2010 Trip - Machu Picchu

[Oxygen]

I've finally decided on and booked my holiday this year so it's off to South America for 2 weeks with the highlight being 7 days in Peru of which 4 days are spent hiking on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu for a sunrise arrival.

Leaving mid September so plenty of time to organise my gear but I'd like some first hand advice from people. Gear wise i'll be taking a 5D Mk2, 16-35 f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8 & 70-200 f/2.8, lots of memory cards, ND grad filters, timer remote release and Velbon travel tripod. Fully travel insured through PhotoGuard already and will have a 80GB Colourspace HD as backup also.

Has anyone on here been previously or know someone that went as I'm hearing the altitude and weather are the biggest hurdles physically but what about it's effect on camera gear?

I was toying up the idea of dropping the 70-200mm due to it's bulk and weight but for the second part of my trip I'll be in the Amazon basin for 5 days and returning via Miami for 3 days to see the Everglades. I have the trusty Dust Pump but can't take both so it's either 70 -200 or 100-400 as my telephoto.

What's the general opinion? ... good advice and travel tips welcome

 

[Oxygen]

I'd take the 70-200 and TC - it's not that heavy and you'll only find yourself wanting it if you don't take it - if anything leave the 24-70 and home and carry - 16-35, 50, 70-200, 2x!

hmmm, I do have a 50 f/1.4 and the 24-70 is called the Brick for a reason

I'd actually commented in another thread earlier today how difficult shooting there is..

- Get up early, it's really, stupidly, crazy busy. You need to be there at first light to get any kind of solitude or shots without people wandering all over the place. It's by far the busiest tourism center in Peru and it shows unfortunately.
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Completely agree that I'm not going to get in Nat Geo with a shot from the trip but I do one trip a year that is once in a lifetime so i'm going all guns blazing so to speak.

- I was thinking of brushing up on long exposures as a way to combat the crowds, 10 stop ND perhaps.

I'd be tempted to leave the 16-35 if anything actually, lots of overlap with the 24-70 and the environment doesn't lend itself to wide angle shots all that much...

I'm also thinking this, but is that just because I haven't cracked shooting ultrawide yet. Maybe not the holiday to try it on ?

 

[Oxygen]

No advice as such, but see Michael Anderson's latest shots for some inspiration!

Wow... guess if all goes wrong i can buy the print !

Personally I'd swap the f/2.8 for an f/4 or take the 100-400. I feel sorry for you lugging that around with you all the time, although I guess it's an organised tour so most of the time will be in buses? Not quite as bad.

Organised yes, but no bus. Walking for 4 days with a scenic train ride on the way down. Perhaps the f2.8 is overkill but it's got me covered for a lot of options. I think i'll get a 2X just in case i need more reach in the Amazon as the critters are flighty after being hunter for hundreds of years.

I've not been myself, but I found this on a forum site.
I make save you getting ripped off by unexpected charges.

OMG ! I need to find out more about that ... thanks for the heads up