Vacation Lenses- Go Light or Return w/ Regret?
May 14, 2019 09:45:06 #
May 14, 2019 09:56:20 #
As I frequent traveler, I am faced with the same conundrum you have, do I want to carry my backpack with all my lenses when I visit my bucket list cities or do I want to simplify. The experience gained from my last trips was I need to find a good all around lens (18-200 or 18-300) and forget about multiple lenses. Photographing in cities like Paris is competing for a shot with thousands of tourists, carrying a back pack is delaying entry to many places due to security checks, attracting pickpockets (if Paris is bad, Barcelona is terrible), uncomfortable...
I have a 10/20 F4, 16/80 kit lens, 85 macro and 55-200 plus the D500. I can imagine how much more your system weighs with all those great 2.8 optics. My conclusion after the last three city trips is to carry just one lens.
I have a 10/20 F4, 16/80 kit lens, 85 macro and 55-200 plus the D500. I can imagine how much more your system weighs with all those great 2.8 optics. My conclusion after the last three city trips is to carry just one lens.
May 14, 2019 09:56:23 #
When i first got my kit DSLR with 18-55 and 55-300 i always had on the wring lens...added the 18-140 and found that helped but often wished i had a longer lens to zoom in on detail...then i got the 18-300 for my d7200...i love the lens for travel and just about everything else...since you have the full frame nikon and if you can afford it the the Nikon 28-300 would be an ideal travel lens...
Have a great trip and post some pictures....
Have a great trip and post some pictures....
May 14, 2019 09:57:51 #
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!
Take the 24-70 and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!
Completely agree. I have found little to no use for longer zooms in city environs. For wider you can always brace yourself against something and take overlapping images to stitch together later. Enjoy the trip!
May 14, 2019 10:04:40 #
I made a clip on anti-theft add on to my shoulder strap for a European trip. Got a short length of vinyl coated wire, (like that is in a dog leash), couple of small cable clamps and snap clips. Cost around $8-$10. Simple but effective and unobtrusive in appearance.
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May 14, 2019 10:27:17 #
You may have discovered the strength of the half-frame format. There's no DX equivalent of the 18-300 or the 12-24 Nikkors. If there were, there would be the two lenses you need to carry. (Don't forget extra batteries!) Though I imagine the DX equivalent of the 18-300, which would be, what, a 27-450, would be pretty big.
In any case, I believe you'll find a good wideangle far more useful than a telephoto.
In any case, I believe you'll find a good wideangle far more useful than a telephoto.
May 14, 2019 10:31:04 #
As is to be expected many members of the forum will chime in with different opinions. I am not going to offer an opinion but I will give you my experience when traveling.
What I have noticed is that in general I have used only one or two lenses. Now that I have small Olympus mirrorless cameras I can take the luxury of packing some more lenses since they are small and light and still I tend to use one or two.
I am in full agreement with those that mentioned to you that the 24-70 f2.8 will most probably take the majority of the shots you will encounter.
What I have noticed is that in general I have used only one or two lenses. Now that I have small Olympus mirrorless cameras I can take the luxury of packing some more lenses since they are small and light and still I tend to use one or two.
I am in full agreement with those that mentioned to you that the 24-70 f2.8 will most probably take the majority of the shots you will encounter.
May 14, 2019 10:37:53 #
In cities everything is big and tall, you need a wide angle to zoom lens, maybe 18mm to 70mm. You don't need a telephoto and even with an 18mm you won't be able to back far enough away to capture everything, especially indoor shots.
May 14, 2019 10:52:17 #
I always carry two lens at minimum when I travel. I want to carry a small shoulder bag. I have Canon. Although, I have multiple full frame cameras, I carry my T6s Rebel. One, it is a capable camera. Two, I am not subjecting my more expensive equipment to the potential perils of air travel or theft. During my last trip to NY, a homeland security agent dropped my camera bag. Those things do happen. Fortunately, after digging out the lens cap from the filter, no harm was done. I always carry a 10-18 and a 18-135. I also at times carry a 24 mm f2.8 pancake lens for low light situations. I find I can get most any picture I want with this setup and I don’t stress over having my 5DMKIV and expensive L-Series lenses damaged or stolen, etc. I do take a number of SD cards and change them regularly. If a single card went bad or my equipment was stolen or damaged, I have not lost all of my pictures. When traveling, I find less weight and bulk to be a plus. However, I want more than one lens in the event that one stops working for whatever reason.
May 14, 2019 10:56:19 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
My earlier recommendation was based on experience,... (show quote)
I agree. I lived in Spain almost 5 years when I was younger and, while we do have some travel photos to reminisce over, most of the time we wanted to "live in the moment" and not be bothered with dragging around cameras, lenses, trying to get the "perfect shot", etc. Get your head out from behind the camera and enjoy the experience at least as often as you try to take photographs. You will enjoy yourself more. This is from a woman who used to film bullfights with an old video camera, tripod, mike, and 4 battery pack. That's a load. But I went to many events where I didn't film at all.
May 14, 2019 11:10:56 #
I’ve done several European trips that involved considerable walking with an 18-200mm lens on a D300 (crop sensor) and would have regretted a lens with less reach. Recently, with much less mobility, I have carried a P900 on trips. I also bring a pocket camera (e.g., 20mp Sony) for tight quarters.
May 14, 2019 11:14:19 #
devil-dog wrote:
My wife & I are taking a once-in-a-lifetime va... (show quote)
I think you will benefit from the wide-angle lenses more so than the teles. Yes, Paris is overrun with pickpockets so be careful.
May 14, 2019 11:14:41 #
Decide what YOU want. No one else can do that. Then take what YOU want. You are the one buying, carrying, managing and photographing. People base opinions on themselves, not you. Thats my advice, based on you.
May 14, 2019 11:15:43 #
depscribe wrote:
You may have discovered the strength of the half-frame format. There's no DX equivalent of the 18-300 or the 12-24 Nikkors. If there were, there would be the two lenses you need to carry. (Don't forget extra batteries!) Though I imagine the DX equivalent of the 18-300, which would be, what, a 27-450, would be pretty big.
In any case, I believe you'll find a good wideangle far more useful than a telephoto.
In any case, I believe you'll find a good wideangle far more useful than a telephoto.
Well, the OP has FF so that point is moot, and if you were looking for the 18-300 "equivalent" for DX it would actually be 12-200. and the 18-300 actually IS a DX lens, the equivalent FF would be 27-450.
May 14, 2019 11:32:27 #
SuperflyTNT wrote:
Well, the OP has FF so that point is moot . . .
True
SuperflyTNT wrote:
. . . and if you were looking for the 18-300 "equivalent" for DX it would actually be 12-200. and the 18-300 actually IS a DX lens, the equivalent FF would be 27-450.
Um, no. An 18mm lens on a half-frame camera is equivalent to a full-frame 27mm lens in coverage, and a 300mm lens on a half-frame is equivalent to 450mm. You got it backwards.
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