What do you think about traveling with expensive gear?

[StandingBear1983]

I'm thinking of buying the 24-120 nikon f4 VRII lens or the 28-300 and both are above a 1000$..for me its expensive and i would like to take care of it, I'm worried that if i take it on a trip\hike\trek that something will happen to it..and when i travel i like to be worry free and not cuddling my camera all day...what do you think i should do guys, should i take it anyway, or buy a kit lens for massive hikes and treks?, is it just psychological?, can those lens hold some damage in a worst case senerio?

so i have 4 options :

1. go with my D5100 and expensive (for me anyway) 24-120\28-300.
2. go with my D5100 and buy a kit lens and be relatively care free.
3. leave my D5100 at home, take my old Canon powershot S5i bridge superzoom.
4. leave my D5100 at home, buy a new bridge superzoom

 

[DorkSterr]

Well you're not gonna get anything done with an addittude like that. Just bring your gear take care of it as much as possible, their built pretty strong, that's why you have warranty. That's what I say to my self.

 

[Buckster]

I can't even imagine buying good tools and then leaving them at home because I'm afraid something will happen to them if I actually use them.

Get them insured and put them to work, or don't bother to buy them in the first place.

 

[StandingBear1983]

Ok thanks man...i know that things are made to be used...i guess its my problem worring about it so much...also that somebody will steal it somehow when i'll be without my camera in hostels...even while i'm in the toilet or shower lol, while i was traveling in New Zealand, in one of the hostels i've been too, sometimes your in a room with 4 pepole that you don't know and that can steal anything that isn't on you...actually they did steal from me little things like towels and flipflops i had...but imagine if i go have a shower and leave 2000$ worth of camera gear in the room....i guess i'll have to buy locks for my bags while i'm backpacking in hostels.

 

[morganza]

I can't even imagine buying good tools and then leaving them at home because I'm afraid something will happen to them if I actually use them.

Get them insured and put them to work, or don't bother to buy them in the first place.

I couldn't agree more, insure them and use proper bags/other equipment to not damage them.

 

[Nikon_Josh]

As Derrel once said, carry a monopod in your right hand in the 'ATTACK' positon as you walk down the street. Should scare off any wannabe thieves!

 

[Designer]

i have 4 options :

1. go with my D5100 and expensive (for me anyway) 24-120\28-300.
2. go with my D5100 and buy a kit lens and be relatively care free.
3. leave my D5100 at home, take my old Canon powershot S5i bridge superzoom.
4. leave my D5100 at home, buy a new bridge superzoom

#2 and #4 seem incongruous. The camera is also somewhat delicate, so how could you be "relatively care free"? The money you spend on a cheap camera or a cheap lens will be gone, and you will still want the better lens. From my own experience, after having spent gobs of money on a trip, about the most precious thing I'm carrying is the SD card with all those images.

 

[cgipson1]

Yep.. as stated. Insure everything... and then just use common sense. When not using it, lock it up out of sight. But use it! lol!

 

[table1349]

Personal Insurance for Computers, Jewelry & More - State Farm

Go shoot. Don't worry.

 

[slackercruster]

Get insurance or travel with cheaper gear. On certain trips I take $200-$300 Pentax bodies and lenses under $400 for me. If I have security then take anything pretty much.

 

[greybeard]

Take all your gear. Given the planned activities for the day, select the gear that will be most appropriate for that days outing.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I didn't have insurance for the first, I think, 15 years and the first 12 of those were spent in war zones.

Just go out there and fooking shoot.


Either that or hang it up, forget it.

 

[TCampbell]

You started out by mentioning all the hikes. Your gear should easily handle the hikes (you will probably give out before the gear does.) But then you shifted to the topic of theft.

If you're concerned about theft, you can get anti-theft bags -- such as those by PacSafe. They make bags with a wire mesh/netting built into the fabric and can be locked. When locked a thief would need to have some wire cutters to be able to get anything out of it -- and they're probably not likely to have wire cutters (basically if they REALLY want your bag, it isn't really "theft proof" -- they can get it. But it's hard enough to get in that they probably won't have the tools and will just move along to someone else's bag.)

 

[Joshonator]

If you're bringing one body and lens just keep it with you at all times. Put it in a garbage bag and keep it in the washroom when you take the shower if you're that paranoid. Keep it in a backpack while going over difficult terrain.

 

[StandingBear1983]

Thanks folks, what can i say, your right...the garbage bag is a good deception...good idea , to make the gear look as cheap as possible lol...i heard that people also cover the brand name on there camera or other gear...anyway, i got the point...