What to take to the Galapagos

[KenGoldman]

I will be traveling to the Galapagos next spring and I'm trying to figure out what equipment to take. All tips would be greatly appreciated. Currently I have:

Canon Digitial Rebel XTi
Canon 50 mm portrait lens
Tamron 17-50 mm
Canon L 24-105
Canon 70-300

I want to keep the load as light as possible and I have been told that you can get pretty close to the animals, so I was thinking that I could probably get by with the 50mm for close shots and the 24-105 for everything else. Does this make sense? Are there any other lenses I should be considering?

Also, I am thinking about using this as an excuse to upgrade from the XTi to a Canon 5D MK II. If I were to do that, would it change anyone's recommendations?

Due to weight limitations I was planning on only bringing a GorillaPod rather than a full tripod.

Any thoughts on these would be greatly appreciated, as would tips from anyone who has done some shooting in the Galapagos.

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Ken, first and foremost, Welcome to the forum. Super envious of your travel plans to the Glapagos as its one of those places I've always wanted to visit it myself

If I were going, it would be a no brainer to upgrade to the 5DMark II for a once in a lifetime trip like this and keep the Rebel as a back up body. This would give you you the best of both worlds as the 5D is full frame and will help with those real wide angles, and if you only bring the 24-105, I'd keep that on the Rebel because of the crop factor it would bump your 105mm up to 168mm and your 300mm up to 480mm without adding any extra f/stops, if you need that extra length to get close to wildlife.

With the 17-50 and the 24-105, I'd leave the 50mm at home since both those lenses cover that range. It would seem a bit redundant to have it taking up room in the camera bag.

One thing that I'd add to the arsenal would be either a waterproof housing or a waterproof bag like the ones Luca and I have talked about in past reviews.

Being as 90% of your shooting will be around water, I'd want those cameras protected from splashes, drops or heaven forbid getting dunked in the surf.

Being as you can get so close to most of the animals, unless you were trying to do real low light photography, I cant see the need in bringing a tripod either. And with the lens lineup you're bringing, I wouldnt really worry too much about a tripod, I'd figure everything will be hand held in good light.

With the new bodies amazing noise reduction, you can get away with bumping up your ISO to compensate for any low light photography you might incounter and not worry about degrading the images too much.

Another reason I could justify the 5DMark II would be the capability of video. This would lighten the load to not have to bring a video camera along, and many times when an animal is doing something really different, still images just dont capture the feeling right. Having the availability to throw a button and have video at your finger tips for an adventure like this would seriously move me towards the 5D MarkII

Plus with the 7D just being announced today, prices for the MarkII are going to keep coming down in the next coming months. Check out the buy/sell forums on Fred Miranda or POTN and snatch up a used MarkII body and call it good!

Make sure to post up some images when you return to make us all drool

[KenGoldman]

Pat, thanks for the reply. A couple of points, the Tamron 17-50 will not work on a camera with a full frame sensor, so that lens will probably stay on the XTi. I really like the 50 mm because it is small and light and I have gotten some fantastic close up photos with it. The lens I'm thinking about leaving behind is the 70-300, but I go back and forth on that one.

I'm really very strongly thinking about the 5D, and the video is an extra bonus. Currently I use my Canon Powrshot SD700-IS Point-and-Shoot Camera for video. I like to bring this little guy along for those times I just don't want a full size camera with me, and also because I have a Waterproof Housing for it; I recently took it snorkeling in British Columbia and got some great shots of starfish.

Also, can you help and point me to some waterproof bags like the ones you and Luca and talked about in past reviews; I do want to protect my gear and that is something on my to-do list. I'm new here and haven't poked around too much. Thanks again.

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Kenn, that makes sense with the smaller point & shoot with the underwater housing.

Here is a link to a review I did on an Aquapac Waterproof bag

I totally understand about having a lens that you like that produces good shots, I just hate bringing a fixed lens on trips because they're somewhat limited, unless its a long lens like a 4,5 or 600mm.

If it was me, I'd leave that 50 at home and bring the 75-300

[Edd]

Hi Ken,

I went to the Galapagos a few years ago for my wife's birthday and I have never been anywhere like it before.

The creatures have no fear of you and I only wish I had been into photography back then with the gear I have now.

You should get some awesome shots but mind the Marine Iguanas don't spray your equipment with salt !!!!!

Whilst swimming in the bay by our hotel I had a seal lion come over and check me out then scuttle off once he had a good look at me.

The swimming pool at the hotel replaced what was once a watering hole for the local wildlife. It was really funny because birds and all-sorts would turn up by the pool for a quick drink and a swim, some would even help themselves to the sun loungers.

Good luck with the trip and remember to post some shots here when you get back

Ed

[rcjaffe]

I just returned so this reflects what I found useful. The long lens (100-400 in my case) was on almost 100% of the time. On a few occasions I used my regular lens (often on my second body). I was very cautious about changing lenses while out - enough people are around kicking up dust that it did not seem like a good idea to try to change lenses while on the trail. I had with me a wide angle and macro but NEVER used them or even felt like it. Did not use a tripod - it would have been a problem as you are on small trails and to block it off with be rude to the other people. A monopod would have been nice. Yes you are with a group (about 14 or less) and a guide - no wondering off on your own and you must stick to the trails. In the zodiacs I made sure to keep my gear covered - MOST of the time there was no spray but a couple of times there was and it would not have been pleasant to get my stuff wet. Also it will be hard to get shots from the moving zodiac as it is bouncing around (not too badly but enough to make a shot impossible). Now on occasions when the zodiac stopped I did whip out my camera. Do not forget there are a lot of opportunities to snorkel (at least on my trip) and I was really glad I purchased a camera that could work underwater (Canon D10). Not the greatest of pictures but it was fun and I wanted to see what I could get without investing a significant amount of money.

[KenGoldman]

Thanks for the information. The word I had gotten was that you don't need a long lens because you can get close to the animals. Is that true?

[KenGoldman]

Oh, and I do have a Canon Point and Shoot with a waterproof housing for snorkeling and wet rides. I tried to upload a photo of jellyfish I shot snorkeling in British Columbia, but it was huge and not easy to look at. What did I do wrong?

[gldiana]

Ken,

hi, welcome to the forum. If you're interested in a waterproof bag we have some in the shop where I work. You can send me a private message or email. My email address is on my website, I don't post it here because there are too many spammers, but the link is in my signature.

[gldiana]

I agree with Pat, you can leave the 17-50 home especially since you have a 24-105 L which is far superior in quality and on the 5D Mark II it would be wider angle than the 17-50 on the Rebel (17-50 becomes 27-80). You definitely want to get your hands on the 5D well before the trip so that you get to know it well. And, no... I'm not selling mine, lol.
I would definitely bring the 70-300 (although I own a 100-400 L and nothing compares), you might be close to wildlife most of the time but the moment you aren't you're going to chew your fingers off for not bringing a longer range lens and it's not like you're going to the Galapagos every day, right? I would definitely bring a tripod, too. There's no way I'm leaving on any trip without a tripod. I do have a GorillaPod, pretty nice thingie