Own Canon Digital Rebel..good for trip?

[tygra]

Hello,
I am planning a trip to South America (from Canada) and would like to bring along my camera. After reading through the posts regarding the laptops/cameras I am concerned about damage to the camera (due to bike vibrations etc. Does anyone know if it's safe to bring along a camera such as this one...is there any tips on how to protect my camera so that it lasts the entire journey?

My photo gear was going to be the following:

Equipment I currently own:
Canon Digital Rebel w factory lens
One longer lens (70-300mm)
512MB CF card

Equipment I plan to purchase:
Small laptop (looking at Averatec or Libretto - both include DVD RWs)
DVD R's (For backup so that I can send pics back home incase of theft/loss)

Any hints/suggestions/advice regarding this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a bunch!

[unhinged]

It might be an idea to get a lowe pro dryzone bag as they're waterproof and will also keep the dust out. I think this is what Helge Pederson uses and he has his strapped on top of the rear rack.

[Grant Johnson]

The camera should be fine - just make sure it's not contacting metal directly. MANY travellers have carried all sorts of cameras no problem at all rtw. I prefer top carry the camera in a tank bag. A white cover keeps the heat down.

For the laptop, again no great problem - just make sure it's sitting on a good shock absorbing foam pad, 3/4 inch thick or so beneath, 1/4" around it, and preferably vertical in a saddlebag, towards the front, where the movement is least, and not in a top box. The optical drive is the weak point - they do fail from the vibes. Many have survived though.

I would strongly recommend several large CF cards - they're cheap, and great backup.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[beddhist]

<font face="" size="2">Small laptop (looking at Averatec or Libretto - both include DVD RWs)</font>

I have an Averatec 3150 and wouldn't recommend it. Gets so hot even with additional power mgmt. s/w that some of the keys start sticking. Later models (32xx) may be better, check the support forum www.averatecforums.com.

Which model Libretto comes with a DVD? I thought they stopped making them years ago, before DVD was around.

[moggy 1968]

you can get toughbooks quite cheaply on ebay, I think some of the models are quite small (not as small as a libreto though)
My canon eos100 (not digital) survived ok but was a bit gratey afterwards! bodies are so cheap now that I just bought another one rather than getting it serviced.

landcruiser h60
land rover 101 ambie/camper
1968 morris minor traveller!
www.plymouth-dakar.com


[This message has been edited by moggy 1968 (edited 01 July 2005).]

[tygra]

Hi Everyone! Sorry for taking so much time to post a well deserved "Thanks!!" for everyone that responded.

Unhinged: I was talking to a gentleman at a camera store who also suggested a Lowe Pro bag. I wasn't familiar with the dryzone bags, but it might be just the thing!

Grant Johnson, I will definitely follow your advice! With respect to the CF cards, I will probably get one more, but as I will have the laptop, I will try to burn to DVD as much as possible and send back home incase of theft etc.

Beddhist, here is the link for the Libretto: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...7&ccid=1291021

Moggy, I'll have to take a look on ebay, I've never actually looked at anything seriously on there, as part of me is still weary about purchasing without having the backing of a large store, but perhaps there would be some good deals, and then I wouldn't have to worry so much about it getting destroyed! haha

[DiasDePlaya]

I did a 3 week travel to the Chilean South with my Canon EOS 500N and lens in my Benetton camera bag that travel inside the topcase.
The camera lost the paint in some places just for the vibration against the camera bag. No scratches but some points where the black plastic lost the silver paint, including the control knob, and now I need to remember where the different functions are.

From this I prefer to travel with my little and cheap digital Olympus that I save in the inside pocket in my jacket, this way I allways have the camera close to my hands and don't lose any moment.

------------------
Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Curico, Chile

[Chris Smith]

As a few words of reasurrance, we´ve been travelling with a Canon Digi Rebel (300D in the UK) for nearly 2 years through the N,C and S America and its been great. No problems. As Grant advises, we keep ours in our tank bag and in a Lowpro Photorunner bag which works very well. Again, as Grant advises, get another CF card - you´ll need it!

Chris