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Dreadhead

Dreadhead

Dreadhead

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Joined
1 Apr 2009
Posts
429
Greeting all.

I am off for a year-long trip round South-East Asia come September.
I am looking to spend roughly a grand on new lenses to last me the trip.

I currently have a Canon 600D (With a 1.6x FL multiplier) along with the following lenses:

18-55 standard kit
50 (nifty), f.1.8
80-200, f.4.5 -5.6
28-80, f.3.5 - 5.6

Image quality on the above is mediocre, although I do like the reach on the 80-200.

As I will be backpacking, space and weight is at an absolute premium. I have to account for every last Kilo. I am therefore looking for no more than three lenses to take with me.

Initially I have been thinking of the following:

Canon EF-S 10-22, f/3.5-4.5
Canon EF-S IS 18-200, f/3.5-5.6
50, f.1.8

This combo should give me enough reach on the 18-200 and the wide-angle would be good for the sights.
I have however also had my eye on replacing the 18-200 with a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM. Although the optics would be much nicer (and hell, I just want an L!) I don'y know if I should sacrifice the reach.

Anyway, hoping all you gurus can help with my dilemma :)
 
Canon 15-85 + 70-300(L) would be my combo traveling, typically adding in a 10-20mm. This is mainly or nature, backcountry camping etc.

For cities 10-2xmm, 15-85 and a fast prime, something like 24mm f/1.4 (expensive but right length on crop) or 35mm f/1.8 (on canon mount perhaps the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 but optically it is not as good as the Nikon 35mm f/1.8). 50mm is too long for me on a crop when traveling but would work on a budget.


I can see the appeal of an 18-200mm but you give up quite a lot , very uneven performance that never becomes critically sharp, high distortion and a bigger heavier lens. The 200mm sounds great but for wildlife will still leave you short, a 70-300 works out much better. For cities I find you don't need more than around 85mm on a crop body anyway. The 15mm end of the 15-85 is very useful, may allow you to leave the 10-2xmm behind saving weight, or at least mean you are not swapping lenses so often.


Also consider something like a highly capable compact or a small EVIL camera like a M43 or Nikon 1 - will be much more practical than carrying around a full DSLR. Plus the new m43 bodies will offer better Image quality than your Canon to boot! (unless you are really into shallow DoF but then you would likely have faster lenses and/or a FF body).
 
24-105L would be my personal choice for a general purpose lens. Optics are fab, has IS which is handy, it fairly light and very well built. Would last a good few trips around the world. Perhaps keep the 80-200 for a bit of reach. The 50 because the optics are good and you wont cry too much if you lose it (cheep cheep lol). But 24-105 gets my quote 100%...
 
My ideal travel setup would be a fast 28 or 35mm lens (18 or 24mm for crop) on a single body, with maybe a moderate tele (85mm or 105mm). Last time I went to Asia I mostly stuck with a 35mm and sometimes used a 75mm on medium format (which would equate to 50mm on full frame). Gave my images a nice consistent look, plus it wasn't a chore to carry. This blog entry echoes my thoughts too: http://kenshukan.net/john/archives/2009/12/30/travel-photography-by-photographica/
 
Raymond Lin said:
Year long trip, 600D.

Tamron 17-50/2.8. Done.

But that's just me, take the 50 if you want a back up lens.
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I'd go with that and possibly a cheap small telephoto, remember you've got to carry this stuff around for a year and I reckon you'll get far more enjoyment out of a lighter single lens setup than you will out of lugging around loads of glass that you hardly use.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Year long trip, 600D.

Tamron 17-50/2.8. Done.

But that's just me, take the 50 if you want a back up lens.
Click to expand...

This!

Get the Non-VC Tamron. Gave the gf my old one along with a 650D and I was shocked how great it performed on our trip to Japan and around China a few weeks ago.

If you really want a telephoto then pickup a Canon 55-250mm for about £80 2nd hand as the IQ is farily good and it's tiny, so great for travelling.

NO other lenses!!!!

Don't forget you'll have spare abtteries, loads of memory cards, HDD for backup etc etc so weight will add up quickly. You want to enjoy your holiday as much as you can, NOT spend all your time viewing it through a lens!
 
-Ad- said:
If you really want a telephoto then pickup a Canon 55-250mm for about £80 2nd hand as the IQ is farily good and it's tiny, so great for travelling
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This ^, I didnt take mine with me for a recent trip to New York, why I dont know because its so light and compact for what it offers, couple this with a Tamron 17-50 will give you 26-400 range inclusive of crop factor.
 
Before you set off you got to accept the fact that you will never get every photo that you want, whether it is too dark, camera was in the bag at the time, just ran out of memory or the subject was too far away.

