UWA for New York??

teddyt72

teddyt72

Suspended / Banned
Messages
367
Name
Eddie
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all,

I'm due to go to NYC for the first time in 3 weeks time. I'm currently deciding what kit to take with me to get the right balance between portability and convenience and making sure I get some good shots / not thinking "with I'd brought XYZ".

I am considering buying an UWA (mostly likely Sigma 10-20) but I don't have a lot of cash at the moment - not sure whether I'm just trying to use the trip as an excuse to buy more camera gear or whether it'd actually be a really useful bit of kit for the trip.

I currently have a Canon 40D and the following kit

Kit I think I'm taking:

Sigma 17-70mm
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Kit I'm probably leaving at home:

Canon 70-300mm

Would an UWA like the Sigma 10-20 really be useful, or will I just be wanting to change lenses too often and should just stick with my 17-70mm and stick on the 30mm 1.4 when I need low light shots or some funky portraits?

One option given that funds are tight could be rental for the week (not sure if UK rental places allow you to take abroad, will check this out). I can get the Canon 10-22 from fixation for £60 a week.

Would be good to hear your thoughts, especially people who have been to NYC or done a lot of travel photography in general.

Many thanks,
Eddie.
 
I went a couple of years ago and the 10-20 was virtually the only lens I used, it was ideal. I also had a 35mm 1.8 and 70-300 but they didn't get much use at all, all of my best pics were on the 10-20. Highly recommended!
 
Standing on Liberty Island will give you a good view/panorama of the NYC skyline.
Greenwich Village for candid people shots would be quite good.
Subway/Underground always interesting for moody shots maybe?
There is of course the usual stuff like Central Park, yellow cabs, Hudson bridge...all been well overdone over the years, but have to be done again:lol:
They have the lightship as well (names escapes me but it's well known just have a google), and is interesting down that part of the harbour maybe early morning? Especially if its a bit foggy....

Architecture, plenty of 1930's stuff Empire State etc all the obvious, Chrysler building, but Guggenheim museum is a bit different and probably worth a quick look with the camera.

Diners are always good for early morning pics and plenty of activity going on....

I've been a few times, and a lot of places around the world, it's just a shame i did it all AFTER i got into photography!!:bonk::lol:
 
...mean to say, I recently got this book (althought about half the price just 3 months ago???)....might be worth a look though, very very interesting and covers about the last 100 years i think it is....it's one of them that actually dents my confidence when I see so many talented photographers :lol:

It's a big and thick, and high quality....:thumbs:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-York-Po...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333356165&sr=1-1
 
I've got the Sigma 10-20mm and really like it.

For me, with the fairly limited use it gets, it wasn't worth the extra money for the Canon.

See my sig for some shots taken with the sigma

Enjoy yourself over there :thumbs:
 
Just to add my 2p worth. I owned a 10-20 for a few weeks and I was a bit dissapointed with it. I compared it with a friends 10-20 and a Canon 10-22 and I found the 10-20 soft, even when stopped down. If you want the wide angle look and sharpness I have been informed that the Tokina 12-24 is the best bang for buck, but even then the Canon 10-22 can't be beaten!
 
why not buy one while out there if you feel the need, normally a lot cheaper
 
Take my word for it you really do NEED an UWA lens for New York (especially Manhattan)

If you don't take one you'll miss so many shots ad you'll be kicking yourself when you get back.

I have tried the Sigma 10-20 in various fittings and always been very impressed with it. Why not buy used? At least that way when you get back you can sell it without a loss if you don't need it after NYC

Most of all have a great time - it is a fabulous place!
 
Thanks all - I think I'll just go for it and buy a 10-20. That's what credit cards are for hey! And it is not quite a trip of a lifetime but I won't be going back in anytime soon so should make the most of it.

Skiwiz - I've thought about buying there but don't really want to drag my family round camera shops so I might just get a 2nd hand one here.

