BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm doing a RTW starting probably this summer, and can't decide what lens(es) to bring.

I have to have my SLR, but at the same time, I hate carrying a lot of gear. I'm considering bringing ONLY my 50mm/1.4, but I don't know if I'll regret it when I come home when I couldn't get some other shots.

It's maddening. I can't decide. When you came back from your trip, what lens did you WISH you had?

I have two lenses.

I started my trip with the Nikon 18-200mm VR. It is a great lens if you can only have one lens. It is reasonably wide, it has reasonable zoom, VR lessens the need for a tripod. It is expensive, but it is a good all purpose lens.

I later got a 12-24mm Nikon lens. Most of my photos were landscape or buildings, so having a wide lens made a lot of sense.

I cannot see carrying more than two lenses with me. My camera gear is already heavy. A really nice zoom lens would be great, but the weight and space issues make it impractical.

When I get to Africa, I'm thinking of renting a zoom lens for a week or so.

I´m on a 2-year RTW trip at the moment and I brought a Canon 50mm/1.4 and a Sigma 18-200mm/3.5-6.3 OS lens with me. I ended up shipping the 50mm home because I always had the other lens on my camera. It was rare that I wanted my fixed lens so it spent most of its time in my bag, adding unnecessary weight.

I do wish that I had a 12-24mm lens, and might like CaesarRomanus go buy one, but I´m holding out for Asia and hopefully cheaper prices.

CaesarRomanus: I will probably only end up having two lenses myself. I just got the 70-300mm VR for xmas (thanks mom!) and while it's an AWESOME lens, I do NOT want to carry around that thing around my neck or back. It's just too freakin' heavy. I've thought about trading for the 18-200 since it seems more versatile, but how do you feel about the weight?

Julie: I was assuming the 50mm would spend the most time on the camera, but you've got me wondering now.

Like both of you, I also have my eye on the 12-24.

I wonder if the 12-24mm and 50mm would be enough, or if I would long for something a bit longer.

I use my full zoom all the time on my 18-200. If I could carry a larger lens, I would.

Shooting distant landscape and plant/animals is difficult to do if you are stuck at 50mm.

I will admit..if I had to rethink my camera choice and lens I would not buy a Nikon D200 with a 18-200 lens as its heavy to carry around. I already have a shoulder issue with chronic pain and I cannot carry the camera for more than 4-5 hours.

So before you buy...borrow or go around your town with that weight in your day bag for at least 4-5 hours. You will get a feel for the weight.

I guess Ill be the one to tell you otherwise.

I carry too much gear all the time, its heavy and at times I hate it, but when I get a shot that I could never have got without a specific piece of gear I am all smiles.

Currently I have a Canon 5D, 17-40mm f/4, 24-105 f/4, 70-200 f/2.8, a 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4, A 580ex flash and the smallest Gitzo carbon fiber tripod.

If I had to choose only one lens it would be the 35mm/f1.4, if I added a second I would tack on the big zoom. But remember that is only based on my shooting style, everyone is different.

All that being said, my carry on bag is usually heavier than my pack and I get by with fewer changes of clothes.

Now you just have to decide what you travel for. I travel first for pictures, then for everything else. If you are after a "Photography" trip, pack everything you think you might like. If you want a nice camera with a few limitations but which still has the ability to to capture great images an not destroy your back, pack your Nikon and the 18-200.

I hope I helped.

Rob

Mom Says Im Running Away

I use a 25-120 VR Nikon and a 100-300 Nikon. If I had less, I would have missed some awesome wildlife shots and some great cityscapes. If you do a lot of traveling, like lifting weights, the gear feels lighter as time goes on.

Anyone use two bodies?

I would stick w/ 2 lenses. Typically if you are in a place for a few days you can walk around w/ the lighter, easier lense. Then if you notice a great shot but need the other one you can go back the next day w/ the heavier lense and get the shot.

As far as 2 bodies - no way. Left that idea behind w/ the wedding photography business. However i do bring a really good point and shoot camera as well - it's small, great for night shots and easy to pull out on a bus, etc and not be stared at. I would never travel w/out it personally.

For me, i like the most basic camera systems out there. OUt of all my expensive film cameras i still like my simple pentax the best and always have thought that my best images have come from that. However, i could never have used it for weddings, etc - it's just too slow. That being said i'm still looking for a nice plain, simple digital SLR w/out too many whistles - can't seem to find it!!

The Nikon 18-200 VR is really a fantastic one lens solution. It has saved my butt many a time when I could only bring one lens.

The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR was favourably reviewed on dpreview.com. This was my main reason for going with such a large and relatively slow lens, but I've been quite happy with it so far. No traveling yet, since it's only a week old, but I've been carrying it around town every day and have been quite pleased with the versatility and performance.

Next on my list is the Nikon 50mm f/1.4D for low light and portraits. I know a lot of people prefer a longer lens for portrait work, but I like the interaction I get with a 50mm. The shallow DOF is also a big plus for me. Anything larger than a 50mm and I'd start to question the weight, but that's something I'm willing to carry for the less than majority of the time I'll want to use it.

I think it's important to narrow down what type of travel photos you like to take, and to then filter down what you can afford not to bring, and what absolutely must come in the bag!

I've got an 80% rule for gear of any kind. Buy or bring what will work for 80% of the scenarios you're likely to encounter. Yes, you'll lose the top and bottom ends of performance, but that's what compromise is all about.

I guess my problem is I still don't know what my style is.

Day to day I use my trusty 50mm, but I also have a 28-105mm macro lens which I whip out quite often. The only problem is that lens is sloooooow.

Don't use the 70-300mm too much and I reckon I'll actually trade that for the 18-200 which seems much more versatile.

Argh.. decisions.. decisions...

After taking our SLR out to Elk Island National Park last weekend, I'm already wishing I had a telephoto. Nothing fancy, just want the Canon EF-S 55-250 F4-5.6 IS. We saw a few bison while in the park, one blocked our path for a good 10 minutes. But because we didn't want to get too close, the 18-55 that we had just didn't let us get a good shot of him.