events that seems like it came from a C- rated movie script, someone's agent called my father and offered $2,000 plus any change fees to give them our reservations on Bora Bora. Evidently it was sold out and someone really wanted it. So now we have first class tickets and upgraded suites for the British Virgin Islands! I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. I believe some of my parents friends will be there (or somewhere on the islands close) at the same time and we actually started by looking there before going for Bora Bora. Better than being in the midwest in the winter either way.
I have decided on getting the Nikon1 AW 1 for snorkeling and ram-around stuff.
D800, D50 IR converted and X100 for camera's.
Tokina 16-28, 50mm, SB-600 and I'm probably going to get or rent the 28-300vr as well and leave that as my kit.
One issue I'm having a hard time figuring out is filter for the 16-28 (basically same design as the 14-24). Need a Polarizer and a ND hard 3-stop and probably a 10-stop solid ND. Anyone know of any solutions that is not $600? DIY is good as well.
Also if anyone knows of good tours, or photo sites to hit, I would love to hear them!
Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.
We are using open cell Mako suits this November in Belize. We chose to go there this time due to much higher concentration of pelagic fish which make for more UW drama. But BVI is awesome. We have considered Bora Bora but it still is not very high on our bucket list. I will go to BVI again on the catamaran first (for two weeks).
We still have not decided between the Black Magic 4K camera system or a Nikon 1 AW 1 but I think my son already ordered a Black Magic underwater ready rig so unless I add the Nikon 1 AW 1 myself that bridge might have already been crossed. Each day we are doing some UW imagery relating to a bridge our company is building and also in testing before going to Belize. I plan on the light camera for Belize to be the D3200 Nikon in terms of land camera. Go Pro (6 of them) will do most of the UW stuff. Right now all of our water work is being done in Atlantic Dry Suits also by Mako. They run $2,000 per suit. That is because the water temperature
is now 49 deg. F. surface and 41 deg. were we are doing some of the work (about 8 ft. deep).
The lovely thing about BVI is that the UW scenes have clear water and the Nikon 1 AW 1 can operate down to 49 ft. I would take out my capture card each day and download as if you get a leak (failure) you MIGHT lose the photos but USUALLY not. When we have had Nikons fail and take on water the SD cards are usually totally OK. The biggest reason I would review them each night is to adjust camera settings which you will not be able to ascertain in the water or even on a boat unless you have different conditions than we did last November at BVI. We usually slept on our boat but not always.
The people in BVI are awesome and all in all it is a VERY enjoyable setting and worth being very high on a bucket list. I certainly look forward to seeing Nikon 1 AW 1 images from BVI. Maybe I will take one the next time I go. donalddeJose did present LOVELY beach photos. BUT I would never do those with a Nikon 1 AW 1!!! That is where YOU should get out that marvelous D800 and your best lens!!! That is not even close to Nikon 1 mirrorless camera country! Where I would use the Nikon 1 AW 1 is UW. But it is YOUR vacation, your camera,
and I think we would all like to hear how this turns out! You could not pick a much better place. IF YOU WERE driven to do UW fish photos BVI though would not be my first or even second pick. Bora Bora also a no go for that target. As a family warm weather vacation it will be AWESOME!
Lastly as the veterans have wisely suggested caution against ocean spray let me add that this caution and sparing switch of lenses is sad but true. I would check my lens for this misfortune as often as you can think to do as it will be very tough to fix later. Salt on a front lens element or protective filter is very easy to get and very difficult to remove.
___________________
For ocean shots - which do people prefer... Hard grad or Soft Grad?
Go...
Can you use a square linear polarizers with holders to get the sky blue, etc? Kind of funny that I have never used one.
@TTJ - you can, but forget about AF and metering, you need to dial in the corrections in order to get good exposure.
Lee's polarizer catalog has all the combinations:
http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera-directory/camera-dir-list/category/polariser
I was wondering if the lack of a hood created much flaring with the Wonderpana. I'm planning on taking a rogue bender to help with stray light. The Nano coating probably helps the 14-24 a bit more, but whatever Tokina uses, it does really well.
Cost of this trip is starting to play a role. I did my "wish list" of best items and now I'm trying to reign everything in and do the ole' strength/weakness vs improved quality vs portability vs cost vs what I already own.
I keep going back to this video of the D800 vs Sigma DP 1 & 2 Merrill from the Camera Store:
Hard not to think that I could use a really small tripod and a Merrill to get some great shots cheaper than what I'm looking at. Not to say I would actually go that route but here is an interesting article of someone who uses them. IQ amazing, Lenses great, everything else - eh err, cr@#%. Oh a little side note as I know a few would be interested in this - they use Leaf shutters and sync at 1/1250s at f2.8, 1/1600s at f4 and a rapid 1/2000s at f5.6! (per the article.) Hell think of it as 3 camera's, 1 tripod (below I just got), 20 batteries and a small Cokin filter set you would have a 5lb landscape kit for $3k and wouldn't slow you down one bit. Couldn't do much else with them though.
