going traveling which lenses ?

tomkbucks

tomkbucks

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im going to cambodia soon and want to make sure i take the right kit, ive currently got a sigma 10-20, a sigma 30mm 1.4, canon 18-135 and end up taking them all with me, this is quite a lot to lug around.I feel the 18-135 is quite soft and just not quiet crisp enough to want it on all day - its also got no macro which i really miss... Id really like to replace the 3 lenses with just one that will do me the job for my travels, am i asking to much ? i see good things about the canon 15-85 or the 17-55 but worry they will both be to 'short' as i do like the length of the 18-135... i also dont want to get stuck 'wanting' the 10-20 if i feel i need it or the low F number for dof loveliness of the 30mm 1.4... can anyone advise on a good (and worthy upgrade) to the 18-135 that will allow me to 'travel light' without changing lenses ?
 
24-105L sounds like a winner for you! I too feel that 55mm is too short for a walk around lens, even on a crop body.
 
If you want both wide and long, there isn't much choice if you're also going to worry about sharpness in a single lens... IMHO, the 24 of the 24-105 is just too restrictive on crop - especially if you're travelling. Clearly, you may feel differently, but when I was travelling in the US last year I used 24-105 for 80% of my photos, the next 15% were with 17-40 - and I'm on full frame!!

Ms arad85 just used the 15-85 - it never got taken off the 7D (and it got used a lot at 15mm).

Only you can decide what your compromises will be.
 
If you have the 30 1.4 i'd be tempted to take a 15-85, and I'd even consider leaving the 10-20 behind
 
but if i use a 15-85 i will feel its a 'bit to short' i dont want to spend £600 on a lens im going to be disappointed with , has anyone got one and can they comment ? i really want to only take two lenses or its going to be to much to cart around, any advice for 'traveling light ' ?
 
Go back and look at your most used focal lengths from your previous pictures. It will help you decide. Also, don't get hung up on kit, it will end up worrying you for no real reason.

The 15-85 is a cracking lens for the money with good IQ and IS that really works and could well make a difference in the darker places you might visit. The only alternative would be a f2.8 lens (tamron or sigma 17-50 or canon 17-55). You seem to be concerned about the image quality of your current 'all rounder' lens and for that reason I don't think a superzoom (eg 18-200) would suit. For something longer perhaps consider one of the EF-S 55-250 telephotos if you want to keep it small, light and affordable. Otherwise spend a little more and grab a 70-300 IS canon lens for a little more money and weight. Personally, I have a 70-200 f4L and don't find it too cumbersome but some might. Its a great lens but that combined with the 15-85 would take you out of your budget.
 
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I had the 17-40 on my 60d to begin with and it was a great all rounder, but not much in the reach department as you say.

I changed to the 15-85 lens a couple of months ago, and although I havent been out a great deal I noticed a much better range throughout and the clarity was just as good as the 17-40. Havent taken it off the camera since:thumbs:
 
good idea to look at my current shots , i seem to use the 30mm a lot as its my sharpest lens, all my others do seem to be at the 'long end' 135 see this is were i start to get a bit confused and think hummm a 70-200 2.8 would go well in my current line up of lenses - but then id end up taking three lesses !
 
tomkbucks said:
good idea to look at my current shots , i seem to use the 30mm a lot as its my sharpest lens, all my others do seem to be at the 'long end' 135 see this is were i start to get a bit confused and think hummm a 70-200 2.8 would go well in my current line up of lenses - but then id end up taking three lesses !
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Please think about the weight of your kit. Cambodia will involve a lot of carrying of kit. Get good, light lenses and carry the minimum. Get a 'standard' zoom and a small telephoto zoom and perhaps carry one of your primes for real low light situations. A 70-200 f2.8 is by nature and design a heavy beast that may well turn out to be a burden.
 
Yup you have hit hte nail on the head - perhaps i should just take my 18-135 and 10-20? or here is a curve ball to stay 'light' i could take my 10-20 and 30mm and then a decent 'compact camera' for a bit more length..
 
