[goyan]

Dear all,

My friends and I are going on a tour to Egypt in April. I am starting to gather the photographic gears that I'd travelling with. The tour covers quite a few places in 10 days, from Luxor up north to Alexandria.

I'll be travelling with my Nikon D700 body, SB-800 (flashgun) and 24-70mm f2.8 (I expect it on most of the time and it should give me a sufficient wide angle).

Question 1:
I have the following lens under consideration:
50mm f1.4 (pro: for low-light situations in temples? con: maybe my f2.8 lens will be enough)
70-200mm f2.8 (for snapshots/portraits of the people/locals from a distance? but it is a heavy lens)

Question 2:
Should I bring a tripod, a monopod, or neither?

Question 3:
Since I'm taking polarizers, can I leave lens hoods at home?

Question 4:
For the guys who have been there/done that, is it really a hostile environment for lens changing in Egypt?

Thanks in advance.

Goyan

[marisalwy]

I have just been back from Egypt.

You need to bring more wideangle lenses much wider than 24 mm (e.g. 17- 35, 14- 24), or even fisheye lens, otherwise you will blame yourself there as you cannot capture the entire view of magnificent temples.

Telephoto lenses, flashlights, tripod and polarizer are totally unnecessary.

Environments in Egypt in April are very nice, not hostile. You need not worry about lens changing there.

[onlyken]

我數年前去過, 24mm 確實唔多夠, 建議加支 18-35mm

[Douglaschow]

4月會好熱? 有個老友係Egypt 隻Nikon 8700 (好似係) 出烟燒左, 只好在當地買過隻, 番黎insu倍左50%!

[pkpartner]

我經常都帶住三腳架
hood同CPL/PL係兩樣嘢 hood應時刻裝上佢除咗遮有害光重會有意想唔到既保護功能

[goyan]

Thank you all for the replies.

I never thought 24mm would not be enough. I was worried that my 200mm end is lacking. I was thinking of getting a teleconverter. If I have to shoot the whole temple, I think I would simply do a panorama with 35mm.

Because of the strong sun light, especially the bouncing lights from the sands, CPL is rather important. However they are difficult to work with, when the hoods are on. But you are absolutely right that it really gives a much better protection for the lenses.

[alvinlcp]

Just back from Egypt.

Recommended gear:
14-24 or 17-35 or 16-35
Tele is not necessary
flash is not necessary

CPL is a must.

[stephen.pit]

D700 can take good pics at iso 1000 or more

1) 70-200, too heavy to carry
u have 24-70, 50 is not required.

2) tripod, NO

3) lens hood is a must, sun is very strong there. also for protection.
always have the hood on.(even not in Egypt)

4) don;t change lens too often, sand is quite strong in some places, do it indoor area.