NYC - gear advice

Spleen Sauce · 12 Feb 2017 at 21:19

Evening chaps. I'm off to New York for 5 days next week for the mrs' 30th birthday. I'm looking for some advice on what photo gear to take from those who have been. I have the following kit available:

Nikon D750
Nikon 24-120 f4
Nikon 50mm 1.8
Tamron 15-30 2.8

Panasonic G80
Panasonic 12-60 f3.5-5.6
Panasonic 25mm 1.7

I'll be doing the majority of the touristy stuff, but also looking for advice on what you'd recommend seeing that'll make for some good shots (outside of the obvious stuff). Considering a helicopter ride, could be a bit different but depends heavily on the weather.

My current thoughts are to take the D750, the Tamron and the Nikon 24-120 which should just about cover everything, though it is a heavy loadout, but should yield the highest quality. As I said, completely open to suggestions though having never been. Cheers.

chongker · 12 Feb 2017 at 23:13

For Times Square, definitely bring the ultra wide.

Shadowness · 13 Feb 2017 at 08:05

My advice.....take as little as you can get away with.

When I was there I had a Fuji X100T. Fixed focal length.....done. No messing about changing lenses all the time or getting distracted.

If I went again, I'd take my X-T1 with the 23mm and 10-24mm. Thats it.

So out of your choices, the Tamron and 24-120mm

Vertigo · 13 Feb 2017 at 21:21

I'm going in June and will be taking my 16-35, 24-70 & 35.

Not planning on walking around with all three, will take one or at most two out with me each time depending on where I'm going.

Derek W · 13 Feb 2017 at 22:06

Spleen Sauce;30497255 said:
Considering a helicopter ride, could be a bit different but depends heavily on the weather.

Its well worth it, I'd recommend FlyNyON with the doors off :eek:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=30258236&postcount=1979

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=30270514&postcount=1983

As Shadowness says, take as little as you can. I took two lenses 24 - 70 (above photos) and a 70 - 200. When you're walking about with it, it will get heavy!

voidshatter · 14 Feb 2017 at 11:02

Since it's to record the party, I would pick the following according to my experience shooting wedding sessions for my friends:

D750 + 50/1.8
G80 + 12-60 f3.5-5.6

Don't swap lens in the field. Anticipate the moves and get to the right spot would be the key.

I wouldn't bother with landscape/cityscape during tourism because that's not the way to make good pictures of that type.

D.P. · 15 Feb 2017 at 20:16

D750 + tamron 15-30 + Nikon 24-120mm. Covers all your bases. you will want the UW + the longer end of the 24-120 . I would be temped to swap the 24-120 for a 70-200 TBH.

Spleen Sauce · 17 Feb 2017 at 23:15

Thanks for all of your advice guys. Have taken the D750 with the 15-30 and 24-120. Have only used the 15-30 so far, tricky shooting conditions in NYC with the high contrast between the buildings, sky and the sun. Finding that if I shoot with highlight-weighted metering I can use the awesome dynamic range of the sensor to recover the shadows in post.