Honeymoon kit advice please!

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Migroo

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Hi guys

I'm going on Honeymoon in October and want to plan what camera kit to take. We're going to Australia and Japan and won't have the chance (or money!) to return there for years to come. I'd like to take some photos to preserve the memory.

I'm 99% sure that I'll take my DSLR. Question is, with limited room, what lenses to take? I'm pretty sure I only want to take one lens.

I've got an 18-50mm Sigma F2.8 which I love, but can't help feeling that its missing a little at the long end.

Question is, do the 18-70mm lenses give you 'enough' as a walk around lens, or should I buy something like an 18-200 to cover most of my bases?

I'd be happy to purchase a lens for this occasion, budget say up to £200 for the 'right' lens.

I currently have access to what is in my sig, plus a Canon EF 35-135 (although its not wide enough on my crop body).

Any input welcome :)
 
I have the Sigma 18-50mm EX DC Macro and I find it a great lens on a crop, however if you are finding it a little short maybe you could trade it in for a Canon 15-85mm. These sell for around £400 used, so you could sell you Sigma and add the additional £200(ish) to purchase the lens.
 
Honestly- save the money and enjoy the most of your honeymoon! Anyone lens will have a flaw - not long, not wide, not fast enough- also what if your one and only lens dies on you, or the cam for the matter? DSLR + zoom+prime (not much space/weight penalty) and a decent compact :thumbs:
 
Yeah I'm sure the other half will want to take her compact with her so the dSLR won't be the only camera!

I could bring the nifty fifty, but in all honestly I'm having trouble getting to grips with that focal length on my crop body (effectively 80mm if I'm not mistaken?)
 
It depends what you want to shoot. My Sigma 17-70 OS works as a workaround in most situations (and should be in your budget 2nd hand), but I would want longer for wildlife. Personally if I were you I'd take the 75-300 too. Don't forget you'll have an assistant to carry things :)

Many years ago I did Oz with only a 35-70 on a 35mm film camera. I've just scanned through the pictures, and there aren't many that would have benefited from a longer lens. Just a better photographer.

Kind of related, I found this last night. I'll never think I'm taking too much again :D
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bangladesh-bags.shtml
 
The 18-50 will be fine to behonest ....... maybe stick a prime lens.

Like you said is your honeymoon you don't want to make your wife mad by taking loads of stuff and just take photos and ignore her lol.
 
Thanks for everyone's comments. I'm still in too minds... maybe I just have upgradeitis and this is as good an excuse as any?

I've found a good review on Canon's 18-135mm IS lens:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/18-135mm.htm

This would sort out a bit more length and the IS would probably give me better shots than with my 75-300 as I'm not going to be carrying a tripod around!

Any more views on this?
 
I always go on holiday with 1 lens.

Canon 5Dii with 35mm. Never felt restrictive, if I wanted to zoom, I walk closer. Feel free to take a look at my flickR for samples :)
 
I went to Italy (with the gf) last year and only took the 18-55mm and found it worked a treat. However, it was very bright most of the time so I suggest a polarizing filter if you are going somewhere sunny.

Also, @Migroo, I'm not far from you (Beckenham) lol
 
Thanks for the comments guys

@ SThornton - small world! :D Apparently we're getting snow on Saturday!
 
I took a 5D on my honeymoon with 16-35 and 70-200 just because that was my camera kit that I took out all the time. By the second week I concluded you just need a reasonable compact camera and took out a G series. The main goal is not for it to be a photographic adventure and it's not worth pretending it is or you can become quite unpopular. Have a great time, take some pictures but most of all enjoy yourself is my advice.
 
cmonkey said:
I took a 5D on my honeymoon with 16-35 and 70-200 just because that was my camera kit that I took out all the time. By the second week I concluded you just need a reasonable compact camera and took out a G series. The main goal is not for it to be a photographic adventure and it's not worth pretending it is or you can become quite unpopular.
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+1 for that, from bitter experience!!:)

panasonic GF + 20mm pancake is my standard 'romantic weekend away' kit, unless I get clearance to bring the full gear!
 
I went to Egypt with a 17-50 and 55-250 but I never used the 55-250. There was only once that I wanted to use it but it was too dusty to change lenses. When I went to Jordan I took the 17-50 and a 70-200, again I never used the 70-200.

I used to have the 18-135 and I took this with me on two holidays, its a brilliant travel lens and this is what I would recommend if most of your pictures are going to be in daylight. In low light the focus isn't as accurate and you will probably have to use the flash all the time.
 
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Get yourself a Canon S95! Light and easy to carry.

Note S95 as it fit your budget the new S100 will be over £300.

The good thing is when you return sell the S95 on ebay and you ended up with some funds to upgrade your dSLR kit.
 
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