[pingflood]

It's tempting.

Last time I was in Europe I went to Paris and brought a bunch of gear knowing I'd want to "make art" as well as document some of the lovely views and places. No regrets there.

But, it is time for another overseas trip. Not sure where I'll be going this time. It is very tempting to go back to the very basics and just bring a single normal or wide lens. Right now I am thinking the 35/2 on the 20D and nothing else. The more "sensible" option would be the 24-105 on the 1Ds2 which would give me excellent low light capability and some flexibility.

But, I look back at my shots from other trips, and notice that the ones I like the most tend to be the simpler ones. Though I got a lot of nice shots of the Louvre and all that jazz from Paris--and I am glad I did--the few that I really cherish were captured with a 10D and 35mm lens.

Those of you who've gone with a very basic setup on trips, have you ever regretted it?

[asdf]

All you need is the Holga.

In my experience, If I take a load of stuff, I don't use anywhere near all of it.
If I take minimal stuff, I always wish there was something else I took. But at the end of the day, I still have fun and take pictures and with minimal kit, at least I don't feel tired from carrying it all.

[Lowell Goudge]

my normal kit for vacations is 4 zooms, two TCs 2 bodies and a flash

this ammounts to the following, all packed into a small lowepro backpack

sigma APO 10-20mm f4-5.6 ex DC
Pentax-FAJ 18-35mm F3.5-4.5
Tamron XR Di 28-75mm F2.8
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX
Sigma APO 1.4x and 2x EX DG teleconverters
*istD and K10D
Pentax AF540FGZ flash

I have travelled "light" on 2 separate occasions, and if yoou consider dropping wild life this can work

This is transported in my breifcase, with the 2 spare lenses in a small camcorder shoulder bag, along with batteries and memory cards
sigma APO 10-20mm f4-5.6 ex DC
Tamron XR Di 28-75mm F2.8
SMC 135mm F2.5
K10D

On a sceond trip I left the 135F2.5 at home and took in its place my 85mm F1.4 plus the SMC-F 1.7x AF TC. this gave me the option of a very fast lens and with the TC a still respectible medium tele at F2.5

both worked very sell, but I found I used the 85 more than the 135 so I would take it again along with the TC


The real issue is you don't need a big bag to carry it all, because when you are out and about, the camera and one lens is in your hand, all you need do is have a small bag to carry the other 2.

ps, first "minimilist" experiment was to prague, second was to paris

[Mallee Boy]

Oh yes, the perennial question.

It really does depend on what you think you will be photographing and how close you think you are likely to get to your subject, as to whether you start packing long lenses which take up space & weight.

I have become a fan of the minimalist approach, although my version of minimalist and yours could differ greatly.

If I was doing an oseas city orientated trip I would be packing my K20D, DA 21, FA 43 & DFA 100 in my Delsey shoulder bag, along with my Gitzo light weight monopod with its own ball head (doubles up as a very handy walking pole).
My wife would be packing her K200D & Pentax 17-70.

The only other lens I might consider would be the Tamron 70-300, but then I would probably leave the DFA 100 home (but I love that f2.8 in tricky light). The advantage of this is that if the better half & I can work as team, then we cover 17-300, with the 43 in the pocket for low light. But each sees things differently so some opportunities are missed with this approach.

As I said, the perennial question.

Good luck with it
Grant

[pingflood]

All you need is the Holga.

Oh, believe me, it could be fun. But I'd probably want two of them, one loaded with fast (1600) and one with slow (50-100).

Some days I do wonder if I should just buy a pile of Kodachrome and bring the OM2 too.

[Lowell Goudge]

Although this goes against the DSLR approach, my normal business travel does not include any of my DSLR stuff.

I take a kodak dx7590 5 mp bridge camera. it has a 38-380mm (effective) F2.8-F3.8 zoom

I have a set of close up lenses and a .5x front adaptor, so I cover 19-380mm effective.

That is light.

I've been thinking that a K20D, DA 55-300mm + DA 21mm kit would be my carry-around-in-a-smallish-bag kit. I already have the first ones but don't seem to be able to find a 21mm pancake for a reasonable price anywhere. Bummer.

[pingflood]

Decision made:

1Ds2 + 24-105 + 85/1.8
Leica IIf with 50mm Summar

[bymy141]

In cities and indoors photography, you need wide to standard f length, plus large apertures. Your sigma zoom should do best.
A 12-24mm plus 16-50mm or 17-70mm come more into use than the long lenses IMHO.
Perhaps an opportunity to extend you LBA?

- Bert

[asdf]

In cities and indoors photography, you need wide to standard f length, plus large apertures. Your sigma zoom should do best.
A 12-24mm plus 16-50mm or 17-70mm come more into use than the long lenses IMHO.
Perhaps an opportunity to extend you LBA?

- Bert

17-70 ~ 24-105 on full frame F.O.V.-wise.

[schmik]

Nahhhh too much. One camera and one lens! Take a holiday and take some pics when there are pics to take..... too much gear makes you search for the shot. With minimal gear the shot just jumps out at you.

Sure you'll miss the other gear but you also have a holiday. Part of that holiday is a holiday from all your gear. Take time to smell the roses while on your break. Travel light and have fun!

mike