genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

On my way to Paris and then to Normandy next week. Don't want to travel heavy. Canon 80D. Which lenses do you recommend? Canon EF 50mm 1.8, Canon EF-s 10-18, EF 24-105, or Ef-s 18-135? Initial inclination is to take the 50 and the 18-135.

Thanks for your input.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I would go with your initial inclination. Have a great trip.

JRD3 Loc: Richmond, VA

I think you are correct. I took similar with me to England and found I didn't use the prime. Both locations are special. Enjoy the trip

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Agree. Enjoy

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Having just been there in the Spring, I think your 18-135 is the best bet, which will be a great all around choice. Streets in Paris are by an large, very narrow. I had a Fuji X-T20, and used the 18-55 95% of the time. Other than the grand boulevards, I had to resort to shooting diagonally across an intersection to get an entire building.

Normandy, I assume you are going to the US Cemetery at Omaha Beach? You'll want wide angle and the ability to shoot a panorama of the grave markers. If you're not on a tour, make sure you go to Pont du Hoc.

Where, may I ask, are you staying in Paris? Also, watch for pickpockets, I have 2 friends who had cameras over their shoulders, looked down, and the lens had been removed.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Renting apt in Saint-Germaine area. Thanks for the suggestions and we will be careful of the pickpockets. I thought I might need a wide angle so I’ll probably take it too! At least I’m not thinking about the 100-400!

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Just got back from 4 weeks in Paris and the countryside north of Toulouse, visiting friends. I brought my 16-35mm 2.8, 24-105mm 4.0 and a 50mm 1.4. Used the 16-35 in churches and interiors... 24-105 for everything else. Never had a need to mount the 50mm. I could have brought a TSe lens, but decided not carrying the weight everyday was a good tradeoff for not using it.

Only once or twice did I feel I wanted a longer length. But happy the 70-200 didn't make the trip. I was always conscious of pick pockets and the lens theft scam in the city, using a PacSafe backpack and the OpTech slash resistant sling while shooting worked well for me.


We stayed in the Marais and it was absolutely wonderful. If you are planning on using the transit system for a week, there is a permanent card you can purchase and recharge on a weekly or monthly basis. The Navigo card allows unlimited passage in all 5 zones of Paris, from the airports to Versailles and all metros, buses and trains. Bring a small 1.8" square passport type photo (check about the size), pay 5 euros for a permanent card and about 22 euros for a weekly fee. Weekly is good from each Monday to Sunday, purchasing for the current week Monday through Thursday. Buying after that charges for the next week. Some places will try to tell you it isn't available to visitors, but that is not true. We purchased ours at the train ticket office at CGD airport upon arrival and used it immediately to get to Paris on the RER B... usually a 12-14 euro fee by itself. Once you buy it, you can use it whenever you recharge it, even years later.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I think that the 18-135mm is a good first choice. But 18mm on an APS-C camera is not super wide (would be 27mm on a full frame), and there will be situations in both locations where you wish you had a wider lens. So I would take the 10-18mm and leave the 50mm prime at home.

I am currently working in Germany, but just took a five-day side trip to Vilnius. I took two lenses for my full-frame camera: a 24-105mm and a 18mm prime for some architecture shots. This really covered all my needs.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I would try and get just a little wider if you can. European Cities and Villages tend to have narrower, twistier, and more historic streets. So if you're happy with the 50mm setting on the 18-135 I think I would ditch the 50 and take the 10-18.

sinderone

i just returned from a trip down the Danube. I took my 18-200, 35 1.8 and my new 10-20. I use a Nikon D7100 which is dx. I never used the 35, and used the 18-200 very little. To my surprise, I found that the 10-20 did almost everything that I wanted. I bought it specifically for this trip and was very happy I did. The results were great. Take your 18-135 and your 10-18 and you’ll be fully covered. Enjoy the trip.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Perfect selection!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

EF-s 10-18 and Ef-s 18-135.
The 10mm WA capability will definitely be needed. On your crop sensor 18mm is a 29mm WA and there are tight spaces where that just does not cover it.
10mm is 16mm which is reasonably wide.
50 is covered by the 18-135mm. I would bet the 50mm would never be used if you took it.
Yes it is faster but inside a church it is like a 80mm lens, don't get much of the interior with that. The 10-18 has IS and makes up for the 50mm speed easily and brace yourself and you will get the better photo.

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

The 18-135 is really versatile. I have been to both places and that lens will serve you well. Enjoy your trip.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Out of your selection I'd take the 50mm, the 10-18 and the 24-105, the 18-135 is not my favorite of lenses, I've used my son's on my T4i and I don't like the feel, long and awkward to me, I would not go without my Canon 10-18 and my 17-70 Sigma.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I concur. the 50 and the 18-135.

Have a GREAT trip!!