Hopefully going on a River Cruise from Amsterdam (Page 5): Did same cruise in 2015. Like you, spent a lot of time trying to decide camera and lens combinations. I am very pleased with...

Nantahalan Loc: Savannah originally; western NC now

Did same cruise in 2015. Like you, spent a lot of time trying to decide camera and lens combinations. I am very pleased with the photos using Nikon D7100 w these lenses: 18-200, 50 1.8, and 12-24. Used 50 1.8 only for a few (maybe a few dozen w/3 keepers) available darkness shots from the ship at night and many more keepers on the bus ride through the Black Forest. 12-24 only inside Cologne and maybe Strasbourg cathedrals. Had a small Nikon SB-400 flash I used maybe 6 times in Marksburg and Heidelberg Castles.

If I could do it over with the gear I had then, I’d be okay, but would add a rubber lens hood for the 50 to shoot through the bus window without reflections. The hood might touch the window. The tinted bus windows took about 2 stops, I recall thinking.

The range of the 18-200 was especially useful when shooting during our many side trips with walking tours. One moment I wanted a close detail and the next, a statue or hanging sign. Because of the overcast, I’d shot a lot at f8 at ISO 800.

In 2018, we were only on foot or public transportation in the Netherlands. We were in Haarlem and Amsterdam in April and spent a day at Keukenhof Gardnens. This time I used a Nikon D610 (full frame 24MB) with 24-70 2.8 lens. I brought a 20mm 2.8, but never used it. Concerned about rain, I brought an Olympus TG-5. No rain, but I carried only the TG when we went to dinner to have something less bulky; now wish I’d just lugged along the Nikon w 24-70.

If you want to see my Amsterdam to Basel pictures and a handout for a local photo club, PM me and I’ll send you a thumb drive.

Cubanphoto

Photonut2020 wrote:

If all pans out we are planning to go on a River cruise in April from Amsterdam to Basel. I have a Canon 80D with 2 kit lenses. 18-55 and 55-250. I also have a 50 mm a 10-22 and big 18-400. Don’t want to take the 400, too heavy. If you were to take one or two of the lenses above which would it be? 2nd question. If none of the above are decent, What would you buy if you had to take just one travel lens

Just came back from a 14 day river cruise (Vienna to Amsterdam). While cruising the Rhyne river I wish I have had my 200-500 minutes on my other body. You'll see very beautiful castles up on the mountains.
It is up to you and your weight restrictions.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

Took the same trip in 2018. Took two cameras, a DSLR with a 17-50 f 2.5 and a 55 -250 Lenses. For long shots I used my SX60. The f2.5 lens was very much needed for interior shots. The SX was used on the boat for the long shots to shore.

(Download)

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Photonut2020 wrote:

If all pans out we are planning to go on a River cruise in April from Amsterdam to Basel. I have a Canon 80D with 2 kit lenses. 18-55 and 55-250. I also have a 50 mm a 10-22 and big 18-400. Don’t want to take the 400, too heavy. If you were to take one or two of the lenses above which would it be? 2nd question. If none of the above are decent, What would you buy if you had to take just one travel lens

What do you use locally when shooting on the run? Maybe use that kit as Amsterdam is not much different from other cities.

Cheers!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Amielee wrote:

Took the same trip in 2018. Took two cameras, a DSLR with a 17-50 f 2.5 and a 55 -250 Lenses. For long shots I used my SX60. The f2.5 lens was very much needed for interior shots. The SX was used on the boat for the long shots to shore.

Gorgeous windmill shot ☀️🏆☀️

RPaul3rd Loc: Arlington VA and Sarasota FL

My walkaround lens on holiday is a Tamron 18-400 for my Canon SL2 APS-C camera. It wasn't that heavy. Just a thought!

sschonfeld

Same for me. Tamron 18-400 on canon 80d. Very light and great coverage. Enlarging to 16x19 no trouble.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

My wife and I took the very same trip. You will be on the roof of the Long Boat, when passing all the Castles on the Rhine, so weight of the equipment is a non-issue. You can leave all the other lenses and stuff in your stateroom, under lock and key. The little towns along the Rhine will need at least a 400mm lens on your camera to get a viable shot. In the cities, I'd use a medium wide angle, for the street views. Churches are mostly dark inside, so if you have a low light lens that will be your indoor lens. I carried my small lens collection in a backpack, and changed according to subject. I use a Tamron 24-70 2.8 for my low light lens on my Viking River Cruises. I'd also take along my 200-400mm L for the Rhine River sites. Most of the Castles are on the side of valley, or on top of the mountain. Keep in mind the boat will be moving, and you'll be sitting at a table on the roof. Take comfortable shoes for walking on pavement, and cobble stones. Enjoy your trip. You'll be in Holland, Denmark, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

wjones8637 wrote:

You have already ruled out my recommendation the 18-400 that is my walk around lens. You will most likely be photographing both landscapes and zeroing in on interesting details. The 18-400 will allow this without the hassle of multiple lenses. I don’t know the weights of the 18-55 and 55-250, but I suspect that combined the out weight the 18-400. For a second lens I would choose the 10-22 to cover any sweeping landscapes.

Bill

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

traderjohn wrote:

We were on a similar river cruise(Viking) from Budapest to Amsterdam. I had a Nikon D610 and 38-300MM lens and that be dat. I never wished I had another option or second-guessing myself.

I did the similar Avalon Waterways cruise in 2010. I had a Nikon D50 with their 18-200 VR zoom and did it all with that. The photos came out OK. https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157624729863909/

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

piperplt wrote:

We did a Viking cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest in 2017. I took the vast majority of my images with the 24-105L, (my main walkaround lens) or the 70-300L. I spent a lot of time on the top deck taking pictures of the various castles, vineyards, villages, etc. and used the 70-300 most of the time. I did take my Sigma 150-600 with me but I don't think I ever used it and would definitely not take it again.

Excellent photos! (Fortress Marienburg?)

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Erkibler wrote:

My wife just returned from a Viking tour from Budapest to Passau. She has a wonderful time,nbut the pandemic really took it’s toll on the tour. The longship had a capacity of 190 guests and requires a crew of 45 to operate. The number of guests onboard was 38. Needless to say, she and her companions got first class service.
She only had an IPhone 11, I think, and it did a very good job. Here are a couple of her shots.

Very nice! (Budapest Parliament, Jubilee Church in Vienna?)

HamB

We have made three Viking river cruises.
I left the camera with all the lenses at home and took a Nikon Coolpix.
Perfect choice?, no, but more than adequate, light, small and easy to use.

whitehall Loc: Canada

I had been on similar River cruises. They feature waling and inside old building. Therefore go light and carry a fast lens.

Photonut2020 Loc: Northeast Pennsylvania

Thanks for the suggestion. If I buy another camera my husband would not be very happy. However, I looked it up on B&H and it’s a lot more cost effective than a new lens. Hmmmm, gotta think about this 😊