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Must-Have Travel Gear

 
     
 

A Selection Of Mobile Gear That Makes Photography On The Road Easier

By Maura C. Lanahan

 
     
  From camping in the wilderness and hiking mountain trails, to first-class seating and four-star hotels, everyone’s idea of what makes a memorable trip is different. Wherever you’re traveling, reaching that destination can be an arduous journey, especially when you’re intending to shoot.

Hauling heavy, cumbersome equipment can not only ruin your back, but your good time—and good photos. The PCPhoto editors have compiled a list of travel gear that can work on just about every type of trip—to lighten the load, keep you comfortable and free up frustrations so you can relax and take better pictures.
 
     
   
     
 

LOWEPRO ROLLING COMPUTREKKER PLUS AW
On a big trip, the last thing you want is to be leaving key elements of your gear behind because you ran out of space. The Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker Plus AW frees you from that potential problem, thanks to its massive capacity. The 13x5.5x16.3-inch interior dimensions are ample for a complete high-end D-SLR outfit, and it fits within airline carry-on requirements. A padded compartment holds a laptop computer (with up to a 15.4-inch screen) that can be easily accessed during check-in or as you’re shooting in the field. A built-in memory card pouch keeps your storage media protected and organized, and the AW cover protects all of your gear in the event of rain. List Price: $349.

MAGELLAN EXPLORIST 600 GPS
The rugged impact- and water-resistant armor of the Magellan eXplorist 600 GPS is ideal for travel. Featuring a large, 2.3-inch, full-color LCD screen, the 600 tracks your location and enables you to easily find your destination with the use of geopositioning satellites. A USB port and a built-in SD card reader/writer provide unlimited storage of old trekking routes, and the unit’s PC-style file management allows you to create folders and directories. The 600 has a built-in barometer, altimeter and thermometer to further assist with travel plans. Weighing less than four ounces, the unit can fit in your pocket. Estimated Street Price: $450.

ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS
Be prepared for small mishaps with the Ultralight Series first-aid kits from Adventure Medical Kits. The outer bag is constructed of ripstop nylon with silicon coating, and there are U.S. Navy-certified waterproof bags inside to protect the first-aid items. The kits are available in different sizes, depending on the length of your trip and how many people will be traveling. List Price: $10 to $32.

IOMEGA SUPER DVD WRITER 16x16
Back up your once-in-a-lifetime images to recordable CDs and DVDs with the Iomega Super DVD Writer 16x16. The external burner provides a 16x burn speed and supports recording to double-capacity DVDs for up to 8.5 GB of storage. Connection to your laptop computer is provided by a speedy USB 2.0 connection. List Price: $170.

LEKI ULTRALITE TI AIR ERGO TREKKING POLE
Make it easier to negotiate rough trails with the Ultralite Ti Air Ergo PA AS Trekking Pole from Leki. Weighing just nine ounces, the aluminum/titanium pole adjusts from 30 to 53 inches. Additionally, it features a positive-angle grip and a unique ELS locking system. List Price: $150.

PORTER CASE ELITE DELUXE DIVIDER CASE
Protect and transport your computer, camera, lenses and more with Porter Case’s Elite Deluxe Divider Case. A briefcase-style accordion pocket in the lid of the case is perfect for your laptop, and the padded dividers organize your photo equipment. The Elite Deluxe can fit under an airplane seat and has wheels that transform the case into a cart, allowing you to haul up to 200 pounds of other baggage. The hard exterior protects your gear from damage, and the case weighs only 13 pounds. List Price: $279.

MOONSTONE TECH TEES
Made of a tri-blend jersey fabric, the Moonstone Tech Tees fight odor-causing bacteria, limit moisture and help keep you dry and comfortable for days on the road. The combination of fibers in the shirts are stretchable while still maintaining form-fitting shape. Styles and sizes are available for both men and women. List Price: $42 to $52.

EZ PNP EZDIGIMAGIC DM220-D08 DVD/CD BURNER
Burn images straight from a digital camera or memory card to a DVD or CD without a computer using EZDigiMagic’s DM220-D08 DVD/CD Burner by EZ PnP. The unit is capable of backing up 4 GB of information on to a DVD and features a slim, lightweight design that’s convenient for travel. List Price: $399.

