terpfan Loc: central coast, California

This got dropped from today's posts so I'll try again. I am going to Europe this fall, Venice to Rome. I have a Canon 7D II with 24-105 and 70-300L. I'm looking to lighten my load while maintaining image quality. Am I better off with a Tamron 18-400 ($650) or a Sony Rx 10 IV ($1700)? I guess what I'm asking is, does the better lens on the Sony offset the smaller sensor size on the Sony? How much does the APSC sensor on the Canon with the Tamron 18-400 make up for the 1 inch sensor on the Sony? Thanks in advance for you opinions.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Personally I think you would do well with the 7D and the 24-105. If anything I would buy a wider angle fast lens for use inside buildings.

Dennis

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I'm leaning this way too. The 24-105 is a very versatile lens.

Rick-ws Loc: Seattle or North Idaho

I agree with Dennis
Fast and Wide angle. Long or than 200 seems to be too narrow field of view.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Unless you will be on the trip all by yourself, let a person traveling with you help out by carrying some of your camera equipment to lighten the load for you. Acquire a second camera bag if necessary. Not only will this save you a lot of money, but you won't need to familiarize yourself with new camera and lens.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I would forget about the 70-300 or any long lens. Here's the lens I would take for those evening and indoor shots:
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/lenses/ef/wide-angle/ef-s-24mm-f-2-8-stm
Small, light, fast, reasonably wide, and inexpensive with excellent reviews for IQ.

dick ranez

I'm not sure I'd even take the 70-300. I would recommend a wider lens as have the others, perhaps the 10-18 which would generally not be a budget buster. It's not as fast as I would like, but is a good performer, lightweight and decent image quality. I'm not experienced with either the tamron or sigma alternatives, but there may be one.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

I hate to be the "odd man" in this discussion but I'll go for the Sony RX10 1V, you wont be losing much if any in the image quality dept. and with the 24-600 equiv. lens, it will outperform the new lens for your Canon. I'm a firm believer in keeping the load light while on vacation. There isn't any photographic situation that the RX10 1V doesn't do well and when your vacation is over, the Sony will still a fun camera to shoot with.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

"better lens on the Sony"?

Hunnnh? The wide end of this lens is a 24mm equiv field of view. Forget about interior shots of great buildings unless you like stitching. What, exactly, makes you think this is a better lens to the extent that you can just throw it out as an accepted assumption? It ain't.

Take the 24-105 and a wide angle zoom. Even the inexpensive 10-18 will serve you well.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

If size and weight are a factor, here is what I did. I bought a Canon M50 and a couple adapters. One adapter allows me to use any EF or EFS mount lens on the M50. The other adapter has a .71 magnification and it turns the APS-C M50 into a virtual full frame using EF mount lenses. If you don't understand what I'm talking about or don't believe me, just look it up. The adapters are made by Viltrox and their web site explains everything about the adapters.
It does really work quite well. The M50 is small and lightweight and has plenty of useful features and being a MILC, is very quiet. Plus, it has an electronic view finders which makes low light shooting soooooo much easier.
The only accessories I got for the camera was a couple spare batteries. Being a MILC with an EVF, it tends to consume a charge much faster than a DSLR. My 5D mk IV gets around 900 shots to a charge, my M50 about 250.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

I’m of a different camp...if you are going to Venice and Rome on vacation to enjoy yourself, I would take the Sony...it is a wonderful camera for street photography...if you are going with the idea of strictly taking photographs I would take the Canon with my best lenses...with the Canon I would be planning how to set up specific shots...I would want a tripod with me especially for indoors...however you need to realize that there is no photography allowed in the Sistine Chapel...and some places will give you a hard time about a backpack...I would also consider signing up for a photography tour with a professional photographer...but that’s just me...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OK, I am in the "keep it Canon" group so everything will work together in future.
Though that Sony or similar would be a good light weight complement to your 7DII etc. But for the same money in Canon gear you do as well or better.
First would be just add a wide/ultra-wide fast lens for indoors (if that 24-105 is the f/4 it can be used indoors with care to steady the camera)
Second - I endorse the M50, that thing is tiny and light, with the EF-M 55-200 it will fit in the cargo pockets of my old army fatigues or field jacket. I know two people who have an M50 + a couple of lenses for travel - one is a part time pro photographer/computer software consultant and the other is a Canon Rep/traveling teacher I have taken a few classes from at my local camera store.

