Fujifilm Travel Gear
18-55mm,  35mm,  Fuji,  Gear,  Travel,  X-E1,  X-T1

Prepping for the UK: Gear and Bag

As I did in September when preparing for my Iceland trip, I am now obsessing over which gear to take with me for an upcoming trip to the UK. Unlike the Iceland trip, which was a solo photography event, the UK trip will be a family holiday. We will be visiting my wife’s family with day trips in Somerset and Wales and a two-day driving excursion to Cornwall.

Photographically, a family holiday means traveling light. There will be no telling my wife or kids to stop and wait while I swap lenses. No tripods are allowed.

I am determined to bring minimal gear and still anticipate most photographic situations, real or imaginary. This translates into taking one small bag, my ink-stained Domke F-803 Satchel, into which will fit two bodies with two mounted lenses.

I have a X-T1 and X-E1 so the bodies are already chosen. Of the lenses I can choose from the 27mm, 35mm, 60mm, the 18-55, and 55-200.

During my Iceland trip, I used the 18-55 most often. The Fujinon XF 18-55 a great zoom lens that is reasonably fast, sharp, quiet, with optical image stabilization. So the 18-55 is an easy choice for the UK.

While I strongly considered taking the 55-200, extending my range, and picking up where the 18-55 leaves off, I did not relish the additional bulk and weight. I will leave it home.

Of my primes, the 27, 35, and 60, I most favor the 35 for low light situations, night, pubs, and I on this trip I want to try out the X-T1’s electronic shutter allowing wide apertures outdoors during the daytime.

Decision made.

UK family holiday travel kit:​

Fujifilm Travel Gear
Not pictured: Charger. polarizing, ND, R42 filters, and a clear shower cap and rubber bands for rainy day shooting.
My Fuji gear plus Domke F-803 satchel. Ink stains are a bonus feature.
Domke F-802 Satchel with FA-230 insert. The divider is from another bag. Both bodies with mounted lenses slide in and out with ease.
Glamour shot of the X-E1 and X-T1. The X-E1 accessory grip adds to the size, but it feels great in hand.