You will miss photo opportunties for various reasons, so don't be upset about it and don't try to carry every piece of gear you can to cover all focal range. This is why I don't travel with a zoom, why I don't bother with a telephoto for that matter. You accept this is the lens and these are the photos that you will produce. So take the best lens you can afford for that focal length and make it your aim the photos from it are the best that you can take with the limited gear that you have. The end result hopefully will be a year of great photos.

Carrying lots of heavy equipment for such a long time may causing you to resent the gear. You want something to can use all the time and to be honest, I wouldn't want to change lenses on the go, especially when it is dusty outside. So stick with 1 lens and just enjoy your trip and the photos will be a reflection of that, the enjoyment.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
Year long trip, 600D.

Tamron 17-50/2.8. Done.

But that's just me, take the 50 if you want a back up lens.
Click to expand...

Agreed. 17-50 non-VC. Bargain lens.

I team mine with a 70-200mm f2.8 IS II when I'm out and about with photography in mind, but I will happily admit when I want to travel lighter (a lot lighter) and cover all focal lengths, I still use my Tamron 18-270mm VC PZD.

I think I was lucky and good a good copy, but I always find the IQ surprisingly good, even at the long end, with distortion at the wide end is the only real weak point. The IS is the best I've used. Nobody is jealous when I pull it out of the bag, which I kinda like.

I had a few months out of photography when my 40D blew up, just bought a secondhand 50D and have been using the 50mm 1.8 more than anything else. A bit tight for general purpose on a crop, but it's fun to make do, and you can't beat it for low-light value for money.
 
For backpacking with a DSLR, I'd just take one good lens. As mentioned above you'll end up resenting the weight you're carrying otherwise.

If it was me I'd just take a good compact like an LX7, but if you're more serious about your photography for the trip then grab m43 kit for backpacking. I've just taken a G3 plus 12-35mm and 45-200mm on 3 week tour of Vietnam and never ever felt like it was an inconvenience, even taking it to restaurants in the evening. That's the equivalent of covering from 24mm to 400mm on a DSLR and it'll all fit into a relatively tiny bag.
 
Initially, i was thinking my choice would be the sigma 10-20 and canon 24-105L, but i think the Tamron 17-50 would make more sense, the 2.8 will give pretty good low light results. I may have to look into these myself.
 
You also need to factor in the abuse the gear may take, so something "cheap" may be preferable*. The Tamron is a £200 lens so most travel insurance should cover the cost of that. Some travel insurance have a cap on the value of your item and some class "camera" as the lens included so you may be out of luck if you try to claim the body and lens separately, especially if you have a few lenses. You need to check the small prints on that.

Also, get a UV filter, this is a good reason to get one. You won't have time to send any broken lens for repair on your travels. I may even be incline to leave the lens hood at home as well to save space and weight. Lens flare would be least of your worries, plus it is less obtrusive when the camera is hoodless as well, you want as little attention as possible from thieves. Which brings me to your camera strap, replace it with something plain, the "CANON EOS 600D" in bright white and red writing just tell people you are a tourist and how much money you have over your shoulder. Get a leather strap and from behind you and a distance it looks like a strap like any other bag.

I would also find a way of sending your photos back home whilst you are away. i.e. Take 4 x 128G cards with you and post each one back every 3 months back home, as opposed to taking back up equipment which costs money and add weight. Should the worst happen you would only lose photos from a part of your trip and not all of it.

*ok, I don't exactly practice what I preach in this regard but I don't travel for a year either...
 
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You can place most hoods in reverse, Tamron included (I had one) but I still wouldn't bother taking it, I never take it with me. It is something else to lose, makes the lens look bigger than it is (not a good point) and in most situations, more hassle than it is worth. I love flare anyway, it adds character !

Normally I am an advocate for hoods but in this instance, if you have a filter on already and want to be dicrete when shooting, then I would advise against it.
 
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TBH, thinking about if I was in this situation I wouldn't even consider taking my DSLR but my m43 setup that just sits in my jacket pocket. When you are in foreign places any large camera and lens will bring a lot of attention to yourself and will tend to make you more of a target form harmless beggars to pick pocketers.

Something small and discrete will be easier to carry and conceal, use without being noticed, can be locked up in hotel safes etc.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Which brings me to your camera strap, replace it with something plain, the "CANON EOS 600D" in bright white and red writing just tell people you are a tourist and how much money you have over your shoulder. Get a leather strap and from behind you and a distance it looks like a strap like any other bag.

I would also find a way of sending your photos back home whilst you are away. i.e. Take 4 x 128G cards with you and post each one back every 3 months back home, as opposed to taking back up equipment which costs money and add weight. Should the worst happen you would only lose photos from a part of your trip and not all of it.
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Strap is a definite, even from a functional point of view. I find the Joby Ultrafit brilliant if I'm carrying other luggage as you can shorten and lengthen instantly. Also it doesn't get stuck in your collar when you lift to a shooting position, like Canon's always seems to.

Not sure I'd want to trust all my pics to a foreign postal service though! Unless you're taking a laptop and copy to them.
 
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