GH3 Visiting Arizona/Grand Canyon - Gear Selection

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PixelWrangler

Well-known member
At the end of this month/March, my family and I will be traveling to Arizona to visit family. We are planning a few day trip hikes, including the Grand Canyon and would like some advise as to which gear to be taking. I have the GH2 and the GH3 bodies and have the Lumix 14mm, 20mm, 45.5mm and the 14-140mm. Looking to keep gear on the low side and not take too much for the hikes themselves. Will be taking scenery as we as family snaps(video also) during morning to late afternoon. Not sure if heat or dust will be an issue, if so the GH2 is fine but I looking to take the GH3.
Thanks,
Michael
 
It's wont be hot in March at the Grand Canyon. I live in Phoenix and up north in AZ is a lot cooler. GH2 isn't dust proof, but i've taken mine out all over hiking even in summer. You will probably want ND filters for them. i have a large variable ND (and set of non-variable) with step down filter rings to adapt to all my lenses. The Lowepro Slingshot bags are nice for hiking if your going to be constantly pulling your camera in and out, but they don't have an external place for water bottle.
https://weather.com/weather/today/l/USAZ0088:1:US
 
The two big risks in that setting both involve lens changes: dropping a lens in a less-than-secure location, and dust intrusion. Been there, done that. Forget the primes, as you will have great opportunities for the longer FL's of the 14-140 as well as wide. Your biggest limitation is the inability to go really wide in that dramatic setting, so my solution would be to buy/rent a 9-18 or 7-14 for the second body. All the bases covered, no changes, and a backup body. You give up only thin DOF shots, where the 45/1.8 would be somewhat effective, but with one hell of a ND stack.

Pete
 
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Regarding a camera bag, on outings such as you describe I do without one: the GH4/14-150 on a cross-chest sling to keep the rig close to body, and the GH3/7-14/wrist strap in a small DSLR barrel-down belt holster with a small accessory compartment. And a small daypack with water, lunch, guidebook, tablet w/ topo charts, etc, and perhaps my small ball-head travel tripod. This two body-two lens outfit has stood me in good stead traveling the US west, and months in India and the far east.

I've got the 12-35/2.8 and an assortment of faster primes for performance and other low light shooting, but the 12-35, as good as it is, is just too limiting for my walk around shooting style of both stills and video. Paring it with the 35-100 on the other body would be another "no lens change" option, but I'm too attached to the 7-14, which is more like a 9-18 w/ the 4K crop.

Pete
 
Great advice and thanks to all, I do own a sling and will probably bring the 14-140 just to keep things simple for the hike. I don't want to be burdened with too much camera gear but want to taken in all the surrounding with my family.
Thanks again.
 
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