Lens selection for road trip?

[Roland Vink]

When I was travelling with film cameras, my kit would almost always consist of a wide prime, a standard and a telephoto, with one of them also being a lens capable of closeups. This agrees perfectly with JA: Something wide, Something fast, Something long, Something special
I'd usually carry some variation of the following:
  Wide: AI 20/3.5 or AIS 28/2.8
  Std: AIS 55/2.8 micro or AI 50/1.8
  Tele: AIS 135/2.8 or E 75-150/3.5
This gave me enough range to cover what I wanted. I like to space the focal lengths well apart - the rule of thumb is a 2x difference - so if I need a wide lens for example, there is only one choice and I don't waste time deciding between two options. At least one lens would be f2.8 which was fast enough (this was hand-held using 100 ISO film). And with the 55 micro or 75-150 (with 3T closup lens) I was able to take good closeups also. It was important to keep the kit simple, compact and lightweight so I rarely carried more than three lenses.

How you get there with your kit is entirely up to you, but you have plenty of options. Some suggestions:
- 16-35 / 58 / 70-200
- 24 / 58 / 70-200
- 24-70 / 58 / 70-200
- 24-70 only!

[chris dees]

I would opt for option 2.
Last (city)trip I took 18-35G, 70-200/4.0, 24G and 58G + 1.4x TC

[FredCrowBear]

Consider a minimal plan - two bodies, each with a lens, and then one extra (small) lens (i.e., three lenses total). 

Add a TC if it makes sense. 

Minimal kit, maximum use. 

Speaking for myself, carrying more gear does not infuse me with more talent. 

[John Geerts]

Exactly. In the limitations one can excel (food for creativity).  For urban travel I prefer a (fast) wide. That will cover most of the subjects and may have an additional social effect

[zuglufttier]

I like to space the focal lengths well apart - the rule of thumb is a 2x difference - so if I need a wide lens for example, there is only one choice and I don't waste time deciding between two options.

This is something I like, too. Not carrying too much and always knowing which is going to be the right lens for the shot.

[Gary]

It sorta depends on your mood. Much of my attraction to photography is the challenge. Always looking to capture the exceptional shot. While I accept the concept that the only thing that matters is the final image ... but for my own personal challenges in my photography I will often add a twist ... like a diving competition ... you get more points for difficulty.

If you're up to the challenge, only take some primes, the 24mm, 85mm and 200mm. The primes will make you work harder to get 'the shot', but the extra thinking required will/may result is a more successful image(s).

[Erik Lund]

... but for my own personal challenges in my photography I will often add a twist ... like a diving competition ... you get more points for difficulty....

Nice one - Thanks for sharing! 

[Somnath Goswami]

Fascinating read. I shall go for a trip very soon and landscape opportunities will present themselves. No hard trekking will be needed but extremely high altitude ( 4500 m to about 5200 m ) and pretty cold weather will be the main issue. Have been there and earlier used D610, D600, 14-24, 50 1.4 afs g , 20 f2.8 ais for wide filter work, 70 -200 f4.

This year planning : D810 with 70-200 f4, D600 with 14-24 f2.8. Apart from that the 20, 50 and a micro-nikkor f2.8 ais . In the last trip I did macro with a canon 500D diopter fitted with 70-200 but didn't like much. Macro work will be mainly exotic orchids and flowers , no critters there.

Any suggestions ?

regards
 

[Jim Covello]

The universal guide of what to bring on a photo trip:ee
- Something wide
- Something fast
- Something long
- Something special

I really like this advice, but to it I would add:
- Something small

For me, this is usually my Voigtlander 40/2.  This is as close to a point-and-shoot (size-wise) as my D800 gets.

I did recently get an Industar 50/3.5 for a whopping $28 which is even smaller, but the ergonomics of that lens are terrible, so I would not want to have to use it a lot.

And my Skink Pinhole could cover the small and special categories.

(And I guess you could count an iPhone if you wanted to...)

[HCS]

Exactly. In the limitations one can excel (food for creativity).  For urban travel I prefer a (fast) wide. ...

Right, going on a business trip to a city. Bringing a 24 and 105 (on the D810). Let's see what i can get, challenging (for me) for sure.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The 24 + 105 was my classic combination for many years. These lenses are so widely separated as to what they do that one is never in doubt what optic to use.

[gryphon1911]

I'm going out to Yellowstone NP in September and as of right now this is what I'm bringing:

Nikon D500
Nikon 18-140/4.5-5.6 VR
Nikon 300/4E PF
Nikon TC-14E III
Mefoto Tripod

Small, light, versatile.  I won't overthink what gear to use.

[HCS]

The 24 + 105 was my classic combination for many years. These lenses are so widely separated as to what they do that one is never in doubt what optic to use.

I just got the 105 (2.5 ai), so i'm a beginner (on many levels  ).