Travelling, which lenses to take?

[azynazyna]

Hi everyone! The hubby and I are travelling to Mexico for 10 days end of Jan. just wondering if you would have to pick 2 lenses to take which two would you choose? And why. What photos would you be most excited to take/try and which lens would u use to try those photos? This is my first time taking my dslr with me internationally so I'm quite excited to come back with many great photos but thought I would pick ur brains a little to see what everyone's opinions/preferences are.

 

[Mully]

Might be helpful to know which lenes you have or one of us might pick a 1000mm tele

 

[azynazyna]

Lol true true. However the lenses I have don't really matter because I am curious what everyone's own personal choices would be. I have a 50mm 1.4 and a 18-135mm although am considering renting a lens or two for the trip (hence why I am seeing what everyone's preferences are

 

[Mully]

With what you already have rent a longer tele ..... xx to 300mm

 

[Tony S]

If I had to pick two, the 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 I would consider something in the 17-40 range in place of the 24-70 as a recommendation, but not seriously enough to change what I would actually take with me.

BTW, those are the two main lenses I did use when I've traveled (Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia) and taken my other lenses with me. My travel bag had the 17-35, 100mm macro, 24-70, 70-200, and 100-400....90% of the images I took were with the 24-70 and 70-200.

 

[Type1]

For versatility my choice would be the 18-135mm. But personally I'd take both. The 50mm 1.4 is not exactly the largest lens going around. If you were to rent something it'd probably want to be in the telephoto range.... 70-300mm etc.

 

[Raian-san]

Would be nice to know what camera do you have.

If full Frame - 24-105 f/4. and a 35mm 1.4 or 50 1.4. 24-105 give you a good range for a walk around lens and it's pretty light. The 35 and the 50mm is pretty small and great for low light.

 

[dbvirago]

If I had to pick two, the 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 I would consider something in the 17-40 range in place of the 24-70 as a recommendation, but not seriously enough to change what I would actually take with me.

BTW, those are the two main lenses I did use when I've traveled (Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia) and taken my other lenses with me. My travel bag had the 17-35, 100mm macro, 24-70, 70-200, and 100-400....90% of the images I took were with the 24-70 and 70-200.

This if I were going to rent or money were no object and shooting full frame. If you need to work with a smaller budget, then the 24-105 and the 70-200, both f4; both IS. If you have a crop sensor, then you will need to get down to the 17-18mm range, so the 17-55 2.8 IS and still take the 70-200

 

[The_Traveler]

Hi everyone! The hubby and I are travelling to Mexico for 10 days end of Jan. just wondering if you would have to pick 2 lenses to take which two would you choose? And why. What photos would you be most excited to take/try and which lens would u use to try those photos? This is my first time taking my dslr with me internationally so I'm quite excited to come back with many great photos but thought I would pick ur brains a little to see what everyone's opinions/preferences are.

Don't be shy, just tell us what dslr it is and what kind of shooting tou do.

 

[gw2424]

I recommend a 400mm f2.8 IS II and a Canon 14mm f2.8.

What is your budget? Also, what is your camera body?

 

[bratkinson]

When I had my 30D and later 60D, I thought the 18-135 was the perfect all-around lens. Wide enough for even the tightest quarters and yet long enough on the 135 end for when I wanted the reach. I used the 55-250 a couple of times when I really wanted some extra reach, but that lens spent all but 20 minutes or so in the case on a 2 lens (that's all I owned!), 10 day cross-country vacation.

As the OP already has the 18-135, and a fast 1.4 50mm, I'd be perfectly happy to travel with those. Light weight, good IQ and zoom range (7.5x), and reasonably small. The 50 would be perfect for dim lighting without a flash, whereas the 18-135 would definitely need an external flash to get a motion-stopping shutter speed in dim lighting.

With my current gear of mostly L glass, I took just my 16-35 f2.8L and 24-105 f4L IS on a trip to Chicago with my 60D a couple of months ago. I found the pair 'just right' for my needs, especially as I was on foot in Chicago. If I could carry a 3rd lens, I'd add the 80-200 f2.8L "black pipe". However, given the limit of 2 lenses on a trip to a previously unexplored area such as Mexico, the 16-35 would stay home in favor of the 80-200.

 

[Superdaantje]

Last year I went for a round trip to Guatemala, Mexico and Belize. I brought with me the Canon 10-22, 17-55, 24-105, 70-200 f/4 IS. Most of the time I used the 10-22 and 17-55. Never used the 24-105. Some times I used the 70-200.
Why not used the 24-105. Did not like it on a crop body. ;-)

Now my default travel kit is a Full Frame with 16-35 II - 24-70 II & 70-200. Tripod and ND grad filters. Next week I travel to Hong Kong and will bring with me the 24-70 II as kitlens and 70-200 II (the last one will be most of the time in the hotel safe) ;-) Off course I will bring with me the tripod and ND grad filters

 

[Vautrin]

When I travel I bring my sigma 50mm f 1.4 and my zeiss 25mm f 2.8

I shoot full frame (D700) and I find that pretty much covers all ranges of scenes.

 

[xposurepro]

I'd probably take my Nikon 105mm f/2 DC for portraits and details and the Nikon 24mm f/1.4 for larger views.

 

[Buckster]

I guess if I was limited to just two lenses, I'd choose my 24-105 and my 100-400. That would give me the most range and coverage of any combination of two lenses out of those that I have, and they're both very good lenses, from my POV.