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Archive 2023 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

wjl2124
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

24-105 is nice, but not fun to carry around. I'd recommend either the 35 1.8 or the 50 1.8. Cheap, pretty good, and super light weight.

Feb 09, 2023 at 10:07 AM

tekguyphoto
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Took an R6 with RF 24-105 L , RF 70-200 F4 , RF 16 F2.8 , RF 35 F1.8 , RF 50 F2 and RF 85 F2 to Eastern Europe last April on a 3 week vacation. Wife and kids stayed home so I had freedom of photo expression. Usually limited by time when travelling with our family of four , understandably.

The 24-105 and the RF 16 was my most used lens. I also took some nice photos from a river boat using the 70-200 and some distant building and city scapes.
My least used lens was the 50mm followed by the 35mm.

With the R6 I was limited by the cropping factor given its only 20 Mpix.
This year I bought an R5, R6 Mk2 and I'm going with family but bringing the R5 instead. 24-105 will live on the body and the RF 16mm will allow more cropping. The RF 70-200 F4 is super small and light so I will take it once again but I'm sure it will see very little action. The RF 50 F1.8 will stay home and the RF 35mm will most likely be used in restaurants and churches even though the RF 16 with ibis was good enough with F2.8.

I also have an R6 Mk2 and might bringing it with the new 24-50 kit lens so my youngest daughter can use it. I'm sure that will drive my wife and my oldest crazy. Great now 2 photographers in the family.

Feb 09, 2023 at 10:54 AM

keepclicking
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Bill, lot depends on your style. With over 20+ trips to Europe I have narrowed my travel kit to
24-70 2.8 for shooting churches interiors and architecture
16-35 4.0 for landscape
24-105 4.0 to get a little more reach if needed.

For Iceland one would definitely need more reach. But for other European destinations the above kit worked very well. Enjoy your trip. Prague is beautiful and if you get time then visit chesky Krumlov and Kutna hora.

Feb 09, 2023 at 11:39 AM

AmbientMike
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

billsamuels wrote:
I'm leaving in a few weeks for Europe and we're going to Prague, Paris, and ending in London. In Prague, I'm interested in the street scenes as it's pretty old world. There's also a lot of art so I may need a fast lens that can handle the lack of a flash. Then we take a train to Paris, so I'm not sure what I would use on a train and how fast the trains there go between Prague and Paris, but we have to change trains 3 times. Once we arrive in Paris, again street scenes, buildings, etc. Then...Show more →

IS should get you more than a stop, so 70-200/4 should be better than 2.8 not having IS. Vacation photos usually more static even if not f/4 is pretty good. 70-200/2.8 IS II should be excellent but heavy. 70-200/4 IS V1 used to be known as the sharpest Canon tele zoom, even though they had 3 iterations of 2.8 by that time. So it should be really good, even today.

For art museums, I've usually used 50/1.8 or 18-55 at 50mm ff equivalent or more. Even on ff you can get big bierstadts on 50mm. I doubt my photos were perfect to the corners, but looked pretty good. Worthwhile imo. Not much crowding in the ones I've been to, more the opposite problem. Especially traveling I'd think you'd often go midday, mid week, so I doubt you'd have too much trouble.

I'm more 3 zooms, myself, though I've taken superteles and used macro lenses on USA trips, flying and car. 40 art is 2.6 lbs. If you have 16-35 you could add 50/1.8 & be good to 70mm. 24-105 certainly covers a lot, especially + 70-200. I'd rather have uwa too, though. If you use 70-200 a lot, definitely take 70-200.

Feb 09, 2023 at 01:13 PM

billsamuels
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Thanks! I was looking at some photos I took around Scotland's streets and I used the EF 16-35 F/4L and got some great photos with that lens. So I decided this lens has to come with me for this purpose.

Feb 26, 2023 at 03:57 PM

billsamuels
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

So here is where I'm at with lenses, as follows:
Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L for City scenes;
Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L for most other scenes where I'm not walking for the day;
For a lot of walking around, either the Leica Emarit-R 28mm, which I used a lot in my 2018 trip to Europe because it was a very small and light weight, but it also took really sharp beautiful photos, OR
Zeiss 25mm ZE (traditional), which is a good walking-size between the 24-105 and the 28mm, but unlike the Leica, it's programmed for the Canon so I don't have to shoot photos with a nearly black screen because of the difference between real F-stop and what the camera is telling me. I'm still trying to figure out which would be better to take?

I reviewed about 70% of my photos from 2018 (also Europe) and I shot most of my photos within the 20mm-95mm range, even when I used the 70-200mm lens.

I'm also taking an Infrared camera, which requires either the 24-105 or the 16-35mm, but that's a much smaller camera body. I got some really cool pix in 2018 using IR but it was a new camera at the time, so now I have a lot more experience with it so I'm looking forward to really taking advantage of the colors (Hyper-color IR). My main camera is the Canon 5DSR, and I'm taking my newer body which is less than 2 years old and has less than 5K exposures. If I need to "Zoom" with Lightroom or PS, I have the MP with this camera to do it.

Feb 26, 2023 at 04:21 PM

macentropist
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

I have done similar trips often, and find the combo of the Canon 24-105mm L IS with a canon 16mm f2.8 IS a light and awesome combo perfect. I did add the 70-200 f4 L IS usefull, but at 66, i am a bit more weight conscious.

Have fun!

