Travel Setup for FF

[yanguei]

I'm traveling to Tokyo tonight and I'm bringing my Canon 16-35 II, Sigma 50mm f1.4, Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS and a Nissin 822MkII. That will cover all my needs.

Japan is a nice and safe place to bring all the gears. When I went to Japan, the backflip 400W is fully packed
but in Europe, I tends to be discreet. Just a billingham bag.

 

[yanguei]

I bought the belt and harness system from lowepro. I'm really liking it when I go events. It's so much better than my lowepro backpack. With my flash and stuff all accessible to me in an instant and a nice lens changer lens case for the 70-200L II, lens can be changed and kept very easily and conveniently. Expensive system but very well worth the investment!

How about on vacation? Do you use the belt and harness system? Will it be too loud?

 

[TWmilkteaTW]

Everyone know or can tell a billingham bag is not a cheap bag. And how to be discreet if you're holding a big camera with red ring.
Just be careful and watch your back. Other basic safety rules apply - dosent matter where you are.

 

[yanguei]

I dont own any tripod and flash.
If i were you. I will bring either the 17-40 and 24-105 or drop 1 of them and bring along the 70-200.
(If you know "for sure" you wont be using it and dont mind taking the "risk"..you might want to keep the 70-200 at home since its very heavy..or.. keep it in the hotel)

I cannot live without flash. My wife is my picture 50% of the time. need flash against back sunlight. need flash to brighten her when slow exposing low light/night background. Tried HDR, does not work so well. Maybe my skill. So I always travel with my flash.

Inside city, I will leave the 70-200 in the hotel. Outside city, you still right, the usage will be low. perhaps 10% but just that I want those 10% shots as well

 

[TWmilkteaTW]

I cannot live without flash. My wife is my picture 50% of the time. need flash against back sunlight. need flash to brighten her when slow exposing low light/night background. Tried HDR, does not work so well. Maybe my skill. So I always travel with my flash.

Inside city, I will leave the 70-200 in the hotel. Outside city, you still right, the usage will be low. perhaps 10% but just that I want those 10% shots as well

If that's the case. Then just bring it along then. looks like you have decide.
Can put in the safe or luggage bag in the hotel if you dont need it anyway..just need to make sure you dont leave it behind when you're checking out. :bsmilie:

 

[SilverPine]

Yeah definitely helpful. I just a beginner. Now exploring filters. but I don't think I am able to bring 2 bodies with me.

BTW, do you bring all these all the time or will leave some in hotel depending on the location of the day?

I bring two camera bags when travel, a backpack and a small Canon EOS bag. Very depend on the program of travel the following day, I will pack what I need for the day into suitable camera bag and the remaining of the gears lock in the hotel room's safety box. Very important to talk with your travel guide if you are in package tour on the details of the journey. For tripod if I know in advance I need it for the day, I just bring along and store it in the bus and bring it down just when you need it.

 

[neubdetat]

Between 16-35 and 24-70, which one you use more?

Ok I need to go into more details.

On my trip to Bali last July I brought my 12-24, 24-70 and 70-200.

24-70 used 95% of the time. Only time I used 70-200 was at one cultural show.

On my trip to London/Germany last September I didn't have a 16-35 yet.

I brought my 12-24 + 24-70 + 70-200.

70-200 never saw use at all. 12-24 only used twice.

On my next trip to France/Germany/Czech Republic last December I brought the same setup.

Once again, 24-70 saw the most use, everything else ended up underutilised.

On my next trip to Spain last June I brought 16-35 and 24-70.

Only time I craved my 70-200 was when I went to a Birds of Prey show. Even then I made do as the birds were flying in very close.

In regards to between 16-35 and 24-70, once again it all depended on what I was doing.

16-35 was used for Cathedrals, Palace interiors.

24-70 was used for everything else (family shots, panoramas etc).

So as the adage goes, a time and a place for everything. I don't know what type of photos you take, so ymmv.

 

[ManWearPants]

IMO, it is risky with a 24 or 35mm with 70-200. Based on your setup, I would pair the 17-40 with the 70-200. I have brought TS-E 24mm and 35/1.4 on trips before and found them restrictive. I would think these primes are more suited if you are very familiar with where you are going or have a lot of time on hand to find the right perspective, unobstructed views, etc.

I have brought the 70-200/2.8 once and only used it less than 10% and never brought it on a trip anymore. It is obtrusive when pointing at a stranger, heavy and bulky on a trip. I find your 24-105 to be more useful.

My 1 lens travel kit is now 24-85mm and 2 lenses travel kit is 17-35/2.8 and 85/1.4. I forego on longer focal length for comfort. In fact my next trip I will try out the 40/2.8 pancake and 24mm IS. Travel light is more fun for my aging bag of bones.

