eSteve Loc: Newark, DE

My family and I will be visiting Iceland, England, Wales and Scotland for two weeks in July. There are six of us, sometimes traveling by car (southern England to Cadair Idris to York) and other times by train (York to Edinbourgh to Glasgow). I will need to pack for efficient travel. I am looking for lens recommendations to take with my Canon 7D Mk II. I have the following: Canon EFS 10-22 mm, Canon EF 24-105 L mm, Canon EF 50 mm f1.4, Tamron 70-200 mm f2.8 and Canon EF 100-400 L mm mkI. I believe my main subjects will be castles, cathedrals, landscapes, street scenes, maybe indoor shots at museums, etc. and the obligatory family photos. I am thinking the 24-105mm for walk around and 50mm for indoors. Will I miss the wide angle too much to leave at home? I would also appreciate suggestions on must do photo ops/locations/subjects.

TheDman Loc: USA

You will definitely miss the wide angle. I'm heading to Iceland myself for 2 weeks in June. Can't believe you're tackling all of those places in just 2 weeks - that's going to be a whirlwind! You could spend 2 weeks in any one of those spots and not see everything.

Rickyb

I would leave the 50mm and 100 to 400mm at home. The 400 is too big and heavy traveling by air, the 50mm is good for low light in churches and abbeys but it is way to short and constricting in composition

eSteve Loc: Newark, DE

Thanks. I also worry about the 70-200mm being to big. I did think I could push the ISO on the 25-105mm if needed

eSteve Loc: Newark, DE

Thanks. I do think with the crop sensor the 10-22mm will be needed. I know the itinerary is full but I am trying to satisfy diverse family "must see".

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Steve, the above would be my selection if I were on your vacation.
For one, there are six of you, so I assume it's NOT a photography specific vacation.
I often take my 70-200 f4 non IS lens but to be honest, I rarely use it and often leave it at the home-base. It's the first I leave home. I could not even begin to imagine taking a 2.8 version!!
I also travel with a 1.4x.
I would NEVER leave my 50 1.4. It's the only thing I use at night and indoors.
I would only consider anything longer than 200 if I were going on a nature specific Vacation.
But we all travel and shoot a little different. Good luck. ;-)
SS

eSteve Loc: Newark, DE

Thank you, SS. I have come to appreciate the advice and experience you share. Yes, it is mostly a family vacation but my passion for the hobby comes along.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

:lol: yes, my passion never stays home either! But my wife giving me a dirty look is one thing.
But SIX?!?!
That's enough to hog tie you AND string up your camera!!! :lol: :lol:
SS

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I am not a Canon shooter, but I was stationed in Iceland in 1969 & 70. My Pentax Spotmatic II took a lot of pictures up there and I used the 35mm f3.5 & the 135mm f3.5 and I think That the 10-22 & the 24-105 would work well up there. I took more pictures with the 35mm lens than the 135.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

We might be a small country but you've barely left time for your feet to touch the ground.
I think, If I were doing this I'd consider a top quality bridge camera, but on the 7D the 10-22 + 24-105 will give you a 35m equivalent of 16-168. So I'd go with those. Then (in order of preference only) 50, 100-400, 70-200.
Have a great time.

mikeysaling Loc: essex uk

Hi Steve - I think your travel plans are VERY ambitious , to say the least. I don't know how much other luggage you are taking but to make life easier and not be hampered by 'lots of gear' I'd just take your canon and a nifty 50mm.

patcam Loc: chelmsford essex uk

I got fed up with carrying heavy dslr's, so i sold the lot and bought a Panasonic fz1000, and a Fuji X30, never regretted it for a minute, 2 superb cameras to cover every situation, you should give it some thought,

Alan1729 Loc: England UK, now New York State.

Good choice, when I was shooting on film I had a 24mm f1.4 which was my favourite lens for interiors, I'd carry 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8. Even though I had longer lenses I almost never took anything longer than 200mm out with me. I would rather take my widest lens 17mm f4.
I too would like to visit Iceland and agree your schedule is optimistic, I lived in the UK for fifty years and although I have travelled there a lot have still not seen it all. Do your research and make a list of what you "must' get pictures of and then plan to go back.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The 50mm focal length is covered by the zoom. Unless you are planning on photographing the Puffins in Iceland, leave the long glass home.

I have a google map I made for my son who is in Iceland now. If you send me a PM I will add your email to the share list. I'm not quite sure how to make it public in the new google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=zoLlXZvQlx-I.ke5acKQPYpQ8

Go ahead and try the link. If you can view then I won't have to add you to the list.
If you have time, hire a high 4-wheel drive and go to Landmanlaugar (sp?). You can stay near the entry place or there is a mountaineering hut at the site. Look up images. This place is fantastic for the twisted, multicolored lava. I've been there twice since 1973 and it still fascinates me.

You will have to investigate availability of housing etc. It is too far for a one day trip from Reykjavik.

The whole south coast is great. You won't have time to investigate the five-finger region of the Northwest portion of the country.

I spent a year in Iceland and couldn't get off base enough.(I had the plus of being a Flight Surgeon and had the means to have a Land Rover. I put nearly 50,000 miles on during the year I was there in a land that is only 300 miles on the diagonal. The Keflavik International airport used to be a US Naval Station)

HTH

TheDman Loc: USA

Good info. I'm planning on doing the whole ring road (and bringing the 100-400 for puffins, horses and whales) in a Toyota Corolla... will I absolutely need a 4WD to get to Landmanlaugar?