Travel Lenses with the D700

[KmH]

Yep. 3 of the 4 lenses I carried when I traveled were AF-D lenses.

Raybo, l'm 60 years old. I spent 12 days in Colorado last September carrying the gear I mentioned.

Do you smoke, or have any other unhealthy habits ?

 

[Raybo]

Hi KmH...I appreciate your perspective...the only unhealthy habits I have are the ones that Rick Santorum would disapprove of (just kidding)...actually I'm an IronMan Triathlete and recently rode my bicycle across the United States and eat mostly vegetarian. I just like to travel light....just my style. And when things happen in front of me, I like to be prepared to act very quickly...which often happens walking the streets of Marrakesh, Istanbul or Livingstone, Botswana.

Where did you travel in Colorado? - I love it there - a lot of friends in Steamboat Springs.

 

[zamanakhan]

i would take a wide zoom a normal prime and a fast tele.
Mine are 10-24 sigma, 35 1.8 and 80-200 afs

I would like to purchase a tokina 11-16 2.8 as i fell the limits of the sigma often but its just not in the cards right now. I would like to save up for d800 and 16-28 tokina instead.

 

[Raybo]

I truly appreciate all the ideas. Thank you so much! But bringing multiple lenses (some quite large) that have to be stitched together to cover the different situations that will come up almost instantaneously while traveling through the streets of foreign countries (some third world) with my wife at my side, switching lenses in and out of a camera bag slung over my shoulder (with a back pack already on my back because I carry my wife's stuff also) while old taxis are flying through intersections, beggars are asking for a little coin, and trying to avoid the pot holes in the sidewalk, will be a challenge for me. I've already had a brand new DSLR stolen from me in Morocco so I tend to not like to flash a lot of photo bling when I travel. So I'll try to integrate everyone's advice and narrow it down to maybe just two lenses, a zoom and a prime. The more I read about the Nikon 24-120 f4 VR, the more I think it will be my zoom for travel. If anyone is interested, check out the review by Mansurovs Nikon 24-120mm VR Review Unless anyone thinks he's not a reliable reviewer, tell me. Other thoughts?

 

[Nikon_Josh]

I truly appreciate all the ideas. Thank you so much! But bringing multiple lenses (some quite large) that have to be stitched together to cover the different situations that will come up almost instantaneously while traveling through the streets of foreign countries (some third world) with my wife at my side, switching lenses in and out of a camera bag slung over my shoulder (with a back pack already on my back because I carry my wife's stuff also) while old taxis are flying through intersections, beggars are asking for a little coin, and trying to avoid the pot holes in the sidewalk, will be a challenge for me. I've already had a brand new DSLR stolen from me in Morocco so I tend to not like to flash a lot of photo bling when I travel. So I'll try to integrate everyone's advice and narrow it down to maybe just two lenses, a zoom and a prime. The more I read about the Nikon 24-120 f4 VR, the more I think it will be my zoom for travel. If anyone is interested, check out the review by Mansurovs Nikon 24-120mm VR Review Unless anyone thinks he's not a reliable reviewer, tell me. Other thoughts?

I like Mansurovs reviews, I like his site. It's very well put together!

But his reviews are not the most unbiased, I would even say some of his reviews are bordering on being highly biased. I took him to task over the fact that he says the Nikon 50's have better bokeh than the Sigma 50 1.4. He is the only person on the net to say the Sigma is completely inferior to the Nikons! He also states that the 35 1.8G has good bokeh, which is pure BS in my opinion. So take his advice with caution is my advice, the 24-120 F4 VR is a very good lens from all accounts. But his reviews are slightly bordering on fanboyism, so read with caution is my advice. If you can show me anywhere on the site that he dosen't rave on about how good Nikon are, then please feel free to pass it on.

 

[Trever1t]

As far as traveling with too much bling...I traveled Vietnam and Cambodia with all my essentials in a backpack, not a Photography backpack but a nice rugged unit with a laptop sleeve that I found at costco for $30. I cut a 2" piece of closed cell foam to fit the (inside) bottom to protect my body and lenses from shock and maintain rigidity. I Changed the neckstrap to a nameless one, even a small strip of gaffer's tape over the branding on the body. I never had any problem walking around either country with it in my pack or around my neck. I also made sure my insurance was sufficient to cover losses.