MOTOROLA TALKABOUT T6500
With a rugged rubber exterior in a compact size, the Motorola Talkabout T6500 is a convenient way to keep in touch with your travel companions. The T6500 has a five-mile range with 22 frequencies and a priority scan feature that allows you to quickly find the most private channel in crowded environments. The Talkabout also allows you to tune in to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a continuous weather broadcasting channel. List Price: $50 (alkaline model); $60 (rechargeable battery model).

ANSMANN 1212 POWER SUPPLY
Charge your camera and radio, even your shaver, with the Ansmann 1212. Featuring an adjustable DC output from three to 12 volts, it automatically senses and switches to the proper current when plugged in and is fully stabilized, even when the AC power is not. The 1212 comes with plugs for U.S., U.K., EU and AUS voltage systems. Estimated Street Price: $36.

KATADYN EXSTREAM XR BOTTLE PURIFIER
Ensure that the water you drink is clean using the Exstream XR Bottle Purifier from Katadyn. Holding up to 34 ounces, the large-capacity bottle is EPA-registered and removes all types of organisms, including viruses, through Virustat Technology as well as micro-filtration and carbon. List Price: $50.

EPSON P-2000 MULTIMEDIA STORAGE VIEWER
Download your digital photographs and share them on a large, bright screen with the Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer. Sporting a sharp, 3.8-inch LCD screen, it features a 40 GB hard drive and media slots to download directly from your camera’s memory card. List Price: $499.

VASQUE RANGER 2 GTX BOOTS
Keep your feet comfortable and dry as you venture into the outdoors wearing the Vasque Ranger 2 GTX boots. Designed with a waterproof Gore-Tex® membrane, the boots are made using waterproof split leather and cross-weave nylon. A high-cushioned EVA midsole and Texon board with a steel shank insole provide reliable support. List Price: $100.

GITZO TRAVELER TRIPOD
Having compact, lightweight gear makes traveling easy. The Traveler from Gitzo is a lightweight, carbon-fiber tripod that folds in on itself, 180 degrees over the head, making it 25% shorter. The tripod is 14.2 inches when completely folded down, and weighs only 2.2 pounds, making it capable of fitting in a camera bag or carry-on luggage. List Price: $850.

TAMRAC EXPEDITION 7 PHOTO BACKPACK
The ergonomically designed Expedition 7 Photo Backpack from Tamrac has a highly adjustable shoulder and hip harness to help you carry your load correctly. Deep pockets allow you to stack your lenses horizontally and the plastic accessory pockets have water-resistant zippers to protect your electrical gadgets from the elements. A center attachment secures your tripod in the middle of the bag, preventing it from swaying and hitting things, and airflow channels keep you cool. List Price: $250.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY RESEARCH MIOX PURIFIER
Purify your water without using a pump or iodine. Mountain Safety Research’s MIOX Purifier weighs only 3.5 ounces and requires that you only add water, shake and press a button. It protects from bacteria, viruses and cryptosporidium without leaving an unpleasant iodine taste. The kit includes batteries, safety-indicator strips and a storage sack. List Price: $130.

TENBA PHOTO VEST
Photo vests offer a convenient way to access your gadgets, lenses, film and other necessary items while you’re shooting. Tenba’s Photo Vest has 18 sturdy pockets designed for specific items. Additional features include waterproof material, mesh for keeping you cool, Velcro for easy access, large bellows for lenses, padded shoulders to ease the tension of bag straps and pockets for warming your hands. List Price: $132.

GIOTTOS ROCKET BLASTER
Dust particles on your digital SLR sensor cause black dots and imperfections to appear on your image. You can blow them away with the Giottos Rocket Blaster. The gadget is more powerful than a typical blower brush and because it blasts out clean air, your sensor is safe from harsh chemicals typically used by pressurized air products. The blowers are available in two sizes. Estimated Street Price: $10 (small version); $12 (large version).

