All right gang, I need your help. I'm trying to put together my kit for a
canoeing trip in only two weeks. I'm going to the Quetico Provincial Park
and Boundary Waters Canoeing Area and Wilderness. If you've been there, then
you know how excited I am. If you have never been there, the bugs are awful,
the water is cold and there is no Olympus mailing list; it would be best to
stay away :-)
Okay, so we will be canoeing from lake to lake and portaging between lakes
when the water ends. I've set route that will require pretty hard days, so
it will be important to keep the weight to minimum. On the other hand,
canoes provide an opportunity to splurge on the gear side, at least more than
backpacking.
What I am trying to do now is ration the space in my LowePro Mini Trekker.
Here is what I am planning on taking in the bag (these items will be pretty
inaccessible while traveling during the day):
300mm/4.5 mounted on 4T with MD1
90mm/2 macro
80mm/4 macro mounted on tele auto tube 65-116
1.4xA and 2xA stacked together
T-28 Twin w/ T-power
F280
focusing rail, focusing stage and varimagni finder
other lenses I am considering: 135mm/4.5 macro, 18mm/3.5, 24mm/2.8. I can
probably fit all the lenses listed without removing anything. I have also
though about the 50-250mm/5, but that would probably require dumping
something. I've also thought about the 38mm/2.8 macro, but if the mosquitos
are bad there is no way I will have the patience to set this up in the field
without a gear head, bellows, and sturdier tripod (all of which won't be
going).
Here is what I am taking as a snapshot camera for portage trails and other
times when we are traveling:
OM-2n with 35-70/3.5-4.5
I could also carry the 90mm/2 macro for close-ups on portage trails and have
room for the 50-250mm/5. Another option is to go with a 4T and have the F280
flash handy for fill-in flash with bright sunlight during the day. I was
leaning toward the 2n because it is my most abused body and I wouldn't be too
upset about if it took a dip; same goes for the 35-70mm/3.5-4.5
I'm leaning toward two MD1s and 3 control packs, but could also take Winder
2s or an MD2. What are your thoughts?
Also, here is what I have at my disposal (of course, I don't own all these
items b/c that would absolutely ridiculous, right?) I'm actually quite
embarrassed to list all this gear. In my defense, some of this will go to
new homes when I return. I just haven't decided what has to go yet. Anyway,
here it is:
18mm/3.5, 20mm/2 macro, 24mm/2.8, 28mm/3.5, 38mm/2.8 macro, 50mm/1.4,
50mm/1.8, 50mm/2 macro, 80mm/4 macro, 90mm/2 macro, 135mm/2.8, 135mm/4.5
macro, 180mm/2.8, 300mm/4.5, something bigger that I won't admit to owning,
35-70mm/3.5-4.5, 35-70mm/3.6, 50-250mm/5, 70-210/3.5 Vivitar Series 1, 2xA
converter, 1.4xA converter, OM-1n, OM-2, OM-2n, OM-4, OM-4T, OM-4Ti, T-10,
T-20, T-28 Twin, T-32, F280, MD1 (2), MD2, Winder 2 (2), bellows, focusing
stage, variable extension tube, auto extension tubes, ND filter set, TTL
cords, and other accessories, like filter, hoods, etc.
As you can tell, I'm really into macro. Flowers should be in full bloom, and
I'm hoping to catch moose, beavers and bald eagles (hence the 300mm).
Any comments are welcome, even if they are to tell me that I need to sell,
sell, sell.
I would also like some recommendations of film. I have my favorites, but am
always open to try something different.
Thanks,
--p.j.
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