lens recommendations for a vacation

[arcanej]

I know, the least exciting type of post, but I would be very grateful for any advice on what to bring and what to leave behind.

This summer I had planned on going out with a pro-photographer, but he was unable to secure the permits in time. So, my wife and I are heading to Europe in a few weeks. We will be hitting London, France and Brussels.

My current kit:

5Dm3
24-105L
70-200L IS II
14L II
50L
100L IS

I will be carrying whatever kit I bring in a Lowepro Flipside 400AW.

I was thinking about taking the 50, the 70-200, 14, a monopod and one flash. The first two lenses are my favorite walk around combo. Any advice would be very welcome. Also: should I look into a second battery (I don't have a the optional grip)?

 

[Random Orbits]

I would add the 24-105L and would consider not bringing the monopod unless you have a specific situation that you know you'll need it, but ultimately you'd have to bring the gear to fit your style of shooting. I would find the gap between 14 and 50 too large and would supplement it with the 24-105 to fill in the gap. And yes, you should definitely get a second battery!

 

[IIIHobbs]

Agree with bringing the 24-105. It is going to give you the opportunity to respond to a greater number of photo ops as you move through the cities you are visiting
I thnk the 50 is a must have for anything indoors or evening, it will give you te speed you need.
Other than that, I do not know whether he 70-200,100 or 14 are worth taking. You know your itinerary best, but the time and opportunity needed to get good results from any of these is questionable.

 

[arcanej]

The 14mm can be difficult to use - but it can capture an amazing perspective if done well. @lex on this forum has posted some amazing shots showing as much. We will spend a few days in the north of France, which is a beautiful place for landscape shots. My thought is to bust out the 14mm for that leg of the trip.

I'm really torn on whether I should bring the 24-105 or the 70-200. The former is a much better general purpose focal range and lighter to boot, but I have more fun lugging around the later and it's a faster lens.

Thank you for the advice so far!

 

[krjc]

I would take two
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens (low light photography)
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens (everything else)

 

[rpt]

I know, the least exciting type of post, but I would be very grateful for any advice on what to bring and what to leave behind.

This summer I had planned on going out with a pro-photographer, but he was unable to secure the permits in time. So, my wife and I are heading to Europe in a few weeks. We will be hitting London, France and Brussels.

My current kit:

5Dm3
24-105L
70-200L IS II
14L II
50L
100L IS

I will be carrying whatever kit I bring in a Lowepro Flipside 400AW.

I was thinking about taking the 50, the 70-200, 14, a monopod and one flash. The first two lenses are my favorite walk around combo. Any advice would be very welcome. Also: should I look into a second battery (I don't have a the optional grip)?

All of this should fit into the 400AW. I would leave the 100L behind and if weight is a consideration, even the 70-200 otherwise not. And for sure a second (or even a third) battery. Personally, I would take the 24-105. Look forward to your photos. Have fun!

 

[pwp]

I know, the least exciting type of post, but I would be very grateful for any advice on what to bring and what to leave behind......my wife and I are heading to Europe in a few weeks. We will be hitting London, France and Brussels.

5Dm3
24-105L
70-200L IS II
14L II
50L
100L IS

You know the old saying..."happy wife, happy life". My experience with travel photography has taught me to travel as light as possible, and keep a very high level of consideration for your travel partners who may not be as much into photography as you.

These days I've trimmed it down to a grip-less 5D (Classic, 2 or 3) and the 24-105 f/4IS. It's an interesting paradox that sometimes you need some kind of limitations in order to free your imagination. Keep it simple and have more fun. The 24-105 f/4IS coupled with a 5D3 is a very powerful, flexible, high quality combination.

PW

 

[Random Orbits]

The 14mm can be difficult to use - but it can capture an amazing perspective if done well. @lex on this forum has posted some amazing shots showing as much. We will spend a few days in the north of France, which is a beautiful place for landscape shots. My thought is to bust out the 14mm for that leg of the trip.

I'm really torn on whether I should bring the 24-105 or the 70-200. The former is a much better general purpose focal range and lighter to boot, but I have more fun lugging around the later and it's a faster lens.

Thank you for the advice so far!