Thinking of tripods, I have ordered a Sirui T-025 Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit that folds down to 12" and I will have to try it out with the weight of the D800 and various lenses. Will try different ball heads as well as the reviews sounded like that was the crutch of the system.
Sirui T-025 Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit $199
Maximum Height 51.4" / 1305mm
Folds Down to Just 11.8" / 300mm
Tripod with ballhead weighs 1.3 lb / 0.6 kg
Load capacity 13.2 lb / 6 kg
If the T-025 is too flimsy I will get this:
SIRUI 5 Section Pro Aluminium Tripod T1005x . $116
Max loading capacity: 22 lb;
folded height: 13.4 in
weight: 2.20 lb;
*have to add a ball head
The other Tripod I really looked at but the almost 5" of added height is what swayed me:
Benro A1190T Travel Flat Tripod $142
Maximum Height: 52.6in
Folded Height: 16.3in
Maximum Load: 17.6lbs
Weight 2.4lbs
*have to add a ball head
I wanted something that would fit INSIDE a back pack, was light, got my camera to at least 4' and for under $200 total.
My boarder line déclassé rational I deployed:
Maximum Height::
Importance Rank: 3
I'm 5'8" so I can go a bit lower in height than some people, but the extreme 36" travel tripods are just too low and 52"+4" for camera is just about 8" lower than my normal eye so that is not bad at all. Landscapes generally being shot at a lower vantage point can work really well so I don't see it as issue at all. I suspect I'll keep the bottom legs retracted and having a bit taller tripod that means the retracted legs will be just that much more rigid.
Weight:
Importance Rank: 2
I really want to keep a bag with gear, water, coat, etc to 20lbs total. 1.3lbs! Or even 2lbs if I have to go to the Sirui 5!. Can't beat that! My work/studio tripod is a Vanguard Auctus 283CT with a Manfrotto 468MG Hydrostatic Ball Head and it seems light at 8lbs. This will be a dream!
Maximum Load:
Importance Rank: 4 (Ranking this low may be the one that bites me.)
I'm still concerned about Load capacity but the max I'm looking at with the D800, grip, 70-200 & 1.7 is about 8lbs. As we all know it's the torque on the heads where they fail. My rule of thumb has been min should be 2x of total weight, ideal balance is 2.5x and rock steady should be 3x the weight. I may have to swap the ball head on the T-025 as I have watched youtube videos that say it's not that great. I have always wanted a Acratech (GP or Ultimate) Ball-head ($270-$400) to put on a small travel tripod (they weigh less than 1lb/0.5kg) so I may go that route.
Folded Height:
Importance Rank: 1
Due to the resort (higher end and on a private island so traveling off it will be a norm) and traveling with my parents, who don't quite get the "Photographers take everything" or even the idea of "taking a camera everywhere" have already voiced concerns about how I'm planning on "roaming around" and I can tell they are actually concerned. Normally I wouldn't care, but this will be one of those times to succumb to the wishes of others no matter how irrational they may seem to me. So that's where the "fit it in a backpack" comes from. I have been measuring bags and I have found that most backpacks are 12" wide and 14" tall internally. Shoulder bags are 10"-11" tall internally. The Sirui 5 at 13" with a ball head will be at 14"+, and 16 inches + ball head of the Benro is on the outside of the bag no matter what. The T-025 at 11.8" hits the spot and can squeeze into a shoulder bag if needed.
Other concerns:
I have a Manfrotto 190Cx and it is a great in-between tripod that is sturdy and good for traveling by car or backpacking but it is a bit unruly and is a bit bulky for a medium sized rig. It stands about 22" folded, quite big in girth, flip lock legs that snag stuff and is about 5-6 lbs with a head on it. For this trip, no way I thought it would work (considering my parents) nor would you want to carry in and out of boats or puddle jumpers. If it was just me I would consider it due to it's true strength being really sturdy and not sacrificing anything in that regard. So that was my baseline/ exceeded limits. So something that was not this.
Build quality & price: This is where the other concerns above, and what I want to purchase also for the trip, came into play. I had to be willing to give up quite a bit on a tripod for this trip and I'm a bit cautiously optimistic about this one. As for price, I know some love Gitzo and their Really Right Stuff rigs, but no way in hell I'm paying $600-$800 for a tripod and at $200, although I don't want anything to happen, if it dies I'm not out much. I have my beast Vanguard Auctus 283CT & the 190Cx so really this is just "another one" and if I need the option for a sturdier rig after the trip, I have it covered in spades. Photography is all about concessions and compromises and this is one of many for this trip.