If you want a chanllenge take the 30mm and shoot at just a 50mm effective focal length, could be fun. Otherwise take the lenses that give you the coverage you will use. Either way take the 30mm as you have already said its your most used lens! ;)

Most importantly have fun! :)
 
yup this is why im so confused - the 30mm is looovely its just not quite 'low' enough , id really like to take two lenses so really need to find something that will do the job so i can take the 10-20. If i do end up taking all three lenses i have to cart a bag around :( i prefer my camera on my sling and thats that !
 
It's an interesting dilemma which I'm currently having too. I'm going interailing around Europe for 7 weeks in the summer and trying to work out what I'm taking.
 
A tamron 17-50 non VC then? Good value, well thought of, small and f2.8. It will give you the leeway around 30mm and give good images. Pushing the ISO up a bit to compensate for the difference from the f1.4 shouldn't be a huge problem with the 60d with effective noise reduction software.
 
true , but the 17-50 seems such a small range is also miss my 10-20 with all those lovely wide angled shots to be had! my kit so far for my 'travel' is a 60d body, 2 batterys, 110b+w filter, uv, polarizer, remote, black rapid strap, cloths / cleaning / 4xsd cards / macbook air (this will remain in the hotel when out and about) and a GorillaPod SLR-Zoom ideally i will use a small walkign rucksack and have the camea on my shoulder most of the time - all of this of course is blown out the water if i have to take three lenses...
 
On crop I went everywhere with my 17-55, never felt that I really needed longer or shorter. (I'm on full frame now and really find not having a 24-70/24-120 a big hole in my lens line up)
 
My 2c would be to take the 10-20 for the wide stuff and a 24-105 for the rest (effectively a 35-170). It is stabilised and although not the lightest it isnt heavy really, mine is never off the camera :). If you are taking a daysack for the days out the weight of the 30mm wont notice either!
 
tomkbucks said:
true , but the 17-50 seems such a small range is also miss my 10-20 with all those lovely wide angled shots to be had! my kit so far for my 'travel' is a 60d body, 2 batterys, 110b+w filter, uv, polarizer, remote, black rapid strap, cloths / cleaning / 4xsd cards / macbook air (this will remain in the hotel when out and about) and a GorillaPod SLR-Zoom ideally i will use a small walkign rucksack and have the camea on my shoulder most of the time - all of this of course is blown out the water if i have to take three lenses...
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I meant the 17-50 and your 10-20 to be taken.
 
What 24-105 would u recommend ? I fear I would still end up taking the 30mm and the 10-20 though but agree as a general walk around lens ( coupled with the 10-20) it would tick the box's
 
When I went travelling recently I went for wide zoom (17-40), fast prime (50mm f1.4) and lightweight tele lens (70-200 f4). Which seemed to cover everything I needed on full frame, for a cropped sensor your 10-20 and 30mm prime would replace the ones I took.
 
yup just a bit worried about only taking those two lenses though.. tempting though as its a 'light' bit of kit then,
 
Tough love answer...

Don't upgrade. Take the 18-135 and be done. You have £1000 worth of lenses and a £750 camera already, any one of which can take a life changing shot. Concentrate on what you have, learn it well, miss nothing.
 
i like a bit of tough love , i just feel i want everything.. one lens and thats that, perhaps i need to pack smart and take the three i have and just be happy with the results.. its a shame there is not a good option offered to upgrade the kit 18-135..
 
I took a Sigma 18-250 on my Canon 600D to Antarctica, Iguazu Falls and around Buenos Aires and it covered most eventualities. For the other long range or bokeh shots I used my Sigma 150-500, though it's little heavy to carry around all day.
 
I love using my Tamron 18-270. I bought it especially for travelling but use it as my general, all round lens now. Would definitely recommend it and I'm rarely left thinking I've missed the shot because the lens wasn't up to the job.
 
If there was a lens to do it all, everyone would already own it!
 
We did Cambodia and Vietnam a few years ago and I can highly recommend the Canon 24-105 and I had the Canon 10-22 but the ability to capture some stunning landscapes should not be missed! Also a card reader and some blank dvds....we found some obliging hotels,internet cafes etc that allowed us to back up as we went along and some silicon bags to put in your camera bag to soak up any moisture.
Enjoy, a great country with great people and a truly harrowing history.
 
I think I've personally settled on my Tamron 17-50mm and my Sigma 10-20mm. I thought about investing in a 70-200mm f/4 but can't justify the extra space/weight.
 
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