Canon Full Frame for Travel - One lens or three?

ukaskew

ukaskew

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,839
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm about to become a 5D owner and the majority of my photography is/will be travel based, with the occasional car shoot thrown in. I've been looking at second-hand gear and I'm torn between a couple of options (second hand, the options work out at pretty much exactly the same cost)...


1. Canon 24-105 f4 L

or

2. Canon 20-35 f3.5-4.5, Canon 50mm f1.4 and Canon 85mm f1.8


I really enjoy shooting with fast primes, but there is an inconvenience factor in having 3 lens instead of 1 obviously. I'm not a pixel peeper by any stretch of the imagination, so subtle differences in quality won't bother me a great deal.

My head says the 24-105, my heart says the 3 lens option. The other positive with the 24-105 is that in the future I'm more likely to be able to 'impulse buy' the primes (as they don't cost a huge amount each) to compliment the zoom when I want/need a faster lens.

Does anyone have any advice that could sway me either way? I've had 6 years of shooting with Nikon and 1 year with Micro Four Thirds so at the moment I'm just spending hours researching but largely just going round in circles.
 
I personally wouldn't bother with a big fat and heavy f4 zoom, f4 is no fun. I'd go for the Siggy 50 and 85mm f1.4's, and I did. They may be more expensive than the Canon's but I've no doubt they're better.

I also have the 20-35mm and although it isn't the worlds greatest lens it's compact and light and has USM.
 
Ask yourself how often you'd be shooting at less than f/4? For travel, probably not very often, if at all.

If it was me, I'd take the 24-105 - a purpose-built travel lens if ever there was one - and a fast prime (say a 50mm f/1.4) for the odd occasion when you'd need to shoot wide open in low light. The 50mm f/1.4 (or even the f/1.8) is light and won't take up much space.

Quality-wise, there really isn't much between prime lenses and L zooms :)

A.
 
24-105L is my choice for travel, mine stayed on my 5d2 most of my trip to Malta last year. I took my 100-400L with me but it never went on the camera. I shot a few with my 17-40L but not many.

f4-5.6 never bothered me because the lens has a 2 stop IS system so even in some very dark situations I managed.
 
rdh said:
I'd take the 50/1.4 and be done with it :)

Consider it a challenge - you'll learn a lot.
Click to expand...

Pretty good advice. I remember a Nat Geo article where a photographer went on assignment to India with just such a combo. Got a great set of pictures.
Make you really think about things. Something most of us would benefit from.
 
I recently went through this dilemma, albeit with a Nikon D700, and ended up taking a load of lenses.

What a waste of shoulder weight that was, if I didn't have an issue with the camera I wouldn't have used any other lens than a small 35mm, as it was I had to use a 50mm prime for all my shots.

Next time I'll just take 1 or 2 primes.
 
First of all, what did you use on Nikon? One lens or 3?

I mainly do travel/car stuff these days and my most used lens is my 50mm f1.4, I have done a few trips where it's the only lens used, it has the advantage with the 5D of being fairy small and discrete and fits into a small bag.

However, on trips more aimed at photography I'll take something wider and something longer too.
 
24 - 105 no contest when traveling
 
rdh said:
I'd take the 50/1.4 and be done with it :)

Consider it a challenge - you'll learn a lot.
Click to expand...

That would cover a fair number of eventualities, and be capable of some superb results.
 
Another vote for the 24-105mm but with the 50mm 1.4mm, just in case.

Ian
 
you don't say what your end use of the pictures will be but both car and travel i'd presume you'll be shooting larger than f4 so along with the versatility of the 24-105, its weather sealing for unpredictable environs, overall weight plus giving away only 4mm on the wide end, it's another vote for the L. the 50 1.4 is quite a light, small lens by comparison and perhaps should you need a shallower dof then maybe you could think about popping that in your handbag too?
 
Can't comment on the lenses as I'm a nikon person.

However went to Paris/Disney and Scotland recently. Took the lot (whell you never know) only leaving the m42 lenses behind...

Ended up using the 35mm for most shots, 50mm occasionally and the 11mm-16mm for a few shots (just to get it all in).

Day 1 in Paris looks like 90% 35mm... :)
Rest is still to process.

But I don't own a zoom, didn't get on with them... :)

Essentially take what you need. if the zoom covers most - take that, compliment it with a nice fast lens (night shots) and maybe a wide lens (to get it all in).

1 camera and 3 lenses (max)... should n't be too heavy.. one lens on your camera, carrying the other two...

Enjoy your trip!
 
Thanks for the responses, we usually manage several trips a year, New York for a week every year and then something a little different (Hawaii, Vegas and San Francisco for 3 weeks this year)? End use is usually a very large photobook (personal use) and quite often family/friends buy a large canvas or something.

As for what I've used before, pretty much different every time, but usually a mix of primes of varying lengths but I've never settled on a particular length, I just work with whatever I have at the time. I've never had a 'travel zoom' before so I'm leaning heavily towards primes at the moment.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top