I hate to lose a good photo op because I'm ill prepared

 

[zamanakhan]

I truly appreciate all the ideas. Thank you so much! But bringing multiple lenses (some quite large) that have to be stitched together to cover the different situations that will come up almost instantaneously while traveling through the streets of foreign countries (some third world) with my wife at my side, switching lenses in and out of a camera bag slung over my shoulder (with a back pack already on my back because I carry my wife's stuff also) while old taxis are flying through intersections, beggars are asking for a little coin, and trying to avoid the pot holes in the sidewalk, will be a challenge for me. I've already had a brand new DSLR stolen from me in Morocco so I tend to not like to flash a lot of photo bling when I travel. So I'll try to integrate everyone's advice and narrow it down to maybe just two lenses, a zoom and a prime. The more I read about the Nikon 24-120 f4 VR, the more I think it will be my zoom for travel. If anyone is interested, check out the review by Mansurovs Nikon 24-120mm VR Review Unless anyone thinks he's not a reliable reviewer, tell me. Other thoughts?

sorry a ittle off topic but how did u get your camera stolen? i am going there in two weeks and i plan to have a camera bag with me and my d7000. Your post scares me lol.

 

[Raybo]

Nikon Josh - thanks for your input on Mansurvos reviews - greatly appreciated.

Trever - I'm with you on not wanting to miss the photo op - points well taken.

Zamanakhan - Morocco is absolutely my favorite destination over the past 10 years. So totally go for it. I would go again in a flash. The people, clothing, colors, smells, music, calls to prayer, all great experiences. Just never let any of your stuff leave your hand for a minute - not even while sitting on a park bench with your pack literally resting at your side, pushed up against your body - a clever teen snuck up behind my wife and I while we were talking - he reached his hand over my shoulder from behind, grabbed my bag (not a camera bag - just had my camera in it) and ran, quickly getting on his friend's motorcycle after a few strides. The only good part of that day was that I spent the rest of the day in a Casablanca police station filing a report for insurance and that was a fabulous experience all by itself....bullet holes in the windows, police with bare feet typing on a manual typewriter with carbon paper, naked lightbulbs on wires overhead, no doors on the offices...great stuff. Follow Trevers advice on camera bags and have a great time!

 

[Raybo]

Hi Nikon Josh - by the way - the positive review of the 24-120 f4 from Mansurvos was in comparison to other Nikon products such as the 24-70 f2.8 and the 70-200 f2.8 VRll.

 

[djacobox372]

When I travel with my D700, I'll often limit myself to just a 50 and 20mm prime. Both are small enough to fit in my coat pocket. I prefer this combo compared to bringing a f2.8 zoom along, because I'd still want my 50 for the evenings and the zoom doesn't fit in my pocket like a 20mm prime does.

Another side-benefit of this setup is that you don't stand out nearly as much as when you have a humongous super-zoom lens mounted on your camera.

 

[bhop]

... - a clever teen snuck up behind my wife and I while we were talking - he reached his hand over my shoulder from behind, grabbed my bag (not a camera bag - just had my camera in it) and ran, quickly getting on his friend's motorcycle after a few strides....

That sounds almost exactly like that scene in Full Metal Jacket when the guy steals Rafterman's camera.. hah..

With my style of travel photography, I can generally get by with just a couple small things, for instance, last time I went somewhere I just took my 28mm and 50mm (leica). I didn't find myself wishing for something else. In fact, most of the time I was shooting with my x100, which is only a 35mm equivalent.

When i'm using my film Nikons, (F4s, or F100) I only carry the 24mm f/2.8D and 50mm f/1.8D.

 

[davidchurch]

I travel extensively most of the time (i work for a tour company) and I also use the D700, now I just take 2 lenses, the 28-300 and 16-35, and I am completely happy with the shots I get with them, of course the 70-200 is much better, but when weight and convenience are taken into account I don't think so. I can't wait to get the D800, because then with the DX option that will mean with the same two lenses I will have 16-450mm covered with one body and no tele-converters… happy days

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I carry my 70-200 and 24-70 when I travel.

 

[osirus]

usually i have my
D700
14-24 2.8
80-200 2.8
50f1.4
2x tc

sometimes my 14-120 aswell, but i hardly use it.

 

[Raybo]

So I admit it, I do like to travel light. And the idea of the 28-300 and two compact primes is compelling. Now my big issue is whether I buy a used D700 or pre-order the D800. Or both. I have a trip planned to the Middle East in June and want to have a FF set-up with me. I've waited too long to upgrade from my D200. If I can find a decent price on a used D700, I would hold it for a year. By then the D800 will be more readily available (I did not pre-order). Then consider selling the D700 or holding it as a second body. Anybody have other ideas for me?