Lens collection for Europe?

[Kris]

Hi Guys

I'm off to Europe on the 8th of May bypassing Thailand for a week before trekking around until the start of August.

I'm considering my lens collection for when I go.Here is a rather tedious break down of my options

I have a few options and need to purchase 1 or possibly 2 lens (need and want to!)

Option 1:

5D with Grip
24-70 F2.8
70-200 F4 IS (requires purchase)
1.4x Tele (requires purchase)

Focal Range: 24mm to 280mm
Total lens weight : 1830g
Total Cost to use: $1863

Option 2:

5D with Grip
16-35 F2.8 (requires purchase)
50 f1.8
70-200 F4 IS (requires purchase)

Focal Range: 16mm to 35mm, 50mm, 70-200mm
Total lens weight : 1435g
Total Cost to use: $3081

In both these scenarios, I would be leaving my 135 F2 at home along with my 580EX. I dont need the weight of the batteries/charger and the lens are fast enough at ISO1600 to get usable shots than with a flash and something slower.

Scenario 2 I need to purchase two lens
Scenario 1 I would leave my 50mm at home with a purchase of a lens/tele

Looking at my shooting style, I shoot alot WIDE but mostly I use the 35mm focal length, 2nd most would be 24mm and then 50mm and 70mm. Anything over 70 is useful and would get used alot also. Nothing between 50 to 70

What do you think is the best option to maximise my options and keep weight low? Also factor in lens swapping and so on[/b]

[bwhinnen]

Personally I don't find 24mm limiting for most shots I do around town (well realistically I am stuck at a widest of 27mm so 24mm would be great).

For landscapes you can always stitch together if you need to go wider.

As for reach, is 200mm enough or will you be going to events that require the extra reach the extender gives you?

Personally I would look seriously at option 1. It is cheaper, and as you said you shoot mostly at 35mm anyway so the 50 1.8 would not be overly utilised (even though it is light) and having the 24-70 range means you have to swap lenses less.

From what I've seen of a friend 35mm as the longest is a restriction for some of the city shooting we do, (and that is on an APS-C sensor) so I think you'd find you may want that extra reach a little more often than not.

Hope this helps and is not just mindless ravings

Brett

[Kris]

Personally I don't find 24mm limiting for most shots I do around town (well realistically I am stuck at a widest of 27mm so 24mm would be great).

For landscapes you can always stitch together if you need to go wider.

As for reach, is 200mm enough or will you be going to events that require the extra reach the extender gives you?

Personally I would look seriously at option 1. It is cheaper, and as you said you shoot mostly at 35mm anyway so the 50 1.8 would not be overly utilised (even though it is light) and having the 24-70 range means you have to swap lenses less.

From what I've seen of a friend 35mm as the longest is a restriction for some of the city shooting we do, (and that is on an APS-C sensor) so I think you'd find you may want that extra reach a little more often than not.

Hope this helps and is not just mindless ravings

Brett

Hey Brett,

Thanks. Yep 24 mm is quite wide and would certainly give me alot of options around Europe (churchs, libraries and so on) only issue is the weight! The 24-70 is so heavy!!! but this combo limits me to two lens so changing isn't as bad. With the tele & the 70-200 it's more than enough range for like you said events and what not..

Decisions decisions! its definitely cheaper

[Yi-P]

I will say to take the 5D without grip and put the batteries in your bag, saves you couple hundreds of grams in the weight. You wont be depending on the grip's accessibility out in the landscape fields. It is smaller and easier to transport and hang around your neck.

Then the 70-200 f4 IS is a nice choice, as said, with the ISO power of a 5D, IS and fast glass, you are pretty much covered in most of the areas of shooting.

It all depends, for me own taste, I will leave the tele at home and bring on a tripod. But that is just me...

[Kris]

Definitely cant bring a tripod - with its awakard shape and weight I think I'd rather leave it at home and hand our Canon PSS3 IS to someone to take candids of Kel and I. My last trip I found no major uses for a tripod. It was handy on some occasions but those didn't warrant carrying it around

I really love the grip, and would hate to lose it. I do realise it carries alot of weight and the batteries are best off in the bag, but I shoot portrait style quite alot and I love gripping the camera in this position even when I'm walking around - I think the camera might be a bit off balanced without it especially with big glass (24-70, 70-200)

Thanks for the suggestions Yi-P

[Glen]

Kris, I am surprised you found no use for a tripod last time, you must be in the bars and nightclubs by the time the sun goes down I would suggest a very small light little pod, like the ultrapod II or similar for night shots. Small enough you wouldn't know it was in your luggage when not being used but means you can do night images.

My other thought is the 70-200, big lens if mainly holiday, not so if photography is one of the main reasons for it


.

[Kris]

Glen, I'm not so sure what you mean by the 70-200 comment?

To be honest I was in bars and clubs - those tripods look ok! I just want to avoid strapping one to my bag! Issue is a tiny tripod like that with a 5D with grip & 24-70 is rather front heavy!

[Glen]

Kris, just mean if photography was one of the main reasons I would take a tele, if it was a side issue I would just take the wider lenses and leave the 70-200.


The tiny tripod is only just ok, it is definitely no Gitzo, but it only weighs 4oz and is 200mm long. I have had one for 12-15 years and used to use it a lot (I travelled 6 months a year holidaying for 6 -7 years) and it still goes strong. With the angle shape and velcro, you can even tape it to a no standing sign or similar. It does require careful use and needs 30-60 seconds to settle, and a good crank of the adjustment knob, but compared to no tripod is a huge improvement. Gary also has a great Manfrotto table top tripod, $40-$50 at Vanbar, very stable, doesn't do street signs. If you want to do a night shot, these cant be beat.

[Kris]

Glen, fantastic! The first one looks good as its legs are longer which would mean it could support the front heavy nature of the 5D with lens.

BH i go

Thank you!

[Glen]

Kris, Vanbar has them, they are near the end of Pyrmont Bridge Road.


Gary has used it with his 80-400.

[Yi-P]

Is the Ultrapod II available in Sydney/Aus stock? BH shipping seems ridiculous with this.

[Kris]

Thanks Glen

[Glen]

Yip, the mountaineering outdoor style stores usually sell the Ultrapod.

edit just looked up the ultrapod website, http://www.pedcopods.com/products.htm , the distributor for aus is outdoor agencies which is the wholesale arm of Paddy Pallin so I would suggest trying there

Also if we are at a minimeet soon together Yip I will bring mine so you can see it

[Alpha_7]

Glen - I certainly wouldn't mind taking a look at it, or at leighs gorrilla pod..... I'm still debating what I'Il take to europe.

[fozzie]

Glen - I think you meant:-

http://www.pedcopods.com/products.htm (with no comma after)

Yip, the mountaineering outdoor style stores usually sell the Ultrapod.

edit just looked up the ultrapod website, http://www.pedcopods.com/products.htm, the distributor for aus is outdoor agencies which is the wholesale arm of Paddy Pallin so I would suggest trying there

Also if we are at a minimeet soon together Yip I will bring mine so you can see it

fozzie

[Glen]

Thanks Fozzie, my good grammar is making a mockery of me



No problem Craig