Jeez Man, To even consider taking all that stuff is awful. I would
probably take all that stuff, even though I know most of it would not get
used. I don't know how well you insure your gear but even experienced
canoeists get wet sometimes, for a variety of reasons. I would suggest
that you keep your kit small enough that you can get it in a dry-bag to
protect against rain or a capsized canoe. The biggest dry-bag I've seen is
about 16 inches in diameter. You could also use multiple smaller bags.
Wildlife is typically seen when you're in the boat so you need something
readily available at about 135 to 200 mm for the animals when you are
paddling......or piddling as the case may be. A wide-angle should also be
easily available for those watery panoramas. What you carry will tend to get
very heavy on the portages so keeping the kit simple has merit. Once you
start you're stuck with the load for the duration of the trip. An old
climbers saying is that "you must not forget anything you will need but you
must not have anything extra." Enjoy.....
/jnm
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Johnsonpa@xxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 11:16 PM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] HELP: what should I take !?!?!
All right gang, I need your help. I'm trying to put together my kit for a
canoeing trip in only two weeks. I'm going to the Quetico Provincial Park
and Boundary Waters Canoeing Area and Wilderness. If you've been there,
then
you know how excited I am. If you have never been there, the bugs are
awful,
the water is cold and there is no Olympus mailing list; it would be best
to
stay away :-)
Okay, so we will be canoeing from lake to lake and portaging between lakes
when the water ends. I've set route that will require pretty hard days,
so
it will be important to keep the weight to minimum. On the other hand,
canoes provide an opportunity to splurge on the gear side, at least more
than
backpacking.
What I am trying to do now is ration the space in my LowePro Mini Trekker.
Here is what I am planning on taking in the bag (these items will be
pretty
inaccessible while traveling during the day):
300mm/4.5 mounted on 4T with MD1
90mm/2 macro
80mm/4 macro mounted on tele auto tube 65-116
1.4xA and 2xA stacked together
T-28 Twin w/ T-power
F280
focusing rail, focusing stage and varimagni finder
other lenses I am considering: 135mm/4.5 macro, 18mm/3.5, 24mm/2.8. I can
probably fit all the lenses listed without removing anything. I have also
though about the 50-250mm/5, but that would probably require dumping
something. I've also thought about the 38mm/2.8 macro, but if the
mosquitos
are bad there is no way I will have the patience to set this up in the
field
without a gear head, bellows, and sturdier tripod (all of which won't be
going).
Here is what I am taking as a snapshot camera for portage trails and other
times when we are traveling:
OM-2n with 35-70/3.5-4.5
I could also carry the 90mm/2 macro for close-ups on portage trails and
have
room for the 50-250mm/5. Another option is to go with a 4T and have the
F280
flash handy for fill-in flash with bright sunlight during the day. I was
leaning toward the 2n because it is my most abused body and I wouldn't be
too
upset about if it took a dip; same goes for the 35-70mm/3.5-4.5
I'm leaning toward two MD1s and 3 control packs, but could also take
Winder
2s or an MD2. What are your thoughts?
Also, here is what I have at my disposal (of course, I don't own all these
items b/c that would absolutely ridiculous, right?) I'm actually quite
embarrassed to list all this gear. In my defense, some of this will go to
new homes when I return. I just haven't decided what has to go yet.
Anyway,
here it is:
18mm/3.5, 20mm/2 macro, 24mm/2.8, 28mm/3.5, 38mm/2.8 macro, 50mm/1.4,
50mm/1.8, 50mm/2 macro, 80mm/4 macro, 90mm/2 macro, 135mm/2.8, 135mm/4.5
macro, 180mm/2.8, 300mm/4.5, something bigger that I won't admit to
owning,
35-70mm/3.5-4.5, 35-70mm/3.6, 50-250mm/5, 70-210/3.5 Vivitar Series 1, 2xA
converter, 1.4xA converter, OM-1n, OM-2, OM-2n, OM-4, OM-4T, OM-4Ti, T-10,
T-20, T-28 Twin, T-32, F280, MD1 (2), MD2, Winder 2 (2), bellows, focusing
stage, variable extension tube, auto extension tubes, ND filter set, TTL
cords, and other accessories, like filter, hoods, etc.
As you can tell, I'm really into macro. Flowers should be in full bloom,
and
I'm hoping to catch moose, beavers and bald eagles (hence the 300mm).
Any comments are welcome, even if they are to tell me that I need to sell,
sell, sell.
I would also like some recommendations of film. I have my favorites, but
am
always open to try something different.
Thanks,
--p.j.
|