What to take on holiday

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Hi guys, looking for some advice please. This coming weekend the wife and I are jetting off for a two and a bit week Mediterranean holiday. We will be based in Crete, but have excursions to Santorini, Rhodes and a few other small islands on a 3 day cruise.

My dilemma is what to bring. Whilst the wife loves to "starfish" (my term for laying out in the Sun), she is well used to the fact that I quite often go off exploring and is always cool with that (as I'm not a total sun worshipper - for me one day alternating by the pool then sightseeing is perfect). I have already 100% decided that I'm not taking my full frame Nikon gear. Whilst this would undoubtedly give me the best quality, after using M4/3 for about 3 months now, I'm not sure in the heat I could be bothered carrying a D800 with a selection of lenses around. No, instead I have 100% already decided that my M4/3 system will be the one of choice (after all that's the main reason I purchased it - for holidays and the like). Problem is, I've built up quite a nice M4/3 system, with 3 bodies (one second-hand at a ridiculously low price), and a nice set of glass, but I'm not so sure what to take. I don't want to obviously take it all, as whilst M4/3 is super small and light, if I take it all, it will negate any weight savings over the Nikon DSLR system.

I currently have the following:

Bodies
Olympus OMD-EM1, Panasonic GH3 & Panasonic GX7

Lenses
Olympus - 12-40 F2.8 Pro, 60mm F2.8 Macro, 45mm F1.8
Panasonic - 7-14 F4, 35-100 F2.8, 12-32 Pancake, 20mm F1.7 Pancake, 14mm F2.5, 100-300 F3.5-5.6, 14-140 F3.5-5.6 II

My current thinking is -

Olympus OMD-EM1 (without grip), with the 12-40 F2.8 (which I can see as being the main lens), and accompanied with the Panasonic 7-14 F4 and 35-100 F2.8, which would give me everything from 14mm-200mm (35mm Equivalent) in high quality glass ?

What I'm not sure about is whether to also take the GX7 (which is quite small and light), with the 20mm F1.7 (for low light evening shots) and maybe even the 60mm macro for close ups and portraits ? I did think about taking the 14-140 as a one piece do it all lens, but not so sure I could leave the F2.8 glass at home, (since getting the F2.8 glass, I've hardly used the 14-140) ?

I am probably the most indecisive person in the world so could do with suggestions :D:D ?
 
If I were you I would take both Pana bodies, that way you'd have back-up and full compatibility with the lens selection, which I'd keep as minimal as possible to ensure it would fit into the smallest bag possible.

I bought bridge cameras for these trips - one Canon for a trip to New Zealand, and lately a Fuji X20 which I just take everywhere because I too cannot decide which body/lens combos I should take!

Don't overthink this; whatever you decide will be equally right and wrong. You're going on holiday NOT a photo safari.
 
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Thanks John, except for me, a holiday and a photo safari tend to be the same thing :D
 
I went to Thailand in May and took my GX7 with 20 and 45mm lenses and A7 with 28 and 50mm lenses and only used the GX7+20mm. Its small size, good IQ were all I needed and its silent shutter was there if and when I wanted it. MFT are so compact though you could probably take two with different lenses, one with the 20mm and the other with either 45 or 60m macro.
 
It was hot there (and heating up) when we left last Tuesday, so lightness of kit will be a bonus! You'll probably find that the handbaggage is weight limited - possibly to <5kg too, although ours didn't get weighed either way this year. Wide angles can be needed, there are so many places where footzoom simply isn't an option!

If it's your first visit to the island and especially if you're staying in the Western end of Crete and would like a few pointers to must see spots, drop me a PM. My main tip would be to avoid Malia and New Hersonissos like Ebola (but I'm 50 so have different requirements to some!)
 
Cheers Nod. No we are staying sort of Northeast just a few clicks from Agios Nikolaos - and yes my first visit to the island. Over the years we have been to many of the Greek islands but never here for some reason so looking forward to it.

We are visiting Santorini and Spinalonga so that's why I thought a super wide (my 7-14mm) might come in useful ?

BTW nothing wrong with 50 (I just turned 51 :cool:)
 
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In brief, it's been a while since we stayed East of Heraklion so won't recommend any restaurants etc. in Elounda other than to say that we've never had a bad meal on Crete (and IIRC, even Elounda prices weren't too high). "That end" of the island, I would recommend a visit to Knossos to see the palace (touristy but, guess what - you'll be a tourist!) and a trip along the coast (quite a long trip IIRC) to see the beach at Vai. Apparently even that is now a bit developed but if you can get there early it's not too bad. Having slammed Malia, if ancient ruins are your bag (or even of interest), the palace there is worth a look and is just far enough out of the town to avoid the Brits on the poness who block the streets there.

For some reason (probably Mrs Nod's aversion to even slightly hilly boat trips!) we've never done the Spinalonga trip but have heard glowing reports about it from all who have made the (short) trip across. We did do a day trip to Santorini though (on a small liner so unaffected by the weather) and wouldn't do a day trip by boat again - we'd fly and stay overnight. After a very early start from Heraklion, we had just a couple of hours on Santorini - just enough time to get the cablecar to the top of the cliff and back down and take a trip out to the active island in the middle (Nea Kameni, I think). If/when we go again, we'll do the archaeological thing in a rented car. The sunset from Thira (?) is spectacular by all accounts.

Beware - Crete can be addictive! After our first trip 17 or so years ago, we've been going back every year - twice a year when possible. The Cretans are so welcoming and helpful (although some of the mainlanders who move there for the season are a little less so), the weather is almost guaranteed to be glorious and the food and drink are great. A word of warning though, the wine does not travel well. What is a lovely accompaniment to the local food is rather less of a palate pleaser back here!!! The local rough brandy (similar to Italian grappa or French marc) is called Raki - not to be confused with Turkish raki (if you like Turkish raki, go for ouzo [after a LOT of research ;) we have decided that Ploumari is the best]) or Tsikoudia and the home brewed stuff is better than the commercially available brands. Don't be afraid of it, the warnings about it are usually because people think that they have to finish what's plonked down on the table at some tavernas - often a 200ml bottle...

Enjoy the trip!
 
Great place Crete. Be sure to eat at the restaurants around the small harbour in Rythminon (spelling probably wrong). There is one in particular situated between the harbour and the main beach. Their meeter and greeter was a Brazilian when we were there. Quite a character and gives away lots of free Raki to all customers including to himself. How he remained standing I will never know.

Have a great time.
 
Went to Turkey last year and brought the D800E with a 35 and 85. Didn't fancy lugging heavier lenses about, and I can't think of anything shot-wise on the trip that I missed for not having more reach. Will be taking the same to Spain next week.
 
I think your suggested combination of the OMD-EM1, 12-40, 7-14 & 35-100 is sound.
I would probably also chuck in the 60 mm for good measure.
 
Thanks everyone for their views, especially Nod and Val (wow Nod, you must be the official Crete ambassador :D). Very useful stuff - much appreciated.
 
I wish! Then they'd pay me to go!

To echo Val's comment on harbour front eateries, while they do tend to be tourist orientated, it's worth wandering round the harbours and listening for Greek being spoken - the locals won't eat where the food's not good (and certainly not where it's overpriced!). And Val, don't worry about the spelling of Rethymnon, it varies according to which book, map or road sign you read it on! As does Heraklion (Iraklio, Irakleo et al.)
 
If you can get to Chania on the west side for a day you will not be disappointed it is a fantastic city you will love it, lens wise wide angle all the way.
 
:plusone:

And I can recommend a few restaurants there!
 
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