If you're taking photos for yourself (i.e. no commercial purposes), I'd leave the D700 at home, and bring a slim Micro 4/3 camera or a large-sensor compact. An Olympus M4/3 is much smaller and has in-camera image stabilization; the Panasonic 20mm is an excellent and fast lens; you can easily print high-quality 8x10 or possibly 11x14. Large-sensor compacts will be very small, light, easy to use, and can print up to 8x10 with excellent quality.


If you must bring the DSLR: As far as I know, the D700 + 50mm will not have image stabilization. That will be an issue with hand-held shots.

I recommend you do a test outing, and do direct comparisons of photos taken with and without the tripod. If the hand-held shots lack critical sharpness, then bring the tripod.

You should also consider....
• The good ol' "string monopod" trick (look it up)
• Using a lens that has image stabilization