Posted by Rohn B. McKee on April 27, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Group,
Please share your choices for equipment when you hike into remote areas. Seems like many of you are working harder and harder to find less photographed landscapes. What photography equipment are you Taking into to back country? Please share.
Posted by John Mumaw on April 27, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Not all photography equipment, but here's what I take to remote (..and I mean remote!) stretches of the desert:
Posted by David Kingham on April 28, 2011 at 12:04 AM
'00 4runner w/stock rear diff locker (ol' reliable home on wheels)
F-stop Loka, Gitzo 1541t, Sigma 10-20, Nikon 24-70 when I'm not going ultralight, just got nikon 70-300 to replace the insanely heavy 70-200 2.8 which I would just leave behind on any hikes. Delorme PN-60w w/spot, misc survival gear, bear spray, bear bell, platypus, big agnes tent/bag
Posted by Scott Bacon on April 28, 2011 at 9:52 AM
I take whatever equipment I think I need to get the images I want - doesn't matter whether I'm shooting from the road or 3 days deep in the backcountry. If I think I won't need a particular focal length, I'll pull that lens out of the bag and leave it in the truck. But for the most part, I use the same equipment.
Kalin and I were just talking about this while huffing and puffing in and out of red rock canyons last weekend. I was thinking that it might be nice to have a light weight, wide angle zoom, instead of my big, heavy TS-E primes. But I like using the TS-Es and I like the results I get from them. So, it would be really hard for me to leave them behind, just to lighten my load by a couple pounds.
I "keep in shape" so that I can get to the places I want to see and photograph. Unfortunately, this seems to take more and more effort each year.
Other than photo equipment, I ALWAYS take my survival kit and first aid kit. I've separated these into 2 kits for convenience. The the 10 essentials is a good starting point. And I always carry my GPS with 24K maps loaded (along with map and compass as backup).
Posted by Kalin Wilson on April 28, 2011 at 11:09 PM
My '00 4Runner with super charger and locking rear diff gets me most places I want to go (love it!). My custom rear end box/sleeping platform stores LOTs of stuff that I might need. My LF/Digital day pack is the kelty Redwing with Photo Backpacker cases. I also use a Lowe Pro AW Trekker for day packing just the digital gear but this pack has limited space for anything but photo gear which can be frustrating. After seeing Scott's F-Stop Loka this weekend, that (or another F-stop pack) is high on my wish list. For multi-day backpacking trips, I use an Osprey Cresent 85 pack and use the PhotoBackpacker cases to hold camera gear. I think the F-stop ICU cases will work well for this purpose also if I don't opt for a larger F-stop pack.
I just bought a couple of new sets of boots, the Asolo TPS 520 for back packing, and the Salewa Alps Trainer Mid for desert/lightweight hiking/packing. I was REALLY impressed with the Salewa's over three days in the Cedar Mesa canyons. They earned a well deserved Backpacker Mag editors choice.
Photo equipment: 5DII body, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS, Nikon 14-24 f2.8G, Canon 45 f2.8TS/E. The 100-400 is on the heavy side, so I may look for a lighter long tele for backpacking. Of course, CF cards, batteries, filters, remote releases...
For me, hiking into remote areas for the sake of photography implies backpacking. I genuinely enjoy backpacking, so if my location is anything more than 3 miles from the trailhead, I'll generally try to sleep nearby. I've done plenty of short overnight hikes that way. I'll have a large late lunch, walk in, photograph, have a minimal dinner and tea from a Jetboil, and then bed down -- often without a tent, if the weather looks good. That also gives me a chance to shoot sunrise as well, have a Clif bar for breakfast, and then walk out in time for a second breakfast. I find it a much better night than most developed campgrounds, anyway. I'm almost reluctant to reveal that, actually.
I have an older North Face backpack, from when they were still serious about making them. I'd probably go with a different brand today if I were to buy a new one. Very light Mountainsmith sleeping bag. RidgeRest ground pad. Tarptent for when the weather looks iffy, or mosquitoes are threatening. The aforementioned Jetboil. On trails I usually use an old pair of running shoes. GoLite down jacket -- essential for getting out of the sleeping bag in the cold before sunrise. Watch with a loud alarm, and a good headlamp: Black Diamond or Princeton Tec or Petzl. Ten essentials, etc.
