Planning for US trip

matt · #1 10-11-2009, 03:48 PM

Hi all.

I'm starting to put some thought into my 6-week travels around the US next year.

I'll most likely be travelling through October and the first week or so of November. A deliberate choice to catch 'Fall' in the US, and the beautiful photographic opportunities it will present.

I don't want to lug around the full photo bag on this one, like I did in NZ...so I'm thinking what's the bare minimum I can get away with without limiting myself too much?

I'm taking the 40D...and my lens collection at the moment is 17-40L f4, 50mm f1.4, 24-70 f2.8L and 70-200mm f4L.

In between now and then there's a chance I may buy and sell a few lenses...I'm really keen on the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX for a genuine wide angle lens on the cropped sensor 40D...for those amazing canyon/desert shots.

And what to use for the majority of my walkaround shooting? I don't fancy lugging 'the brick' (24-70) around all the time. It's a beautiful lens, but weighs in on close to a kilo!

I'm thinking I might offload it for a 24-105L...seeing as how I don't really need the extra speed of the f2.8...

Or would it be lunacy to own both the 24-70L and 24-105L?

And I suppose I could also take the 70-200...but then that's 3 lenses, camera body...and assorted bits and bobs.

Your thoughts?

Octane (Humayun) · #2 10-11-2009, 06:09 PM

If you do decide to sell the 24-70mm f/2.8L, let me know.

Regards,
Humayun

troypiggo (Troy) · #3 10-11-2009, 06:13 PM

Ooh, I love these questions, living vicariously through other people's bank accounts.

Except for the last couple of times I've travelled, I always took a longer lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 "just in case". Never used it. Now I leave them at home unless I know I'm going to a zoo, or something like that.

I find I always want wide. Real wide. And a standard lens. Haven't used it, but that Tokina 11-16 reviews nicely and I'd consider it. I have the Canon 10-22, but would probably get the 11-16 or maybe a Siggy 10-20 or so if I had my time again.

I had "the brick" myself. Loved it, but didn't quite suit the range I wanted so sold it for the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Love it.

Now my travel kit is the 40D, 10-22, 17-55, and that's it. Tripod, flash, timer remote, rocket blower, lens tissues, CPL filter, charger, spare batteries and cards. Done.

I'd be very jealous if you got the 11-16. Read a lot of good stuff about the 24-105, but can't see myself getting one. Another reason I sold the 24-70 was that for a standard/walkaround lens it wasn't wide enough. For me. Your style might differ.

matt · #4 10-11-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

If you do decide to sell the 24-70mm f/2.8L, let me know.

Regards,
Humayun

What would you do with your 24-105?

Any suggestions for my trip?

matt · #5 10-11-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Ooh, I love these questions, living vicariously through other people's bank accounts.

Except for the last couple of times I've travelled, I always took a longer lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 "just in case". Never used it. Now I leave them at home unless I know I'm going to a zoo, or something like that.

I find I always want wide. Real wide. And a standard lens. Haven't used it, but that Tokina 11-16 reviews nicely and I'd consider it. I have the Canon 10-22, but would probably get the 11-16 or maybe a Siggy 10-20 or so if I had my time again.

I had "the brick" myself. Loved it, but didn't quite suit the range I wanted so sold it for the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Love it.

Now my travel kit is the 40D, 10-22, 17-55, and that's it. Tripod, flash, timer remote, rocket blower, lens tissues, CPL filter, charger, spare batteries and cards. Done.

I'd be very jealous if you got the 11-16. Read a lot of good stuff about the 24-105, but can't see myself getting one. Another reason I sold the 24-70 was that for a standard/walkaround lens it wasn't wide enough. For me. Your style might differ.

Thanks for the constructive/helpful response, Troy?

If I get the 11-16, which is highly likely, and I get along to one of the BIMBO meet-ups...I'd be happy to let you check it out.

troypiggo (Troy) · #6 10-11-2009, 07:10 PM

Meant to ask where you're going. If you're going for 6 weeks and are anywhere nearby, you must go to Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. I nearly cried when I stepped off the bus at the edge of the GC it's so magnificent. And Las Vegas - you have to go there to understand how mind-blowing that place is - excess on top of excess.

