Travelling lenses advise

[yf_chua]

o ya i have a d700 + 24-70f2.8, i must say the weight is a monster, incidentely i will b going for a europe tour too in june,
looking around for a light gears to bring.... bridge camera is a good choice

 

[eblim]

Calvin

If I were going on an extended trip to Europe or anywhere outside my own country with my D 700 all I would use will be my Tamron 28-300 VR and the Nikon 60mm macro and SB 800. Carrying too much stuff is not practical and not always safe.

eb

 

[calvin]

Hi Calvin, you did not mention which part of Europe (northern Europe, south, eastern), and did not mention what you are likely to shoot (mountain scenery in Switzerland, or cityscapes, museums (like in Paris, Barcelona, Rome).

Safety first: in some European cities, please exercise caution and be very alert. Carrying expensive equipment is OK provided you are careful and are travelling with companions and can keep a lookout for each other. I once had my camera bag snatched off in Milan, Italy. Some friends too have lost their photo equipment to snatch thieves. Now with the safety note out of the way, the lens choice very much depends on what you're likely to shoot.

The 24-70/2.8 will likely be most useful for most shots. I won't bother to bring the 50/1.4 since you can always dial up the ISO and the D700 handles high ISO well (I shoot with a D3). The 70-200/2.8 will let you get details when you are too far from subjects, e.g. like shooting performances from further back in a crowd. If you expect to shoot wide sceneries, or shooting within tight quarters, then the 20/2.8 prime is handy (I carry the 14-24/2.8 but this is a heavy lens). This combi is good when you want max versatility and have to shoot 'on the run'.

On trips when I can shoot at a more leisurely pace, I bring only 3 prime lenses (the CarlZeiss ZF25/2.8, ZF50/2.0, ZF100/2.0). I also always bring a Canon Powershot G10 as and backup and for those times when I don't wish to bring out a 'big' camera especially to places I consider 'unsafe'.

Hope this helps.
Fred

Hi sf_kang et all,

thanks for your advises. I will be going only to Italy for 3 weeks and hope to cover the major cities and also the tuscany countryside. So it will be a mixture of buildings and scenary. Always wanted a wide angle as it gives a different perspective as to the normal zoom but then I think the 24-70 range will probably be used most of the time so now weighing the options.

I do not really mind the weight as I'm used to carry my D70, 18-70mm, 70-200mm, 50mm, SB-800 and my manfrotto 190Pro-B for most of my overseas trips. Now since the upgrade to D700 wanted to get one lense either the wide angle or normal zoom to replace my current 18-70mm which will be a waste on the D700. For this trip I will most likely keep the tripod and 70-200mm at home to reduce the weight.

Eventually I do want to add to my collection 14-24 or 20mm (for UWA) and 24-70mm, since currently I have only the budget for 1 lense that is why aiming to purchase either one of it.

Thanks

Calvin

 

[jaanhua]

many advise me previously, for holiday, get 18-200mm nikon VR. great wide and zoom lens. Plus u wont miss any shots when u changing lens or get dust or dirt into ur camera when u outside. together with 50mm 1.4 should be enough for low light photograph eg. museum or alike. Just my opinion, others may hav different ideas.

Hav fun.

 

[yyD70S]

Depending on how high a priority Tuscany landscapes be in your mind, a telephoto zoom do come in handy.

Hi sf_kang et all,

thanks for your advises. I will be going only to Italy for 3 weeks and hope to cover the major cities and also the tuscany countryside.

For this trip I will most likely keep the tripod and 70-200mm at home to reduce the weight.

 

[pat33]

thanks for your advises. I will be going only to Italy for 3 weeks and hope to cover the major cities and also the tuscany countryside. So it will be a mixture of buildings and scenary.


Calvin

Hi Calvin, my wife and I did a 3 weeks free and easy trip to italy as well last year covering rome, florence, pisa, sienna, venice and milan. Photography aside if you need any suggestions for your travels just drop me a PM.

 

[ricardsonwilliams]

I went to Cambodia last month its a great place! I use most of time 17-55 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8, so for europe 24-70 and 70-200 will be good option..


regards,
Ricardson

 

[agape01]

For me, I'll just bring the 3 legends with TCs.

 

[Alpc]

Well... I thot I could get away with not having the longer zoom of 70-300mm in my last trip - to Spain, and well, there were shots that got away as I did not have the length, while another person got it, as he was carrying lots of lens...

Which is why I bought the 18-200mm lens to be my travelling lens along with the Tokina 12-24mm lens. Boy, I am glad I had it for this (NZ) trip as I got some good shots of the sea lions without getting too near them.

Yes, the lens may not be a very good lens, but it does serve it's purpose as a travelling lens.

 

[TheChef]

Well... I thot I could get away with not having the longer zoom of 70-300mm in my last trip - to Spain, and well, there were shots that got away as I did not have the length, while another person got it, as he was carrying lots of lens...

Which is why I bought the 18-200mm lens to be my travelling lens along with the Tokina 12-24mm lens. Boy, I am glad I had it for this (NZ) trip as I got some good shots of the sea lions without getting too near them.

