Al Freeedman

Traverler 90712 is correct. All you will need are the two lenses he suggested; 24- 70 & 28-300.

Captain Al

RRS Loc: Not sure

I travel to Germany for a month at a time. In September I took my Canon 7DMKII with a kit lens (18-135) and it covered everything just fine. I like to also take a tripod for night shots but as I was carrying two large canvas prints rolled up in a tube I bought a small Manfrotto tripod in Germany for just under $100.00. I have traveled to Germany and England with a lot more gear, when I had weddings to shoot and it was a hassle. I don't shoot BIF or wildlife over there except for the wildlife that's up close during Ocktober Fest. It was so much more enjoyable this last trip traveling so light, I felt like a tourist but it was in the back of my mind, I don't have any back ups. Take lots of memory cards along with extra batteries and a cable release. I didn't want to stand out in the crowd and I sure didn't want to keep watch on a camera bag while I was shooting. What ever you do, have fun, shoot a lot and drink a beer for me.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

If I came across as "strutting my stuff", that was never my intent. I have been fortunate to go to the same hotel in Germany for almost 20 years (until 2010 because of work). It is in a small town within the city of Bad Godesberg - just south of Bonn. It is a tight knit community, everyone knows every one else and I see the same great people every year. I shoot hundreds of shots, put the results on a flash drive and give them to the hotel so that the people there can use them for their own personal use. It is the one large trip I make every year and something that I thoroughly enjoy. I just jumped into the FX world this year and do like the more sharpness of the FX lens.

I guess the real question that I should have asked is if I should take the (1) 7100/18-300 and the 750/24-70? or (2) the 750/24-70 & 28-300 or 70-200? The first would save me the effort of changing lenses and give more reach or would the second option be sufficient with the 200 or 300 FX reach?

I have had several people comment of the weight but it does seem to bother me, I generally take my camera bag to my room and then take only what I need for the day shoot on my person so having a little bit more would not bother me (assuming it fits into the bag).

Thank you all again for your comments.

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

Patriot, your travels are to be envied. I'm a fan of traveling light, mostly because of the security gestapo but take what pleases you and have a great time.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

As I mentioned on another post, I go to the same hotel for the entire stay (this year about two weeks) so I will not be lugging all the gear all over Germany. I will not be doing any wedding type shoots, just the parade, people in/out of the bar and the party celebration in the large dim lighted hall. Everybody there know me (I am like the token American) so looking like a tourist does now bother me. Some of these people have even visited my home here is the US as they were vacationing here-good stuff. We drink either Kolsch or Pils beer mostly were I go and eat Frikadelles, Spiegeleir, Reibekuchen, Schnitzel, Wurst usw.

Thank you for your reply!

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Thank you Londonfire

fjrwillie Loc: MA

A> The highlighted comment should be the deciding factor on which camera. If it were me I would take the 750. You bought it recently take advantage of it. You may have to "show quote" to see the hightlight
B> You make this trip every year, so if you choose wrong this time you will know what to bring next year
C> For myself, having traveled around this country on motorcycle I personally use a D7100 with a 16-85 lens. I used to borrow my daughters 55-200 and in the last 5 or so years used it for only one shot. I don't borrow it anymore. Our trips mainly involved National Parks and city/town captures.. For you that would be the 24-70 on the 750.

YMMV
Willie

RRS Loc: Not sure

I know, we stay in the same town and know almost everyone there. When word gets out that we are coming, the Amies are coming, people start to plan when and where we will be eating and the food is great! We too have had visits from the friends we have made over there. One lady that I met has really gone deep into Photography and even gone to a formal Photography school for a year and a half and is about to change her career. I like the weather better in September and October then during Karneval and every other year is Photokina. I stopped the wedding thing years ago and will never again do another one again unless it's in either England or Germany. LOL When I did carry more gear I too would only take what I needed for our day trips that sometimes turned into 2 or 3 days. This year was the first time I ever traveled so light and you know I got all the shots without any problems.

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

I went to Germany and all I brought is a D750 and 24-120 f4 lens. I recommend you bring the D750 with the 24-70 f2.8 and the 70-200 f2.8 and leave the rest at home, this will save you some weight. Add your flash and you will be okay.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Thanks for the come back, I agree that Sept/Oct are better weather-wise but Karneval is special to the people of this region and it comes during Jan-Mar time frame (it varies with when Lent comes). I went to Munich one year for Octoberfest but did now know anyone there so I did not go back. During the time I go, we have two parades (One for Bad Godesberg and one for Schweinheim), the large party in the Halle,Rosenmontag and probably 5 or 6 nights full of partying with bands and a whole lot of beer consumed (everything is within walking distance or cab so drinking does not cause concern, besides I like beer LOL). It is a nice hotel, you walk out of a side door in the hotel to an attached bar/restaurant so everything is convenient. Remember in Cheers when Norm would walk in the everyone would yell his name? That is how it is for me when they yell my name, really a great feeling!!

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Rob, thank you for the suggestion, think you are right although it would be nice to have the extra 100 of the 28-300 - I know I am giving up the 2.8 for the 3.5 but wouldn't the flash make up for that? I will change lenses in my room (out of the elements) so should work fine. I need that flash for the dark Hall pics, I used it last year for the 30-40' range and it did well.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

Listen to rognogono , if you bought all your other stuff the way your getting your advice now , you haven't learned
Anything , my opinion is this is just a joke . As any one with the gear you clam you have surly would have used it enough to know what to bring on a trip , it would only take me about a week of shooting with with your gear and I would know what to bring , that's if I was a compleat beginner . Good grief man it doesent cost a cent to shot a thousand pic on a couple camera cards . Get off your behind and get out and shoot a couple few thousand shots with your gear I guarantee you will know what to bring in a very very short time , I'm guessing you know how to use your cameras if not just put them in P mode program for Nikons . And click away

MtnMan Loc: ID

You don't need the 18-300. You can put the 28-300 on the D7100 and switch it to tye D750 if you wish.

You'll mostly use the 24-70.

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Bramboy, thank you for the input. I appreciate the help.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What I would take for what you describe: - travel light !

D7100 and Sigma 18-35 f1.8 for the more serious stuff ( crop and use pixel enlargement if necessary.)
Sony RX10 I, II, - (or III if you have the $$) - the I or II takes you to 24-200 2.8, the III, 24-600 2.4-4