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Vacation Lenses- Go Light or Return w/ Regret?
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May 14, 2019 06:55:09   #
Moondoggie Loc: Southern California
 
I also have been on several trips to Europe, Africa, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Korea, Laos, Okinawa, Alaska... I take my D5300 and a Tamron 18-400. Based on the lenses you have, take the 24-70, a polarizing filter and enjoy the culture. You don’t want too much gear that it weights you down and you have a sore shoulder and back. Post some pictures when you return and enjoy the adventure.

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May 14, 2019 06:59:21   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
Why not rent or hire a quality bridge or smaller format and 2x zooms. If it's a holiday you'll be shooting for yourself and not for a competition so you want memories more than anything - and a fuzzy memory is better than no memory at all.

The alternative is to rent when you get here. I can recommend Lenses for hire at Maidenhead (nr. Heathrow) if you choose to explore this alternative.

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

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May 14, 2019 06:59:22   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
devil-dog wrote:
My wife & I are taking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to London, Paris, & Nice in September. I have a Nikon D750 with 50mm 1.4, 15-30mm 2.8, 24-70mm 2.8, & 70-200mm 2.8. We'll be walking a ton. Any recommendations on taking all of the above (& just suffer through the heavy backpack) or simplifying & lightening the load with just a couple select lenses?
I've also read a lot about taking extra precautions due to theft & pick-pockets (especially in Paris). Any advice on this from experienced travelers/photographers would be appreciated, as well.

Thank you!
My wife & I are taking a once-in-a-lifetime va... (show quote)


My advice from a person who travels 5 months out of the year:
1. Take a pocket camera and put it in a belt pouch.
2. I recommend the Sony HX99V, it has a pop up viewfinder so it acts like a DSLR when viewing through it, a 24-750 mm Zeiss lens that delivers up to 20X30 beautiful prints.
3. You will sing my praises after your trip is over.
4. Travel right, travel lite.
Below are some photo's of the belt pouch I use and some sample photo's I have taken on my trips.











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May 14, 2019 07:13:51   #
wireloose
 
Everyone has an opinion- I just had a long weekend in Paris. I’m not sure how useful the 50 would be but I would pack the rest and carry selectively. That said 90% of tourists just use their phones, and if you are not aiming to put pictures on a wall when you get back that might work too. Inside- cathedrals and the like- its nice to have that wide angle. Outdoors- I like the 24-70 as a walkabout lens. And there will be times- boat tours etc- when you will want the 200. I have a Sony 7r2 for travel; on Sunday at the Opera Garnier- well worth the tour- the lights were out in the theater, so I cranked the ISO to 32000 and to my astonishment got good usable shots. Your Nikon I believe is comparable so keep that in mind. If I am with my wife though I find it best to carry one lens at a time, as she has limited tolerance for my “damn fiddling”- yours may be more patient but its best to enjoy yourself. Do bring spare batteries and do insure your gear, though thieves will grab handbags over cameras. I do believe its like the bear joke, I dont have to run faster than the bear, just faster than you. They look for easy/ rich targets, dont be conspicuous, dont be an easy target with your wallet in your back pocket etc.. Watch for the scams the guidebooks warn you of. But mostly just enjoy yourself, Despite all the warnings I doubt you will feel unsafe at any time.

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May 14, 2019 07:18:21   #
Jimmy T Loc: Virginia
 
sb wrote:
I agree with Linda but will go further: get a camera that will fit in your pocket and don't "focus" on getting the best picture ever of Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower. I am headed to London in a few weeks and will leave the DSLR at home in favor of a camera with a 20MB 1-inch sensor that will fit in my pocket. Which will be zippered. I am traveling with my wife, a non-photographer, and we are just going to relax and have fun.

As Europe Guide Rick Steves says: when you go to Europe, never take anything with you that you can't afford to have stolen. Take an under-the-clothes pouch for your passport and credit card. If you are going to take your DSLR, consider getting a strap from PACSAFE that has an internal steel cable so that it cannot be quickly cut with a razor. And always pay attention. Anyone who is distracting you - bumping into you, asking you the time, etc., is very likely getting ready to rob you - or their accomplice right behind you will.
I agree with Linda but will go further: get a came... (show quote)



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May 14, 2019 07:18:50   #
JDG3
 
Here are my experiences and opinions. I love photography and my wife and I love to travel. But, over time I started to realize that carrying all that gear really took away from me (and my wife) enjoying the experiences one has in traveling. I also came to realize that unless you are traveling alone or on your own schedule and transportation, you really do not have the time to set up and compose really good shots. If you are traveling in a group, you will be getting on and off buses, trains, boats etc while carrying your load of equipment. These buses and such will also be crowded and not have a lot of space to store gear, so often you will need to carry it on your lap. Along with that, many of the landmarks and other spots you will want to experience will also be crowded with other people trying to get good shots. In many cases, my wife with her iphone, got better shots than I did simply because of the ability to shoot quickly with little prep or fuss. By the time I got the Nikon out, selected my lens, and composed the shot, she had already shot her photo and moved on. I found myself rushed to snap the shot when the scene cleared and people waiting on me before they moved on to the next spot.

