Lenses for travel

[Rich Gibson]

There may be a better forum for this, but I couldn't find one. The wife and I are traveling to Bavaria in mid-May. Generally I take my (Nikon) 17-35, 28-70 and 70-300 VR on our trips to Europe. A long time ago on some advice I took a 200mm as my longest lens. I missed so many long shots of Tuscan hilltop towns and Roman church details. The trusty 70-300 has proven a solid companion but I purchased an 80-400 VR last fall for a bit more reach. I know it's a bit slow but the things I shoot (architecture, nature) don't move and it has a reputation for being really sharp.

I was considering taking it instead of the 70-300 for our trip to southern Germany. Has anyone traveled there and what do you think about the idea? It weighs 13 oz more so there is a small weight penalty. I have the Think Tank Retrospective 30 and carry a D90 and D700 with the three lenses I mentioned above so everything goes along for the ride where ever we go.

Thanks, Rich

[stephges]

I'm very interested in the replies you get. I'm traveling to Europe for 17 days in May (Bavaria being one of the places we will visit) and I was planning on taking my Tamron 17-50/2.8, Canon 70-200/4L and Canon 50/1.8. Since we'll be visiting 4 countries so I want to limit how much gear I have to carry.

That's interesting what you say about needing more than 200mm... I figured that would be plenty! Are you shooting with a FF or crop camera? I might toss my teleconverter in my camera bag just in case (I refuse to lug around my Canon 400/5.6L)! :-)

[peeker]

I traveled for 10 days in Rome and parts of Italy just over a year ago. I took over 8000 images in those 10 days (of course some being bracketed of the same image). At that time, I didn't have my 5dMark II, I only carried a Canon 50d and 20d, both of which only have a max, usable ISO of no more that 2000. I carried a 10-22mm f3.5-4.5, 24-105mm f4, 50mm f1.4, and a 70-200mm f2/8 with a 1.4x telecoverter.

Although it would have been nice for a bit more reach, that would have only affected less than 5% of my images and not worth any more extra weight. What I would seriously consider on any future trips is how to capture images in extremely low light (churches, buildings, night shots, etc).

Regardless of the equipment, I was able to get some amazing images with what I had, used Aperture, and the Nik Software suite to work on them and am very pleased with the results.

I have been to Bavaria a few times before as a company I worked for had it's mother company in Burghausen Germany. This was the pre digital days and I managed to get some amazing shots with a 50mm and a 70-300mm lens. Best part about it was I had to think about the technical aspects of the shot, take it and than see it when the film was developed when I got home.

Use what you have and work within the technology rather than being a pack mule for equipment you might / might not use much. I'm sure you have seen it, although there are some great photographer in this thread with sound advice as well...
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...my-camera.html

Good luck

[Rich Gibson]

Originally Posted by stephges

I'm very interested in the replies you get. I'm traveling to Europe for 17 days in May (Bavaria being one of the places we will visit) and I was planning on taking my Tamron 17-50/2.8, Canon 70-200/4L and Canon 50/1.8. Since we'll be visiting 4 countries so I want to limit how much gear I have to carry.

That's interesting what you say about needing more than 200mm... I figured that would be plenty! Are you shooting with a FF or crop camera? I might toss my teleconverter in my camera bag just in case (I refuse to lug around my Canon 400/5.6L)! :-)

What a coincidence Stephanie; we're leaving 17 May as well! Yes, Rome was one of the cities which I would have liked to have 300 or more. It all depends on your shooting preferences. I enjoy architectural photography (cathedrals, castles, ruins, museums, towns, etc.) I especially love shooting those out of sight details which make buildings so interesting. I don't think three lenses are excessive. (My wife once heard a pro tell me that three lenses was all I needed and every trip she would remind me what Yves said!)Our last two trips overseas three lenses and two bodies worked fine.

Canterbury Cathedral (lying on my back!)


This is the same shot but with the 70-300


This is what I mean about the out of the way shots-Notre Dame in Paris


I wondered if anyone who has shot in Bavaria thinks there are similar opportunities for shooting there.

Thanks, both of you. Rich

[crazeazn]

i would take a wide, all purpose, and a fast prime.

[Tsladaritz]

Ditto what Crazeazn said.

Going to Germany I took the bare minimum since we mostly walk everywhere if we can. So I took my 17-35mm tamron, one of my nikon zooms, and my nikon 35mm for low light.

[Rich Gibson]

Thanks. The wife and I have traveled to Europe about every year since 1994. My question wasn't which lenses to take. I take three zooms: wide, medium and long. My question was are there sufficient opportunities to warrant taking the (heavier) 80-400 over the 70-300?

Rich