The other real concern is to keep a bag with camera gear, water, lunch, coat, etc. to 25lbs total. Bags are typically 3-5lbs.
Dryzone rover is (4lbs)
2 water bottles (2lbs)
D800 with grip & 2 batteries 3.5 lbs
16-28mm 2lbs
50mm 1.4 (.5lbs)
70-200vr & 1.7x (3.5lbs) OR 28-300 (3lbs) or 70-300vr (1.5lbs) & 28-70 (2lbs) - (Funny how those all add up to about 3.5lbs)
SB-900 (1lb)
x100 (1lb)
N1 AW1 (2lbs) or similar
Base bag w/o tripod = 19lbs
Sirui T-025 - 1.3lbs =
20lbs
That leaves me 5lbs for trinkets, coat, food, etc. And that is fully loaded! I can't see me taking that much with me every day at all.
I have been looking at one pack (f-stop Multi pack - they have some neat new bags out) and I think this would all fit, ultra book, Ipad mini, charger etc, and I'm at my 25lbs-ish for a travel pack that I can take on the plane with all my gear!
Some may have never weighed their bags, or maybe think this is heavy, but my work gear bag is 36lbs plus (stands, tripod, modifiers etc,) which probably all adds to 6olbs total. Oh and then there is the bucket of sandbags...ugh! Being able to shed 16 lbs out of my bag and be able to take any shot is huge! And that is my goal, to be able to take almost any shot I want too with the least amount of concessions.
So the 1.3lb Sirui T-025 got there on all points and for $200!
(Well, we will see if a new ball head is in order but I see those as 15 year investments and are transferable.)
Wow that went long...I just figured so many come on here trying to work out a rational decision process on various trade-offs that someone might benefit from me putting down my thought process I have gone through. If people like it, I can do that on other items as well.
Now on to try to figure out what my rugged water camera will be... Cost of filters, and maybe lenses, will work into that one.
In a little over a month, I'm taking a 12-day trip through the Panama Canal, up the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, and into the Cloud Forest around Monteverde. The trip is run by National Geographic, so it's obviously pretty photography intensive. I spoke to a Nat Geo photographer who frequently travels on this trip, and he confirmed my packing list.
Glass:
300mm f/2.8
70-200
17-35
105mm macro
1.4x TC (his suggestion) (rental)
Bodies:
D800
D90
Additional:
Vanguard CF tripod (capable of supporting the 300)
Portable 160GB hard drive
Various cards
1 10 stop filter and 1 CPL
Rain covers
Remote
2 batteries for each body (note that I will have access to power every night)
3 n 1 Kata bag, capable of carrying everything, but without bodies attached to lenses
Plenty of plastic bags, for shore landings
1 Double Black Rapid (I've already tested the heaviest combos and it will be great)
I'm not sweating the weight, as I'm pretty strong and do significant amounts of running/biking.
But here's my question:
As I'm walking, I'm thinking about which body should be paired with which lenses.
One school of thought says put the longest lens (the 300) on the DX body for that extra reach. There are a couple of downsides to this.
1. I think you'd want to pair your best glass with your best body
2. Walking through the jungle, light will be at a premium when shooting birds/monkeys, so you'd want the ability to shoot at higher ISOs, an area where the 800 far surpasses the 90.
The other school of thought (promoted by the Nat Geo photographer), says pair the 800 with the 300, for the reasons stated above. Downsides:
1. If I have the 70-200 on the D90, then I essentially have two 300mm lenses (when the 70-200 is fully zoomed), which is duplicative.
2. If I want to shoot landscapes, when DR is so critical, then I'm selling myself short in terms of IQ.
3. Technically, my 17-35 becomes a 25-50 on the DX body, which may not be an entirely bad thing given that I do most of my landscape work these days with my 24-70 (staying home).
4. When I run into little tree frogs or wild orchids (the reason I'm bringing the 105), I'd be shooting them on a lower-quality body.
So here are my options:
Hope that Nikon drops a D400 (my original plan 6 months ago; not looking so good) to pair with my 800
Buy a D7100 (which would virtually guarantee that a D400 would be released the following day), new or used, which I really don't want long term, although Coastal's recent shots are softening my stance.
Rent a D7100 ($140 for the trip + shipping)
Buy a second D800 (potential divorce) although I do want a D400 if one ever comes out and three pro bodies is a stretch to say the least
Suck it up and come up with a good solution with my current gear (i.e. only use the D90 in great light or on a tripod, etc.) and keep the 300mm on the D800.
