Equipment advice please
Discussion
Hi all. After some advice as to what equipment to take on a trip to India in the spring. It is a trip including sight seeing and safari over 14 days so I will need a variety of stuff for a variety of shots. Trip for my sons 21st, he's always loved Tigers and we hope to be fortunate enough to see one in the wild!!
Right, I have a Nikon D80 with the AF-S Nikkor 18-135mm, an older Nikkor AF 70-300mm and a Nikkor AF 28-80. I have a mono pod but only the pop up flash at the moment although with Xmas approaching who knows what may appear, advice accepted willingly!!! I have some old cokin filters but feel the need to go for some screw ons as opposed to the old square framed things I have.
So any suggestions greatfully accepted, budget is not however unlimited but I would like to get some great shots!!!!
Peter
Right, I have a Nikon D80 with the AF-S Nikkor 18-135mm, an older Nikkor AF 70-300mm and a Nikkor AF 28-80. I have a mono pod but only the pop up flash at the moment although with Xmas approaching who knows what may appear, advice accepted willingly!!! I have some old cokin filters but feel the need to go for some screw ons as opposed to the old square framed things I have.
So any suggestions greatfully accepted, budget is not however unlimited but I would like to get some great shots!!!!
Peter
Hi,
I also have a D80 and went to India / Nepal in the summer. You're gunna need a wide variety of stuff, and I wouldn't concentrate too much on the Tigers - you could spend ££££££ and only ever see a foot or a glimpse of tail...
I'd say, stick with basically what you have. Concentrate on a decent all weather camera bag that is secure in built up areas, yet easy to get kit in/out of. I use a Lowepro Orion AW convertible backpack/shoulder bag. Also a security mesh thingy (can't remember the name today!) is the only way to go if you have overnight train journeys, unless you want to sleep in a carrage with 68 other people and your camera bag unsecured...
Humidity is also an issue, and a digi compact is a useful backup here as SLR lenes can be quite affected (higher thermal mass). Warm gear up before leaving aircon'd environments to stop it dewing - even if that means sticking the gear under your pits on a coach journey!
One thing I would advise is a digital storage device - mini harddisk with card reader that enables you to take as many shots as you want without worrying. I took 29Gb in three weeks...
Where are you visiting? I'm assuming the golden triangle area?
I also have a D80 and went to India / Nepal in the summer. You're gunna need a wide variety of stuff, and I wouldn't concentrate too much on the Tigers - you could spend ££££££ and only ever see a foot or a glimpse of tail...
I'd say, stick with basically what you have. Concentrate on a decent all weather camera bag that is secure in built up areas, yet easy to get kit in/out of. I use a Lowepro Orion AW convertible backpack/shoulder bag. Also a security mesh thingy (can't remember the name today!) is the only way to go if you have overnight train journeys, unless you want to sleep in a carrage with 68 other people and your camera bag unsecured...
Humidity is also an issue, and a digi compact is a useful backup here as SLR lenes can be quite affected (higher thermal mass). Warm gear up before leaving aircon'd environments to stop it dewing - even if that means sticking the gear under your pits on a coach journey!
One thing I would advise is a digital storage device - mini harddisk with card reader that enables you to take as many shots as you want without worrying. I took 29Gb in three weeks...
Where are you visiting? I'm assuming the golden triangle area?
VxDuncan said:
Hi,
I also have a D80 and went to India / Nepal in the summer. You're gunna need a wide variety of stuff, and I wouldn't concentrate too much on the Tigers - you could spend ££££££ and only ever see a foot or a glimpse of tail...
I'd say, stick with basically what you have. Concentrate on a decent all weather camera bag that is secure in built up areas, yet easy to get kit in/out of. I use a Lowepro Orion AW convertible backpack/shoulder bag. Also a security mesh thingy (can't remember the name today!) is the only way to go if you have overnight train journeys, unless you want to sleep in a carrage with 68 other people and your camera bag unsecured...
Humidity is also an issue, and a digi compact is a useful backup here as SLR lenes can be quite affected (higher thermal mass). Warm gear up before leaving aircon'd environments to stop it dewing - even if that means sticking the gear under your pits on a coach journey!
One thing I would advise is a digital storage device - mini harddisk with card reader that enables you to take as many shots as you want without worrying. I took 29Gb in three weeks...
Where are you visiting? I'm assuming the golden triangle area?
Thanks for all this advice. I have a lowepro slingshot bag already which is pretty good so will use that. Good advice re the digi compact, I have a Canon Ixus so will be sure to take that as well. Good point about the humidity though, I'll have to remember that as we'll be there at the end of March which is getting pretty hot and sticky then!!I also have a D80 and went to India / Nepal in the summer. You're gunna need a wide variety of stuff, and I wouldn't concentrate too much on the Tigers - you could spend ££££££ and only ever see a foot or a glimpse of tail...
