My wife and I are joining some friends for our first trip to Belize this summer. Some of the time will be spent around jungle ruins, some on the beachfront of a small island off the coast. There will likely be some SCUBA involved and it will be our first big dose of that also.
Right now I have a Rebel XSi, the original 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses that I will most likely leave at home, an 18-200, 20mm 2.8, 35mm 2.0, 60mm macro, and an 85mm 1.8. I also have a Panasonic TS3 that I bought originally for snorkeling, and would need a housing for anything deeper. I shoot mostly with my primes, though I have used the 18-200 as a walk-around.
So here's my question: I was thinking of using the trip as an excuse/reason to upgrade to a new camera. Either go full-frame with a 6D and 24-105, or go lower budget and stalk eBay for a 5D2 (though to be honest I keep watching marginal looking bodies going for upwards of $1200). While I'd love to blow a bunch of money on a 5D3, I really can't justify it with my current finances. As it is, I'd be waiting for a deal on the 6D.
Here is my concern: I've never been to Belize, but I have read some reports of crime there. Nothing that would make me fear for my personal safety necessarily, but there definitely seems to be a lot of reports of theft. Is this something that concerns those on the board when travelling with their gear? Part of me thinks that I'd have better peace of mind taking my old rig and not worrying about it getting stolen as much, or accidentally destroying it in the rain-forest. I would hate to take a brand new camera on a trip and either have it stolen or broken. I know that probably sounds paranoid.
I've also thought about getting a dive housing either for the XSi or new DSLR, but it seems like another giant item to cart around and a substantial added expense. I'm thinking now that I will either look for a small housing for the Panasonic, or rent something while we are there.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Right now I have a Rebel XSi, the original 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses that I will most likely leave at home, an 18-200, 20mm 2.8, 35mm 2.0, 60mm macro, and an 85mm 1.8. I also have a Panasonic TS3 that I bought originally for snorkeling, and would need a housing for anything deeper. I shoot mostly with my primes, though I have used the 18-200 as a walk-around.
So here's my question: I was thinking of using the trip as an excuse/reason to upgrade to a new camera. Either go full-frame with a 6D and 24-105, or go lower budget and stalk eBay for a 5D2 (though to be honest I keep watching marginal looking bodies going for upwards of $1200). While I'd love to blow a bunch of money on a 5D3, I really can't justify it with my current finances. As it is, I'd be waiting for a deal on the 6D.
Here is my concern: I've never been to Belize, but I have read some reports of crime there. Nothing that would make me fear for my personal safety necessarily, but there definitely seems to be a lot of reports of theft. Is this something that concerns those on the board when travelling with their gear? Part of me thinks that I'd have better peace of mind taking my old rig and not worrying about it getting stolen as much, or accidentally destroying it in the rain-forest. I would hate to take a brand new camera on a trip and either have it stolen or broken. I know that probably sounds paranoid.
I've also thought about getting a dive housing either for the XSi or new DSLR, but it seems like another giant item to cart around and a substantial added expense. I'm thinking now that I will either look for a small housing for the Panasonic, or rent something while we are there.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