They're the only places I've been in US - LA, Vegas, G/Canyon, Seattle. Snowboarded across British Columbia a bit. High on my list if I ever get back there is Niagra Falls, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon - all those huge national parks. New York I suppose. Deep south - New Orleans.

matt · #7 10-11-2009, 07:36 PM

Yep.

Touching down in San Fran...a few days there to explore and take in the Napa Valley and Yosemite etc

Then off to Vegas and the Canyon, Monument Valley etc

We're then planning to fly north to Yellowstone, and drive a little around Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, before landing in New Orleans for a few days.

Then it's off to New York, which we'll use as a base for trips to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington.

It's a big zig-zag across the States. Should be good.

Octane (Humayun) · #8 10-11-2009, 07:38 PM

I'd keep the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. It's my workhorse during weddings. I wouldn't mind the extra stop for indoors, though.

I'm thinking of getting rid of the 17-40mm f/4L USM and upgrading.

Regards,
Humayun

troypiggo (Troy) · #9 10-11-2009, 07:42 PM

That's a great trip you've got lined up. Jealous as anything.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #10 10-11-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Meant to ask where you're going. If you're going for 6 weeks and are anywhere nearby, you must go to Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.

If you don't mind the expense, fly from LV to the canyon (see the lake from the air), take the helicopter flight to the bottom (pilots like to give you a buzz - won't let on too much), and (I hope they are still doing it, it was 10 years ago) the Native Americans do lunch close by.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

matt · #11 10-11-2009, 08:06 PM

Yeah. We're going to book a few aerial (chopper) tours around the Vegas/ Grand Canyon area. We've been planning it for the last 6 months, and we've still got almost a year before we get there.

Planning....planning....planning

troypiggo (Troy) · #12 10-11-2009, 08:19 PM

We had a flight to some of the other canyons as well as GC, but the weather turned nasty. Sat around the airport for 4 hours waiting for it to get better, it didn't. Flight cancelled

We walked down (half way) instead. Killed my knee. Long hot bath and a few brewskies afterwards

It actually snowed, lightly, while we were there. Middle of the desert. Huh.

matt · #13 10-11-2009, 08:54 PM

Soooooo..............

Anyone else wanna make some suggestions re: the original post?

Kal (Andrew) · #14 10-11-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

I'd keep the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. It's my workhorse during weddings. I wouldn't mind the extra stop for indoors, though.

I did my first wedding ever with my 24-105 last Saturday

It's not exactly a light lens either, my arms were sore by the end of the day!

It's not something I would want to carry around on a holiday, would be about the same weight as the 24-70.

I can't offer much help matt, on my two US trips I took a Pentax Optio S6, which is so small I barely noticed it on me

Then again my pics are definitely "holiday snap" quality.

Do you have a teleconverter matt? Might be a smaller travel/carry option you may consider if you ever did want a bit of magnification?

troypiggo (Troy) · #15 10-11-2009, 09:18 PM

Sorry about the diversion. I meant to also suggest - always take a compact with you as well as the good gear. Probably you'd do that anyway, but I've forgotten in the past. Handy to throw in the pocket, take to dinner or whatever.

matt · #16 10-11-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal

would be about the same weight as the 24-70.

Actually...no.

The 24-70 is 40% heavier than the 24-105.

Kal (Andrew) · #17 10-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

Actually...no.

The 24-70 is 40% heavier than the 24-105.

I must be weak then to get sore arms

matt · #18 10-11-2009, 11:01 PM

I dunno about that?

But you'd most likely feel the difference carrying 'the brick' around

Octane (Humayun) · #19 10-11-2009, 11:19 PM

Andrew,

The 24-70 is heavier as Matt pointed out. However, I was lugging around both the 5D Mark II (with battery grip) as well as the backup 40D, and my other weapons of choice.

I did an 11-hour long monster wedding two Saturday's ago. My trigger finger was numb and my right arm and back were so sore.

Matt, I can't really suggest anything. I treat these things as a once in a lifetime event and am more than happy to carry my entire sack around with me. I never know when I'll need something out of it.

Regards,
Humayun

matt · #20 10-11-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

However, I was lugging around both the 5D Mark II (with battery grip) as well as the backup 40D, and my other weapons of choice.

I did an 11-hour long monster wedding two Saturday's ago. My trigger finger was numb and my right arm and back were so sore.

You and Mike S...eh H????

A gold star is in the mail

It's OK, H.

I'm just curious to see what folks have to say in terms of what recommendations they have.