Multipurpose travel lens

[in2thewild]

Hi,
I'm going on a trip to South America for a few months and would like to know what lens you think would be the best to bring? I'm going to be outdoors mostly in nature (from mountains to icebergs to wildlife parks). I know there's no perfect option here and to capture landscape, wildlife and general photos is probably ambitious but any suggestions?

I'm with Canon at the moment and my camera is 600 D but I'm hoping to get a FF before I leave.

Thanks

 

[JacaRanda]

What lenses do you have already?

 

[Dave442]

My basic travel kit is a wide to short telephoto zoom, a fast prime, and a telephoto zoom. I usually will pick a lens and use that from morning to lunch then lunch to dinner with another lens and then evening, although if your in Argentina the dinner may be at 10 or later. I like three lenses for travel just to be able to switch things up.

 

[480sparky41 41]

A kit lens, something along the lines of a 24-120, 28-200 et al.

 

[The_Traveler]

or take two bodies.

 

[in2thewild]

Thanks. At the moment I have 16-35 mm, 24-70, 50, and 105 mm. I was thinking of getting wither a 70-200 or 70-300 mm. I need to keep them safe though...

 

[robbins.photo]

Thanks. At the moment I have 16-35 mm, 24-70, 50, and 105 mm. I was thinking of getting wither a 70-200 or 70-300 mm. I need to keep them safe though...

70-300 is much smaller and attracts a lot less attention. Believe me, I can walk around the zoo all day with the 70-300 and no one will even notice, but when I mount the 70-200 2.8 I have people stop me and ask me to take pictures for them all the time. They equate the bigger lens with "professional"

Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk

 

[in2thewild]

Oh that's good to know. I definitely want a more discrete lens because I don't want to lose it.

 

[weepete]

I'd take the 16-35mm, 24-70mm and a 70-300

 

[in2thewild]

Thanks. Do you think there's a big difference between the 70-3000 L lens and the non-L lens? The former is a lot cheaper but I'd prefer to get one that will last. Thanks

 

[in2thewild]

Also, Sigma and Tamron both sell really cheap versions of this lens. Do you have any opinion on the lenses? Thanks

 

[robbins.photo]

Also, Sigma and Tamron both sell really cheap versions of this lens. Do you have any opinion on the lenses? Thanks

Well I don't shoot canon, I have however owned and shot both the Nikkor 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 VR (which is regarded as perhaps one of the best 70-300mm zooms out there) and a Tamron 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 VC. Of the two I actually preferred the Tamron. I love the way it renders. The build quality is a bit better on the Nikkor but still I kept the Tamron.

This was shot just recently on my D7100 with the Tamron 70-300 mm VC

20160320 639 by Todd Robbins, on Flickr

 

[SquarePeg38]

Also, Sigma and Tamron both sell really cheap versions of this lens. Do you have any opinion on the lenses? Thanks

I got the Tamron 70-300 recently for a great price and so far I really like it. I bought it specifically for travel to compliment my Sigma 17-70. The OS really locks in focus but the longer range does take some getting used to and I've found that I really have to concentrate on my hand holding technique to be successful. I usually add my 50 or 35mm to those 2, depending on the situation.

 

[PhotoriousMe]

For general walking around not knowing what I will be shooting I usually have the 18-140mm lens mounted. My 70-300mm is another lens I use often if I suspect I will be needing the extra zoom.

Dave

 

[Didereaux]

If you can only have one lens to take on a trip I recommend the
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
. This is a workhorse with a long history of use and praise. We use ours on a 6D and a 7Dii on the 6D you get the full wide angle. Read the reviews, there are scads of them. As I said this is one fo the older Canon lens still being made and for good reason....it is GOOD!

If you really think you will need some more focal length then put a 1.4x extender in your pocket.