Which lens to leave behind

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Ldutch

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Lesley
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I am not a great photographer but have a decent camera - Canon 70D (step up from my Kodak compact). Very rarely off automatic shooting as I am not an enthusiast, merely wanted a better camera and it was a bargain at less than half price for the body due to it being the last one in the shop when PCWorld shut their store and moved in with Currys.

Last year we went to India and I took a EF-S 10-18 f/4.5-5.6 and a EF-S 50mmf/1.8 STM but to be honest, I wasn’t struck on the quality of distance photos so I have invested in a EF-S 55-250 mm f/4 -5.6 IS STM for another trip next month to the other side of the country during which we will be in the low Himalayas and hope to get a brief glimpse of Everest in the distance plus lots of everyday sight seeing.

My concern is that I may not have enough room for all 3 lenses due to hand baggage restrictions, size of camera bag (too small for 3 lenses) and weight for carrying about (I am 5ft on a good day with neck problems).

I could go for a bigger bag and blag it on the plane as other half’s 2nd piece of hand baggage or just leave one lens behind. If any of you were in this position and had to leave one lens behind, which one would it be?
 
You don't always need a longer focal length to get better quality landscape type photos.
The 10-18 focused properly should give reasonable picture quality from near to far if used correctly.

Even with a longer lens you can't expect to focus on something way distant and expect good detail throughout the scene.
I know you said you are not an enthusiast although you must be to a point otherwise you would be using your phone
 
I'd go a different way, and I do :D I'd take a quality camera and a really nice lens and I'd also take a good compact camera for the wider and longer pictures and for when I think my "big" camera is a bit too intrusive. In my case I'd take my Sony A7 and a 35mm lens and my Panasonic TZ100 1" compact.

In your case could you spend the extra and go for a superzoom? Something like an 18-200mm? These lenses are often not seen as the best of choices but I had a 28-300mm years ago and I thought it made a great holiday and day out lens. A superzoom and your 50mm could make a good two lens holiday solution.
 
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This is one mistake a lot of people make, they want to capture it all.

That will never happen, not even if you carry every piece of glass in the world, you will still miss shots. So let that go, then concentrate on what you can get with the lens you have in hand. Know it’s limits and without even putting the camera to your eye you should know whether any particular shot is within those limits. Even try to work your best with what you have for interesting ways and interesting shots.

You’ll come back as a better photographer that way.
 
Personally if I were doing that trip with the kit you have got I would spend a few bob extra and buy another lens
Either something in the 17-85 ish range ( like a canon 15-85) and add that to the 55-250 you already have, an 18-200 or an 18-270 superzoom and take that and the 50mm .
Have a look on MPB you could pick up a 17-85 kit lens for next to nothing or get the far better 15-85 for a bit more or look at the Tamron 18-270's
 
There may be a reason those 17-85's are cheap, it is IMO a load of rubbish :D

I had one and although I liked the zoom range and image stabilisation I thought everything else was average to bad to awful. The 15-85mm does I think get good reviews but that wasn't out when I gave my 17-85mm away, I replaced it with a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8.
 
Don’t want to start a war here and I appreciate the advice but my question was, what lens, if any, should be left behind. I don’t really want to buy another one as I don’t use the camera that often. Just for holidays and trips, perhaps every 2-3 months. I use my phone for opportunistic snaps.
 
Ldutch said:
Don’t want to start a war here and I appreciate the advice but my question was, what lens, if any, should be left behind. I don’t really want to buy another one as I don’t use the camera that often. Just for holidays and trips, perhaps every 2-3 months. I use my phone for opportunistic snaps.
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In that case leave the 50mm at home
 
OK, if you're shooting in low light take the 50 and leave the 55-250mm, if you're not into low light shooting leave the 50mm at home. It's a bit long for general stuff on APS-C IMO.
 
TBH I'd probably leave the 55-250 behind, given that selection. Is the 10-18 bulky? If so, I'd probably try to pick up a decent quality lens with a range 18-55ish IF I had to have the extra reach of the 55-250. *Personally* I'd want a fast compact lens like the 50 for interior & portrait shots.
 
Ldutch said:
Don’t want to start a war here and I appreciate the advice but my question was, what lens, if any, should be left behind. I don’t really want to buy another one as I don’t use the camera that often. Just for holidays and trips, perhaps every 2-3 months. I use my phone for opportunistic snaps.
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It’s hard for people to avoid saying what they personally would do or buy. I think you should take all three since they don’t overlap at all.
 
Ldutch said:
Don’t want to start a war here and I appreciate the advice but my question was, what lens, if any, should be left behind. I don’t really want to buy another one as I don’t use the camera that often. Just for holidays and trips, perhaps every 2-3 months. I use my phone for opportunistic snaps.
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I'd take all three since they server distinctly different uses. But tbh if it were up me I'd not take 70D at all if size is an issue. There are better smaller options these days :)
 
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I took advice from people on here before buying the 55-250 so it would seem a bit churlish not to take it on this trip. Following up on Sphexx’s reply, there is no way I can get 3 lenses plus camera in my camera bag but i will be using a smallish backpack type handbag so could possibly get a stout carrying case for the 50mm as it is the smallest of the 3 and put it in my handbag on the plane. So I am off to look on the net for a good carrying case.
 
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