OK, have at it. Obviously the easy solution is to get me to spend the most money possible, but extra points are awarded for those who come up with a creative solution.
*Other People's Money
C'mon Son. 16 MP in DX Crop mode and 50% of marriages end in divorce regardless.
And one of your D800s will never get upset if you spend an evening with your other D800.
Not sure of the costs though.
... And no time to use them.
I'm a little nuts about trips though, I hate to spend all that money to travel and then not have the gear meet my expectations when I'm on the trip.
If I was going to buy a D800 anyway, I think I'd risk divorce. Might as well get that over with sooner rather than later.
... And no time to use them.
I personally wouldn't worry about renting/buying another body unless you are really concerned about high iso (shooting at 800-3200 over 50%) or another concern with a need of the D800 that you can't live without.
DX = Macro. I pair DX bodies with my macro lenses as I get more reach, and more DOF which is a boon to macros.
Wide angle lenses, I would use my D800 on the tripod shots and DX on walk around. Mostly I plan on always swapping lenses for wide angle shoots. I carry a belt lens holder and keep the wide in there so I can swap it out quick. I have my Black Rapid strap always attached to the tripod foot of the larger glass so I cap the back of that lens and shoot away.
I'm not sure if that helps much, but that is what I do.
Great little tripod! If someone wanted a travel tripod for the D3xxx/ D5xxx/ Nikon 1 (or other mirrorless) system this is the one to get! D800 & 70-200 (& even the D800 & 16-28 with center column and bottom legs retracted) is just too much for it though. It is a very nice, really small tripod. Shame I have no use for it, but back it goes.
Returning that and getting the SIRUI 5.
Other items:
Used Acratech Ball-head - $158 - nice! Physically larger than I remember, but does weigh under 1lb!
WD 2tb drive.
Should have my first shots to show in a month or so.
As for those of you who advocated for my buying the additional D800 and risking divorce, don't think I didn't consider it.
in terms of what you carry and how you kit up while shooting. I find that , it depend! I would say kit up your D800 with the lens that will provide the expected majority of the shots. and the DX with as flexible a kit as possible. and not overlap the primary kit.(D800 + whatever .. )
Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.
D800 with grip & 2 batteries
D300 with 2 batteries
16-28mm Tokina
17mm f3.5 Tokina
50mm 1.4 Nikon
Nikon 70-200vr & 1.7x
Nikon 24-120VR F4
SB-600
Fuji x100
Olympus TG2
Sirui T-1005X 5-Section Aluminum Tripod with Acratech Ball-head
Bags
Thinktank airport roller
Thinktank Change Up
Camelback small backpack (water bag and will also fit the tripod and lenses.)
Manhattan Portage Vinyl DJ Bag, Silver W/ BBP DSLR Camera Insert, Make Your Own Camera Bag - Olive
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil VIEW Dry Sack (various sizes)
FotoTech DSLR camera Drawstring Soft Neoprene Lens Pouch Bag (various sizes)
Pro-Tec Athletics Calf Sleeve (Black, Large) (slides over the tripod so it doesn't hit stuff in my bag)
Other random stuff
Bushnell 360500 Back Track Hunt/
camalapse 3
i.Trek Super Mount Metal Smartphone Tripod Adapter - Retail Packaging - Silver
Joby JB01301 Pro Sling Strap for DSLR Cameras (S-L) (New - trying this out)
Domke camera straps.
Formatt Hitech Limited HT85ND3.0 85x85MM (3.35-InchX3.35-Inch) Neutral Density 3 (10 Stops) Filter for Cokin P
ND 0.9 77mm
Circular polarizers
Sensor cleaning kit
Gitzo blower
2tb external drive
13" Ultra book.
(Everything can be found on amazon if you search for what I posted.)
I sware this has been one of the hardest "packing gear" events I have ever done. A lot of second guessing went on while packing, but in the end my 3 bags (2 checked and 1 carry on) are full to the max. One bag of clothes, one bag for shoes, and camera bags (room to bring stuff back) and 1 carry on roller, and a backpack. If you note I left all my "camera" packs home but the think-tank Change Up. In the end the Camelbak is much, much smaller, and holds 2 lenses with neoprene pouches any my tripod inside the bag. I'll carry my camera with a lens anyway. I may regret this, but right now I'm doubting it. Camera bags are too over padded, too large for traveling empty, and very noticeable for where we will be. I also wanted to be able to put my gear in Dry Sacks, inside the bags so to keep water out as well. Can't do that with camera bags. I guess we will see.
Thanks for the advice and everyone's help!