Which lens(es)? I'm going to SFO later this month for the first time in probably 50 yrs (wild guess) to see my niece and great niece, who just walked for the first time a week or so...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'm going to SFO later this month for the first time in probably 50 yrs (wild guess) to see my niece and great niece, who just walked for the first time a week or so ago. I want to only take my A99ii and maybe not more than 2 lenses (preferably one since I'm only taking a carry-on). I have a 24-105 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, 70-300 f/4.5-5.6(?), and the big gun, 150-600 (not considering that, though). I also have a 105 macro, but it's not practical for travel, IMO. I'm thinking the 24-105 and 70-200, but I'm wondering if the 24-105 would be enough. I can put the camera in crop mode to make it a 36-157, although I'd lose some MP. I just took the 24-105 to Jordan and Egypt last summer and seemed to get everything I needed, but I was gone 3 weeks and didn't want to (couldn't) carry anything else. I'll be in SFO roughly 5 days. In reality, as a tourist, would I need a flash for anything? The a99ii has a pretty high ISO range.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I like to travel light.
I only take my 18-200 (and a 50) when I go someplace.
I don't have to have various lenses to cover every possible contingency for every possible subject I might shoot. I shoot 98+% with the zoom.

If I had your gear I'd take the 24-105.
Seems like it worked well for your Jordan and Egypt trip.

But you know what you like to shoot.
I know what I like to shoot.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Longshadow wrote:

I like to travel light.
I only take my 18-200 (and a 50) when I go someplace.
I don't have to have various lenses to cover every possible contingency for every possible subject I might shoot. I shoot 98+% with the zoom.

If I had your gear I'd take the 24-105.
Seems like it worked well for your Jordan and Egypt trip.

But you know what you like to shoot.
I know what I like to shoot.

It did work, but I ended up having to get my camera repaired at a cost of over $800! Apparently the innards melted I kept getting overheat warnings and the camera would lock up after shooting about half dozen frames or so. My phone also have me a hot sign. Daytime temps were almost always above 100F. It took well over a month to get the camera fixed because parts weren't available in the US. It least now I have a relatively new camera for a fraction of a new one. New main board AND new shutter box (?) - I forgot what they called it.

User ID

planepics wrote:

It did work, but I ended up having to get my camer... (show quote)

If you do this very often, maybe you really need a camera with a cooling fan.

Mine was only $1400 which compares quite favorably to $800+ per meltdown for what youre currently usuing. Or just rent one for the weekend.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

planepics wrote:

It did work, but I ended up having to get my camer... (show quote)

Separate problem, nothing to do with lens selection, but <constant> shooting?

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I just played chauffeur for my wife's cousins to San Francisco so they could take phone photos of the city. Since I was driving, I didn't bring any equipment and actually used my phone for the first time as my primary camera. We took them up via 19th Ave to Golden Gate Park and the Academy of Science, etc., the Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge and back through to the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. Even at the Marin headlands, I wouldn't imagine needing a long focal length. Possibly to shoot Alcatraz, but you are pretty close to it from the Wharf.

That said, when I am in the city shooting, I go wider than longer. Usually 16-35mm and 24-105 are my choices. When I have taken another lens in my pack, it's a TSe. As others have said, your shooting style will be the deciding factor.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

My niece and her husband (from England) live about 2 blocks from Golden Gate Park. Would either Go City or City Pass be a worthwhile investment? They both work M-F so I'd have most of the days free (3/27-4/1) although I think one of them works from home. I can get into the Discovery Center (?) with my EAA membership card...sounds like the Science Center in STL..not sure if it would be SFO-enough though (like Alcatraz, etc.) My niece included a link in one of her e-mails for a bunch of free walking tours that sound pretty neat. I don't own anything wider than 24...I'd have to get one used now days because everything current is mirrorless.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

For traveling a zoom is very convenient and although I do not know what you are going or plan on shooting but I would say that your 24-105 should serve you well. After so many years traveling with my camera and lenses I have come to the conclusion that I would have been better off with only one lens, at the most two of them. Steve McCurry has traveled the world many times on assignment with only two lenses and I do not know now but one of his favorite was a 50mm lens.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

24-105

MrPhotog

If going light is your prime consideration, just take the 24-105 and a few memory cards.

Forget about switching to APS-C mode. You can crop later on and achieve the same results, effectively using the same patch of pixels.

I like to pack a very small electronic flash. I have an old one that runs on two AA batteries. It could fit in a shirt pocket, but I have a Wein Safe Sync hot shoe adapter on it, and that makes it too big for my shirt. It is useful for fill flash in strong sunlight as well as shots in very dark areas.

kufengler Loc: Meridian, Idaho 83646

I would take my 18-150mm on my full frame Mirrorless R series camera. It's quite light and small.
Also my Galaxy, mobile phone & point and shoot Nikon Coolpix S9700.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'll have to think about the flash...it's pretty bulky. My only other option for a camera (besides my phone) is to go back to my 12 MP Lumix FZ-200 that I bought for a trip to Israel in 2016. It's nice that it goes from 25-600 natively, plus digital, but it feels too small in my hands and the f/stop is limited to f/8. I've gotten some wall-hangars - Dome of the Rock - and some really crappy shots as well. One thing it has going for is is it's a lot lighter. Any really iconic stuff to see that I can get to using public transportation (likely my only option on weekdays)?

kcooke Loc: Alabama

The 24-105 f2.8 is all you need for the described trip.

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

Plane pics, I think the 24-105 f/2.8 would be your best choice.

Also the San Francisco of today is NOT the same San Francisco of 20 years ago much less 50 years ago.

If you plan to cross the bridges, check with the rental car agency about getting a "Fast pass", which will assist you when driving over the bridges and on any toll lanes on the freeways. There are no toll booths now and you will be mailed a "Ticket" for at least $28.00 for each infraction. With the Fast Pass the charges are much lower, the charges might impact your home state drivers license renewal if you ignore them.

The Fast Pass used in the Los Angeles area are different than the Fast Pass used in the San Francisco Bay Area.

If you are not leaving the city no problem, but I suspect you will want to see more than San Francisco.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'll be staying with my niece and nephew-in-law at their condo or townhouse or whatever it is about 2 blocks from Golden Gate Park. They both work (I think one from home). I will most likely be taking public transit everywhere I need to go, since they said it's very convenient - there's a stop near where they live. I was originally thinking of going later in the summer and driving, but my brother said, even though street parking is available, it's hard to find. I won't be renting a car. My nephew-in-law will probably drive me one way to/from the airport and I'd take a bus/train the other way, but it's yet to be determined. My flight gets in justa after 5 PM and my return flight leaves at (yuk) midnight. I guess that's not bad considering my flight back from Cairo left at like 3:30 AM! Thinking about either City Pass or Go City. I e-mailed my niece about it, but she hasn't returned a reply. I think there are different options for one of them. Is there anything I can't (shouldn't) miss (Alcatraz, that twisty narrow street, the colored row-houses, etc.)?