Cory said:
Since my last post I stepped it up a bit with a Canon 6D. We also changed our upcoming 6 days in Cinque Terre to 3 in Cinque Terre, 3 in Florence and 1 in Lake Como.
In the name of traveling light and keeping it simple might a 6D/35 2.0 IS work well most of the time? I'm considering replacing that with a 16-35 or 24-70, but maybe not.
Thanks for your insight and experience.
A 35mm will work much of the time, but I like to travel with a good ultrawide zoom and a fast prime. On my last trip to the UK, I took a 17-40 and
a 35F2IS. I like the 35 for dark interiors, like cathedrals, museums, and exterior use as well. Spaces are much tighter in Italy, especially in
Florence. I have been to Florence, Padua, Rome, and San Marino. You should have an ultrawide in Florence.
Personally, I always travel with two lenses. I once broke a lens in an accident in Rome. I was left with a 50 mm macro on a crop body then. I found
it was too narrow a view for my needs. If I make another trip to Italy, I will be taking a 35 and a wide zoom, either an ultrawide or a 24-105 IS.
A friend of mine lost his AF on his only lens while on a trip to Ireland. One lens is never enough when overseas. Overlap in focal lengths is not a problem here.
The "correct" choice in focal lengths depends on what you want to photograph. I would not bother with a fast telephoto prime on a trip to Italy, but that is my
preference. A fast prime, like a fast 50 or 85 could work in some instance, but subject matter is the key here, along with distances and lighting.
A good pocket camera can be useful for going out at night, when you don't want to carry too much camera.