tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

I was there 3 months ago(Oct 2018) by myself.
Cuzco is over 11,000 feet and can cause high altitude sickness; I took some medications, my oxygen level dropped below 90 but no high altitude symptoms.
I carried my D610(FF) with 24-85, a tripod for panoramic and remote for selfies; no need for long lens.
I bought the morning session ticket to MP and stayed till it closed at 5pm(nobody checks tickets on exit); it rained that afternoon.
If you have the chance, see Rainbow Mountain(Alt 17,000) last; it's a whole day trip and no easy to hike up.
Here is a link which you can view some of my pictures taken there:
https://www.slickpic.com/organizer/albums/TennyYoung/Trip-Peru-Equador-Panama

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I think the 18-135 will do most of the job. Would also consider either something for low-light like a 50/1.8 or even a Samyang 12/2 for wide shots. Although it is a manual focus lens, you can set it to a tad below infinity and use it a lot as a P&S outdoors much of the time. Check out a youtube by Bradzchef on the subject.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I didnt mean to infer that my D7100 plus 24-70 lens was too obvious because of crime (tho reading back I can see thats what I would have taken from it also). Particularly in Lima , using the D7100 occasionally resulted in people wanting to be paid and kids came up to me twice with their hands out for a photo.
On one hilarious occasion a small group of women wanted me to take their photo with a baby lamb they were passing off as a baby alpaca. My daughter was pretty fluent in Spanish and told them whats what. That resulted in them following us and we ended up paying them for the entertainment value. Closest we came to crime (that we were aware of), anywhere in South America.

I think big kit, for me anyway, sort of indicated I was more pro than just a tourist on holiday. Using me little LX3, even just as obviously, I was never asked for money even when I approached locals and asked to take a pic.

I dont know about Costa Rica but, Im sure in a tour group, if its anything like the countries we visited you will be safe with your kit. Having someone with the local lingo certainly takes a lot of the hassle away. Some of the areas we visited, when my daughter wasnt around, were certainly not as enjoyable as no one spoke English and my Spanish was virtually limited to only being able to buy agua con gas

rcarol

I've been to all of those places. You will have more use of the wide end of your lens than the telephoto end. Take the 18-135mm. The 24-105mm is designed for a FF camera and is heavy in comparison to the 18-135mm. And on the 70D your field of view from the 24-105mm at the 24 mm end will be the equivalent of a 38mm lens on a FF camera.

rcarol

I've already commented on your lens dilemma but I did want to encourage you to tip any Peruvian that you ASK to pose for a photo. The local currency is the sole and one sole is worth 30 cents. Typically, most will be happy with 1 sole to pose and a sole goes a long way to a Peruvian and will set you back 30 cents. Peruvians have no retirement policy so after they are no longer able to work they are on their own and often supplement their income by posing for tourists or selling goods on the open streets.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Consider the Tammy 18-400. Gives you effectively abt 30 - 560. That covers a lot of territory.

was_a_guru

Thanks. That's good to know. Not as concerned now.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Have no idea who you are addressing. Use "Quote Reply" to include post you are responding to.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

18-135 most useful lens EVER!

was_a_guru

Sorry. It was TonyP that I was replying to.

drogers

Hello Paul,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful input to these great discussions. I am in a similar situation with questions about travel lenses. I have a Canon 77d camera and I mostly use a 15-85mm lens for travel. I don't want to give up the 15mm of my current lens but I am looking for a second lens that will give me some additional zoom. Someone recommended the Canon 55-250mm lens but I am very curious about the
Sigma and Tamron options you mentioned. Sounds like you have a positive opinion of those lenses. I don't think I would need more that 300mm max zoom. I don't know if there is a significant drop in IQ in going from a 200mm to 300mm max zoom lens. I will continue to use my 15-85mm for wider shots. Thank you again for your valued input.
Have a good one!
Daryl
Eagan, MN

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Yes, very useful focal range.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I leave the Sigma 18-300 on my 80D most of the time. It has IQ less than Canon L lenses, but more than adequate for me. I do have a Tokina 11-20 Pro f/2.8 for those times I really need wider.

drogers

Sounds like two good choices.
Thank you for your reply!

was_a_guru

I have the Tamron 18-400 on my Nikon D7500. In a different thread I mentioned that I did a very controlled test of the Tamron vs my Nikon 18-50 and 70-300 kit lenses, at 18, 35, 50, 70, 100, 200, & 300 mm. Comparing side to side 8x12 prints (Costco) at each fl they were virtually indistinguishable.

That lens is on my camera 98% of the time. The other 2% I use my two legacy (film) prime lenses, 35 mm f/1:2.5 & 50 mm f/1.8 (both in manual mode). Great for low light situations.