For long dayhikes, I've got an older Kelty pack that holds up nicely. I'm probably going to get one of the inserts from F-stop gear to put inside it. I will usually bring a 3-liter camelbak, chlorine tablets, and an emergency sleeping bag.
As for photography gear, when I'm hiking I use a Feisol 3342, an Acratech leveling base, and an Acratech ultimate ballhead. Best lightweight setup I've found. Usually I bring a Sony 850, Tamron 28-75/2.8 (very nice once stopped down), and a Sony 70-300G. If I'm trying to go lighter, I'll step down to a Canon t2i and Tamron 17-50/2.8; if I'm really counting ounces I'll leave the leveling base behind.
Discussion
5 repliesPlease share your choices for equipment when you hike into remote areas. Seems like many of you are working harder and harder to find less photographed landscapes. What photography equipment are you Taking into to back country? Please share.
'99 Toyota 4Runner (aka 'The Rolling Motel'), Wagan battery powered generator (good for long exposure star photography as well as emergency situations), Mountainsmith Borealis camera pack (soon to be replaced by the F-Stop Guru), and an ultralight combo...the Feisol CT-3442 tripod with a PhotoClam PC 36N ballhead .
Oh, yeah....a camera and a couple of lenses, too!
F-stop Loka, Gitzo 1541t, Sigma 10-20, Nikon 24-70 when I'm not going ultralight, just got nikon 70-300 to replace the insanely heavy 70-200 2.8 which I would just leave behind on any hikes. Delorme PN-60w w/spot, misc survival gear, bear spray, bear bell, platypus, big agnes tent/bag
Kalin and I were just talking about this while huffing and puffing in and out of red rock canyons last weekend. I was thinking that it might be nice to have a light weight, wide angle zoom, instead of my big, heavy TS-E primes. But I like using the TS-Es and I like the results I get from them. So, it would be really hard for me to leave them behind, just to lighten my load by a couple pounds.
I "keep in shape" so that I can get to the places I want to see and photograph. Unfortunately, this seems to take more and more effort each year.
Other than photo equipment, I ALWAYS take my survival kit and first aid kit. I've separated these into 2 kits for convenience. The the 10 essentials is a good starting point. And I always carry my GPS with 24K maps loaded (along with map and compass as backup).
I just bought a couple of new sets of boots, the Asolo TPS 520 for back packing, and the Salewa Alps Trainer Mid for desert/lightweight hiking/packing. I was REALLY impressed with the Salewa's over three days in the Cedar Mesa canyons. They earned a well deserved Backpacker Mag editors choice.
Photo equipment: 5DII body, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS, Nikon 14-24 f2.8G, Canon 45 f2.8TS/E. The 100-400 is on the heavy side, so I may look for a lighter long tele for backpacking. Of course, CF cards, batteries, filters, remote releases...
I have an older North Face backpack, from when they were still serious about making them. I'd probably go with a different brand today if I were to buy a new one. Very light Mountainsmith sleeping bag. RidgeRest ground pad. Tarptent for when the weather looks iffy, or mosquitoes are threatening. The aforementioned Jetboil. On trails I usually use an old pair of running shoes. GoLite down jacket -- essential for getting out of the sleeping bag in the cold before sunrise. Watch with a loud alarm, and a good headlamp: Black Diamond or Princeton Tec or Petzl. Ten essentials, etc.
For long dayhikes, I've got an older Kelty pack that holds up nicely. I'm probably going to get one of the inserts from F-stop gear to put inside it. I will usually bring a 3-liter camelbak, chlorine tablets, and an emergency sleeping bag.
As for photography gear, when I'm hiking I use a Feisol 3342, an Acratech leveling base, and an Acratech ultimate ballhead. Best lightweight setup I've found. Usually I bring a Sony 850, Tamron 28-75/2.8 (very nice once stopped down), and a Sony 70-300G. If I'm trying to go lighter, I'll step down to a Canon t2i and Tamron 17-50/2.8; if I'm really counting ounces I'll leave the leveling base behind.