Trip preparations?

[JediForce4ever]

Nope. I use the sensor brush to clean the sensor myself. Canon does not clean the sensor as clean and it does affect my images when shot at F11 through F16.

The protective glass in front of the sensor is very hardy.
I've tried sensor cleaning with a cottonbud before and no problems at all.

 

[sehsuan]

Beware where you change your lenses. Watch the winds.

 

[happyham]

Beware where you change your lenses. Watch the winds.

Yeah learnt my lesson.But if not careful, probably do it again.

Now looking at the 17-85 or the 24-105L (but prob will get an earful from the home minister)!!

 

[jsbn]

Serious, no joke. 17-85 is good enuff to cover up to 90% of ur holiday shots.
Ur 75-300 can cover ur remaining (extremely rare) 10% of the shots.

Since u're there with ur family to enjoy and u're not there specifically on a photography trip, I reckon at least 95% of the time u'll be called upon to take photos of ur kids, wife (whether posed or candids). I guess for which ur focal length used on ur 17-85 would range between 17mm to about 50mm?

Since u're with ur kids and wife, I'm under the impression that u prolly wun tell them, "Ok guyz, u go and have ur own time till 2359H today. Papa's going solo. Dun disturb me ok?"

Ur 17-40 actually is good to go to cover most shots. But if u still insist on spending money for a new lens just for this holiday, get a 17-85 will do.

As for changing winds, watch the wind direction and turn ur back to it and change lenses whilst protecting it with ya body.

 

[happyham]

Serious, no joke. 17-85 is good enuff to cover up to 90% of ur holiday shots.
Ur 75-300 can cover ur remaining (extremely rare) 10% of the shots.

Since u're there with ur family to enjoy and u're not there specifically on a photography trip, I reckon at least 95% of the time u'll be called upon to take photos of ur kids, wife (whether posed or candids). I guess for which ur focal length used on ur 17-85 would range between 17mm to about 50mm?

Since u're with ur kids and wife, I'm under the impression that u prolly wun tell them, "Ok guyz, u go and have ur own time till 2359H today. Papa's going solo. Dun disturb me ok?"

Ur 17-40 actually is good to go to cover most shots. But if u still insist on spending money for a new lens just for this holiday, get a 17-85 will do.

As for changing winds, watch the wind direction and turn ur back to it and change lenses whilst protecting it with ya body.

You are spot on. My 75-300 was utilised like 5-10% of the time during my last trip.
I reckon I wont be able to sneak off and since it is a short trip with places to cover, I think I will be quite pressed for time,everything must be chop chop.

But hey, what about using the 17/40L and getting a Lumix FZ7?? (as suggested by someone?)

(please dont flame me..hahaha)

 

[jsbn]

Flame for wad? :bsmilie:

Well, u've got what it takes liaoz. Fujifilm F10, 17-40L. Why waste more money?

If u really lazy to change lens for travel, juz get the EF-S 17-85 and bring it all for ur trips. If u require a little extra reach, shoot at 85mm and juz crop the images abit to produce an 'artificial zoom'.

I reckon u're going on a tour package? Den it makes things even worse I guess. Lotsa rushing and I dun think u've got time to sit there, slowly see, compose, set and fire. Its gonna be a 'one-shot, one-kill' thing. U miss the shot, that's it.

Instead of getting new cameras (which u'll be taking a gamble of getting bad shots), I'd rather u stick to what u have now and brush up on ur speed in street shooting instead from now till the day u fly.

But if u really think u must spend money on lenses before u fly, get the 17-85, fix it to ur cam, bring a flash and solve all ur problems. Even when travelling alone to Japan, there are only 2 photos which I thought a longer zoom would be useful. The rest of the time, I was shooting purely on a 18mm to 70mm range.

 

[happyham]

Correct again! Not really too lazy but must perfect the one shoot one kill kind of accuracy.

Here's a noob qn. Can I attach an extender or something for my 17-40? I really dont want to change my lens.

 

[jsbn]

Actually 1 suggestion for u.

Why not just enjoy this time with ur family, go all crazy instead of being overly obsessed with getting new equipments, the perfect trip photos, landscapes, themed shots and all?

U can always plan a lone trip back to Japan for like 6 or 7 days for a photography trip sometime in the future again?

U can always get 2x extenders, but on a f4 lens, focusing would be next to impossible in low light (Manual Focus all the way) and since the extender is mounted first on the body before u mount ur lens, u'll still have to remove the extender to revert back to ur original 17-40 focal length.

 

[happyham]

Go the 17-85 liao. Altho pic quality is ok, but lens is light and versatile ( a little more zoom wud be nice) . So far no low light opportunities so IS not really put to the test.

 

[freelancer]

On the point of low light, I have taken shots down to 1/10s F4 ISO3200 with the 17-40 and it looks pretty alright when printed at 8 x 10. One thing the 17-40 will show very well over the 17-85 is when you start getting into landscape and cityscape shots. The colors from the L out of camera is very good and the 17-85 cannot compare. The other point is the L is weather sealed meaning to say you will find lesser dust on the sensor even if your camera is not environmentally sealed. This is speaking from my travel experiences.

 

[jsbn]

Go the 17-85 liao. Altho pic quality is ok, but lens is light and versatile ( a little more zoom wud be nice) . So far no low light opportunities so IS not really put to the test.

Well, besides practicing more to get the most out of ur new toy before ur trip (using an untested toy on a trip is absolutely unimaginable as u'll only have 1 chance to get it right or wrong), juz go and enjoy ur trip now!

If u demand quality, quality and nothing but quality, perhaps u can go on a photography trip to Japan next time with all ur Ls and whatnots.

 

[happyham]

Yes, mustnt set too high expectations since its a family holday after all. Thanks.

 

[jsbn]

No prob. Always glad to see someone pick a correct tool for the correct job instead of all the silly buy-buy-buy thingy and end up with all the best lenses and nowhere to shoot.