Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

The best gear you could take is me! I will be glad to tote your gear since I can't afford to world-hop like you. If you shoot Nikon, you couldn't do better than the 28-300. It gives you a good wide-angle lens as well as a decent telephoto. If you go to a museum and want to photograph a small object, the lens will focus down to 12" even at 300 mm, eliminating the need for a macro lens. In addition, you may want to add a wider lens -- something in the 16 to 20mm range to photograph in places like cathedrals. I'll PM you my address so you can send the airline tickets! Have a good trip and share some shots with us here on UHH when you return.

billmck Loc: Central KY

I don't get stressed over similar situations. I take my D7100 and Tamron 18-400. Takes care of everything except not so good on inside shots.

Bill

tgreenhaw

There is always an endless stream of opinions on this topic. I seem to be the odd one out. I take my r5 with a 24-240 zoom and 16mm f.2.8 for my vacationing walkabouts. The 16 is tiny and light and the superzoom does everything else. But I also bring my 100-400L and a tripod. I don't carry it everywhere, but if I have a rare special excursion planned that day, e.g. wildlife, video or stand off macro I lug the bigger gear.

jcboy3

If that’s all one needs, then why have anything else? Maybe a second one, for backup?

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I own them both, RX10m4 and RX100m5... They are absolutely great travel cameras ..... Like American Express says..."Don't leave home without one"

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

I own one camera and one lens and that set comes with me wherever and whenever I travel (plus one cell-phone as a back-up), I don't waste my time fretting over which cameras and lenses to take along but use the time better to capture the fleeting moments as well as the eternal unmoving sceneries. Aren't we photographers proud of the saying that "It is not the camera, but the eyes and head behind the camera that matters"?

User ID

Yup thaz the thing with these threads. You favor some reach, so you tolerate less dim light ability. Im the opposite, needing dim light ability, and always ready to sacrifice reach. Then you have all these travelers who dont know what their preferences are trying to ask what they should bring or buy.

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I don't fret and labor either.
I have a 12+ year old DSLR; a 16 year old bridge camera, and the S-21 phone.
An 18-200 is on the DSLR 99.9% of the time.
(I suppose I'm a minimalist, equipment wise?)
But they meet my needs.

Garson Loc: Tampa, FL

I often use my Lumix DC-ZS70 when I travel. It is compact and has a 24-720 (35mm equivalent) Leica lens. I have a small case that fits on my belt. I also have a Fuji mirrorless camera with 2 lenses, but it is not as convenient when I am sightseeing.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

For the past several years, I have been slowly reducing weight (and complexity) of equipment.
My latest acquisition is a Lumix FZ200, with a constant f2.8 zoom lens (LN, for $60). Published feedback about this camera is good, especially the lens.
Can anyone share first-hand experience with this camera?
Thanks.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I read through most of the replies. I still say, "Rent just the OM-1, 12-100 lens, extra battery, and charger. It will be all you will need." You might want add a polarizer, but that would probably be the extent of rental.

You have stated, "Although I will probably take more than an XA2, I will simplify, simplify, simplify. When did it become so complicated? Serious gear for birding, at the shore, in the woods. Simple gear for vacations." The above mentioned system is a serious but simple system for vacation. Seven stops of stabilization so leave the tripod home. ISO similar to full frame ISO which will help in low light situations. And your coverage is 24 to 200 in 35mm terms. One second handheld shots are a piece of cake. Plus you have the ability of handheld 80mp RAW shots. And 1/2 lifesize images with the 12-100 lens are possible. Easy photo stacking is possible, but usually the "extra" depth of field of 4/3rds is enough for 1/2 lifesize shots. I am not sure you will be able to find a simpler vacation system than a body, lens, battery, charger, and filter that is also a serious system. This setup is fairly well recognized as the "Swiss Army knife" of the photo industry by those in the know. Small yet powerful and useful.

But there is lots of other advice to sort through before you can make your decision on what to take. And whatever you take, enjoy your trip.

JimGray Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico

I would like to see actual empirical data on people's ability to tell the difference between top-of-the-line and less expensive third-party lenses. Maybe you have seen such data. What I am about to tell is not about an OEM lens vs. a third-party lens. Rather it is about the Sony G master lens vs. an ordinary Sony lens. A few years ago my wife and I were on a brief photo tour in Prague. My wife was shooting with a Sony A6000. The tour guide was also shooting a Sony Mirrorless camera. My wife was using a crop frame 55-210 Sony lens. The guide loaned her his 70-200 G master full-frame lens. My wife declared that the lens the guide loaned her was so much sharper and clearer that she wanted the lens. I was skeptical that she could see that much difference through the viewfinder of her camera. Even after looking through the viewfinder through each lens, I was not sure I could really see the difference She did shoot about a dozen shots with each lens. When we got home and looked at the two dozen shots on my 27-inch monitor the difference was clear. I should point out that my wife is not nearly as serious about photography as I am. I will say the 70-200 lens is a much larger and heavier lens than the 55-210.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That's why I'm not worried about my Sigma.
Then of course I have nothing to compare it to with my shots.
Not being a pixel peeper helps also.

Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

I just take my 7200,Nikon 70-200mm, Nikon 10-20mm for wide angle and Sigma 17-50mm for indoors works for me

Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA