Opusx300

Going to the NY Botanical Garden to see the Kusama exhibit this weekend. Bringing my Canon R5 and brand new RF 100mm Macro Lens. Thinking I should also bring another lens. Any thoughts on which might be better to bring, the 15-35 2.8 or 24-70 2.8 ?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you have these lenses then bring them all.
I still get confused if you spend that kind of money on equipment and are clueless as to how to use it or what it is used for.
Why did you buy it then except to show off you got it?
Have you ever used the lenses you have to see what they do?
It just amazes me this sort of question.
I would bring my 10-18, 24-105, 100-400, 8mm fisheye and leave the macro at home as the 100-400 in that situation would be most excellent for the close-up shots.

Opusx300

Looks like we are in the same boat. I am amazed as well. Amazed that someone who knows nothing about me would decide to be such an a**hole for absolutely no reason. Your life must suck really badly to respond in such a manner. Hope it gets better for you soon. In the meantime, thank you for your wonderfully obnoxious and rude reply. Such great insight. Perhaps I have never been to the NYBG and I thought some kind, helpful person has been that could recommend which lenses they found most useful so I don’t have to carry ALL my lenses. Unless you would like to be my caddy for the day and carry my lenses for me. Maybe getting out of the house might give you a sunnier disposition. Cheers!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

You do not know me either.
3 lenses that small are nothing to carry as one will be on the camera at all times and an extremely small shoulder bag will carry the other 2.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

Forget to take your meds?

tcthome Loc: NJ

Inside or outside? I do not know what Kosamas are but. I been to the NYBG once for the 2020 Orchard Show at the end of Feb, just before everything shut down. I took the Nikon 105 f2.8 Micro & did alright. I do not own a 24-70 but think it would also do fine. There were a couple of times I wish that I had brought my 14-24 to get a wider display in 1 photo &, which your 24-70 should do. Ideally 2 cameras with a lens on each would of been perfect. No tripods or flash are alowed inside. One person was using a camera mounted flash & no one said any thing so snuck a few shots in with the pop up flash without no hassle but, no guaranty there. If I was only to take one lens, it would be the 105 Micro &, the 24-70 second.

Bill May

The Kusama exhibit is a fairly large presentations. Be sure to use a wider angle lens to capture the whole piece. BTW photos are prohibited in certain exhibits and enforced by security. If it is a hot day use care in the Observatory and stay hydrated. You may not want to change lenses due to the humidity. Select your most versatile one and compose away.

User ID

Ok so his reply was not overly kind or polite. But it really is THE foolish question that comes up all the time. Just use a wheeled tote and bring everything. You don’t buy it to leave it at home. It doesn’t matter which lenses you use, so bring them all and see for yourself. I notice you have no fisheye ? Get one and bring it along as well. It’s the one exception to “it doesn’t matter which lens”. It’s the very exceptional exception ;-)

ELNikkor

That 100mm macro is an excellent choice for botanical gardens, and being new, of course you'll be wanting to put it through its paces. I don't know how close you'll be getting to your subjects, but the 24-70 will give you the flexibility to zoom in or out depending on the displays. If butterflies are involved, it would be better to have something like a 70-200 or 300, but you don't mention those. Maybe your next purchase? Good luck, & come back & share!

traderjohn Loc: New York City

"I still get confused if you spend that kind of money on equipment and are clueless as to how to use it or what it is used for."
You are so right. It's not only camera stuff it seems to permeate any decision on anything. The next question is what side of the toilet paper should I use.

User ID

Really matters little which lens controls the view, but controlling the light can be the make-or-break element in a photo. Light control seems to be constrained by a ban on using flash (according to some replies). Yet it’s very likely that a six inch LED panel would cause no complaint.

They cost very little. Altho they do not have the action freezing ability of flash, they can allow you to raise your shutter speed a bit, and every bit matters when you’re at the threshold.

And again, it’s a lighting control, not just a shutter speed issue. An accomplice can position it off-camera for you and there’s no cables involved as with flash. At a tiny fraction of the $$ of a lens, it can do way more for your results than any lens can.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It really depends on what you expect to be shooting. For flowers in the conservatory I usually use either a 150 or 180 macro, and a speed light with a large bounce (12x18) with a radio trigger. I use a longer lens outside, often with a reflector used as a shade if it is sunny.

But the Kusama exhibit is different. I would suggest that the macro and the 24-70 might be sufficient. I cannot think of a situation when you would need anything wider.

I used to live about 15 mins from the Botanical Gardens and visited the place at least once a week, except during bird migration season, when I would be there 5 days a week. Having a membership that allowed early morning access and free parking was a BIG plus. Right now there should be a irruption of hummingbirds - on the southeast side of the conservatory on the Ladies Border, and sucking up the nectar from the Jewelweed flowers, Cardinal Flowers and others in and around the Native Plant Garden, Mitsubishi Wild Wetland Trail and the Bridge Trail.

If you go there early, you should have pretty much unrestricted access to the outdoor portions of the Kusama exhibit, and for a short while inside the conservatory. But when it gets crowded, they could restrict photography, though I've never seen that done. They will more often restrict access to keep the crowds to a manageable level, like during the Christmas Train Show.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Personally, I would put the 100mm macro on the camera and carry along the 24-70. That should cover all I would need. I also have the 16-35mm but would leave that home. Just from how I typically shoot. Enjoy your visit.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Nonsense on the flash. This is how misinformation gets into the conversation. The rules for the Conservatory and Ross Hall are no tripods, lighting equipment, easels, selfie sticks, monopods - all photography must be done with hand held cameras. Photography is not permitted in the Art Gallery. I've used flash in the conservatory on nearly every trip there over a period of 25 years. Most recently - holding a radio triggered speedlight in my left hand while holding the camera in my right.

https://www.nybg.org/visit/visitor-guidelines/#:~:text=Tripods%2C%20monopods%2C%20easels%2C%20selfie,Art%20Gallery%2C%20and%20Ross%20Hall.&text=In%20the%20Conservatory%2C%20photography%20is,with%20hand%2Dheld%20cameras%20only.

Here is a video slide show I did in 2013 of images I took during a few of their orchid shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StpvIvjitWo

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have been there many times. As usual, I travel light. It's probably going to be crowded, so a wide angle lens would be good.