Look at the Canon USA on line store at the refurbished section to make your budget go further.(same warranty as new-I have purchased two cameras from there and they were both great/like new) You need to check frequently since stock comes and goes rapidly. I would say get the new gear by no later than 1 month before your trip to have time to learn it.
I did a quick search and here is a list of prices:
The M50 has the same APS-C size sensor you are used to but a couple of generations newer.
M50 body only refurb $503
M50 body and EF-M 15-45 $519 - my recommendation, it will work for most of the things you will see and photograph
EF/EF-S adapter to EF-M $128 refurb about $150 new allows you to use the lenses you already have
EF-S 10-18 refurb $219 but it isn't real fast for indoors.
EF-M 55-200 out of stock refurbed but $350 new
If they get the M50 + 15-45 & 55-200 kit back in stock it is $720, a great bargain and the whole thing small and light.
A wide or ultra wide fast lens - look at the Samyang/Rokinon/Bower (the company makes them for a bunch of brand names) line of 14 mm and below f/2.8 lenses - get the manual focus version in EF mount ( a bit big and heavy on the M50) and it will also work on your 7DII or any future Canon camera you may get. (well except the R line, another kettle of fish)
Add a small flash with diffuser (many places, esp indoors don't allow flash at all)
Use a good study camera bag with strong straps, maybe even a should strap and belt combo to cut the chance of a grab and run theft. And add a good sturdy mono-pod that can double as a walking stick and you will be ready for almost any photo opps with the exception of wild life or other very long telephoto subjects.

So: M50, wide/ultra wide lens, 15-45 & 55-200, adapter, small flash with diffuser, mono-pod, good camera bag. This will come to less than the Sony. In fact if you get one of those "I am a tourist!" security vests with big inside "pick pocket resistant" pockets you can carry the camera, lenses, flash, extra batteries & memory cards (take lots of both) on you and use the mono-pod as a walking stick. (In a real emergency it can be used like a quarter staff for defense.)

For the "smallest and lightest" option the Sony or similar with a mono-pod is still the way to go.

Just remembered you mentioned the Tamron 18-400. That would allow the M50 to cover almost all outdoor photo ops you would meet with one lenses, but bigger and heavier than the EF-M lenses, all you would need is a wide fast lens for indoors. I forgot it because I a member of the group that goes for high IQ and the 18-400 is a bit less than what I want. (Of my two favorite lenses the 100-400L is one, more money than the whole kit I recommended above and "big & heavy" by comparison.

What ever you do, have a great and safe trip.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I agree 100%. I have a 7D Mark II and a number of lenses including the Tamron 18-400. Its a decent enough super zoom lens, but has all the optical limitations one would expect from a lens of this type. Since the OP is used to shooting Canon L lenses I think he may be dissatisfied with the Tamron 18-400. However, If he is willing to compromise on quality, for the sake of convenience, the Tamron is one of the better choices compared to other lenses of its type. If quality is foremost, than he should stick with the 24-105 and get a wider angle lens to complement it. If budget and weight is an issue, a Canon 10-18 will fit the requirement. While that light weight body doesn't have a professional build, the optics are excellent. In my personal experience, going wide will be much more useful then a super telephoto for general travel use. Of course the OP's requirements may be different then mine.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Another vote for taking the 7D2 and the 24-105 - leave the longer zoom at home and consider a fast wide for building interiors. Since many of the buildings and museums won’t allow a flash, speed (wide aperture) will be important in the wide angle. Honestly, the 7D2 plus the 24-105 is not that heavy, and the quality and low light performance will be better.