I'd say, stick with basically what you have. Concentrate on a decent all weather camera bag that is secure in built up areas, yet easy to get kit in/out of. I use a Lowepro Orion AW convertible backpack/shoulder bag. Also a security mesh thingy (can't remember the name today!) is the only way to go if you have overnight train journeys, unless you want to sleep in a carrage with 68 other people and your camera bag unsecured...
Humidity is also an issue, and a digi compact is a useful backup here as SLR lenes can be quite affected (higher thermal mass). Warm gear up before leaving aircon'd environments to stop it dewing - even if that means sticking the gear under your pits on a coach journey!
One thing I would advise is a digital storage device - mini harddisk with card reader that enables you to take as many shots as you want without worrying. I took 29Gb in three weeks...
Where are you visiting? I'm assuming the golden triangle area?
Mini hard disc on the Xmas list then
Planned itinery at the mo is Delhi, Agra, Bandhavgarh, Jaipur and a couple of days in the country. Pretty much the golden triangle as you say.
Thanks again for the advice
Peter
Should be a good trip! I went in monsoon season (July) mainly 'cos I dislike the hayfever season in the UK and to get away from the crowds. Very hot and humid. (44degC in the Rajestan desert!) Obviously take diaralyte, Imodiam etc! Take a brolly too - if it's humid and rains you won't want to be in a sticky jacket. It's better to be soaked in rain than sweat. eugh!
IIRC you can get at the zips quite easily on the slingshot so get a couple of combination padlocks and use them in built up areas, it's easy to whip a camera out of your bag and jump on a moped. Again, get a pacsafe if you've an overnight train journey. Sockets are normally old style UK 15A round pin plugs, power's very dodgy!
Should be a fantastic trip, I had the best trip ever (with Imaginative Traveller). Highlights were the village stays - getting away from it all in the middle of knowwhere, Agra (surprising chilled!) and a bollywood movie in Jaipur. The cinema in Jaipur is mad! Massive and the experience of a bollywood movie with all the chanting, hollering and cheering of 1000+ excited locals is something else! Some of my shots here http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites
IIRC you can get at the zips quite easily on the slingshot so get a couple of combination padlocks and use them in built up areas, it's easy to whip a camera out of your bag and jump on a moped. Again, get a pacsafe if you've an overnight train journey. Sockets are normally old style UK 15A round pin plugs, power's very dodgy!
Should be a fantastic trip, I had the best trip ever (with Imaginative Traveller). Highlights were the village stays - getting away from it all in the middle of knowwhere, Agra (surprising chilled!) and a bollywood movie in Jaipur. The cinema in Jaipur is mad! Massive and the experience of a bollywood movie with all the chanting, hollering and cheering of 1000+ excited locals is something else! Some of my shots here http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites
VxDuncan said:
Should be a good trip! I went in monsoon season (July) mainly 'cos I dislike the hayfever season in the UK and to get away from the crowds. Very hot and humid. (44degC in the Rajestan desert!) Obviously take diaralyte, Imodiam etc! Take a brolly too - if it's humid and rains you won't want to be in a sticky jacket. It's better to be soaked in rain than sweat. eugh!
IIRC you can get at the zips quite easily on the slingshot so get a couple of combination padlocks and use them in built up areas, it's easy to whip a camera out of your bag and jump on a moped. Again, get a pacsafe if you've an overnight train journey. Sockets are normally old style UK 15A round pin plugs, power's very dodgy!
Should be a fantastic trip, I had the best trip ever (with Imaginative Traveller). Highlights were the village stays - getting away from it all in the middle of knowwhere, Agra (surprising chilled!) and a bollywood movie in Jaipur. The cinema in Jaipur is mad! Massive and the experience of a bollywood movie with all the chanting, hollering and cheering of 1000+ excited locals is something else! Some of my shots here http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites
Some great images on the website IIRC you can get at the zips quite easily on the slingshot so get a couple of combination padlocks and use them in built up areas, it's easy to whip a camera out of your bag and jump on a moped. Again, get a pacsafe if you've an overnight train journey. Sockets are normally old style UK 15A round pin plugs, power's very dodgy!
Should be a fantastic trip, I had the best trip ever (with Imaginative Traveller). Highlights were the village stays - getting away from it all in the middle of knowwhere, Agra (surprising chilled!) and a bollywood movie in Jaipur. The cinema in Jaipur is mad! Massive and the experience of a bollywood movie with all the chanting, hollering and cheering of 1000+ excited locals is something else! Some of my shots here http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites
Thanks also for all the tips and yes you remember correctly the zips are accessible but if you have the two clips done up it is very difficult to get to the camera. Little locks are a sound idea though which I will use for crowded places. The cinema sounds like a fab idea we hadn't thought of. If we can fit it in we will.
Not sure what a pacsafe is but I'm sure google will know
Cheers again for all your help
Peter
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