With the Covid-19 virus still running rampant, it's pertinent today to answer the following question:
My upcoming trip to Africa has been cancelled? Which gear should I pack?
The important thing to note is that a trip cancellation gives you much more flexibility in packing. If you wish to not carry a 7kg weight-limited carry-on, you can now do so. If you don't want to drag 10-pound lenses through multiple airports, you don't have to.
My basic recommendation for a cancelled trip is the following:
- You can leave your laptop at home with no penalty to your field work.
- You can cut down on extra cards or external storage, indeed, all the way down to zero. Forgot to bring your card reader? Not an issue.
- Really thin and un-protective carrying cases can now be considered.
- If you were struggling between whether to take your f/5.6 or f/6.3 lens, relax, even f/8 is fine now. I'd even consider a 3x teleconverter, since it won't impact image quality at all.
- Since nothing will be failing in the bush, you can leave your backup gear at home, too.
In short, you have much more flexibility in packing for a cancelled trip than you do one that actually happens.
