I'm wondering if anyone in the group can give me some recommendations. I'm really psyched for a trip next January to Angkor Wat. I wanted to minimize my gear but still maximize the opportunities for my photos. This is what I was planning to bring:

D70
D200
12-24mm f4
17-55mm f2.8
90mm Macro f2.8
Lensbaby 2.0
SB-800 (plus sync cord just in case)
Manfrotto 190MF4 Tripod
Manfrotto ballhead
2 QR plates
Circular Polarizer
Expodisc
4 CF Cards
Chargers (will stay at the hotel room)

What do you guys think of the equipment selection? Just right? Overkill? I'm doing some research about the place, but the obvious shots I'm looking at are:
- temple exteriors shots
- temple interiors shots
- relief / statue details shots
- people shots

Also, would you think I need to bring the vertical grips of both cameras and a 70-200 2.8? Lightsphere? Reflectors? f1.8 lenses? Thanks in advance...

TJ,

The moderator of this group, the infamous GUTSY TUASON, will be logging on next week. He is constantly on the road but has committed to hosting this site. He is also a Nikon user. Expect him to chime in here soon with his comments.

Thanks Nick, I'll be awating his arrival!

Hi TJ

Angkor Wat, ooohhhh I am envious:Dollar: Will you be travelling alone or with another person? Will you be walking around a lot? do you have a strong back? Are you insured>:D hehehe. Well when I travel, especially to other countries, I pack depending on several factors. If I will be travelling alone and will be doing a lot of walking, I try to carry as light as possible and just work with whatever I decided to bring. I never leave home without my 16-35 lens. The worse thing you can do is bring all the gear and feel like a slave to your gear. (breaking your back in the process)

Here is what i normally bring when i travel:

Camera body 1 digital body. dont attach the grip if you want to lessen the load
Film camera body (for shooting black and whte infrared) 1 lens 28-35-50 (5 rolls film)
Lenses for digital: 16-35 2.8
24-70 2.8
Polarizing filter
Flash
Smallest battery charger 4 batteries
Would you believe I travel without a tripod? what a pain in the neck!:Angry:
(dont take my advice on that one, i have regretted that several times)

Laptop..... only if I will be out longer than 5 days. Make sure your HD is empty. otherwise I bring 10 gig memory cards ( I shoot everything in RAW) (I leave in the hotel)

If you will be travelling with someone who can help with the load, or if you can handle the weight, take your long lens.

Oh and ditch the reflector. :Grin:

Hope I was of help. Good luck with your travel plans.

Thanks Pilar. Thanks for the response, definitely points to think about. Yup, maybe no need for the reflectors. Most of the outings will be done in a day, and we'll always be returning to the hotel. The laptop will stay at home. I'll also be shooting in RAW, so I may need to borrow a few more CFs. Mine come out to 3.5GB, but I do have a portable HD. I'll be going with my wife and aunt, so I'm probably going to be carrying the load on my own. I'll have to figure out how to disperse the load. Maybe long lens stays in the pack with the other accesories, one cam in the Topload bag, and another will always be at the ready. I'm probably going to practice this at home!

If travelling abroad, I only bring 1 camera..dont like to catch too much attention..
Bring some PRESS or Media pass just in case someone hassles you...

I suggest go with D200 shoot raw.. bring the 2 lenses 12-24 for exterior and the 17-55 for interior low light situations. A macro for details.. a lens baby for fun.. SB-800 with the cord. Filters, filters filters.. CF CARDS.. 8-10 GB worth Charger and extra battery.

Other things to do:

1. read up on venue (dos and donts)
2. take a look at other photos so you get an idea of what to expect and give it your own point of view!
3. why not bring your 70-200? heavy but during travel especially fiesta or other festivals, this is my most used lens.
4. bring a good weatherproof bag.
5. good walking shoes.

Here are some sites that discuss the topic..
Angkor Wat (http://nikondigital.org/articles/library/cambodia.htm)
Temple Entry Pass (http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Cambodia/Khett_Siem_Reab/Angkor_Wat-1202517/General_Tips-Angkor_Wat-Temple_Entry_Pass-BR-1.html)

Thanks Anton! Will check out those sites.

Here are some shots i took of angkor wat. didn't bother to wake up for the obligatory sunrise photo. Was there end december 2005. It rained a lot. A raincoat might help. i brought a 50, 10-22, 17-40, and 70-200. We walked a lot up and down the temples for 5 days. Plus, there are lots of stairs. My wife had her own SLR so she used one of the lenses which lightened the load a little. Just the same, by the afternoon of the second day my back was crying out for a back rub.

http://www.pbase.com/berckcheng/angkor_wat

P.S. Watch Tomb Raider for inspiration :)

W :Shock: W!!!!

one of my dream destinations!!!!

if im on you shoes i'll bring the following..

D70 attached 12-24 f/4 (scene/landscape shots)
D200 attached 70-200 VR (portraiture work)
90 macro 2.8 (food and portraiture work)
SB-800 (plus sync cord just in case)
Manfrotto 190MF4 Tripod
Manfrotto ballhead
2 QR plates
Circular Polarizer
4 CF Cards

share your photos :D

if you want to cut down on the weight you're carrying, i'd recommend to just bring the lenses with the biggest aperture openings... i have a tamron 28-105 f4 and it was good for bright out doors shots, but it sucked when i went inside museums... especially in museums where i thought the lighting was bright enough... man was i wrong so i used my canon 50mm 1.8 mkII for indoor shots most of the time. a quick release head would be more better because i hated detaching the body from the tripod everytime i had to move around the singapore night safari... so i ended up shooting hand held because by the time i screwed it on or released the legs the animals would be in a diff place.

Sometimes, it's also not practical to have your tripod extended all the time with your body on it because it might get caught on cracks, hit people, or accidentally bending one of the legs.

For travel photography you really have to pack light because 20lbs of equipment in your pack turns into 40lbs when the sun's on you and you've been walking to whole day.

Please share your photos when you get back!! :D

PS. keep a sando bag (plastic grocery bag) in your kit because it'll come in handy when it rains. make a hole at the bottom of the plastic bag to fit the lens, snap on the hood so the plastic is secure and you've got a raincoat for your camera. worked really well for me during a trip in china where it was really raining on top of a mountain i was on at the time. the open end of the plastic is where you can access the controls and the lens hood keeps the plastic away from the lens so you don't end up capturing it in your pics.

What's a lensbaby? sorry :)

@Robert, Nice pictures! Now I really can't wait to go.
Thanks for the response everyone.
@Marton, check out this thread on Lensbabies. (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=66)

Oh i see :) Thank you.