Is this for your China trip? I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to take the "good-n-heavy" stuff everywhere you go, but I do agree with everything Denise said. Have you checked out the upper end of third party lens (not Tamron 70-300)? They are still pretty cheap and light without the IS and if things go south, no biggie.. or you could buy my 70-200L IS 2.8verI for $800. My shipping and handling fees are a little steep (another $800) but I'll throw in a bucket of JD Green paint and a few helium balloons to lighten the load.