pj81156 Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

My, my Festus. Aren’t we judgmental? Yes, it is only your opinion, but an opinion not based on knowing anything about me. In fact, I started taking and developing and printing photos when I was ten years old. My darkroom was my mother’s fruit cellar. I also had a darkroom for much of my adult life. For about 20 years now I have been shooting film and digital and I never leave home without a camera. I use my gear a lot—just last weekend on Tampa Bay, yesterday downtown St. Petersburg with both my DSLR and a film camera. I have countless prints, negatives and digital files. So, it does matter what I take. Almost all responders were kind, generous and tried to be helpful. None were judgmental like you. So, if you have any useful advice, I would be glad to hear from you.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I can attest after testing that there can be a very noticeable difference in both sharpness and especially contrast between garden variety and pro grade lenses from the same manufacturer, at least with the manufacturer I tested. You may not see it in the viewfinder, but you can certainly see it at 8x10 size. I recently tested 4 fuji lenses - 2 “consumer grade” and two red label pro grade lenses - 3 zooms and a prime, all wide open. The red label zoom (heavier, faster and more expensive) was not only sharper, but had better contrast, but the red label prime was in a league of its own, especially contrast. Now whether this is applicable to other manufacturers or not, I can’t say, and if you just exhibit low res JPEGs on the web, it may not be especially noticable.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I've use my Tamron 28-300 to Europe and Asia several times and find it covers me. It's light and compact. I now have a Canon R5 and had to replace it (as I had the old version of the Tamron 28-300, and Tamron sad it won't work, but newer on does) with a Canon 28-240.
PS I added a Canon 100-400 with a 2X extender a now with bot lenses cover 28 to 800.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

I take a 8-16, and a 16-300 - if I really think I might need it maybe an f1.8 something - but with the higher ISO’s now available I don’t often use it

Besperus Loc: Oregon

Olympus TG 6. Rugged water proof camera zoom built in. Close focus (dare I say the “M” word). Mono or color. They make a wider angle and tele add-on lenses. Pocketable. Batteries are small (good or bad). TG 5 had more megapixels and cheaper, maybe.
I’m partial sooooo.

Hip Coyote

I think, perhaps, people are posing the wrong question. It is not exactly what lens to take but what is the photographic environment going to be like and how can I be best prepared? I have asked the equipment question on this and another forum for a trip to Morocco. I have traveled quite a bit, including Safaris in Africa and the equipment needs were relatively simple for me to figure out...two cameras, covering a wide focal range, skip the tripods, and I was set...but I was a bit confused on Morocco. Thankfully, some thoughtful people assisted...the shooting environment was quite challenging and there were factors that I had not thought of...very close quarters in the medinas going from light to dark very quickly. People were very reluctant to have their photos taken or if they did, wanted money for their troubles. The money thing was a great heads up because I photographed some kids playing soccer in a square...and they demanded money. I was prepared, had some small coins and gladly gave them to the kids. It was a fun interchange.

The notion of using a phone as a more subtle way of taking photographs (which I love) was dispelled by people who actually had been there...Moroccans do not care what equipment you have...they have a reaction to being photographed. Armed with intelligent information from some folks, I preplanned having some saved custom settings for these situations and things went pretty smoothly. I think a travel camera would have been less effective there because of the conditions and very rapid presentation of photo ops. By the time a camera gets powered up and the electronic zoom gets to where you want it, the opportunity has passed. Could one muddle through? Yes.

I have been to the Holy Land and know, for a fact, that there are some photography related things that you need to know...Israel is not Greece. The wide diversity of religions and cultures demand attention. Muslims in the old city of Jerusalem do not like their photos taken. Orthodox Jews are not fond of it either as are some of the other sects of Jews. Photograph a soldier or check point and you may have a problem. I found that street photography was rich there and the middle of the road Israeli was cooperative. You will face very very low light in some of the churches and teeming crowds. I would set up an auto ISO preset for inside things such as the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. You need to go wide wide wide.

In Alasks, I would consider following some of the advice for Africa...some of which I have posted...using custom presets, two cameras, water protection, etc. You know you may need to go long, but what other conditions are you going to face? Weight restrictions on small planes? Who knows?

So, going from Europe to say, Alaska, is a very different environment. And I think a relevant to ask people about the environment...not just lenses. There are cultural issues, legal issues (certainly in Morocco) restrictions on photography, in some cases costs to bring in DSLR or "pro" equipment. It helps to be prepared.

In this month's PSA Magazine a fine photographer discusses photographing a Blue City...the equipment needs are certainly there, but he talks about using small chocolates to introduce himself to people before photographing...it is these kinds of things that are vital and fun, in my opinion.

I started the Travel Section on this site and it went nowhere because people on UHH simply cannot extricate themselves from the constant equipment / raw vs. jpeg chatter that often turns into arguments or one line snarky postings. So, I spend way more time elsewhere and am happier for it. But I wanted to add my 2 cents worth of thought on this topic in hopes that it helps in some way.

Happy shooting

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

You and so many people missed the whole point of the post.
The title was just the lead-in, a rhetorical question in this case.

Did y'all actually read the post?, or are simply answering the question in the title...

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I have responded to this earlier but will repeat in shorter notation, take one camera and one or two lenses. Take one lens from the mid 20's to about 250+. If you want take one long zoom lens.
B&H also carries straps with a steel cable in them so they can't steel your camera "cut and run". About $25.00.
All pack in a small camera bag.

User ID

Film vs plum sauce. Hardly a question, really, if youve ever tasted it. I tend to add a bit of heat to it but YMMV. If you like hoisin you will very likely like plum.

Natch likes both.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Had Hoisin, but not plum, that I know of.

William Loc: Mississippi

keep on trucking man

ATxGuy Loc: Houston

By now you have probably settled on your camera gear. Like you, I got all tangled up in the complications of taking too much gear. That stuff is nice for the pro who wants that one shot to sell and isn't concerned with the experience of being there. My solution was to go to the Nikon bridge cameras referred to as Coolpix. The "P" series is what I selected. Their difference is in how much magnification you seek without carrying numerous lenses. I selected one that magnifies 124 times. For example, on one trip I wanted a close up of a southern plantation from about 2 miles away. It had a statue in front of it. To my surprise when I saw what I had taken, there was a crow on top of it that was plainly seen. On another occasion, I took pics of the moon only to learn that on maximum magnification I could not take that pic since it was way to large for the pic space. I love wildlife and now I can pop a picture of a birds head a mile away and for a fraction of the cost of all those lenses. To simplify further, I dropped own my carrying case and went to a simple strap around my neck and hanging at hip height. Now when I want a quick picture, I just reach down a bring the camera to my eye. As I do I turn it on. Click. That's it. I have my picture and carry only an extra battery in my pocket. Simple. However knowing what I know now I would not chose a Coolpix P "X" with that much magnification. Too heavy and I do not like being your basic pack animal.

Settlit Loc: Baton Rouge LA

Wanting to travel light on my first trip to London last fall, I chose to take only a compact micro four-thirds camera. As I ambled around there for two wonderful weeks, I found to my surprise that I took almost every picture with my iPhone 13 Pro (see attached). My phone was always ready to grab any shot.

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Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

IMO. If you ask yourself "Why am i taking this trip?". "What do I want to see and remember?". If you know the capabilities of the equipment that you own, you will make the right choice.

Nortfish Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fla

IMO. If you ask yourself "Why am i taking this trip?". "What do I want to see and remember?". If you know the capabilities of the equipment that you own, you will make the right choice.