Vietnam Trip Lens Kit?
Oct 20, 2018 10:03:05 #
Oct 20, 2018 10:33:51 #
LA
Loc: Little Rock, AR
picsix wrote:
I'm sure I will over pack as well- just trying to narrow down what people think? I will also be doing a 1 day private photo workshop in Hoi An and the instructor said he mostly shoots with primes- like the 35mm. Interesting!
The instructor has the time and means to get into optimum position and is not traveling all over with luggage and his primes. You will be much better served with one or two zooms. 400 mm might not be used much but there will definitely be times when you need good reach. As you cruise the Mekong there will be many many wonderful scenes on the river and the shore that will be a stretch for 105mm. So I would take the 24-105 and whichever of the two long zooms you prefer.
The economies of Cambodia and Vietnam are starkly different. This difference is apparent in the checkpoint buildings for the two countries at the border, on the left side of the river as you cruise downstream. The Vietnamese one is pretty impressive, the Cambodian one is a shack. Worth a shot for its symbolic value. Before the Khymer Rouge, Cambodia had the most prosperous economy in the region. Pol Pott succeeded in his goal of reducing Cambodia to a medieval level.
It is hard to resist showing up for the sunrise photos of Angkor Wat, but it will be a mob scene so getting a photo without the mob and the phones high on sticks (with their illuminated screens) down front will be pretty impossible. Unless the sunrise is spectacular, equally good photos of the ruins can be got at other times, IMO. Others will probably disagree. My experience is that if someone mentions "sunrise" or "waterfall," people will fall over each other to get there for very ordinary photos of very ordinary scenes. I come from that perspective.
Oct 20, 2018 11:05:55 #
DavidPine wrote:
M-16 would be my choice. I wouldn't go back on a bet. I was offered a free trip and I declined.
I wouldn't go with free first class travel. Once in 1968 was enough.
Oct 20, 2018 11:14:44 #
DavidPine wrote:
M-16 would be my choice. I wouldn't go back on a bet. I was offered a free trip and I declined.
Have no dessire go back. Seen everything I didn't wanna see hanging out back door of a Huey. 50,000 men later we're shoveling money over there
Oct 20, 2018 11:15:23 #
Everyone likes to have their picture taken in Vietnam so shoot away. I'd travel light so minimize equipment with some good advice in above postings. I took quite a few videos too. Motorbikes in the cities are very cool and get a ride if you can, especially at night. It's a wonderful country and you will really like the people. I'd say anything over a 300 on a dx camera is overkill.
Oct 20, 2018 12:44:12 #
DavidPine wrote:
M-16 would be my choice. I wouldn't go back on a bet. I was offered a free trip and I declined.
I did two tours there, and while it might be interesting to see some of those places again, I have no desire to do so, either.
Oct 20, 2018 12:48:39 #
Wingpilot wrote:
I did two tours there, and while it might be interesting to see some of those places again, I have no desire to do so, either.
OldSarge posted some photos his trip. Hanoi has skyscrapers now
Oct 20, 2018 13:58:13 #
Wonderful advice- I really appreciate it! And I've heard about the throngs of people at the sunrises!
Oct 20, 2018 15:22:50 #
picsix wrote:
A newbie here, but have been reading the digest fo... (show quote)
While I have no desire to see Viet Nam I can understand your interest. I'd suggest the 24-105 lens unless you're carrying a second body, then I'd put the 35mm on that body. Travel light, travel fast.
Good shooting and stay safe. 😎
Oct 20, 2018 15:36:00 #
dirtpusher wrote:
OldSarge posted some photos his trip. Hanoi has skyscrapers now
That's what I understand. Fortunately, and by the grace of God I was not one of those who got to Hanoi back then. All that is changed, now.
Oct 20, 2018 16:39:11 #
wetreed wrote:
Get yourself a Tamron 18-400 zoom, leave the rest at home. It’s the only lens you will need. It has excellent image quality and very fast focus.. trust me on this one.
The 18-400 is a crop sensor lens and won’t fit on the OP’s 5d4.
Oct 20, 2018 16:40:54 #
Wingpilot wrote:
That's what I understand. Fortunately, and by the grace of God I was not one of those who got to Hanoi back then. All that is changed, now.
Thankfully I didn't either
Oct 20, 2018 16:49:57 #
dirtpusher wrote:
OldSarge posted some photos his trip. Hanoi has skyscrapers now
I have never been to Hanoi although I lived in Vietnam for 20 years.
Oct 20, 2018 19:53:13 #
I’ve travelled to over 64 countries during half of those I used a 28-300 Nikon (Canon has that one too) and never wanted for another lens, but about 1% of the time. Never having to change lens is nice. I have a small bridge camera for dinner and after unless something requires the D810.... good luck and take lots of photos...
Oct 20, 2018 23:18:34 #
You will need as wide angle lens as possible in Angkor Wat. You will not need much zoom on the Mekong Delta. In fact, after 1 day on the Mekong, you will not be that interested any longer. There is really not that much to see and photograph. Its worth doing the trip as it is interesting - but not great photographic subjects. The water is brown everywhere. The buildings are all decrepit. After you have photographed 10 of them, there is not much else to photograph. As you cruise the Mekong - you will see very few people except at the floating markets.
No matter how much time you have allocated in Hoi an - add a day. It will be the best stop of your trip - except for Angkor Wat.
No matter how much time you have allocated in Hoi an - add a day. It will be the best stop of your trip - except for Angkor Wat.
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