Going to Peru in a month!

[Jawo]

I'm going with a friend to Peru as part of an organized trip at the begining of May. I will be spending much of the time in Cusco and the Urambamba Valley, and will see Machu Picchu. The trip is organized as day trips with two nights camping on the Incan trail. I am curious if anyone has been there before and any suggestions on additional gear I should consider. Currently I have an XTi w/grip, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Canon 70-300 IS USM f/4-5.6, 430ex, CPL, UV filters all in the Slingshot 100.

Would UWA lens be worth it? (10-22, 10-18, etc)

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Definitely think about a UWA (Sigma 10-20mm, Canon 10-22mm, Tokina 12-24mm, etc).
Tripod and remote shutter cord.
Maybe a cheapo backup body?
Obviously enough storage to get you through the day (or two days if you're camping) and a laptop.
Learn stuff like panoramas, stitches, and HDR. Then be able to combine the techniques (bracketed HDR stitch).

 

[soydios]

UWA might be worth it for landscapes.
other than that, it looks like a good compromise between size/weight and performance.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Definitely think about a UWA (Sigma 10-20mm, Canon 10-22mm, Tokina 12-24mm, etc).
Tripod and remote shutter cord.
Maybe a cheapo backup body?
Obviously enough storage to get you through the day (or two days if you're camping) and a laptop.
Learn stuff like panoramas, stitches, and HDR. Then be able to combine the techniques (bracketed HDR stitch).

Oops...forgot to mention I have 13GB of CF (thanks to the SanDisk rebates), and the cheapo remote for the XTi.

I currently have an old tripod (vey heavy) that I don't really want to lug around. Is spending $200+ the only way to go for a light, full-functioned tripod? I already have a monopod (limited replacement) and a table top tripod.

 

[corkyg]

I spent 4 nights at Macchu Picchu, but that was many years ago. Hiking and climbing in that area makes demands on you physically - altitude. There is a local remedy for "siroche" (altitude sickness) that works pretty well. For the really intrepid, you can climb Huayna Picchu - the tall peak that rises above Macchu Picchu. (On the North side - goes up about 1000 ft above MP.)

A good hike is up the old Inca trail that goes South above and behind the "lost City." A good view can be had from that trail from the high pass above.

A full tripod may not be necessary unless you are doing night or low light work. A good monopod works fine and doubles as a hiking staff. Something small and tough like a Gorilla Pod might be useful.

When I was there, I was not shooting stills - I was doing 16mm movie film - still have the final 400 ft. reel (somewhere.)

Cuzco is very interesting. Lots of good photo ops there.

You will enjoy the trip! I'll never forget mine.

 

[jpeyton]

Do you have some kind of weather shield, like a rain cover, for your camera? I'm sure the XTi has a certain amount of tolerance for rain/exposure, but it would save you the hassle of having to constantly store/remove your camera from your bag in adverse conditions.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Weather shields are going to be important. I've found my XT to be pretty water resistant, and freshwater has never killed it, although it has caused it to stop turning on for a time. If you don't want downtime, get a rain cover of some sort.

Also we wary of humidity and heat. If you go from a dry, air conditioned interior out into the warm humid weather of where ever you are, your lenses are all going to fog up like no other and remain fogged up for a very decent amount of time, like over 30 minutes. This will be exacerbated to a large degree if it's rainy outside.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny Weather shields are going to be important. I've found my XT to be pretty water resistant, and freshwater has never killed it, although it has caused it to stop turning on for a time. If you don't want downtime, get a rain cover of some sort.

Also we wary of humidity and heat. If you go from a dry, air conditioned interior out into the warm humid weather of where ever you are, your lenses are all going to fog up like no other and remain fogged up for a very decent amount of time, like over 30 minutes. This will be exacerbated to a large degree if it's rainy outside.

Those are good tips.

I had a rain cover for my 5D on a trip down the Amazon - definitely tropical humid. It was a pain, and the final solution was simply a ziplock 1 gallon bag I kept over the camera and lens - and poked it out when necessary.

No problem like that at Machu Picchu - humidity is very low and air conditioning is not used. The base altitude is 7,000 ft - usually cool and dry from May-November, but mist from clouds is not unusual. This is a pretty good climate guide for this trip - it will be in the beginning of the dry season.

Weather

 

[ElFenix]

hope your trip turns out better than mine
(my canon elph camera, an APS with drop in film loading, refused to load any film when i really wanted it to load film. back in my hotel at 10 pm it'd load. out at some ruin it'd give me errors)

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
hope your trip turns out better than mine
(my canon elph camera, an APS with drop in film loading, refused to load any film when i really wanted it to load film. back in my hotel at 10 pm it'd load. out at some ruin it'd give me errors)

I had an APS camera at one point as well. I am so glad that I can just keep the shutter going and not have to worry about film and developing!

Thanks for the advice....does anyone have any suggestions about weather shielding for my camera, besides Corkyg's ziploc?

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Jawo

Originally posted by: ElFenix
hope your trip turns out better than mine
(my canon elph camera, an APS with drop in film loading, refused to load any film when i really wanted it to load film. back in my hotel at 10 pm it'd load. out at some ruin it'd give me errors)

I had an APS camera at one point as well. I am so glad that I can just keep the shutter going and not have to worry about film and developing!

Thanks for the advice....does anyone have any suggestions about weather shielding for my camera, besides Corkyg's ziploc?

Hefty bag + some rubber bands works great.

But there are plenty of more professional solutions on eBay that are relatively cheap. Some of them cover the entire camera, with sleeves for your hands to reach inside and operate it, and a clear plastic back panel so the LCD/controls are still viewable.

 

[corkyg]

This is what I bought for the Amazon trip - and it was very inconvenient and cumbersome. Gallon, Ziplock, Hefty bag, and even a plastic poncho would be better IMHO.

Pelican

I still have this puppy - if you want it, you can have it.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: corkyg
This is what I bought for the Amazon trip - and it was very inconvenient and cumbersome. Gallon, Ziplock, Hefty bag, and even a plastic poncho would be better IMHO.

Pelican

I still have this puppy - if you want it, you can have it.

Hmm...doesn't sound like a bad idea. I usually have extra ziploc bags with me as they are so versitile! Your cover looks useful in a downpour, or snow...