Touring Israel
Nov 22, 2019 08:30:07 #
I'm planning a trip to Israel next year and am wondering about lens selection. Other than weight consideration, would there be any need for a 300 mm zoom lens for typical tour sites?
Nov 22, 2019 08:39:00 #
I think we could use a little more information? Helpful would be what your priority would be, like landscaping, street, nature, etc. Do you have a DSLR or a compact or a bridge? Not knowing that, your guess is as good as ours.
Nov 22, 2019 08:48:03 #
berchman
Loc: South Central PA
ejm77 wrote:
I'm planning a trip to Israel next year and am wondering about lens selection. Other than weight consideration, would there be any need for a 300 mm zoom lens for typical tour sites?
I've been to Israel twice. My advice is that you do not need a 300mm lens. A wide angle lens would be more useful.
Nov 22, 2019 08:54:59 #
Have not yet been to Israel yet, ejm, but my general experience on any once-in-a-lifetime trip is that I have always came home happy that I had my longest reach lens with me as one of my choices.
Have a Wonderful and Safe Trip.
Have a Wonderful and Safe Trip.
Nov 22, 2019 09:04:59 #
Rodledge
Loc: Alabama
I’ve also been there twice back in the 80s. Wide angle up to 150 mm should cover most of your needs. Have a good trip.
Nov 22, 2019 10:17:23 #
Not knowing where all you are traveling, I don't remember taking any shots that was longer than 150-200 range. Only time I wished I had further reach was looking down into Syria from the UN outpost in the Golan Heights.
Nov 22, 2019 10:57:17 #
Not knowing what type of camera or lens you may have, a 35-85mm lens on a full frame sensor will satisfy most all picture taking on any trip. If you are traveling in a group, you generally will not have ample time to change out lenses. When you are in museums and narrow streets of old cities, you will need a wide angle. Keep in mind that you can always crop a photo in post processing to give you the same zoomed in effect as a 300mm as long as your photo is in sharp focus. Keep it simple especially if you and or your group will be doing a lot of walking and you have to carry this equipment.
Nov 22, 2019 12:20:56 #
Nov 23, 2019 06:38:50 #
sueyeisert
Loc: New Jersey
You cou take an 18-200mm lens, but I love a constant apature lens 18-50mm 2.8 mm lens. Bring one fast prime 23mm lens. If you’d going to the desert don’t change lenses bring cleaning supplies are you going the rainy season?
Nov 23, 2019 07:22:30 #
You don’t mention what other glass you are bringing. My experience- just Jerusalem, but 3 times there- would be 24-75 f2.8 or similar, or equivalent fast primes, tripod, 70-200 in that order. The tripod is a pain to lug but helpful at sunrise, evening, night and inside when allowable. I used the longer lens maybe 5% of the time, cursed the weight as the day wore on. This is with Canon 5Diii and later iv, full frame. Enjoy, it’s an amazing country, tiny but full of history.
Nov 23, 2019 08:22:43 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
ejm77 wrote:
I'm planning a trip to Israel next year and am wondering about lens selection. Other than weight consideration, would there be any need for a 300 mm zoom lens for typical tour sites?
I now take only my Sony HX99, which has a Zeiss 24-750 mm lens, a pop up viewfinder and flash, and shoot raw.
When I did take a DSLR, my two lenses were the Nikon 18-200, and the Nikon 10-20.
But now I travel right, and travel light.
Nov 23, 2019 08:33:05 #
Travel light! We did a LOT of walking and didn’t see any wildlife. If I was going again today I would only take my iPhone XS and a perhaps good pocket camera.
Nov 23, 2019 08:41:44 #
Archiefamous
Loc: Manhattan
Last time in Israel I was 30 years younger. Shot with hasselblad swc and 500c 80mm. No need for telephoto
Nov 23, 2019 08:56:52 #
My D7000 I used the 18-140mm 3.5-5.6 DX VR set at A, VR on, AF on P shutter CL. Inside I constantly adjusted ISO for indoor shots with NO flash. Always was bracing myself for those shots. I use San Disk Extreme 16gb 45 mb cards. I found IT BEST to keep a log AND USE different card EACH DAY. Did not carry a flash at all. My camera bag a backpack book bag with many pockets worked best. That trip was 2nd trip to Europe. We were with NAWS tour group. We had a Christian tour guide born in Palistine EXCELLENT people. Learned a lot of history and was very safe.
Nov 23, 2019 09:21:56 #
When I was there, I used my 28-300 but also carried a bridge camera with a long zoom (I don't remember how long.) I don't recall zooming much except when shooting wildflowers. I used the bridge camera with it's hand-held night shooting capabilities for inside museums and other low light places. A tripod wasn't feasible (or allowed) in many places.
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