I would definitely go with the 16-50/2.8 and the 50-135/2.8. They're
fast and perform as well as most primes. You get good coverage with
fewer lenses. The 26-50 will give near macro focus for details.
Paul
On Mar 21, 2009, at 1:23 AM, Stan Halpin wrote:
Re-visiting a topic that has been discussed off and on before on the
list...
In 3 weeks or so I will be going to Rome with my wife for a short
week. (5.5 days on the ground.) I am trying to decide what camera
gear to take with me.
Some considerations:
a. Most of what I take should fit within a smallish LowePro day pack
(sorry, I don't know the exact designation) which has a separate top
compartment with slot for my laptop plus room for a bit more. With
careful packing, using both the bottom and the day-pack section I
can fit in 4+ lenses, and one camera body, and one camera body with
vertical grip. This is my carry-on. Which also needs to contain my
iPod, a book, and large bundles of cash. Let me know if you have any
large bundles of cash lying around.
b. My usual procedure is to carry two bodies with me. One in my hand
with a primary lens, a second with shoulder strap with secondary
lens. Because my alternate lenses are in the backpack, I usually
only change lenses with a major change in venue. Last weekend, for
example, my brother was visiting and we toured a 19th Century woolen
mill. I had the 16-50 on my primary camera, my brother's 12-24/4 on
my secondary camera.
c. I prefer auto focus. I prefer faster lenses. I often focus
manually, but there are times I just let the camera do its thing. I
can't see well enough to focus manually in dim light, but often the
cameras cannot either.
d. I like to take detail shots (e.g., the pediments on columns or
the friezes on buildings.) But I also want the broader context shots.
e. I may wear a photo vest, the pockets are large enough to
accommodate some of the smaller lenses, but once I dismount a larger
lens, I need a place to put it besides the vest pockets.
f. We'll be going to at least a few venues where photography is not
allowed and backpacks etc will need to be checked. It seems more
secure to check one bundle (i.e., day pack) rather than a handful of
camera bodies and lenses. So what I carry on a given day needs to
all fit within the pack even though most of the time the two bodies
plus two lenses would be out of the pack.
What I have to choose from:
14/2.8
21/3.2
43/1.9
A50/1.2
A50/1.4
77/1.8
100/2.8 Macro
K135/2.5 or M135/3.5
16-50/2.8
50-135/2.8
Some longer lenses that I am not considering for this trip.
Options I have thought of:
1. 16-50/2.8 + 50-135/2.8
a. good coverage of pretty wide to fairly long with good quality.
b. but neither fits well in the day pack for travel or when
checking them at the museum entry.
c. and if I mount these two for an outing, I am pretty much stuck
with them unless I return to the hotel room and swap them out for
primes.
2. 21mm + A50/1.4 (or 43/1.9) (or 50/1.2) with the 14mm and 77mm or
100mm or 135/2.5 in my pocket if I need a wider or longer lens
a. I lose the ability to frame shots that I have with the zooms
b. both 50's and the 135 are manual focus.
c. less weight, bulk, but the 135mm is a substantial chunk
3. One body with just the A50/1.2 or A50/1.4
a. I lose the wide angle capability
b. manual focus
c. simplicity!
4. Buy a 12-24/4, use this plus either 16-50 or 50-135 depending on
venue. Or use it as a substitute for the 14mm in option 2.
a. the 12-24 is another heavy bulky lens
b. but it wouldn't be that different from carrying the 14mm, and
gives me a broader range.
5. Buy a 55/1.4 to slot into option 2 or 3 in lieu of the 43 or 50mm
alternatives.
Options 1 or 2 seem to make the most sense but I am having trouble
deciding. My usual practice is to resolve such dilemmas by taking
along too many lenses. Which weigh me down without often being used.
Options 4 and 5 would be consistent with my life membership in LBA.
Options 2, 3, and 5 give me the capability of walking the streets at
night with one body and a smallish reasonably fast lens.
I am leaning at this moment to Option 5 with 14, 21, 55, 77, and 135.
Your opinions? On the listed options or other variants?
stan
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