Photographic Voyage

When preparing for a trip, we try to pack as light as possible. But when it comes to camera equipment, we want to make sure that we have everything we need. While we don't use the most expensive or top-of-the-line camera gear, we do have some good stuff. We've invested in some quality lenses for our cameras which produce better image quality than a cheap lens would with a more expensive camera. A good camera does not produce amazing images for you, but it can help. At the same time, packing light allows you to get into the best situations to make good photos.

	Every year or so Canon comes out with a new Digital Rebel DSLR. We have two, because otherwise we'd fight over the camera. It has enough features to take good photos, while also being light and not very expensive (relatively speaking). We shoot mainly in aperture priority mode, allowing us to fully control the shutter speed and depth of field, while letting the camera calculate the best settings on the fly. I like to call it "computer-aided manual mode" because you still have full control without having to figure out the best settings in you head, leaving you more time to focus on the moment in front of you. We also rarely use a flash, relying more on natural light.
	Bryan uses the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 as his "walk around" lens. It's not nearly as expensive as some of Canon's professional level "L" series lenses, but still offers professional level image quality. The constant 2.8 aperture lets me take great low light photos.
	The Canon 70-200mm L is hands down the most amazing camera lens ever made. The image quality is so good it makes your photos look photoshopped straight out of the camera. There are actually four versions: an f2.8 and an f4.0 both with and without Image Stabilization. We have the cheapest version, the f4.0, which still offers superb quality at a somewhat affordable price.
	The Tamron 24-135mm is a rare gem. We purchased this lens as a replacement for the Canon 28-135 IS which was often soft. The Tamron is much better, even without the Image Stabilization. It's also cheaper. If you can find it, grab one, because they are somewhat rare. Laurie uses this as her walk around lens for the great range and versatility.
	The Canon 50mm f1.8 (or "Nifty Fifty") is a fun and cheap little lens that lets us take great low light portraits when the need arises. It's so light, fast, and inexpensive that it always makes its way into our camera bag.
	If you're going to carry expensive stuff, you need to protect it. We have used several camera backpacks (in addition to our normal backpacks for clothes and stuff). The Lowepro CompuDaypack is a good sized bag for a good price. It has room for one camera, several lenses, a laptop, and an area for various items such as clothes, equipment, and other things you might need while walking around town. It's also fairly comfortable to wear when fully loaded.
	Make sure you get a backpack cover for rain, snow, and sand storms. Trust me, you'll need it. Get one that fits your bag size. Most will fold up or pack into a small little case for convenience.
	The Steripen is a great little device that sterilizes water with UV light. It's small and portable. If you can find mostly clean and clear water while traveling or hiking out in the wild, this thing will come in handy, save you the money from buying bottled water, and perhaps even save your life (although we've never put ourselves into that situation). Various sizes and models are available.