General purpose zoom for honeymoon

[Sharad.Medhavi]

One more vote for primes. Your 35mm as a walk around on a 5DIII, and the 85mm L for those beautiful portraits she would love. The pictures would come out a lot better than the zoom.

If you really want a zoom the new Sigma 24-105 IS or the Canon 24-70 II would do the job. As someone mentioned, do not take people pictures at 24mm with these lenses If you do, keep her away from the sides.

Thanks,
Sharad

 

[surapon]

G1X MkII, this is what it is made for.

I'd use my honeymoon as an excuse to buy a Fujifilm X-E1 kit with 18-55mm f/2.8-4 since they're under £700.

I'd use my honeymoon for anything but photography.............

+ 1 for me, Please
Exception + EOS-M , and 22 mm F/ 2.0 Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Compact-Systems-Camera-3-0-Inch/dp/B008NENG1A

 

[AcutancePhotography]

On my honeymoon, my wife insisted on taking her Macro Lens. :'(

 

[alexturton]

The problem with a Dslr is that whenever you ask someone else to use it, you always end up with blurred out of focus shots, so when you look back at your photos it will be like your wife went on the honeymoon on her own!(as you end taking all the photos) Just take a good quality compact that can shoot RAW, there'll be plenty of other holidays for the whole camera kit but only one honeymoon.

Very true, but I prepare for those situations. It doesn't take me long to configure my DSLR to something like a point and shoot (smaller aperture, auto ISO, auto focus points, etc.).

For cameras that have it (Rebels do, don't know about higher steps), just turn the dial to the "green square" (or equiv for Nikon/Sony), that forces the camera into as close to P&S as you can get with no effect on your normal settings.

For my honeymoon, most of my shots were either my P&S or a waterproof P&S (a MUST if you're going anywhere wet, I got lots of good shots with my waterproof P&S that I never would have been able to get otherwise). I did have a Rebel with me and a slightly better then kit lens zoom that performed perfectly well. Carrying mostly a P&S let me capture all the moments I wanted, without letting the photography rule me during our trip.

I had a DSLR and did use it, but not that much, I focused on my new wife and enjoying myself.

Focus on what's important IMHO. This is a trip of a lifetime, make sure you enjoy it to it's fullest.

TTYL

I bought an rx100 exactly for this purpose. Plus arm length selfies which I can never do with 5d3

Thanks for all the comments. Some really great advice here.

I think I'll go with just maybe 2 primes. Think it might end up being 24mm and 100l (because I love macro).

And pack my compact for days when life is more important than ultimate iq

Yes, and also take plenty of vitamins. ;D

I'm also planning a trip and I am tired of lugging all the big gear (and worrying about it being stolen from the hotel room ) so I'm looking at something small and light with great IQ....the Fuji x100s.

So if you're itching to buy something new for the trip, the Fuji x100s would be my recommendation....and leave all the pro gear at home.

I agree with your comment. I'm interested in the x100s but haven't had a chance to play with one. Will investigate at the photography show at Birmingham nec this weekend

 

[JonAustin]

I bought an rx100 exactly for this purpose. Plus arm length selfies which I can never do with 5d3

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/813142-REG/XShot_XS2379_F_XShot_2_0.html

 

[giltaminphotography]

I had the same debate as you did. I love my primes but also had a canon 24-70 v ii. So I took the 24-70 v ii and my sigma 35 art and ended up only using my 35 because it is perfect walk around lens. I found that I had no use for the zoom and ended up selling it and sticking with just primes. I traveled to Spain and Italy over a year ago and only used the sigma 35 art. Heres the link
http://www.giltaminphotography.com/taste-of-europe-2/

 

[alexturton]

I bought an rx100 exactly for this purpose. Plus arm length selfies which I can never do with 5d3

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/813142-REG/XShot_XS2379_F_XShot_2_0.html

I've done something like that to the extreme with my monopod before. with interesting results. hehe

 

[TeT]

If you are going DSLR pick up up a used 24 105 4 L on eBay for < $600.00 USD and sell it when you get back if you dont want to keep it (you will appreciate the 105mm on the backside over the 24 70...

If you are going to buy something, get a wide 2.0 aperture GX something or similar maybe with a screw on extender if you think you will need farther reach.

Anyways....

I find the varied responses humorous: about half of the suggestions to your post would be great if photographing your honeymoon was to be a paid gig.

 

[JonAustin]

I traveled to Spain and Italy over a year ago and only used the sigma 35 art. Heres the link
http://www.giltaminphotography.com/taste-of-europe-2/

Simply beautiful! (So is your female model.) My only primes are a 50 and 100 ... these make me want to invest in a 35!

 

[A710VA]

There are far more important things to do on a honeymoon than taking pictures!

 

[wayno]

Alright, so opinions are like a***holes. Everyone's got one - and here's mine. The 24-70ii is completely worth investing in. I use mine a lot (almost exclusively for street/walk around/landscape) but pretty much always use my primes for wedding/paid portraiture work. Both types of lenses are well used and I see great benefit in both options. For a holiday (even a honeymoon), I'd be looking at it as an excuse to pony up for the 24-70ii. I wondered if I'd regret replacing my crusty old, rarely used 24-70 with what I thought was effectively the same sort of thing but I couldn't have been more wrong.