Anyone got one for sale?! Haha.
 
teddyt72 said:
Anyone got one for sale?! Haha.
Click to expand...

Have a look in the classifieds here, I'm sure I've seen one for sale recently
 
Hi Eddie. Im just back from new york last thursday. Using a crop sensor nikon, had a 18-55, 10-20 and 55-300 with me. 55-300 never out of the bag, 10-20 just used once on the rockefeller tower and the 18-55 used every day. Found it wide enough for everything, from brooklyn looking across to manhattan i had to zoom in a bit. Did helicopter ride, circle line boat cruise, staten island ferry etc all with the 18-55.

Phil
 
I'd still be tempted to get a UWA.

Years ago we went to NYC for our honeymoon and a friend wouldn't let me go there without lending me his UWA. He was adamant I'd miss too much without it - He wasn't wrong! 17mm on my 35mm film camera was amazing, and I used it constantly. Best wedding gift ever! I realise every photographer has a different view on things, but I'd suggest getting a 10-20 secondhand. If you're not using it when you return you could always sell it?

I still have two B&W prints hanging in my house from that holiday using the UWA!
 
I've done a couple of trips to NY in the last couple of years - first time I went I took my 24-105 and found it too long on my 450D. I went up to B&H Photo and bought a Tokina 12-24 which stayed on my camera for the rest of the trip.

When I was there in Jan of this year, I took the 12-24, 24-105 and 50 f/1.4 for my 7D. Don't think my 50mm came out of my bag in the end (if it did, then literally only a few pics taken), the 12-24 was used about 70% of the time.

Some really good places to shoot - try heading over the bridge to Brooklyn as its definitely got some good characters for candid street portraits as well as some great views of Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights

If you want shots of the city, Rockafella is better than the Empire State - best time to go up is about 30-45 mins before sundown - that way you can shoot both day and night panoramas
 
Since buying the Canon 10-22mm lens about 10 months ago, I have to say that with my activities (mountaineering, climbing and sightseeing), it spends about 2/3rds of the time on for those purposes. I've got the 17-55 f/2.8 for everyday use, but if I can only take one lens with me and it's more of a cityscape, I'll probably opt for the UWA (it's also lighter than the 17-55). I know this works both ways, but it's usually possible to zoom a bit with my legs if need be, but sometimes, you just can't step back to get the shot you want.
 
I went to New York for the first time in October (fantastic; brilliant city, you're gonna love it!) and I found I had my general purpose 16-105mm on my camera nearly 100% of the time. I brought my 11-18mm UWA with me, and put it on the camera a few times, but I'd always find something I wanted to zoom in on, and the last thing I wanted to be doing was stopping and changing and fiddling around with lenses constantly. Being your first time, you may find the same; I just wanted to enjoy the city without the aforementioned fiddling and worrying about which lens is right for each situation etc. Just as a guide, the majority of this set was taken on my 16-105mm lens. I'd personally recommend taking something of similar range as I found it pretty much perfect for me as a first time visitor to New York. Any questions, don't hesitate to ask :thumbs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7978334@N03/sets/72157629760141757/
 
Just got back from Manhatten yesterday. My Canon 10-22 was used nearly all the time.
I did use a 24-70 but not much.
The 70-200 never came out of my bag.
If the weather is good, as it was for my visit, then I'd also suggest a polarising filter to make the sky look even bluer(?).
Can I also suggest you take a lightweight tripod; you'll need it for those essential night time shots.
If you have the time go to B&H photo, (an easy walk). You'll easily spend a few hours and an awful lot of money browsing in awe!!!
Make sure you go to Central Park as early as possible (I was running and didn't have a camera) but sunrise over the lakes and trees in blossom was magical.
I've still to sort out my photo's. I had a fantastic time and took literally hundreds of pictures to record our visit.
As and when I get them sorted I'll post a couple.
Enjoy your trip.

Paul
 
I took a 16-85mm thinking it would do the job but it wasn't wide enough:( and i left my 10-20mm at home:cuckoo:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top