Author Topic: Lens selection for road trip?  (Read 6934 times)

Wally

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Lens selection for road trip?
« on: August 27, 2015, 01:30:09 »
I will be travelling to CO for a short 4 days road trip. Luggage will be limited due to air travel.
Hence I am contemplating what lens set to take with me (w/ 800 and Df, small tripod):
1) fast zoom 14-24 / 24-70 / 70-200 plus one TC (which one)
2) slow zoom 16-35 / 58 / 70-200 plus one TC
3) fast primes 16(FE) / 24 / 35 / 58 / 85 / 135 / 200 VRII plus TC
I tend towards 2) with 2 more fast primes. Looking forward to your comments and suggestions.
Thanks!
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Jakov Minić

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 01:42:10 »
16-35, 85, 200.
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pluton

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 04:03:59 »
If you can make a reasonable guess about what subjects you'll be trying to shoot, you could conceivably narrow that list way down.
I've gone on 4-day car-based photo safaris around the desert Southwest, taking two bodies and six or eight lenses, and ended up shooting with two lenses the whole trip.
Keith B., Santa Monica, CA, USA

Wally

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2015, 06:12:14 »
Thanks all. My focus will be mostly nature, landscapes, people, a little bit architecture and animals.
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elsa hoffmann

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2015, 07:15:38 »
14-24
24-70
70-200
TC 1.7 at least

Four days is short - you dont want to spend it changing through 6 lenses all the time

I find I always pack too much - and end up economising when I am actually shooting

Travelling with lots of gear adds to your risk or loosing gear
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Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2015, 07:17:12 »
The 58 on the Df, 70-200 on the D800. A fast 24 in your vest pocket and you probably are well covered.

Leaving the D800 & 70-200 behind and only use the Df is the minimalistic solution.

Bringing too much gear is a common problem.

Jan Anne

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2015, 08:57:33 »
The universal guide of what to bring on a photo trip:ee
- Something wide
- Something fast
- Something long
- Something special

And yes lenses can fulfil multiple categories, like you 16mm FE which is something wide and something special at the same time.

When going for the primes (is there really a choice ;) ) don't be afraid to bring only few spaced roughly 2-3 times apart (so 16, 35, 85 and 200), no need to cover every focal length like them zoom boys out there :P
Cheers,
Jan Anne

PedroS

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2015, 09:53:33 »
Well, it really depends of what you have...

14-24, 24-70, 70-200 w or wo TC (from my experience only the TC14 is worth with this lens) is perfect, it's the most versatile, but weight a lot...

I wouldn't go with slower zooms as they tend to need higher ISO, loosing OOF quality.
You also can go with primes, namely the latest f1.8 collection plus the 70-200, with less versatility but lighter...

Whatever you choose think also about the correct bag or vest. For these type of trips, and with such a combo, I lean to vests instead of bags.

Long gone are the years when we did everything with 1~2 lenses  8)




Erik Lund

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2015, 10:50:01 »
16(FE) / 24 / 35 / 58 / 85 / 135 / 200 is very tight, a lot of lenses I often do this...

For small kit;
16(FE) / 35 / 58 / 85 / 200
24 / 58 / 85 / 200
24 / 58 / 85 / 135
16(FE) / 58 / 135
35 / 85
24 / 58
35
58
Erik Lund

Wally

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2015, 16:14:57 »
Thanks for all your inputs. I agree that packing too much is always an issue... But hey, why do I have these wonderful lenses otherwise!
I normally throw a couple a bags (primes / zooms / big teles) in the car and that's it  ;D
My utmost goal is quality.
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Chip Chipowski

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2015, 18:23:16 »
Quote
The universal guide of what to bring on a photo trip:ee
- Something wide
- Something fast
- Something long
- Something special

I like this advice

Frank Fremerey

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2015, 23:38:43 »
one body and a 50mm?
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

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Andrea B.

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2015, 02:18:49 »
There is a lot of light out west. The 16-35/4 should be just fine even though it is "slower" than the 14-24 (which is way too big and bulky).

I have the 70-200/4 which is sharp as a tack and lighter than the 2.8 version. I'd prolly add a 50 in between that, and the 70-200. Then add one unusual lens like the 16/3.5 Fish or a 60/2.8 Macro.

You need zooms in that western landscape because "foot zoom" is not always feasible. Things can be very far away or very inaccessible. And you don't want to foot zoom backwards and tumble down the side of a mountain. "-)

You don't really need a wide at all for landscapes. Just use the 70-200 and stitch together between 2-20 shots. Of course you must have the time & talent & desire to do that stitching. I tend to shoot them and then never find the time to get them stitched together!!! But if you do, then your kit is pared down to a 50, a 70-200 and a specialty lens (fish or macro or whatever).

The quality comes from your keen eye, your compositional skills, your good exposure techniques and your photographer's brain. Not from the lenses. Yes? No? Maybe????  :D

Akira

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2015, 08:53:36 »
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

simsurace

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Re: Lens selection for road trip?
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2015, 12:18:27 »
I would go with option 2) and don't forget a tripod!
Simone Carlo Surace
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