SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

We're planning a trip to Portugal next year and I'm debating whether to take my full frame or my compact. What would you take with you? If it is the full frame, then is their one lens you would take with you? (I have a 28-60mm, 16-35mm). Or, is the Sony rx100vii sufficient for a trip to Europe? Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

dadaist

The wider the better!!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Unless you are SELLING big prints or working for NatGeo, I would take the RX and have FUN. - and yes, I do have a RX10 - I know the 100 is a little different.
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SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I am guessing that you would take the full frame then?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A photographer brings their camera.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The most productive camera I've ever traveled with is an RX100. Why? Because it is unobtrusive to the people in the culture you are trying to document. Larger, full frame cameras put people off. You can be composing the shot in your head, then quickly "snap" a quality image. Automatic settings are helpful and useful for this.

If you plan to limit yourself to landscapes and scenics on a tripod, the full frame might prove better. But, the RX100 won't do badly at all. Consider trying the four or nine shot square "panorama" for post processing if you need a lot of pixels.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I'm really looking for the points of each. Ken Rockwell would tell you that it doesn't matter WHAT camera you use, as it's the photographer, as you say, that brings his camera. The question that I am asking is, which camera, and why?

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Excellent suggestions! Thank you!

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

This is a tough call. If you like the resolution of a full-frame camera then the A7R2 would be your choice. If you like to photograph church interiors full-frame with the much better low-light performance is your friend. However, neither of your lenses alone will give you the range you need for travel. If you take both you would be changing lenses frequently because neither one covers the entire range of travel photography.

The DSC-RX100 VII is considered the best compact travel camera. Obviously, it is much easier to carry, and you will not be changing lenses. So this will make for a more care-free trip. Particularly if you travel with a group you do not have the time to change lenses all the time. I think that its 24-200mm focal range (full-frame equivalent) is great for travel. The only drawback is that it will not perform quite as well in low light. Given your parameters, the DSC-RX100 VII has my vote.

Somebody made the statement "The wider the better!" I would not fully agree with this. I travel a lot--I just spent ten weeks in Europe, including Portugal--and I shoot Sony full-frame. My main lens is the Sony 24-105mm, which is perfect for travel. I also took a Zeiss Batis 18mm in case I needed a wider lens, but I barely used it. Unless you like the ultra-wide look, you will be fine with a 24-200mm lens (full-frame equivalent).

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

If you decide on the Sony, I suggest that you have a pocket full of batteries with you. When traveling, I carry full frame gear, but ALWAYS have my RX100 with me. I adore that pocket camera, but the fact is that the battery life is just dreadful. I always have 1 batt in the camera and 2 or 3 fresh ones in my pocket. Yes - the batt life is that bad. I can usually spend an entire day shooting hard and chimping with my D850 without denting the battery charge.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Just what I was looking for, thank you! Obviously, I love my A7r2 and it's image quality but I had my doubts on whether or not my lenses would be adequate as the only one I would take for a once in a lifetime trip.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I would take the RX100 just enjoy the trip. The RX100 is small enough to carry in a pocket, and produces great images. It's small size doesn't raise attention.

As for low light. Just shoot RAW and use the wonderful noise reducing software we now have available to use.

I have the RX100VII and the results are surprisingly good. The lens is superb.

With it's small size, you can always have it with you ready for use. Having extra batteries might be a good idea too.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

According to the B&H web site, the Sony DSC-RX100 VII has a focal range of 9-72mm, 24-200mm full-frame equivalent. I hope that you are talking about the same camera.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1496248-REG/sony_dscrx100m7_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx100_vii_digital.html

I did not refer to the Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS Lens, if this is what you mean. This is optically one of the weakest lenses in the Sony lineup, and I would not recommend it.

I consider the Sony 24-105mm the best travel lens for the Sony full-frame system--it always is my main lens on my trips. I have used it for over four years, have taken literally tens of thousands of shots in many countries on four continents, and always been happy with this lens. If you decide to take the Sony A7R2 this would be a great companion. (Take spare batteries as the A7R2 has a very mediocre battery life.)

PS: If you decide to take the A7R2 you still could take the RX100 as a back-up. I always travel with two camera bodies.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Definitely! I've had the A7rII for quite awhile and I'm aware of THAT one's battery life so I'm not surprised either that the little guy would be much the same. I have several extras that I came with it, so I'll be good there. I have taken both with me on short day trips and they are both definitely capable of quality shots. I guess I probably know deep down what I need to do. I just want to hear everyone's experience so I can make a well informed decision on how to go about it. I'm 65 now and the weight of carrying around a bunch of full frame glass isn't that inviting, but I don't want to come home either and be saying to myself that I should have. The questions is, would I, if I went with ONLY the RX100vii, or if I took the A7RII, what lens would get me through, if I took only one??? I purchased the 28-60mm for that purpose and for what it does, it is pretty good, surprisingly so! But is it enough? It DOES make for a pretty compact A7RII outfit, I will say as much.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Thanks Jim! I do always shoot RAW so that's not a problem. Have you had any experience with any of the noise reduction softwares out now? I use Luminar NEO now and they are supposed to be coming out with a new AI supposedly "seamless" noise reduction software to use with NEO.