Backpacking kit

[johnbuckley]

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Hi John,

 

The Canyon series appeals to me. These were all taken with the 35? Did you carry a tripod with you?

 

Thanks, steve

 

Steven - all handheld, not tripod. And thanks. JB

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[Ecaton]

Hi Everyone,

 

 

 

If you can only carry one or 2 lenses, what would be good choices? Is there another lens I don't have that would clearly be better?

 

steve

 

The CV 15, Cron 35 and Macro 90 would be my choice plus an M6 as backup.

[phovsho]

yes, i was going to recommend a m6 for back up as well. 4 weeks in the bush, dependent on all those batteries and electronic technology....Also gives you more flexibility with the lens portfooio that you decide on. But it is your back.

M

[Jack_Flesher]

Hi Jack,

 

What route were you taking? Typically, we head out of Tuolumne Meadows and spend less time in the Valley. When out like this, are you with a tripod? I keep asking, as the pictures many post seem very sharp and some look like long exposures. I have a very small tripod I bought from Backpackinglight.com, but it is only about a foot high and has to be placed on another support.

 

Thanks and hope to meet you at a workshop this fall,

 

steve

 

Steve:

 

This week I was only hiking relatively short distances from my car. I hit many of my favorite spots between Mosquito Lake and Ellery Lake, including several in Tuolumne meadows. Since the hikes were relatively short, I *always* carried *and used* my tripod.

(I will say it here for all to see: The SHARPEST lens you can buy for any camera is a good tripod!)

 

When I backpacked, I had a small Gitzo 1000 series. My hiking staff -- yes I use one -- has a tripod stud up top and can double as a monopod using the head off the little Gitzo. I often just shoved that securely between some boulders and called it good.

 

Cheers,

 

Jack

[lars_bergquist]

Hi Lars,

 

Typically we'll walk about 20-30 km day in the high country. For a 3 day trip in conditions as Jack describes, my pack without food or water will be about 3.5 kg-I don't carry much, even with cold nights. With food and water, another 2 kg at the most.

steve

 

Steve, I envy you. – I usually did 15–20 km a day, a leisurely pace but I was carrying a larger pack, something like 12 kg. In Lapland we have to be prepared for snow even in the high summer; we can have three seasons in one day! But a fellow I met told me of a crazy Finn whose only pack was an ordinary supermarket plastic bag. When it rained, he took of his clothes and put them in the bag. I pass the tip on; but you may of course encounter a pair of Park Rangers – we don't have them in Scandinavia.

 

The old man from the Age of Self-propelled Travelling

[smsmd]

Hi and thanks to everyone for great advice.

 

carstenw: The front pack might be a good idea. The camera would be available and I could use a lighter pack for the rest of the items.

 

Jack_Flesher: I also use hiking pole, carbon fiber, and will see if the attachment is there to use as a monopod.

 

lars: I didn't walk longer distances until the pack weight was down. My prior pack empty weighed 7 pounds. Going light, I have a 3.7 ounce pack from Gossamer Gear, but there isn't a lot of volume there. A light front pack might still save weight compared a larger, say, 2# pack to gain the extra space. Once the pack weight is way down, you don't need hiking boots, either, just sneakers, so you can move very quickly without difficulty. I'm not a great athlete, so I compensate by shedding everything I don't need acutely.

 

The last trip out we walked to the top of Yosemite Falls from Tioga Road. We passed a family of traditionalists. All had at least 50# of stuff, incl. jars of peanut butter, pots and pans, canvas tents. The leader was proud he was carrying 80# of material. I showed him my 8# pack and he thought we were day hiking, not out for 3 nights. He had a huge Canon DSLR around his neck with a large zoom lens, tripod, other lenses everywhere-about 20-25# extra, by his estimate. When I told him I had a D-lux2 with me and showed him my pack, he told me I was "going to die up here." He was only able to cover a bout 4 miles/ day and I don't know how he got that far.

 

Thanks, steve

[chap]

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Someone ought to put a scale to the Leica M8 and compare with similar DSLR systems. I did this with a Nikon D200, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lens combo. The Nikon system was lighter than the M8. Don't get me wrong, I love my M8 and use it all the time. But, if weight is the sole determination of what to carry, I think one would be surprised by what the scale says.