I finally realized that I was missing out on SEEING many interesting things because I was always viewing the world through a camera lens eyepiece. It reminded me of the old days when dads would walk around with the VHS recorder stuck to his eye filming the kids at birthdays and amusement parks, and missing out on the actual experience. Besides, who goes back and watches all those videos?

Now back to the point. I now carry a Pansonic Lumix point and shoot with built in zoom that shoots both raw and jpeg. It weighs ounces, not pounds, and I can carry it in my jacket pocket. I get more shots than ever and they are almost as good as my Nikon. Plus, since I have the photos in raw, I can do post adjustments where needed. It has really worked out best for us.

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May 14, 2019 07:31:58   #
jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY
 
DD,
Many of us, especially me, have asked exactly the same question as you. Once in a lifetime adds additional pressure. Linda is right on the money. It is the easiest and best answer for you to create a balance between maximizing your enjoyment and ease and weight. I can give you reasons to take the wider lens, longer lens, and faster lens. And, I can give you reasons to take a different set up. Bill's makes the most sense. But all of these other reasons suffer from one thing or another. You do not wish to purchase another set up. Taking additional lenses will make your load; traveling from place to place and daily carry more cumbersome and impractical (for you!). And, of course, if you take one or another lens; you will come up against the same issue..at least once....'oh I wish I had taken the other lens'!
So, true to life...every decision is a compromise. This doesn't mean that you will be giving up anything. It means that you make rational decisions based on your priorities and just go with the flow.
Take your 24-70. And you and your wife make this one unbelievable experience...and take some pictures that will remind you of the places you've been. Enjoy your holiday..Bon Vacance!
Oh, while in Paris..if you love rice pudding...go to Chez L'Ami Jean. It is the best in the world!

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May 14, 2019 07:37:25   #
whitehall Loc: Canada
 
Just back from Europe, Rome and Paris. For indoor images I would take the 50 mm 1.4 fast lens, and for walk around take the 70-200. Keep the 50 in a multi zippered photo vest and don't worry about pick pockets, they go for wallets, I carry my passport and most of my money in a waist band, and about 20Euros a low max credit card and a piece of photo id in an aluminium wallet in one of the many pockets in the vest.

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May 14, 2019 07:40:19   #
al13
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Is it more important to soak in the experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime or to carry around a heavy bag and then jostle crowds while you change lenses? Do you really think you'll feel regret at not getting a "perfect" composition?

Take the 24-70 and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!



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May 14, 2019 07:41:56   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
devil-dog wrote:
My wife & I are taking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to London, Paris, & Nice in September. I have a Nikon D750 with 50mm 1.4, 15-30mm 2.8, 24-70mm 2.8, & 70-200mm 2.8. We'll be walking a ton. Any recommendations on taking all of the above (& just suffer through the heavy backpack) or simplifying & lightening the load with just a couple select lenses?
I've also read a lot about taking extra precautions due to theft & pick-pockets (especially in Paris). Any advice on this from experienced travelers/photographers would be appreciated, as well.

Thank you!
My wife & I are taking a once-in-a-lifetime va... (show quote)


Bring a compact camera with a built-in zoom lens. You can carry it in a pocket or on a wrist strap. I've been to London several times, but never with a DSLR. I enjoyed the trips, and I got good pictures. These pictures will be reminders of your trip. They're not intended for sale to pay for your trip.

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May 14, 2019 07:47:37   #
twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Is it more important to soak in the experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime or to carry around a heavy bag and then jostle crowds while you change lenses? Do you really think you'll feel regret at not getting a "perfect" composition?

Take the 24-70 and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!



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May 14, 2019 07:48:19   #
Jagnut07 Loc: South Carolina
 
I just returned from 3-1/2 weeks in Holland, Belgium, Normandy and Paris.
I took my Sony a6500 (APS-C sensor). 10-18 f4, 16-70 f4 and 18-200 lens. I started out with the 16-70 and never changed it once. Even in churches then push up the ISO. You don’t need a really fast lens. We had a great time and also enjoyed taking some 3,000 photos. Go and have fun and your 24 to 70 will be fine.

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May 14, 2019 07:48:55   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
I will echo the statements here that say "be a tourist first, a photographer second."

Experiences first, then take some pictures as you have a chance.

Really, who cares if you get one more Eiffel tower shot? Big deal...buy a post card.

My travel kit is a fixed focus, fixed lens film camera, and a remote shutter switch so that I can take photos of myself and my wife in other places. If we aren't in the photos...then why even take them?

That's my personal take on this subject.

Here is what David Hobby said about it (and he uses a fixed lens X100S.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMpwhHnZs3E

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May 14, 2019 08:04:08   #
BruceS
 
I take two kinds of trips: photo trips and tourist trips. I take all the stuff on photo trips. I take my Sony RX100 V on tourist trips. There are a couple of benefits to this practice on tourist trips: first is weight and efficiency. Second is preservation of my wife's good will as she finds watching me take pictures akin to watching paint dry.

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May 14, 2019 08:09:55   #
redtooth
 
Take a 24-120. it will cover 99.9 % of everything you see. I travel extensively in the U.S. and this is my lense of choice . The 24-70 is good but limited range .

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