DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

I will be traveling to France next summer for a 7 day tour on a river cruise- Paris to Normandy. I have a full range of lenses for a pair of Canon T3i cameras. I have a Canon 70-300mm, is there any reason I should take my Tamron 200-500mm? I don't want to miss something the lens would give me, but it is a lot of weight to carry "just in case". Any thoughts on this?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Having taken the architecture boat tour in Chicago this past summer, at night, I'd suggest the longest lens with IS/VR and the widest aperture for the 'sweet spot'. I didn't look up the full specifications, but it would seem the Tamron would be selected if only one could go and you needed to select the longest focal length with all other variables being equal.

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

Take it just in case

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

We have been on several Rhine and Rhone cruises over the last few years, and I have taken my Canon 100-400, 24-105 and 16-35 lenses. I found that it is very tempting, when you see a Chateau or a Schloss up on the top of a hill to grab your long lens and concentrate on the building. Unless it has a wonderful sunset behind it, I find that it isn't much of a photo, because you end up with either quite a large stately building with no context, or you have the context (trees, mountain etc) with a very small building perched on top of a hill. Better to wait to find one of these stately places nearer to the river, in which case I used my 24-105 or, if the cruise boat was fairly close to the bank, even the wide-angle lens. Then you get a decent photo, nice building AND context.

We are cruising from Amsterdam to Edam, Arnheim, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Kirkenhof and back to Amsterdam in April/May this year, and I am not going to take my big lens with me. But I do now have a Panasonic FZ200, which is a small light bridge camera with a 25-600mm lens, just in case I do need a long lens, which is also my back-up camera. Maybe something like that would solve your weight problem? The Canon SX50 also has a long range if you prefer to stick to Canon, as do many good P&S cameras, and in any case I would rather walk around in the towns with a less conspicuous camera than a DSLR and a big camera bag on my back. It is also easier to get into cafes and roadside restaurants if you don't have too much gear with you in France and Germany - some of them are quite small and crowded.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

This is very helpful to me too, as I will be on the same route as you at that same time. The information from the boat tells me nothing about photography, so I wasn't sure if I'd need my long zoom or just a medium telephoto. I don't know how big these rivers are or how far back i can expect the architectural feature to be. What you're saying makes sense. A building out of context won't be very interesting.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Glad to give you some ideas, but I hope you won't curse me if you don't take your long lens and then find that you really wanted it! But "travel light on planes" and "travel safe in towns" are always good maxims, particularly in foreign countries where tourists stick out like sore thumbs and are easily targeted. Having said that, I have never felt threatened in France, Germany or Holland, even when I have had my DSLR with me

jimbrown3 Loc: Naples, FL

I did the same cruise the year before last. Using a full frame, 99% was with 24-105. Had a 70-300 and used it for one shot of Chateau Gaillard from the river cruise-by. Wish I had brought my 17-40 for interiors and vaulted ceilings. A plus for us was the fellow passenger who came in on the second wave at Omaha Beach. He gave a short talk at the American Cemetery. Request came as a surprise to him and also us. He had been reluctant to return until this year with his daughter. The one thing he had dreaded was seeing, again, the cut they had to get through on their way inland. Fortunately, the area had been built up and it looked very different and softened the emotional blow. Have fun, shoot lots. I went on Avalon. PM me if you would like more info. It is a great trip and very emotional.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

If the purpose of you trip is photography, by all means take everything. If your going for a relaxing trip to enjoy the sights and take some shots, suggest a bridge camera. The two mentioned above are at the top of the heap right now. Either would be a great choice.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

My wife and I went to Kauai for our 50th. We took a 'doors off' helicopter ride and a river boat cruise. On the helicopter everything had to be secured, so no changing lenses. I bought a Nikkor 18-200 VR ll for the trip, and have not taken it off my D7000 since. Captured many images that are perfect at 16x20.
Duane

DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

Thanks for the information. Pretty much backed up what I thought, but there is no substitute for experience.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I have taken a lot of "from the boat" photographs over the years, river, bay and open water, but never in Europe. The first rule for this type of work is to use a fast shutter speed; my minimum is 1/1000 on flat water and 1/1500 or 1/2000+ if there is any chop. Before going I'd get a map and find out the width of the rivers. About 1/3 or 2/3 of that distance will usually be the boat to shore distance depending upon whether you are going up or down river and and photographing the near or far shore. Your lens will have to work beyond those distances as not everything will be on the shoreline, and some shots will be a lot less, other boats, etc. I'd think you would would want something in the 80- to whatever max telephoto you can hand hold. If you get a good shot you can always crop in PP.

The longer the telephoto range used, the harder it is to get an in focus image because your platform is always moving. I've found tripods are useless on a boat--one more complexity--and it adds motor vibration to the camera movement problem as does bracing the camera against the boat.

Have a great trip!

DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

Agree. I have shot whales & dolphins off Cape Cod. I have slowed down the shutter speed to show motion, but usually shoot at 1/2000

GA shooter Loc: Rising Fawn, GA

After reading some of the replies you got this morning I thought I would throw in one. Although I love my Canon 5DIII I have an older Canon G-12 that I use as my bridge camera frequently when I don't want to lug pounds of DSLR/lens around. It fits in a small bag, coat pocket or (with permission) your wife's pocketbook. It has much of the menu flexibility of the bigger Canon cameras and really takes excellent photos. Since Canon has released a newer version you may find good prices on this model on e-Bay, etc. This "point and shoot" model is good for those of us who just can't get away from using a viewfinder to take a photo.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I would take it along. I shoot on a small river and a 200-600MM comes in handy. Your 200-500mm most likely will be your best choice on the boat.

Ted Liette Loc: Greenville, Ohio

GA shooter do you know what the model number or name for the newer Canon you refer to in your post. I'm now researching for a "backup" camera for a trip in April.
Thanks,
Ted