Am I forgetting anything?

I'm headed off to China on Thursday. My camera-related gear is as follows:

• 5DII, 16-35mm f/2.8L, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, 35mm f/1.4L, 1.4x II Extender, and Speedlite 430EX II w/ Omnibounce
• B+W 77mm 10-stop ND filter, B+W 77mm and 82mm SlimKäsemannCPLs, 77mm 500D Close-Up Lens
• Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 CF tripod, 488RC2 ballhead, BlackRapid RS-4 strap, RC-1 remote
• PowerShot S95
• Giottos rocket blower, LensPen,Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly 724 Super Bright
• Charger and 2 spare LP-E6 batteries (also 2 in the grip), charger and spare battery for S95
• 56 GB CF cards (2 x 16GB, 3 x 8GB), 28 GB SDHC cards (3 x 8GB, 4 GB)
• Lowepro Flipside 400AW, Lowepro Toploader Pro 65AW, Storm im2500 hard case and SearchAlert locks
• 17" Macbook Pro, ExpressCard CD and SD card readers, 192 GB of thumb drives for backup (3 x 64GB), 128 GB of ExpressCard SSDs for more backup

Here's what it looks like:


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/ChinaPacking.jpg[/img]


Notwithstanding the kitchen sink, am I forgetting anything?


After tomorrow, I'll be incommunicado for 3-4 weeks. Happy shooting, everyone!





Oh...I know that I mentioned my desire to make a meaningful photographic record of our trip, although photography isn't the main purpose for our travel. But, I omitted what that main purpose is:


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Jie-Chun.jpg[/img]


Meet Jie Chun, our daughter who we are traveling to China to adopt. [:D]


--John

Oh wow congrats mate, that

John,


Do you use a mouse with your laptop? I personallyfind postprocessing with just integrated pointing device unnecessarily difficult. I always take a smallnotebook mouse on my trips.


Other than that, after researching types of electrical plugs in China and comparing essential components of your kit with mine (I am on vacation in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico now [:)]) I am going to say thay you got it covered.


And last, but certainly not the least, congratulations on the latest addition to your family[:D]. I consider adoption a very noble gesture.


Pete

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Jie-Chun.jpg[/img]


Meet Jie Chun, our daughter who we are traveling to China to adopt. [img]/emoticons/emotion-2.gif[/img]


--John
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She is a doll, Look forward to many, many more photos of her.


Make sure you have an international plug adapter.


Mark

Great pix of your new one and your gear. A big congrats is in order. You might want to take some Flexeril, Ibuprofen, and Tiger Balm from hauling all of that stuff around to help with the aches at the end of the day. Just kidding of course...it looks like you

Wow, what a life-changing trip! Wish you all the best!


Colin


PS: You don

Wow, looks like you have everything covered John. Congratulations on your imminent addition, this is the trip of a life time for all involved.


Steve

Hi John,


That's wonderful news, Congrats on the new addition to your family, she looks beautiful.


It looks like you've got everything covered.


Don't forget the charger for the laptop and perhaps an airplane adapter or external juice pack for the laptop if you would like to watch more than 1 movie on the flight. Two pairs of Headphones with y-adapter if you and your wife would like to watch a movie together on the plane.


Besides an international power adapter, I would also bring a small power strip that can plug into the power adapter, that can support about 5 outlets and make sure that there is space for your power adapters and chargers without blocking the other outlets on the strip. A short extension cord may also be convenient.


A toy for your new daughter Jie Chun!


John, on the way back from your trip, make sure that you have your backups on your person, or in a different bag then the original files. Also, a quick upload of your images to flikr might be useful if you have a good internet connection.


Have a wonderful trip and congratulations on your new addition!


Rich

Here

Congratulations on your soon-to-be addition to your family! Hope you have a great trip to China!


Stephen

John


What a great reason to go. Congratz and I hope it all goes well


Just one thing. Back up body, things happen.

Congratulations, John! Have a safe trip.

John,


Congratulations on the new daughter.


I agree with Rick on taking a second body. It would really stink to get all the way over there and have a problem with your 5D II. I realize you are also taking your S95, but none of your glass will fit it.[;)]


If space is a concern, how about removing the grip from the 7D?


Like Pete, I have issues using the touch pad verses a mouse. If that is not true of you, you are good.


I will pray for a safe and successful trip for you and your family. I look forward to seeing your China and new family photos.


Chris

John,


Nothing technical to add to the above comments, but wanted to congratulate you on the addition to your family. I work with someone who has adopted a boy and a girl from China and it seems to have been a great experience.


A quick guess, but Jie Chun's first english word will be "CAM-ER-A" [:D]


Have a great and safe trip. I look forward to the photos when you get back.


Brant

Fantastic news, John!! Congratulations on the new addition to your family ...she is beautiful!!!

Have a safe trip ...looking forward to many photos upon your return!!


God bless!


Denise

This is fantastic --- congratulations! She is absolutely adorable &amp; precious.


Your kit looks incredibly well thought out. I

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words and support!!


Pete, I do have a travel mouse I'm taking. Actually, I'm pretty comfortable editing with just the trackpad (the MBP's is big) - the mouse is mostly for my toddler to play computer games.


