Travel “camera light” (the spine thanks you)

Before the days of the little Fuji camera that I now have in possession, travel or trips usually meant an addition of a hefty backpack full of dSLR gear. It wasn’t just a camera body, but usually a set of lenses to go with it (and heck, sometimes even an external flash for good measure). As I’m writing this on a plane onwards towards a month long break exploring Scandinavia, I’m doing it without the addition of a large (and heavy) camera backpack.

The large Crumpler backpack is staying at home, and it with me it’s replaced with a set of Fujis (mine and my wife’s), a couple of lenses and a set of batteries to boot. For good measure I’ve thrown in a Joby Gorillapod for good measure. Most of the gear is travelling with me and now fits snugly into a Crumpler Haven and popped into a Qwstion Overnighter bag. Here’s the kicker – it’s still lighter than the dSLR gear.

11774451_10206495573022274_1820596124_n — The kit in Helsinki.

The full kit:

(In the Haven – then into the overnighter)

Fuji x100t
2 extra x100 batteries (popped in a ThinkTank Pee Wee cover)
An extra xe2 battery
The 35 f/1.4
Polariser
Card reader
Joby Gorillapod Hybrid

In my wife’s handbag

Fuji X-E2 + 18mm

Now in the rest of the bag; a laptop, travel guides, a couple of other gadgets with room for the daily essentials while walking around any city.

The mirrorless revolution in my world is still in full swing and it astounds me that this kit will accompany now. There is no ultra wide, or anything longer than a 35mm. It’s an exciting prospect to go out shooting with little weight – and after a full day out walking around exploring – I’m sure that my back will be thanking me.

In fact, I’m travelling lighter than I wanted, I culled the kit so much, I managed to leave forget the lens hood for the x100t back at base (sigh… I’ll see what Singapore airport or the first city – Helsinki – has in terms of a replacement)

So the Fuji family is heading up north from down under and I’ll be trying to post some travel updates throughout the journey away.

Till next time

– CTP

For the curious, compare that to what I used to bring:

A Crumpler camera backpack