What gear to take on holidays ?

Mike Cash · 03-11-2009, 05:36 AM

I'll be the odd man out and say I'd take the 17-50 and leave everything else at home.

netuser · 03-11-2009, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I'll be the odd man out and say I'd take the 17-50 and leave everything else at home.

Interesting, ... Why ?

Mike Cash · 03-11-2009, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by netuser

Interesting, ... Why ?

Because you stated the vacation itself is the primary focus, and photography second.

The 17-50/2.8 is wide and fast enough for most situations, indoor or out. I suspect you won't find as much need for a longer lens as you might think, that you can certainly have fun and get great photos without one, and that the IQ and MP of the K20D will allow you to crop out some faux telephotos from the 50mm end of the 17-50 anyway, if need be.

Taking just one lens lets the focus remain on enjoying the vacation and not letting your photography get in the way of others with you enjoying it while they wait for you to monkey around with lens changes. Nor do you or they have to carry around all the gear that you think you might use on a particular day. Remember: What is a passion for us can quickly turn into an annoyance for our loved ones....especially if they have to 1) help carry stuff, 2) wait around for us to reconfigure our gear, or 3) listen to us whine about how heavy all that unused crap is halfway through the day.

Hauling too much stuff around just turns into a burdensome chore and detracts from your enjoyment of the vacation. I would just mount that lens and put a spare battery and SD card(s) into my pants pocket.

I've never counted, but I would bet we have more "I took XXX and didn't use it as much as I thought I would" post-vacation comments than we do, "I wish I had also taken XXX" post-vacation comments.

Bactman · 03-11-2009, 08:08 AM

OK, I will stand up and proudly state that I would have loved to carry a 12-24/F4 during all of my vacations. Also, my wife never carried nor offered to tote my gear (I think her purse weighed as much as my Lowepro 200 at times).

netuser · 03-11-2009, 08:46 AM

I'm back to my thinking

ajuett · 03-11-2009, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by netuser

Hi all

Imagine you have a comming 2 week family/kids holiday that will occur on Portugal in some different spots
(Beach, Zoo, family gatherings inside places/homes, Big city street walking, old village places, churches etc)
Also remmember it will be a vacation first and opportunity for photos second.

If you add to carry Lowepro 100 AW slingshot (alternative is a regular backpack), what gear (list above) do you suggest (and why) to take ?

K20D
Spare bateries
Grip
FA 50mm
FA 77mm
DFA 100mm
DA 12-24mm
DA 18-55mm II

Tamron 17-50 f2.8
Tamron 70-200 f2.8
Tamron 70-300

AF540/AF360

(Please don't tell me to buy Tamron 28-250

....)

I did a 2 week road trip (3800KM) with the family last year. I took my DA 14mm, 40mm Ltd and DA 55-300. All fit into the same bag you have, the LowePro 100 AW Slingshot. An ultra-wide is an absolute must, without my DA14 I would have missed 60% of my shots. The 40 Ltd got lots of use and I used the 55-300 more than I thought as well.

If I were you from your list I'd pick the DA 12-24mm, 50mm and the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. You've bought the gear for a reason, i see no point in just 1 lens, especially on a vacation.

**ChrisPlatt** · 03-11-2009, 05:39 PM

Wow, you should hire a bearer for all that gear.

When I go on vacation, I enjoy myself far more with just one camera, one lens...

Chris

netuser · 04-13-2009, 02:50 PM

For my overseas holidays

I will take DA 18-250 (got one, waiting for it to arrive

) and also AF 360. This way I will travel really light with lowepro 100 AW slingshot.

Let me also say that taking into consideration some images that I have been watching, taken with DA 18-250 I will for sure get many keepers with good IQ.

For my holidays "inside", I will take much more lens

Thanks all for the brainstorm

03-11-2009, 06:19 AM	#18
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by netuser Interesting, ... Why ? Because you stated the vacation itself is the primary focus, and photography second. The 17-50/2.8 is wide and fast enough for most situations, indoor or out. I suspect you won't find as much need for a longer lens as you might think, that you can certainly have fun and get great photos without one, and that the IQ and MP of the K20D will allow you to crop out some faux telephotos from the 50mm end of the 17-50 anyway, if need be. Taking just one lens lets the focus remain on enjoying the vacation and not letting your photography get in the way of others with you enjoying it while they wait for you to monkey around with lens changes. Nor do you or they have to carry around all the gear that you think you might use on a particular day. Remember: What is a passion for us can quickly turn into an annoyance for our loved ones....especially if they have to 1) help carry stuff, 2) wait around for us to reconfigure our gear, or 3) listen to us whine about how heavy all that unused crap is halfway through the day. Hauling too much stuff around just turns into a burdensome chore and detracts from your enjoyment of the vacation. I would just mount that lens and put a spare battery and SD card(s) into my pants pocket. I've never counted, but I would bet we have more "I took XXX and didn't use it as much as I thought I would" post-vacation comments than we do, "I wish I had also taken XXX" post-vacation comments. Last edited by Mike Cash; 03-11-2009 at 06:25 AM.

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03-11-2009, 05:36 AM	#16
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	I'll be the odd man out and say I'd take the 17-50 and leave everything else at home.

03-11-2009, 05:50 AM	#17
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mike Cash I'll be the odd man out and say I'd take the 17-50 and leave everything else at home. Interesting, ... Why ?

03-11-2009, 08:08 AM	#19
Bactman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 237	OK, I will stand up and proudly state that I would have loved to carry a 12-24/F4 during all of my vacations. Also, my wife never carried nor offered to tote my gear (I think her purse weighed as much as my Lowepro 200 at times).

03-11-2009, 08:46 AM	#20
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236 Original Poster	I'm back to my thinking

03-11-2009, 10:57 AM	#21
ajuett Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,100	Originally posted by netuser Hi all Imagine you have a comming 2 week family/kids holiday that will occur on Portugal in some different spots (Beach, Zoo, family gatherings inside places/homes, Big city street walking, old village places, churches etc) Also remmember it will be a vacation first and opportunity for photos second. If you add to carry Lowepro 100 AW slingshot (alternative is a regular backpack), what gear (list above) do you suggest (and why) to take ? K20D Spare bateries Grip FA 50mm FA 77mm DFA 100mm DA 12-24mm DA 18-55mm II Tamron 17-50 f2.8 Tamron 70-200 f2.8 Tamron 70-300 AF540/AF360 (Please don't tell me to buy Tamron 28-250 ....) I did a 2 week road trip (3800KM) with the family last year. I took my DA 14mm, 40mm Ltd and DA 55-300. All fit into the same bag you have, the LowePro 100 AW Slingshot. An ultra-wide is an absolute must, without my DA14 I would have missed 60% of my shots. The 40 Ltd got lots of use and I used the 55-300 more than I thought as well. If I were you from your list I'd pick the DA 12-24mm, 50mm and the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. You've bought the gear for a reason, i see no point in just 1 lens, especially on a vacation.

03-11-2009, 05:39 PM	#22
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Wow, you should hire a bearer for all that gear. When I go on vacation, I enjoy myself far more with just one camera, one lens... Chris

04-13-2009, 02:50 PM	#23
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236 Original Poster	For my overseas holidays I will take DA 18-250 (got one, waiting for it to arrive ) and also AF 360. This way I will travel really light with lowepro 100 AW slingshot. Let me also say that taking into consideration some images that I have been watching, taken with DA 18-250 I will for sure get many keepers with good IQ. For my holidays "inside", I will take much more lens Thanks all for the brainstorm