Pete and Mark, I've got a couple of plug adapters. Looking at the plugs in China, it looks like they take the 2-prong North American plugs as long as they aren't polarized (AC/DC power adapters aren't). But I'm bringing some just in case.


Colin, I've got two sets of 4 eneloops for the 430EX II (I left the spares off the list somehow, even though they're in the picture). I'm not too big on flash use - I think I've recharged my eneloops 2-3 times over the year that I've had them, and never because they were running out of juice. I'm going to save a little space by skipping the charger for those. I will add an LED penlight - great idea!


Rich, great suggestions! I have a small power strip that also has a couple of USB ports for charging. The power adapter for the Mac is in the bag, as is my airline power adapter. The built-in MBP battery is good for 8-9 hours. I actually thought about a headphone Y-adapter a week ago or so, then I completely forgot about it...a timely reminder, I'll pick one up on my way home to pack. I like your father's advice - after a couple of backpack-only trips to other continents, we've at least got the easy-pack-easy-care travel attire (the REI membership has come in handy over the years). But traveling with a toddler is a different story - toys, games, etc. We have her baggage allowance added to ours, but then the issue becomes how to schlep all that stuff through a succession of airports. As for doubling the amount of money, ouch - we're already have to carry cash to cover the 'mandatory donation' and other adoption fees (our bank had to place an order for new hundreds for that, and the stack is way too thick for my wallet...). But I know from past travels that you always spend more than you plan. Good tip on the backups - the thumb drives (I can't believe there are 64GB versions now!) will be in my pocket for the return trip, and during the trip I'll make backups nightly from the CF cards, and the backups will be stored separately from my camera and my computer, just in case. Insurance can replace the hardware, not the images.


Rick, I did agonize over bringing the 7D. I just don't think I'll have room, unfortunately. My camera gear is already spilling over into the regular luggage. I've got the S95, and should it come to that, I'd be willing to just buy an xxxD body over there (but probably not the Jackie Chan 550D;).


Chris, good point about removing the grip. I'm going to wait until everything is packed (which we haven't even started yet - I'm heading home soon to get going on that!), and see how much space is available. I may just end up bringing it after all.


Denise, thanks!


Jonathan, also not listed, but I've got a hotshoe bubble level in the pocket of the tripod bag - I just need to remember to pull it out and use it!


All the best everyone, and thanks again!


--John

Hi John,


One more suggestion if you're interested. I have heard that some photographers put their hard (yellow) case in a separate, cheap looking duffle bag to hide the fact that there may be expensive electronic or camera equipment in there. You may even be able to cut a hole in the bottom of the bag for the wheels or put the hard case in the duffle bag when you arrive at the baggage check-in window. Just a thought!


Rich

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Pete and Mark, I've got a couple of plug adapters. Looking at the plugs in China, it looks like they take the 2-prong North American plugs as long as they aren't polarized (AC/DC power adapters aren't). But I'm bringing some just in case.

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John,


You are right: the two prong North American is pretty much standard in China. You may come across with two other types but those are older and not ascommon any more. As far as the current goes, they have typical 220V 50Hz AC (non polarized) current, which is also standard in entire Europe, so as long as yourchargers and power suppliestake 220V (Canon and Mac do)there should not be any problems.


For the most part, you should be able to use electricity over there by just plugging in. If you are less lucky and come across the mentioned older plug, you will need an adapter.


Pete

Congrats John, What a doll you have there. I didn

Thanks, Bob - yep, an S95, spare battery, and 28 GB of SDHC cards for it. We're taking a MiniDV camcorder, too, so the S95 is also a backup for video.


______________


Well, we're all packed (except for the computer I'm typing this post from), suitcases are by the door, and the van picks us up in 5.5 hours.


?? (z&agrave;i ji&agrave;n), everyone, at least for a little while!


--John

I guess Jie Chun

I dont see the stock pile of diapers, also using the flash drives for back up? I remember watching a video about chase jarvice (forgot how to spell name) and he noted that you can print out a list of rules/rights when going on flights, for checking gear without going threw the xray machine, and you are allowed to take so big of a case, might be handy. I hope you are allowed to carry your bag with you, and Richard Lane is right, put your camera bag into a bigger bad to hide it, even if you put lock on it, you can rip open the zipper with a pen (saw it on youtube). I

Hi Everyone,


Back home and trying to catch up on our sleep. More details to come, and pictures too, once I get through some post-processing. All I've managed to do so far is triage the nearly 2000 images down to something a little less than 800...


Here's the first one to share:


"Sisters"



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5507229648/lightbox/]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/...339ffda2_z.jpg[/url]
EOS 5D Mark II, EF 24-105mm f/4<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 47mm, 1/125 s, f/5, ISO 400


--John

Beautiful John, glad to have you back safe and sound. The happiness and wonder says it all in that picture.


steve

And two beautiful sisters they are! What a precious photo!


Welcome back, John!!


Denise

John, Welcome back, We missed you-----But wow, what a beautiful pair of girls you have there.. Congrats and welcome home.

Hi Neuro. Welcome back. Congrats on the new addition to the family!! How were the photo ops in China(besides the sisters!!)?? Hope you had a great time, and look forward to more pics, both of the girls and China!!

Good stuff mate, congrats. Look forward to a few more pics along the way.

Congratulations John, and Welcome back!


Rich

Congrats and welcome home to everyone in your family.