[Jack_Flesher]

 

Jack_Flesher: I also use hiking pole, carbon fiber, and will see if the attachment is there to use as a monopod.

 

Steve: Mine is a Leki pole that has a round knob on the top and traditional padded handle underneath. The knob unscrews to reveal a 1/4-20 threaded post that accepts normal camera accessories.

 

Cheers,

 

Jack

[mitchell]

As for lenses, I think it's a matter of taste, but I always want a 90 (or your 75.) I like to select part of the landscape. Usually the wide angle panaroma is handy for my memory, but I have a hard time making an interesting photo out of it.

 

Something I've found very useful is a simple strap I bought some years ago made by OP TECH for use with a neck strap. There is a piece of neopreen with a hole in it that fits over the camera lens with a strap that goes around your chest. It holds the camera close to your chest ready, but not bouncing around. When you want to take a shot, you just slip the collar off the lens, and your ready. The strap stays in place on its own. The neopreen section gives it elasticity. I've found it to be the ultimate solution for having a camera ready when on the trail.

 

Have a great trip!

 

I'll be with my M8, 90/2.8, 50/1.4, and 28/2.0 in the Canadian Rockies in a couple of weeks. I live on the sea, but the mountains are the best.

 

Regards,

 

Mitchell

[dpattinson]

I'm putting a M8 kit together for an extended wilderness canoe trip this summer in Canada. It's for the most part the same system I use when hiking and the main constraint is that I have to be able to fit everything I need for a month into a Pelican 1200 waterproof case.

 

In addition to the M8 body I have a 15mm CV, a 35mm/2.0 and expect to receive a 50mm/1.4 shortly. I do like having low light capability in the wilderness as it allows me the sort of personality candids that only occur around the time before sunrise or after sunset.

 

Would like to carry my 90mm ASPH too in case I see a bird. Cannot justify the 135mm/4.0 as much as I might want it sometime.

 

What I haven't figured out yet is a tripod solution that is lightweight, functional and compact. I'm interested in what others do in wilderness environments in that regard.

 

Did I mention my seven batteries for the M8? Six of them are of the Hong Kong after market variety. If there's going to be a problem with these, I suppose I'll find out about it.

 

OK, maybe a Pelican 1400 box...

 

For a tripod, I suggest the Gitzo carbon fibre models with the legs which swivel 180 degrees for packing. Mine is a G1155T, but there are newer models which can go lower to the ground. Mine is really light and super compact. Many people seem to discount them because they aren't heavy enough... for a backpacking tripod

 

I have also used an Ortlieb Aqua-cam waterproof camera bag for backpacking and sea-kayaking (yes - sea kayaking with a M7 and several lenses), Waterproof Camera Bag: Aquapac Camera, Camcorder, SLR, GPS, OutPack Dri-Safe, Ortlieb Aqua Cam, Aqua Zoom, and Protect. - they come in two sizes and have an accessory harness that allows you to carry them on your chest for easy access while wearing your backpack (or life vest in a kayak). I didn't like the standard dividers so I bought a small Lowe bag and took the ones from that which fit fine. They really are waterproof, you could use them as a float if you fell out of the boat.

[lars_bergquist]

For 'ready camera carry' I recommend one of those slightly triangular affairs that are really intended for an SLR with a zoom. Some of these have an internal divider which when used creates a suitable space for an extra prime lens. I have carried my own Rowi Globetrotter over much of Lapland. The trick is to carry the thing with the strap crosswise, over one shoulder and under the opposite arm, then putting on the backpack. All this will keep the camera pack from swinging, but you can immediately get at the contents. At worst you will have to unhitch the chest strap.

 

Tripods are how we identify German hikers at long distance ...

 

I can recommend the kind of modified ski poles used for 'Nordic walking'. You use two, properly adjusted for length, and it's like having an outboard motor. Lapland is wet, and we have to do lots of stream crossing. Ill-advised attempts at crossing does regularly lead to accidents, sometimes fatal ones, and trying a crossing without support is certainly ill-advised! And the water is usually melt water at 3° C – just right for Tevas!

 

The old man from the Lapland Trails

[J_Brittenson]

For me it's CV 15, CV 21, CV 40, maybe 75/2 if I feel ambitious. At some point I'm getting a 135/4. Yosemite is a place where I always find plenty of use for a longer lens. I could probably make do nicely there with just a 15 and 135!