topic Re: Camera for upcoming trip. in General Discussion

Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 02:39:02 GMT

I currently have a rebel xti. My wife and I are going to Alaska in July. I have rented some equipment to take with us on our trip. I have rented a Conon 5Dmark III, a Manfrotto tripod, a 500 mm supertelephoto lens. My question may be dumb, but here goes. I have never used the camera I am renting. Is this a smart move on my part? Is the 5D difficult to use? This is a trip of a lifetime for me. I do not want to struggle with a camera I have never used. Should I stick with the rental or just rent another XTI? Thanks for any and all answers and advice.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

hsbn — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 03:00:44 GMT

Why don't you bring your rebel. 5dm3 is more complicated especially auto focus function. If you still want to rent it, rent it at least a week or two before your trip to play around.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

ebiggs1 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:37:11 GMT

"I have rented ..."

As in already?

Go out and use it! Right now. Use it a lot. But remember it has the "P" for Professional and will do everything by it self if you want it to. Sometimes the 5D can be smarter than the photographer.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:10:35 GMT

I actually have a reservation for it to be delivered to Alaska on the day we arrive.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

TCampbell — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 00:55:32 GMT

The 5D III is a rather advanced camera. It has much of the same controls you are used to using on your XTi, but adds a lot of control that you may not be familiar with.

The one area that really stands out is the focusing system. It's very advanced... I can set a normal single point AF mode, a reduced AF point (spot AF), two variants on exapnded single point AF, zone AF, and auto select from the 61 point focusing system. The camera has a thumb-sized "joystick" control and you can navigate the AF selection point or zone around the screen. But in AI Servo mode, the auto-point selection can follow the action around based on Canon's intelligent tracking system (iTR) and the behavior of that mode is tuneable.

There's quite a bit to it.

You really WILL want to read up on how to use the system and have time to practice with the camera before you go.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 02:04:46 GMT

Thanks to all who replied. I think my best solution is to stick with the XTI, I have used it frequently, and I am familiar with how to use the camera. While the 5dmark III, sounds like and I am sure is a much better camera, I would be more comfortable with using one that I am used to using. This is a trip of a lifettime for my wife and I, and I would hate to lose chances to get some really good pictures because of ignorance of the camera I would be using.

Thanks again, George

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

ebiggs1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 13:03:56 GMT

"This is a trip of a lifettime for my wife ..."

George,

If that statement is true, I certainly would take backups. I would take two of nearly everything.

Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong!

Imstead of renting the 5D how about buying a T3 or T3i or even a T5, T5i body? Also take several memory cards and batteries.

What lenses do you have? Is there some redundancy there?

In all likelyhood everything will operate as planned but you just never know.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 15:25:02 GMT

I have a rebel XTI, and also are taking our daughters xti as well, we have four batteries, two standard lenses that the comes with the camera. Four memory cards. four batteries, two chargers. My laptop, my wifes laptop. Renting a supertelephoto 500mm, also have a 70-300. Anything else you think we should take?

Thanks

George

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 15:28:37 GMT

And yes, this is a trip of a lifetime. We have saved for three years for this trip. Would have liked to stay longer. There is always second thoughts when taking a trip like this, I'm sure. But right now, it is what it is, and we will go and have a great trip and enjoy it to the fullest. And take only pictures and leave only footprints.

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

ebiggs1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 15:49:38 GMT

It sounds like you have done a good job of planning your "trip of a lifetime".

Maybe a tripod? A 500mm lens on a XTi is going to act like a 800mm equivalent lens. Pretty serious stuff there!

All the best and have a great trip,

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

grdwyer — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:24:09 GMT

Crap, I do have a manfrotto tripod, and a gimbal head also. I also have a extender, 2x. Don't know if it will be necessary, but I have in nonetheless.

Anything else? I truly appreciate any advice. (Other than take up golfing 🙂 )

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

ebiggs1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:41:53 GMT

Take me!

" (Other than take up golfing )" Not likely as I would also need to find a divorce lawyer if I took up another bad habit besides photograaphy.

Have a good time,

Re: Camera for upcoming trip.

Skirball — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 17:52:45 GMT

@grdwyer wrote:
Crap, I do have a manfrotto tripod, and a gimbal head also. I also have a extender, 2x. Don't know if it will be necessary, but I have in nonetheless.

Anything else? I truly appreciate any advice. (Other than take up golfing 🙂 )

You're on the right track by sticking with the XTI. Worst thing you could do is pick up a completely new camera on the day of the trip. Though, I agree with eBigg's suggestion to get a T3i or T5i. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the trip and 500mm lens rental. You can get a refurbished T3i, from Canon, with warranty for pretty cheap. Unfortunately the just had a sale on refurbished, but still, $400 isn't that bad:

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-rebel-t3i-body-refurbished

If it was me, I'd take an ultrawide lens (like the new 10-18 STM), a decent standard zoom, a telephoto (that 500 is going to be awesome), and a fast prime for night. A fast wide angle would be great for the stars. I'd make sure to have polarizers that fit all my lenses (use step-up rings); between the expansive sky, water, glaciers, potentially snow - you've got a lot of reflecting surfaces. I'd also take a couple neutral density filters, but that's mostly a creative aspect. And at least 1 flash, but I'm a strobaholic.

Good solid tripod, backpack to keep them in, Sherpa for the 500mm, etc.