Yes, the lens may not be a very good lens, but it does serve it's purpose as a travelling lens.

I agree with you that the best travel lens may not necessarily be the best lens in terms of IQ. I urge the rest to also try out the Nikkor 16-85mm as a travel lens before committing on a travel lens. Although the reach is much lesser, IQ is superb. :thumbsup:

 

[coolsigg]

If it's me I'll get the 24-70mm only. Especially if going with anyone. Coz no one is going to wait for me to take pictures, let alone changing of lens. If going alone and plenty of time, can consider bringing the 50mm. However, I still felt that is insecure when changing lens, as there might be people ard targeting you! =P

agree with you...I recently went on a family holiday to Korea, brought D700/24-70/50F1.8...end up no time to change lens at all...used 24-70 all the way...

 

[TheChef]

agree with you...I recently went on a family holiday to Korea, brought D700/24-70/50F1.8...end up no time to change lens at all...used 24-70 all the way...

I wonder whether any bros here got mugged when changing lenses. :dunno: I agree that there is very little time to change lenses and I usually shoot with one walkabout lens and bring at most one more depending on whether I feel like shooting landscape or candid street shots.

 

[coolsigg]

Which is why I bought the 18-200mm lens to be my travelling lens along with the Tokina 12-24mm lens. Boy, I am glad I had it for this (NZ) trip as I got some good shots of the sea lions without getting too near them.

Yes, the lens may not be a very good lens, but it does serve it's purpose as a travelling lens.

I agree with you that the best travel lens may not necessarily be the best lens in terms of IQ. I urge the rest to also try out the Nikkor 16-85mm as a travel lens before committing on a travel lens. Although the reach is much lesser, IQ is superb. :thumbsup:

I dun tink TS wan to use DX lenses on D700, especially when travelling to Europe whereby one might want to get as much resolution as possible...I personally wouldn't...

I could be wrong though...

 

[TheChef]

I dun tink TS wan to use DX lenses on D700, especially when travelling to Europe whereby one might want to get as much resolution as possible...I personally wouldn't...

I could be wrong though...

I am quite sure that the TS will regret having to carry the weight of the FX camera, 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses, especially if there is a lot of walking. Travel light, use a DX camera. This is the point that I am trying to drive across.

 

[Vulpix0r]

This is the main reason why I go with small midrange DSLRs. I could get a D300, but after handholding it with a 16-85mm, I decided a D90 is better for me. Still not sure if I should get 18-200mm or a 16-85/70-300VR combo...

 

[coolsigg]

I am quite sure that the TS will regret having to carry the weight of the FX camera, 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses, especially if there is a lot of walking. Travel light, use a DX camera. This is the point that I am trying to drive across.

ya, I think d700/24-70/70-200 is a confirmed killer combo...that's y i left out my 70-200 on my recent trip and invested in a CF tripod...

 

[pat33]

This is a comprehensive easy to use on line travel guide for those who are planning trips.

Online Schmap Guides

 

[D100S]

I remember carrying my d300, 24-70, 70-200, sb800 around KL with my family... ended with a real bad fever and pain. My poor wife and 3 kids had to nurse me the whole day in the hotel room. Luckily i did not drive there. Managed to shrug it off and enjoyed the last day there with my cam in the hotel safe! Used my wife's p&s.
Nowadays, I carry my new Fuji S100FS with me on my family travels. If I drive, I will bring my d700 and the works, but will only cary it along when I really have to use it. Otherwise, my kids would look just as lovely with P&S!
But then again, if its going to be further and more scenic, d700 with 24-70 and probably my 50/1.4 would do, mb-d10 off of course! Went to Perth with the set up....

 

[Cursor]

Base on what TS had or intended to get, I think if he want to travel light, just take a 20mm + a 50mm, then a go get/rent a light weight (cheap) zoom like sigma 70-300 (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3345&navigator=3) as his 70-200 is abit to heavy for travel or even hang around the neck for long period.
If he want more flexiblity in zoom, I will still suggest he get a 17-35 f2.8, or 14-24 f2.8 to replace then 20mm.
It is going to be travel photos, there is no harm to shoot wider and include more of the surrounding.... Else if everything zoom in and crop tight, then you can't even tell from the photos where it is taken.
Another option, get a good P&S like LX3 or etc to cover the wide to Mid tele, then your D700 with 70-200 to just cover the tele ends. So you only need to draw out your gear when necessary. Don't even need to bother about changing lens. And at times when you just want to go for a short strolls around the hotel, you also need not bring the D700 setup also.

 

[szeping]

I would prefer Combi 2.

Sorry if I have missed out, but will you consider the lighter Tamron 28-75?

OT time...
I have been staying in Italy for close to 6 months few years back, and had travelled to most major cities (except south Naples and Sicily Island). It's best to just enjoy the scenery, without taking much hassle to change lens and worry about this and that. I was just using a PnS with 3x optical zoom, and wasn't regret for missing <10% of the shots because of shorter reach.
And suggest you to visit Cinque Terre, the 5 fishing villages at north-west of Italy