Lens suggestions for upcoming trip to Germany: I am going to Germany for Karneval and will be taking many shots of parades, indoors and outdoor closer in shots and finally a night time...

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

I am going to Germany for Karneval and will be taking many shots of parades, indoors and outdoor closer in shots and finally a night time party in a large hall for a couple hundred people with not great lighting. The equipment I own are D7100 with Nikkor 18-300 lens, D750 with Nikkor 24-70 2.8 VR, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR, Nikkor 28-300 3.5 VR and finally Nikkor 200-500. Also a thinktank airportinternational V2.0 and an SB700 flash. What set up do you recommend for the camera/lens to take with me? I am leaning towards the D7100 with the 18-300 to give me reach (450mm crop setup) and the D750 with the 24-70 2.8 for closer in shooting, plus the 28-300-I have put this configuration into the bag and it fits (barely). Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ELNikkor

Too much stuff! D7100 with that 18-300, and get yourself a 35 f1.8 for the interiors or night shots. That's it!

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

ELNikkor wrote:

Too much stuff! D7100 with that 18-300, and get yourself a 35 f1.8 for the interiors or night shots. That's it!

Thanks for the reply!

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

If it were I, I would pack the 750, 24-70, 28-300, the SB-700, extra batteries and SD cards, backpack and leave the rest at home. You will be awful tired toting all that gear. Enjoy your trip and share those pictures with us when you get back.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

Take a second body for backup.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

I found that I used my 17-50 f2.8 on my K-3 APSc body the most on our week in Germany. I travel with one body and either just a P&S or cell phone for backup. Less weight = more enjoyment as far as I'm concerned. So I would second ELNikkor's suggestion.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

traveler90712 wrote:

If it were I, I would pack the 750, 24-70, 28-300, the SB-700, extra batteries and SD cards, backpack and leave the rest at home. You will be awful tired toting all that gear. Enjoy your trip and share those pictures with us when you get back.

Thanks for the suggestions but I was wondering if the 28-300 FX would not give me enough reach for shooting a half-block away. I will be shooting out an open window during the parade from the second floor (first floor in Germany).

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Patriot66 wrote:

I am going to Germany for Karneval and will be tak... (show quote)

Hire a porter to carry your stuff since you seem incapable of making a decision despite having all this stuff.

You know how to use all of it, right???

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Rongnongno wrote:

Hire a porter to carry your stuff since you seem incapable of making a decision despite having all this stuff.

You know how to use all of it, right???

I keep learning and get better every day!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Patriot66 wrote:

I keep learning and get better every day!

Right. Now think of all your stuff.

You know you will not be able to control the distance you will be shooting from. You also know that weight and volume is an issue so... What lens do you chose?

A fixed lens or a zoom?
If a fixed lens... How many do you need to cove all the ranges?
If a zoom, a long zoom or a short one?
How about one that covers wide angle and offers a medium telephoto capability?

This is the type of questions you must learn to ask yourself then, if in doubt, ask experienced travelers what you should use between a limited two lenses choices because you do not really know the environment.

You are almost doing that but you do not see the draw back of the 18~300. You realize that you lose the wide angle part to gain reach. Tell me, how many times do you use anything above 300mm in a 'tourist' environment?

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Rongnongno wrote:

Right. Now think of all your stuff. br br You kn... (show quote)

Thanks for your input and yes you are right to ask the more experienced when in doubt. That is why I posted the question so I could learn from others such as yourself. I love the 24-70 for its sharpness for closer in shots and the 18-300 that I have used many times before (pre D750 days). I guess the question is do I go for 2 cameras or just one and use the 28-300 on the FX. Problem I have is the 28-300 seems so soft compared to the 24-70 and 18-300 - might just be me.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I don't shoot Nikon, but I do shoot a bunch of parades here in New Orleans. I only take along two lenses for my full frame 6D, the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC, and the 70-200 f4 IS USM. If I'm to shoot certain person on a float, I walk to the float, step back 3 steps and shoot the portrait I'm looking for, with either lens depending on the time day. Shooting a parade from the second floor will make all your shots to be the same distance, so a good tele prime may be the answer. If you're going to be in the country side shooting some of towns, etc, both the 24-70 and 70-200 would be fine. If you're going to Munich, be sure to shoot the great clock in the square. It's called the Glockenspeil, and really gives quite a show, and makes a great video.

B

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Patriot66 wrote:

Thanks for your input and yes you are right to ask the more experienced when in doubt. That is why I posted the question so I could learn from others such as yourself. I love the 24-70 for its sharpness for closer in shots and the 18-300 that I have used many times before (pre D750 days). I guess the question is do I go for 2 cameras or just one and use the 28-300 on the FX. Problem I have is the 28-300 seems so soft compared to the 24-70 and 18-300 - might just be me.

You can use only one camera at a time and you will traveling so the choice is your to make: Which one do you use the most for general photography as this is what you will do.

Close-ups? At 300 mm and minimal distance is all you need. Macro is a different story but I really do not see the point of using macro when you try to open your horizon...

The softness of most lenses can be corrected first by using the camera fine tuning (look up videos and web page on how to do this) and then by using post processing trickery...

WorldTraveler Loc: San Antonio, TX, now in Greenfield IN

One thing to not to forget to do, make sure to fill out the customs paperwork that lists the name and serial numbers of all the equipment taken out with you. I did when I was working in Saudi Arabia. It prevented having to pay any import fees/duties when I returned. I was in and out several times, and only had one instance, but once is enough.
Clint

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Bill Emmett wrote:

I don't shoot Nikon, but I do shoot a bunch of par... (show quote)

Thank you for your reply. I am going to the Bonn area (been doing this trip for 20+ years) and what we call Mardi Gras they call Karneval in northern Germany and Fasching in southern Germany. Been to Munich and have taken pics of the Glockenspiel before - was a fun trip. Think now it is narrowed down to the 750 with the 24-70, 70-200 and maybe the 28-300?