Don’t Leave Home Without Them
Not much bigger than the credit card that coined the phrase, today’s mini-cameras are perfect travel companions for impromptu shots

While they’re no match for your D-SLR in speed and overall performance, you can’t beat mini-digital cameras in convenience. They’re perfect for evenings out on the town, for photo opportunities found on your morning run or anytime when your bulkier camera gear would be cumbersome or distracting. They help you keep a low profile, too.

The new Kodak EasyShare-One (www.kodak.com) has a massive three-inch LCD screen—the biggest screen on any digital camera. Although not the most compact of the newest minis, it’s loaded with cool specs like Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless printing and image downloads, and 256 MB of built-in storage, which you can expand as needed with SD flash memory.

Another new mini with a big LCD is the Nikon Coolpix S1 (www.nikonusa.com). At 2.5 inches, it’s a big view for a tiny camera. This is one of the sleekest mini-cameras we’ve seen, with a 3x zoom lens and 5-megapixel resolution. The Coolpix S1 also features Nikon’s innovative Face-Priority Autofocus mode, which automatically detects your subject’s face to ensure sharp focus.

Canon (www.usa.canon.com) has a long history of exciting compact cameras, starting with the ELPH film cameras in the 1990s, and the PowerShot SD models continue the lineage with ultra-compact designs. The SD400 is Canon’s best blend of size and performance to date, with 5-megapixel resolution and a 3x zoom lens. Overall, it’s the smallest of the mini-cameras here.

Minolta made a huge impact on digital mini-cameras with its DiMAGE X in 2002. Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.us) has carried on that line with improvements along the way, increasing resolution to 5 megapixels. The unique design is built around a 2.8x zoom lens that doesn’t extrude from the body when zooming.

For the thinnest 5-megapixel compact camera, check out Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-T7 (www.sonystyle.com). It’ just over one-half-inch thick. The DSC-T7 features a 3x Carl Zeiss lens, 10 Scene modes and a large, 2.5-inch LCD.

Mini-Cameras
Camera Resolution Lens (35mm Equiva-lent)
LCD
Dimensions
Weight
Price*
Canon PowerShot SD400 5 m-pixels 3x (35-105mm)
2 in.
3.4x2.1x0.8 in.
4.6 oz.
$399
Kodak EasyShare-One 4 m-pixels 3x (38-114mm)
3 in.
4.1x2.5x1 in.
7.9 oz.
$599
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 5 m-pixels 2.8x (37-105mm)
2 in.
3.3x2.4x0.9 in.
4.4 oz.
$349
Nikon Coolpix S1 5 m-pixels 3x (35-105mm)
2.5 in.
3.5x2.3x0.8 in.
4.2 oz.
$389
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7 5 m-pixels 3x (38-114mm)
2.5 in.
3.6x2.4x0.6 in.
4.1 oz.
$499
*Estimated Street Price

TRAVEL GEAR RESOURCES
Adventure Medical Kits
(800) 324-3517
www.adventure medicalkits.com

Ansmann (HP Marketing Corp.)
(800) 735-4373
www.hpmarketing corp.com

Epson
(800) GO-EPSON
www.epson.com

EZ PnP
(800) 828-6475
www.ezpnp-usa.com

Giottos (HP Marketing Corp.)
(800) 735-4373
www.hpmarketingcorp .com

Gitzo (Bogen Imaging)
(201) 818-9500
www.bogenimaging. com
Iomega
(888) 516-8467
www.iomega.com

Katadyn
(800) 755-6701
www.katadyn.com

Leki
(716) 683-1022
www.leki.com

Lowepro
(800) 800-LOWE
www.lowepro.com

Magellan
(800) 707-9971
www.magellangps.com

Moonstone
(800) 390-3312
www.moonstone.com

Motorola
(866) BUY-MOTO
www.motorola.com

Mountain Safety Research
(800) 531-9531
www.msrcorp.com

Novoflex (HP Marketing Corp.)
(800) 735-4373
www.hpmarketingcorp .com

Porter Case
(800) 356-8348
www.portercase.com

Tamrac
(800) 662-0717
www.tamrac.com

Tenba (MAC Group)
(914) 347-3300
www.tenbagear.com

Vasque
(800) 224-4453
www.vasque.com


 










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