Lenses to take on trips (Page 6): Nailed it. A trip is not the best time to learn what you can do with your gear. I generally take two zooms, a 24-70mm f/2.8 equivalent and a 70-200mm...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Longshadow wrote:

It's possible.
Also possible: People are unsure because they don't know their equipment and how it performs.

Nailed it. A trip is not the best time to learn what you can do with your gear.

I generally take two zooms, a 24-70mm f/2.8 equivalent and a 70-200mm f/2.8 equivalent, and a 60mm f/2.8 equivalent macro prime lens. Since I use Micro 4/3 gear, they’re all small and light.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Orphoto wrote:

I refer people to flickr or some other site where they can do their own research. Look at the typical tourist images and then poke around in the exif data to look at corresponding lens lengths. I swear some of the folks just ask and have not made any attempt to figure it out on their own.

Can't get your comments out of my mind Orph. You realize the reason, and to quote you, "some of the folks just ask and have not made any attempt to figure it out on their own". One of the purposes, and reasons that some people are here, is to ask questions about issues they don't yet understand. This is precisely the (one of the best), place to educate oneself. Not everyone comes to this forum knowing everything. You "accuse" people of not trying to "figure it out for themselves". Well what do you think they are doing when they ask for help or advice here? How did you learn? I assume it wasn't magic, and you must have had some instruction along the way. Why don't you just get off your high horse, stop looking down on people, (clearly not as smart as you), and be helpful, or, as my dear old granny used to say, "if you have nothing nice to say, STFU"!

Tidepride

kybob wrote:

Ok I see all the points made here many are valid. ... (show quote)

Well said. Not all of us on UHH are professionals and are here to learn and enjoy the site. I am purely an amateur that just enjoys taking photos for my personal pleasure and have no desire to sell photos. Having said that, I do want to take good quality photos and now that I am retired, I have time to try to get better so I read the posts on UHH to try to improve my skills.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

KindaSpikey wrote:

Can't get your comments out of my mind Orph. You r... (show quote)

Well, I learned early on what my lenses would do, or not do. I shot a lot to see what they provide. Even "fake shooting" just to see what I get in the viewfinder, comparing lenses. I never asked anyone what should I take to any location. Besides, I probably don't shoot the way they shoot, so why would I use what they would use for a location or subject?
Maybe that's why people suggest that they learn what their equipment is capable of doing.

Tidepride

Orphoto wrote:

I refer people to flickr or some other site where they can do their own research. Look at the typical tourist images and then poke around in the exif data to look at corresponding lens lengths. I swear some of the folks just ask and have not made any attempt to figure it out on their own.

Responses such as this one is why I only read and don’t post questions. Most on here reply with a courteous answer but some seem to be elitist and prefer to give unnecessary snarky answers. One would think that people would want to help people who are trying to learn or just not reply at all.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Tidepride wrote:

Responses such as this one is why I only read and don’t post questions. Most on here reply with a courteous answer but some seem to be elitist and prefer to give unnecessary snarky answers. One would think that people would want to help people who are trying to learn or just not reply at all.

Learn by doing?
Why wait for someone to tell one what to do?
Just go out and experiment.
Besides, I can tell someone how I shoot, but wouldn't expect someone to replicate what I do. I would expect them to shoot how they want to.
And what about their interests being different in the subject matter and how they would want to compose it?

Love the people who suggest buying a brand new particular lens.......
Even though the requestor states that they own A, B, and C lenses.
Go buy "D".
Because that's what they have or would want to take.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

A long time ago, when I bought my first camera, the guy that owned the local camera store gave me some advice. He said to take pictures and look at photography magazines to see how they take the pictures.
There is no camera or lens that will make you a photographer. Like anything, you have to practice.

Now that there are not too many photo magazines left, the advice still stands. Take pictures and look at other pictures and see how they are doing it.

There is no short way to learn how to do something, no trick that will instantly teach you everything that you want to know. Just practice and see what you are doing wrong And try to correct it.
Pixels are cheap, experiment.

User ID

Tidepride wrote:

Responses such as this one is why I only read and don’t post questions. Most on here reply with a courteous answer but some seem to be elitist and prefer to give unnecessary snarky answers. One would think that people would want to help people who are trying to learn or just not reply at all.

Likewise I would never post technical questions here. My reasons are rather different, but not toadally different.

But it cant be denied that *some* opening post questions are truly ridiculous, occasionally trollish, etc.

rkaminer Loc: New York, NY

I will brag when I schedule my trip to Mars, then I bring a trunk with every lens I own; for now my best camera is my smartphone; a good smartphone has amazing features (Best panoramic images) and also helps to keep my shoulders even. The drawback is it makes feel that i am missing something, and I like to be seen with fancy equipment and long lenses. It gives me bragging rights and makes me look like I know what i am doing; also I get asked more often to take pictures from strangers. I use both, a good zoom with a mirrorless body and a smartphone; enjoy the trip and don’t let the gear get in the way of a great trip.

Leland22 Loc: Texas

I usually do not get involved in these questions but finally feel I need to. I take one lens to everything since I never know what, when or what distance a great photo opportunity will present itself. A good zoom lens that spans from wide angle to zoom is a must-in my case a 24-240. While the F stop may not be the lowest, today's high ISO cameras utilize low light much better that the past.Rarely does it not fit a photo opportunity IMHO.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Leland22 wrote:

I usually do not get involved in these questions but finally feel I need to. I take one lens to everything since I never know what, when or what distance a great photo opportunity will present itself. A good zoom lens that spans from wide angle to zoom is a must-in my case a 24-240. While the F stop may not be the lowest, today's high ISO cameras utilize low light much better that the past.Rarely does it not fit a photo opportunity IMHO.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I'm going on a trip to Pattaya, Thailand and I want to know if I should buy "Super Jumbo" or "Mega Magnum" condoms?😜 I'll have my smartphone to take pictures while I am there.

StRoch Loc: New Orleans

Urnst wrote:

Sometimes I wonder if posing this question is more to brag about the trip the poser will go on than to get real advice. Am I too jaded?

You may be jaded but you are correct about the motivation.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Urnst wrote:

Sometimes I wonder if posing this question is more to brag about the trip the poser will go on than to get real advice. Am I too jaded?

Considering what people have posted, I don't think bragging is the issue. It's not like someone is listing a dozen Leica lenses or many 500+mm lenses from Nikon or Canon.

it's always nice to get a second opinion. I often ask people about doing this or that, warning them that I might not take their advice. Getting a different point of few is usually a good idea.

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Longshadow wrote:

It's possible.
Also possible: People are unsure because they don't know their equipment and how it performs.

That applies to me. I have used cameras for many years but two years ago got a Nikon D750 and ended up totally confused. Thank goodness someone on UHH is coaching me into using the Nikon a great deal better. I am very grateful!