{"id":37509,"date":"2017-01-23T23:31:32","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T07:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=37509"},"modified":"2017-01-24T04:10:54","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T12:10:54","slug":"my-travel-equipment-winter-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/23\/my-travel-equipment-winter-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"My Travel Equipment, Winter 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hue, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I do believe that having the right equipment in life makes life easier.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d equipment. I try to find equipment that is 80% \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcgood enough\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 for my needs\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and try to settle. This has helped me find a lot more contentment in my life, as well as less stress and frustration.<\/p>\n

I have the problem that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m always searching for the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 travel equipment, the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 cameras, and the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 travel clothing. Here is a list of what has best worked for me:<\/p>\n

Camera<\/h2>\n
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Hue, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Currently, the Ricoh GR II<\/a> is the only camera I have with me on my travels. For me, it is the perfect travel camera\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is small, has a big sensor (APS-C), fits in my front pocket, and I can charge it directly with a USB-like chord.<\/p>\n

I think the thing that is most important for me to optimize for is weight. I want the lightest thing possible. The lighter I am, the more nimble I am, and the less fatigue I feel when traveling.<\/p>\n

As of now, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know of a lighter camera than the Ricoh GR II with the image quality. I know there are \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbetter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 cameras than the Ricoh GR II \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but all are heavier, bigger, or less compact.<\/p>\n

Camera Backpack<\/h2>\n
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Hue, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve experimented with a lot of backpacks and camera shoulder bags over the years. As of now, the ThinkTank Perception 15<\/a> is my \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcperfect\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 camera backpack.<\/p>\n

As a blogger, I always need my laptop with me. It fits my 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook Pro (late 2015), my camera, and is big enough to shove in my jackets, other accessories, and also Cindy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stuff (I also carry her 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook Air in my backpack when we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re traveling).<\/p>\n

The thing I love most about the ThinkTank Perception 15 is how there is a compartment on top of the backpack to put in your cameras and other valuables, to prevent it from being squashed. Not only that, but the zippers are tough, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve traveled it for the last 1.5 years, and nothing has broken. The black has faded a bit (looks more purple now), but it is the perfect backpack for me as of now.<\/p>\n

Laptop<\/h2>\n
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Hue, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I currently use the 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook Pro (late 2015). It has the maxed-out processor, maxed-out ram (16GB), and the middle-range 512GB hard drive.<\/p>\n

Part of me wishes I had the 12\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook (the super light one)\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but I still am glad I got the 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook Pro. For me, it is useful because it has an HDMI port (I often connect my laptop to external monitors or projectors when doing workshops or doing talks), because it has USB ports (still useful), and an SD card reader (very easy to import my Ricoh GR II files).<\/p>\n

It is pretty heavy (compared to my old 11\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook air, which got stolen in Paris summer of 2015), but I like the retina screen, and the all-day battery life.<\/p>\n

Also it is damn fast\u00e2\u20ac\u201d which allows me to quickly look through my photos in Lightroom. And it has been useful for exporting videos I recorded on my GoPro in the past, as well as exporting ebooks I put together in the iBooks Author tool.<\/p>\n

If I could buy a new laptop today, I would probably get the new 13\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook Pro (non-touchbar), or the 12\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook. But I hope to own my current laptop as long as possible, until it slows down (probably good for at least 4-5 years).<\/p>\n

Travel Clothing<\/h2>\n
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Hue, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m traveling, this is what has best worked for me:<\/p>\n