[VinnyP]

Like most people I have outfits I tend to take depending on the situation. This is especially true on holidays. I have a kit that I like to carry I would take the D200 body, 10-20, 18-50, 70-200 1.7TC an SB800 and the Culmann magic in a Crumpler bag. (I'll have the FZ30 for walking around and the Z750 for the aforementioned BH and pocketing). This is causing "issues" shall we say especially with the new hand luggage allowances. In short the better half thinks the luggage allowance would be better used on handbags shoes and souvenirs I am shortly off to Morocco to see the Atlas mountans Marrakesh and the Sahara so may take a pic or 2. However subtle hints are beginning to make it clear the usual is too much for domestic harmony So my idea is sack the 70-200 and the SB800 (use built in flash if I must), then swap out the 1.7x for the 2.0x and add the 85 1.8. It would be better for low light interiors great for candids and with the 2.0x an OK tele.

Has anyone else any views or suggestions short of start looking for a new partner

[VikingPhotography]

Lowepro OmniTrekker Extreme

Seriously; it'll keep all your photographic kit nice and safe when in checked luggage. The next step is to get adequate photographic or home contents insurance that will cover your gear when checked.

Sidenote gripe: with the new restrictions on hand luggage, one would have thought the airlines should have eased up restrictions on checked baggage allowances... say an extra 5 - 10kg per passenger. My old carry-on photo bag weighed around 15kg inc. laptop... yet I don't now get an extra 15kg allowance for checked

[VinnyP]

That looks good. I have got a few Peli cases if I want to put things in the hold and I have got photo insurance which would cover it but lots of stuff is going missing these days. It's a lot of hassle if I do lose it and I'll miss out on shots when I am there. Luggage allowance is 20KG, her main concern is that usually I carry too much stuff. I'll see how I get on with the cut down kit.

[Markulous]

Hmmm, be warned that the airlines generally are tightening up on the luggage allowance and excess. On my recent trip to Oz/NZ they tried to hit me for $500 on my way back (@something like $50/kilo!). Managed to get them down to $250 but was not a happy bunny!

[VinnyP]

Ok went with the pared down kit and only found it lacking a couple of times really (flash and longer lens) and would have been fine almost all the time if I had been carrying the fz30 as well as the SLR on those days. Actually the thing I missed most was a shoulder camera bag. Rucksacks are just too much effort, in the real world I want to be able to change lenses without taking the bag off.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by VinnyP

Actually the thing I missed most was a shoulder camera bag. Rucksacks are just too much effort, in the real world I want to be able to change lenses without taking the bag off.

I only have rucksacks for my kit and just recently I have been thinking the same, maybe it is time for me to invest in a shoulder bag as well?

[Dabhand16]

I have to say that i've never been attracted to rucksacks for that very reason. Ease of accessibilty is my #1 factor. In this regard, I find the trend for the latest designs to have the 'lid', or top cover to also go over the side pockets to be infuriating. My old bags have side pockets you can access directly, without having to open the top first.

Over the years, i've always used shoulder bags, and my aluminium Bronica case can also be used as a seat or step!

[stepheno]

I travel a lot and always adapt my kit accordingly. Markulous is right that hand luggage restrictions, although eased, are still tight. So I trim down by taking just the camera and an 18-200 all purpose. No flash, no converters and just a CP and Grad ND. The whole lot goes over my shoulder. On a recent trip to Europe, while the scare was on, I just took a bridge Fujifilm S602. That really made me work for my shots.

In your case I would take your 18-50 and 70-200. Anyway, it will make you think a bit more about setting up your shot.