You should check to see if the places you are staying will be able to secure your gear in the room. If so, then bring both the 24-105 and 70-200 and pack each day/trek for what you think you'll need. If not, then I'd be tempted to leave the 70-200 home. You can then use the 24-105 for outside/general usage, 14 for the ultrawide and 50 for dim indoor situations or for some shallow DOF portraits.

 

[TexPhoto]

I would take the 24-105mm before i would take the 70-200, but that is just me. i swear my 70-200 weights 20lbs when it is in my camera bag

My walk around kit is: 5D3, 8-15mm fisheye, 24-105mm, and 300mm f4 IS. and 1.4XIII (insane range, light weight)
When I want to supplement that a little, I add my 17mm tilt shift, and 2XIII , an may swap the 300 for the 70-200

I always take a monopod if not a tripod.

Yes, get yourself a 2nd battery if you are a prolific shooter. One can sit in the charger back at the hotel while you are out.

No Flash?

CF Cards? Laptop?

If you are going to rent a car, 12V chargers, or a cheap $25 inverter for your 110V chargers can be really nice. All cars are 12V

 

[M.ST]

My Basic Kit for vacations:

5D Mark III
EF 14 2.8L II
EF 16-35 2.8 L
EF 24-70 2.8 L Prot.
EF 50 1.2 L
EF 70-200 2.8 L II or 70-300 IS
EF 100 2.8 L IS Makro
both Canon TC´s

EF 400 2.8 II IS (mostly in the car)

Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 with Manfrotto 405 head or Gitzo tripod with the Manfrotto 405 head
Lee filter holder with ND and GND filters
B+W polfilters
timer remote control
Peli-Case and a shoulder bag
gepe card safe extreme

 

[briansquibb]

Definitely wa from looking at your itinerary. You will find europe much smaller with little space to shoot.

24-105 as the main walkabout
14mm

As the minimum would do you well. Make sure you take the battery charger with a TWO PIN plug adaptor

 

[Menace]

I love my EF70-200 however for travel (esp with the wife) I'd suggest EF14 for landscape, EF50 for low light and EF24-105 for general walk about.

Atleast one spare battery and extra CF & SD card(s).

Have fun and do share the pics

 

[stolpe]

I'm also going on two trips soon (Maybe London and South Korea) and planning to just take the 5D Mark III, 24-105 and my nifty fifty (50mm 1.8 II). Maybe the flash also (430EX II) and a spare camera battery. Leaving my 70-200 2.8 IS II at home and the BG-E11 as well to make the camera gear as light as possible. Of course some CF and SD cards as well and the chargers for the camera and for the AA batteries. But the chargers and spare AA batteries will be placed in another bag, not the camera bag. The camera bag is a ACME Made Union Photo Messenger, like it alot. Small and doesn't look like a camerabag.

Thinking about replace the 50mm 1.8 II with something else but don't know what really. Maybe the canon 50mm 1.4 or the Sigma 50mm 1.4. Would really like the 50mm 1.2 but that is too expensive for me right now.

/ Stolpe

 

[briansquibb]

I'm also going on two trips soon (Maybe London and South Korea) and planning to just take the 5D Mark III, 24-105 and my nifty fifty (50mm 1.8 II). Maybe the flash also (430EX II) and a spare camera battery. Leaving my 70-200 2.8 IS II at home and the BG-E11 as well to make the camera gear as light as possible. Of course some CF and SD cards as well and the chargers for the camera and for the AA batteries. But the chargers and spare AA batteries will be placed in another bag, not the camera bag. The camera bag is a ACME Made Union Photo Messenger, like it alot. Small and doesn't look like a camerabag.

Thinking about replace the 50mm 1.8 II with something else but don't know what really. Maybe the canon 50mm 1.4 or the Sigma 50mm 1.4. Would really like the 50mm 1.2 but that is too expensive for me right now.

/ Stolpe

In London a 17-40 would be good - dont forget the UK plugs have rectangular pins, rather than the round EU pins

 

[Leejo]

Re plugs.
If you are staying in place where you have access to a razor socket, (e.g. hotels normally) then you will often find that the two pin European variant can often be bent a little to fit. Has saved me taking adapters several times.
Otherwise a number of shops will have adapters for a few pounds to fit UK sockets.

