Building a Travel Kit

[StapledPhoto]

Thanks for the info, Neuro!

For the Primus, how do you find access / size when just using the main zipper rather than the side zipper. Some people reported that you could spin the bag around in front of them and access the pockets pretty easily with just the waist belt holding the bag from falling. If that's the case then I'd be fine only ever using the main access rather than even bothering with the clearly undersized side access. I could see myself keeping the 100-400 up top in its lens case when using the standard zoom on cases when I'd want to have both with me.

The toploader I already have (older toploader zoom pro) works very well for the body + 100-400 or body + 24-105 + 50 together. I could get lens cases for the latter two for when the telephoto is in there. That's what you're recommending? I would always have the option of only bringing the toploader on a trek rather than my daybag, but unfortunately I'd need to bring it AND the toploader if I wanted to have both zooms with me or anything other than just camera gear.

I think the tripod would largely be for landscapes so my telephoto wouldn't be on it super often. I'm always happy to keep my hands in the catching position for a few photos anyway. If I get the GoPro, that'll probably be on it for time-lapses too. I'm thinking a Gorillapod may just be the answer to keeping things compact. Do you still find the ballhead super useful given that the legs are pretty flexible?

The new GoPro at $300 includes the waterproof case. A replacement is somehow only $40 too! The canon waterproof cases cost almost as much as the whole GoPro and don't seem to be quite as bulletproof and reliable. All-in-all with the GoPro accessories they'll both end up costing me about $400 for camera and housing but the GoPro does things I can't do with the 5D while the standard P&S would do more of what the 5D can do but not as well. With my girlfriend bringing a standard P&S, the GoPro being quite a bit smaller in the housing, able to do 60fps video, easy time lapses, etc. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a GoPro. My main concern is the focusing issues for diving as right now out of the box a canon + housing will do better. GoPro has been working on their own solution for a while and I'm hoping that'll come out before I leave, but I can get a 3rd party one either way.