 

[docholliday]

My choice of vacation camera? 1Ds3 w/ 24-70/2.8L. Or 1Ds3 with Zeiss 35/1.4 ZE. Or Hasselblad H4D with 50.

Hey, you love photography, and if she can't deal with you shooting during the "normal" hours, I'd kick her to the curb...now afterwards, give her some time too!

 

[tiger82]

Honeymoon......bring a pocket P&S. Are you there to celebrate or work? If your partner isn't bringing an equivalent time sink, leave the heavy gear at home.

 

[sanj]

Do NOT forget a light tripod.

And yeah the Fuji is a great option.

 

[tiger82]

Do NOT forget a light tripod.

And yeah the Fuji is a great option.

And the divorce and pre-nup papers so you get to keep your gear.

 

[giltaminphotography]

I traveled to Spain and Italy over a year ago and only used the sigma 35 art. Heres the link
http://www.giltaminphotography.com/taste-of-europe-2/

Simply beautiful! (So is your female model.) My only primes are a 50 and 100 ... these make me want to invest in a 35!

Thank you JonAustin. The lovely model is my wife. She too likes photography I really suggest the 35 for walk around I also use a 50 and love the 35 because you can frame the subject with a nice background. 24 is too wide for me to frame the subject and 50 is to close. The sigma 35 art is really something special it killed my 24-70 vii in terms of contrast and colour.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I traveled to Spain and Italy over a year ago and only used the sigma 35 art. Heres the link
http://www.giltaminphotography.com/taste-of-europe-2/

Simply beautiful! (So is your female model.) My only primes are a 50 and 100 ... these make me want to invest in a 35!

Thank you JonAustin. The lovely model is my wife. She too likes photography I really suggest the 35 for walk around I also use a 50 and love the 35 because you can frame the subject with a nice background. 24 is too wide for me to frame the subject and 50 is to close. The sigma 35 art is really something special it killed my 24-70 vii in terms of contrast and colour.

Beautiful images, beautiful wife!

You are truly blessed! Great trip, great to have a wife that shares your passion. She looks like she had fun. So did you obviously!

 

[RustyTheGeek]

IMHO... unless your wife is really into photography, impress her with your sacrifice of leaving 90% of your stuff at home and make this trip about HER! Make a STATEMENT to her by sacrificing your photo gear for her.

She'll feel more cherished and honored, not sidelined. You'll be glad you did, or if you take all your stuff instead, you may regret it forever. Seriously, ask any woman, they'll tell you to K.I.S.S.!! This is a special romantic time, not a normal vacation. I totally understand what you are thinking and I am also telling you to take a step back and put photography way down your list. You should be planning special surprises for her, a few nice places to eat, etc but otherwise, it's a big love fest, not a photo trip. She may not say anything now but in the future, esp after talking to her girlfriends, all your photography very well may come up in the future and bite you in the ass. Esp if you aren't a pro, just a serious enthusiast. Again, take a bunch of photo gear at your peril!

Take a Point and Shoot, buy a G16 or something and let it go. That will impress her far more than "only" taking 40% of your gear and a new lens.

 

[Northstar]

IMHO... unless your wife is really into photography, impress her with your sacrifice of leaving 90% of your stuff at home and make this trip about HER! Make a STATEMENT to her by sacrificing your photo gear for her.

good point rusty.

Or, you could pack every single camera, lens, tripod, and accessory you own and set it all down with your other luggage and wait for a response....depending on her facial expression and body language, and how loudly she says "REALLY?" ...you should be able to figure out roughly how much you can take. ;D

 

[hgraf]

I've found that sometimes some posters get caught up in their GAS so much they loose sight of what's really important.

We're talking about a honeymoon. It's a time where all the stress of getting married is gone, and you finally have some time alone with the man/women you want to spend the rest of your life with.

The result?

People suggesting that this is a great opportunity to buy a $1500 lens (really? Happiest days of your life and you're talking about purchasing gear?).

People suggesting that the OP brings $10k+ worth of gear with them.

This isn't a gig. This isn't a job. It's a honeymoon. Seriously? What is the most important element of a honeymoon? The ultimate "quality" of the pictures you take? Is that what's most important? Modern P&S and other "cheaper" options take GREAT photos. You DON'T NEED $10k+ worth of gear to take great shots. I've taken many amazing shots with the cheapest gear. One of my all time favourite shots was done with a $150 waterproof P&S.

Lets also consider some of the practical elements here: your new bride suggests you go down to the beach and swim a bit in the ocean. She puts on an amazing bikini, and her sunglasses and holds her hand out to you. What do you do with your $10k+ worth of gear?

• Take it with you? No, since you can't leave it on the beach (it will get stolen) you'd have to have it on you all the time
• Leave it in the room safe? No, won't fit (at least not all of it)
• Leave it in the room? No, it will get stolen.
• Insure it so if it gets stolen you can get the money back? No, since why did you bring your gear if you expected it to be stolen?
• Leave it with the front desk? Probably your only option.

So, instead of taking her hand and running down to the beach you're going instead to pack as much of it in your room safe as you can, or walk down to the front desk and hope it doesn't go missing there?

Just my opinion. I LOVE photography, and I have absolutely ZERO regrets with the minimal amount of gear I brought on my honeymoon.