 

[tecnica]

Yes. Weight is the mainly consideration. I just did a 2 weeks France. 5D3, 17-40, 24-105, 50 1.8, 600EX-RT in a billingham. Bag slinged across right shoulder, camera slanged across left shoulder. About balance left and right to manage about 8 hrs a day. I don't think I can go beyond that weight. Just that 70-200 is so sharp and at time I missed the reach. So was thinking of carrying 70-200 with a prime.

Opps sorry, the one you have is the 17-40L.

I think it will be quite safe with this combo as you can use the UWA for landscapes, interior of buildings, then a 50mm for walkabout and portrait, lastly the 70-200L for those 'must have tele zoom' moments.

 

[yanguei]

Thanks for all the great inputs and suggestions. I guess the conclusion is to bring a few glass and load camera + 2 lens into the bag accordingly to the day places of visit. So I guess I will bring these
1. Always in bag : 5D3, 24-105 and flash.
+ one of the flowing
a. 17-40 for wide.
b. 70-200 for cultural show. Theme park. Far landscape
c. a prime for very low light like inside a cellar. I yet to own a prime but looking for one now. that is another story.

And yes. tripod on the bus. what a great idea. wonder whether it is safe to leave a lens on the bus...

 

[tecnica]

The usage of my 70-200L during my holidays is really very little. But when I need the reach, then there is no substitute for the long zoom.

For example my HK trip, I used the 70-200L to good effect for the Disneyland indoor performance. Then moving to my chiangmai trip, the experience at the wildlife conservatory would have been less than stellar, if not for my trusty 70-200L.

Firstly, the reach is irreplaceable. Even if you can crop to go closer, you still cannot easily replicate the background compression and other results unique to long zooms. Also, I can also use the tele lens for bokehlicious portraits. Lastly, it is the lens performance, the 70-200L is sure to deliver when in good hands. With such fast focusing and high image quality, this lens is a delight to use.

These are the few reasons why I still lug my 70-200L along for holidays even though it sees little action.

 

[heheapa]

For normal trip:
Panasonic GX1 + 14mm Pan Cake or Canon FF + 24-70L / 35L + 15mm Fisheye + some filters, eg. CPL/ND/GND
Bring more flash cards and a tablet (i prefer a 7" Nexus 7 than an ipad here) so that you can save the weight from a heavy laptop.
and an iphone for instagram.

All the setting can be in a rather compact sling bag. I can walk more distance, less sweeting, enjoy more food and talk more to the people with above setup.

 

[atvinyl]

I agree with most. I hardly find the need to use 70-200 ever, let alone travel. Despite reacquiring my entire system from scratch early this year (due to loss of everything to theft years ago) can u believe my 70-200 is still a virgin even after 6,000 shots?

When I travel I carry zeiss 21mm, nikkor 50 f1.4 and 105 mikro nikkor. And a travel gitzo tripod. That's it. Occasionally I substitute 16-35 f/4 VR for the 105.

 

[biskandar]

Last time i used only one prime 24mm for my travelling lens, so far so good, quite lite, easy to carry, no need to hesitate change the lens, and enjoy the trip ;-)

 

[esoeij]

My typical FF gear when I travel without my kids is a 5D body, 20mm UWA, 35 or 50mm prime, 90mm or 100mm prime and 270EX. My back-up camera is now a RX-100. This is about as heavy as I want to carry. Can't imagine packing in a 70-200mm f2.8...faintzzz. If I travel with my kids, I used to carry m4/3 but I've already sold the set-up. For my next trip it will just be the Sony RX-100!

 

[linkk]

when travel with family i just bring a standard zoom lens e.g 24-105, most of the photos i took are scenery, group shots and environmental portraits so a 70-200 is of no use to me.

 

[yanguei]

Last time i used only one prime 24mm for my travelling lens, so far so good, quite lite, easy to carry, no need to hesitate change the lens, and enjoy the trip ;-)

How is the depth of field for the 24mm from F1.2 to F2? Like family with some interesting items just behind them? I was thinking of a prime for low light like inside a church and castle.

 

[yanguei]

And a travel gitzo tripod. That's it. Occasionally I substitute 16-35 f/4 VR for the 105.

May I know which model is that?

 

[TWmilkteaTW]

As much as possible.. With a FF i try not to carry more than 3 lenses. So usually its 3 or 2. Sometimes just 1. Depending on where i go, mood and how much i wish to carry.
The 24-70 is like a must have for me. :bsmilie:

 

[giantcanopy]

How is the depth of field for the 24mm from F1.2 to F2? Like family with some interesting items just behind them? I was thinking of a prime for low light like inside a church and castle.

I am not sure if there is a 24mm with f1.2

If you are thinking of taking shots with recognizable notable background ( especially so if going overseas and you want to show that you have been to certain attractions ) you might want to step down aperture to smaller sizes such as f8 or more. There is a higher rate of missed focus when taking group photos with larger apertures as well.

In indoor areas where tripod or flash photography is not permitted, large aperture lenses may be a great help. While this comes at the expense of a thinner depth of field, a wider focal length may make the overall shot a little less obvious.

Ryan