BootsnAll Travel Community

Just got back from a great trip to Europe where my girlfriend and I had the following gear:

20D
Rebel 2k
SD450
laptop (Dell 700m)
28-135 IS
18-55 EF-S
Sigma 28-200
380EX flash


I just wanted to say that the 20D performed FLAWLESSLY and was a thrill to use day in and day out. This was the first trip where I brought it and I can't imagine traveling without it every again. Having a laptop was great, too, because I could dump my CF cards every night and take a quick look at the photos to see which were keepers. Heavy, yes, but well worth it. However, I was generally too lazy to carry both lenses and flash around so I would've left the 18-55 and flash at home. The 28-135 was great, with the only regret taht it wasnt wide enough w/ the 1.6x crop. Other than that it's a great walk around lens that's light but well built.

anyway, photos from our trip are here:
http://www.causticcauses.com/Europe/index.html
Lots of silly pics...nothing too artsy fartsy

We visited Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Sienna, Venice (for Carnevale), ljubljana, salzburg, cesky krumlov, prague, munich and paris.

enjoy, and let me know what you think.
ian

I am in Slovakia right now, and have been traveling a little more than six weeks. I have slightly more gear than you, but I to love having my 5D and laptop with me. Whenever I carry my bag long distences I kinda regret bringing so many lenses (17-40, 24-105, 70-200, 50, 15) but then I look at the images I have gotten and wouldnt trade a little stain on my back for not having them. Glad Im not alone carrying to much.

Rob

MY World Tour Blog

Glad to hear you say that Robert, I was worried I was completely insane for planning to bring the following gear on my upcoming journey:

20D body
Canon 100-400L IS
Tamron 28-75
Sigma 10-20
Peleng 8mm Fisheye
Kenko Extension tube set
Tripod
100GB portable HD

I think I would regret it if I dont bring that stuff though, cuz without it I may miss some important shots...

Supra - how you like the Sigma 10-20? I'm considering that or the Canon one of similar length.

Heading to Australia and Asia for 3 months with:

20D body
Canon 70-200 F4 L
Tamron 28-75 F2.8
Tripod
80gb PD70

I'm really happy with it. Out of all the reviews I have read about the Sigma, the only complaint some people have is that the barrel distortion is slightly more noticeable at 10mm in the extreme corners than the Canon.

In my experience, while there is a small amount that can be seen if you photograph a series a parallel lines, you really have to look for it. And assuming you arent an architectural photographer, the barrel distortion is completely absent for the vast majority of photographic subjects.

Some definite advantages that the Sigma has:
1) A much cheaper price tag
2) Surprisingly a much sturdier build quality--the Sigi is solid. Everyone who owns the Canon seems to complain that it feels "plasticky."
3)The sigi is an EF mount, not an EF-S. So it can be used on any body. Granted, if used on a full frame camera, it won't fill the entire frame, but it still is cool for some neat effects and gives an insanely wide FOV, almost fisheye.

After weighing all the pros and cons I decided that the Sigi was a better choice for me than the Canon, Tokina or Tamron. I have not regretted my decision.

Thanks Supra, I've been wrestling with whether or not to add the wide angle to my bag before the trip... If I do now, I'll go with the Sigma I think to save me a couple bucks... appreciate the rec.

what kind of backpacks are you guys carrying all this stuff in?

I've been lookin for a Laptop / Camera Bag / Clothes bag combination and havent had any luck.

well, i originally planned on carrying everything in my domke bag. but that, my daypack and my big backpack was just too much to handle so i ended up carrying my gear in my daypack almost all the time and shoving my domke into my big backpack.

my daypack is an osprey daylite, SUPER SMALL, but manages to hold either my laptop or my camera gear comfortably plus a guidebook, water, maps, etc. its by far my favorite backpack ever. (it also snaps onto my osprey aether pack which makes it very easy to carry around!

the lesson here...dont take too many bags. cameras are built tough...they dont need *that* much protection. dont be afraid to bang them around a little