 

[spinworkxroy]

Europe will consist of a lot of walking..so bare that in mind and the weight of the gears..
The last time i was there, i ended up leaving almost everything in the hotel because of the weight and walking about too much...

However, with almost anywhere in europe, architecture is the main attraction unless you like street photography...so a wide angel lens is essential..since 99% of my shots when i was there was done with a wide angle.
Leave the 70-200 at home, you will most certainly never use it.
I would bring a really fast prime for indoor shots (which you will use a lot of for all the museums, churches etc), but the 5d3 ISO is great so maybe even at f4 is enough...

Base on your kit..i would just bring the 14L and 24-105L...
24 might not be wide enough for some locations..and not fast enough indoors so the 14L will be great...but for most other shots, the 24-105 will be perfect for a walkabout in Europe...

Actually, the 24-105 is almost the perfect travel lens for FF cameras IMO..i use it ALOT while traveling...but not so much at home...

 

[bchernicoff]

I'm in the same situation. I leave in a couple of weeks for Europe and am bringing my 50, 24-105, and 70-200 IS II. I'm considering leaving the 70-200 home because it's heavy and draws a lot of attention. People have discussed getting harassed in London for taking SLR pictures. Anyone have good or bad experiences they'd like to share? How about Copenhagen?

 

[danski0224]

I know, the least exciting type of post, but I would be very grateful for any advice on what to bring and what to leave behind.

This summer I had planned on going out with a pro-photographer, but he was unable to secure the permits in time. So, my wife and I are heading to Europe in a few weeks. We will be hitting London, France and Brussels.

My current kit:

5Dm3
24-105L
70-200L IS II
14L II
50L
100L IS

I will be carrying whatever kit I bring in a Lowepro Flipside 400AW.

I was thinking about taking the 50, the 70-200, 14, a monopod and one flash. The first two lenses are my favorite walk around combo. Any advice would be very welcome. Also: should I look into a second battery (I don't have a the optional grip)?

My $.02:

14L II, unless you are proficient at stitching photos.

The 70-200 leaves a pretty good gap between 14 and 70.

The 24-105 is f4, but the 5DIII has positive reviews at high ISO (I do not own a 5DIII)... so maybe it is a non-issue.

The only other wide apeture lens in your list is the 50L. You may need it for low-light shots... or maybe rent a 35L.

 

[7enderbender]

This is always a struggle, isn't it? And only you know what you use and how. I tend to take too much stuff ever since I moved to digital and try to get better and more specific. In the film days I used to be happy with my 50/135 combo or a general purpose zoom. And a set of filters. Films and batteries were available along the way usually.

I'm trying to go back to this - especially after just lugging my entire gear to a wedding in Europe in a Pelican roll-on case - just to find out that I would've been fine with 1 flash and 2 lenses really. Along those line: double and triple-check the airline regulations regarding carry-on size and weight(!). Especially the European carriers are getting pretty strict about this - at least on paper so far. I just used Delta and Jet Blue and they don't have a weight limit yet. And you certainly don't want to check camera gear I assume.

I'm going to New York for the weekend to just wander around a bit with my camera. I've decided to only bring the 50 and 135 again. In your case I would leave on the 50 and bring the 24-105 just in case. Or the 50 with the 100L if you do a lot of detail shots/macro. But that's my preferences as I'm not a big fan of running around with big white heavy zooms and don't need wider than 28mm really.

 

[PhotoBadger]

Don't forget it's summer here in England, so bring your waterproofs Some ND grads would be a good call too.

Personally I like getting detail shots so the 70-200 would be on my list but of course it depends what you like shooting. And as others have commented, there's a LOT of walking to be done, so it's much better to have limited kit than to dread picking up the camera bag each day. "Would I be happy carrying this for 6 hours?" is a very good question to ask yourself when packing.

But certainly the 24-105 for walkaround, 14 for wideys if you like, and the 50 for low light should see you nicely.

Be prepared for historic buildings to prohibit flash, and some to bar photography altogether. Not such an issue in London, in my experience, but I've come across it a lot in other countries (lots in Spain for example). "If you want a picture, buy our postcards" sort of thing.

I'd take 3 batteries - one in the camera, one in the bag and one charging. It's dashed annoying to run out of juice in a great location, and I speak from sorry experience here.


Hope you have a great time.