Best lens for travel photography
Oct 3, 2017 06:36:38 #
cthahn wrote:
There is no best lens. I have traveled Germany and used a 50mm prime for everything. You have to learn to use what you have instead of buying new equipment. The photographer takes the picture, not the camera.
You're so right, plus, a 50mm prime really cuts down on the weight!
Oct 3, 2017 06:40:47 #
Please define your end result goal. If you want to print small, less than 8x10, or do slide shows or online sharing, the end goal is much different than if you want to make large prints, or expect to do major crops, submit to critical publications, etc.
Oct 3, 2017 07:06:51 #
I use a Sigma 16-300 and am very happy with the quality and versatility.
Oct 3, 2017 08:16:37 #
rodhasty wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 and I am planning a tour of Germany. Keeping the photography equipment lighter, what would be the best lens for all around photo opportunities?
If you have a 50mm f/1.8, that may be the ideal lens for most shots. Easy to carry, good in low light, great for street photography. You lose the zoom capabilities but maybe you can zoom with your feet.
Oct 3, 2017 09:07:08 #
rodhasty wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 and I am planning a tour of Germany. Keeping the photography equipment lighter, what would be the best lens for all around photo opportunities?
When I had the D7xxx series, I liked the 18-200mm. I prefer wide to tele, but you may want to reach out and get a distant shot. Depending where you're going, you may want a both wide angle and a telephoto. I like the 28-300mm FX on my D750.
You could also consider bringing something like the Nikon P900, with it's huge reach.
Oct 3, 2017 09:19:44 #
Rod, are you looking to buy something, or making a choice from what you already own? Anytime I have a "special" trip I always have appreciated having a lens with good reach.
Oct 3, 2017 10:03:54 #
rodhasty wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 and I am planning a tour of Germany. Keeping the photography equipment lighter, what would be the best lens for all around photo opportunities?
I traded in two kit lenses for a Tamron 16-300 lens... the only one i have and it has proven perfect for all my needs.
Rich...
Oct 3, 2017 12:27:35 #
rodhasty wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 and I am planning a tour of Germany. Keeping the photography equipment lighter, what would be the best lens for all around photo opportunities?
I had an 18-200 Nikon VR on my D7100 until I went over to the dark side and bought a Sony a6000 for my European trip. Even then I put an 18-200 on it. I've done that lens for two trips to Mexico and one to Death Valley. Longer, just adds weight. The extra length rarely got used. In fact, almost never.
With the D7100, I always also carried a 35mm f1.4 to shoot inside dark buildings like museums where flash would be a no-no.
That D7100 was/is a great camera (My daughter uses it professionally to shoot weddings.) It is almost as good as my a6300 (Yeah, I have both now--I've really gone to the dark side.)
Oct 3, 2017 12:50:32 #
Bobnewnan wrote:
My Tamron 16-300 stays on my camera. 16mm/24 cropped is plenty wide and the 300 zoom/450 cropped is great plus you have all those in between. It's also a micro, focus down to 19 inches.
I agree - I have the Tamron 18-270. I took it to Europe and it was the only lens I needed.
Oct 3, 2017 13:21:18 #
Where will you be? ... cities? ... alps? In the cities you will want wide to short tele. ditto the mountains as there will be small towns and castles in nice mountain settings and you will want to capture those with that environment. in cathedrals some tele will help because many details will be fairly far off, but they are usually quite dark and low light ability can be more important than reach. You might want to consider taking at least two lenses. To get many of the cathedrals and government buildings fully in the frame you will often need ultra-wide or post-shoot stitching.
Oct 3, 2017 16:18:03 #
Bobnewnan wrote:
My Tamron 16-300 stays on my camera. 16mm/24 cropped is plenty wide and the 300 zoom/450 cropped is great plus you have all those in between. It's also a micro, focus down to 19 inches.
That Tammy isn’t the sharpest lens around, but lots of folks swear by it.
I’d suggest you take a fast 28 or 35mm Prime lens (f/1.2 to f/2) along with it. It will be most useful for dim interiors.
Oct 3, 2017 16:33:03 #
rodhasty wrote:
I have a Nikon D7100 and I am planning a tour of Germany. Keeping the photography equipment lighter, what would be the best lens for all around photo opportunities?
Take the closest thing you own to a 16-85 f3.5 - 5.6 G. I travelled through much of Europe and the Middle East with a D200 and this lens. I never felt that I needed anything else. Of course I wasn't trying for birds or wildlife. I found the 16mm wide end was just barely enough in almost all cases. I don't think 18mm at the wide end would have been wide enough for many of the interior and narrow street shots.
Oct 3, 2017 22:57:27 #
Oct 3, 2017 22:59:16 #
gjgallager wrote:
Personally I like my Tamron 16-300mm on my D7200 and D5600. It's my second one (D5100 w/16-300 was stolen from my car 8/14) I replaced it without any hesitation.
Oct 3, 2017 23:34:50 #
burkphoto wrote:
That Tammy isn’t the sharpest lens around, but lots of folks swear by it.
I’d suggest you take a fast 28 or 35mm Prime lens (f/1.2 to f/2) along with it. It will be most useful for dim interiors.
I’d suggest you take a fast 28 or 35mm Prime lens (f/1.2 to f/2) along with it. It will be most useful for dim interiors.
Bill, what you say is technically correct, but consider this. I took my Tamron superzoom to Italy and used it to take about 98% of my shots. I also had along a f/1.4 50mm for the reason you cite. But, in cathedrals where the light was fairly dim, there were thousands of tourists pressing behind us, so changing lenses was typically kind of a challenge. The few shots I took with the 50mm I changed lenses before going inside, which was not always practical either.
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