Brian

Feb 26, 2023 at 11:37 PM

thedruid
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

I'm currently on the road for a month in Valencia, Spain. I've carried the same three lens range while traveling for the past 20 years or so, no matter where I go. I always bring 2 x bodies minimum, currently R5+ R6, 14-35/24-105/EF 70-300L and a 35mm f1.8 for fun. As usual I put in the fast prime but it has seen little use, like that piece of clothing you bring and never wear. I pack a day pack in my checked and use this with an ICU for my daily walks, usually with one body and the 24-105L, but it depends on what I'm shooting.

Feb 27, 2023 at 07:55 AM

billsamuels
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

May 30, 2023 at 04:32 AM

Pixelpuffin
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

If your happy carrying weight why not consider the 70-300L ?? Yes it’s 5.6 but your full frame body’s can easily handle the higher iso and the IS on that lens is amazing. 16-35 F4 is and 70-300L is would cover most of your photo ops, definitely add the 40stm.

May 30, 2023 at 06:25 AM

Robin Smith
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

24-105mm and 70-200 f4 IS as these are the focal lengths you like from experience. You could add a wider lens if you like, but not sure what is a good buy for EF <24mm unless you want to buy a 16-35mm which are not small. If you want to add something faster then get a faster 35mm or 50mm lens (35 f2 IS is a good one or a 50mm f1.8 STM)

May 30, 2023 at 09:05 AM

DailyShooter
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

What you take depends on what you shoot, and where you are going. Here is my advise for European cities...

If you are like me, I like the usual landscapes, cityscapes, cafe society, interiors, architecture...but I also love environmental portraits.

And if you too include portraits of people, this would be a great kit that minimizes weight, maximizes aperture range, and provides a total focal range that would allow you to get "all" the shots you desire...oh, and this kit will provide you excellent IQ, but you still have the burden of composition (goes without saying):

Canon RF 16mm f2.8 (interiors, cityscapes, cage society, street)
Canon RF 35mm f1.8 (for portraits (flashed + natural light), foodie/drinkie, landscapes, cityscapes, interiors, exteriors)
Canon RF 24-105L f4 (for perhaps 80% of your images, city life, candids, street, landscapes)

Canon EX 430-RT III Flash + Tungsten filter or similar (ESSENTIAL)

If you really want to make nice environmental portraits DO NOT forget to bring a decent flash. Otherwise, your portraits will often sacrifice the awesome backgrounds of Europe to get the skin of your model exposed well. A flash allows you to get both, awesomely exposed backgrounds and "perfect" skin exposures. And for inside shots, BRING the flash's tungsten filter or all your indoor portraits will have the yellow sickly cast that shouts amateur.

An environmental portrait in Bruge, Belgium...
https://flickr.com/photos/amorouslight/52844434787/in/album-72177720307782049/
https://flickr.com/photos/amorouslight/52845398300/in/album-72177720307782049/

You want a smaller kit and still nearly get it all?:

Canon 35mm f1.8
Canon EX 430-RT III Flash + Tungsten Filter or similar

Most often, LESS is MORE!

May 30, 2023 at 09:32 AM

Uarctos
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Streets are narrow, so get a 16mm something, or a 35mm, or a phone.

May 30, 2023 at 10:40 AM

Imagemaster
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Hey folks, the OP said he was going in a few weeks after Feb. 26. It is now May 30.

Besides that, the OP updated the thread with this detailed explanation:

billsamuels wrote:
j

May 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM

Robin Smith
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Also he had a 5Ds so all the RF suggestions were/are moot.

May 30, 2023 at 12:55 PM

PIOK
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Imagemaster wrote:
Hey folks, the OP said he was going in a few weeks after Feb. 26. It is now May 30.

Besides that, the OP updated the thread with this detailed explanation:

At least now he can answer his own question

May 30, 2023 at 01:21 PM

dchuck84
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

Now i'm curious to know what OP brought on his trip. haha

I have an Euro trip coming up too - London and Paris. I am in a very similar situation as OP. Last trip, I had a 6D mk 2 and brought the 24-105 and 16-35. This time, I am bringing my R5 but don't want to bring the trinity. Any suggestions? I am leaning towards Option 1.

Option 1: 15-35 and 24-70
Option 2: 15-35 and 70-200
Option 3: 24-70 and 70-200

May 30, 2023 at 03:55 PM

DailyShooter
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

dchuck84 wrote:
Now i'm curious to know what OP brought on his trip. haha

I have an Euro trip coming up too - London and Paris. I am in a very similar situation as OP. Last trip, I had a 6D mk 2 and brought the 24-105 and 16-35. This time, I am bringing my R5 but don't want to bring the trinity. Any suggestions? I am leaning towards Option 1.

Option 1: 15-35 and 24-70
Option 2: 15-35 and 70-200
Option 3: 24-70 and 70-200

See what I wrote a few responses above ^^

May 31, 2023 at 08:55 AM

bobbytan
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

I would go with the RF 14-35/4L and RF 70-200/4L. You don’t need a 50mm as you can always shoot at 35mm and crop in post.

dchuck84 wrote:
Now i'm curious to know what OP brought on his trip. haha

I have an Euro trip coming up too - London and Paris. I am in a very similar situation as OP. Last trip, I had a 6D mk 2 and brought the 24-105 and 16-35. This time, I am bringing my R5 but don't want to bring the trinity. Any suggestions? I am leaning towards Option 1.

Option 1: 15-35 and 24-70
Option 2: 15-35 and 70-200
Option 3: 24-70 and 70-200

May 31, 2023 at 09:05 AM

bluehawaii
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides?

when I shot Canon the EF 24-70mm IS version was one of the most underrated I thought. F4 but with the IS it was very usable. It was a version II era lens, well made and very sharp and compact.

Now on Sony I use the 24-70 F4 which many seem to dislike but I just love it.

May 31, 2023 at 09:38 AM

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