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 p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · 6D + 40stm & iPhone for Portugal holiday?? | |
gdanmitchell wrote:
Let me start by acknowledging that there's a large subjective component to the question of what one should take on international travel. There's no right answer, but there are perspectives and there are real world effects of various choices.
One question is how you think of the photography you do while traveling. Are you bring back pictures to share with family and friends? Are you posting your story on social media?
Or do you intend to use the photographs commercially? Are you going to make large prints of them?
Is photography the primary goal of the travel, is it one of many goals, or is it a way to grab some memories of the main event, the experience of travel?
On the spectrum between taking everything you might possibly need for any conceivable contingency to keeping the gear as small and light as possible, where do you sit?
My personal choice is to take good gear but minimize the size and weight. This is also influenced by my primary orientation to travel photography which is not that far from street photography. While I'm a landscape photographer to a great extent at home in the USA, that takes a backseat when I'm traveling unless the travel is specifically for photography, and the photography is the primary goal. (Even then I minimize to some extent.)
I've had excellent results with a APS-C system (I happen to use Fujifilm) with a small set of prime lenses. This produces excellent results — good enough that I can sell and license the work — and makes me appear as less of the "American tourist with a big camera and a big bag of lenses." That gives me some photographic opportunities that I would otherwise not have.
As it turns out I will be in Portugal (and a bunch of other places) in the future. For my purposes, my primary system is a Fujifilm XT5, most often with their 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens attached. Often that will be the only lens that I carry when I go out. If I want more flexibility I will add a 14mm f/2.8 and/or a 90mm f/2 lens.
Because I also do night street photography, I also bring 23mm and 35mm f/1.4 lenses. (These are actual focal lengths so convert if you are trying to figure out FF focal lengths.)
I virtually never have all five lenses on my person except when traveling between locations. Most of the time I have one, and sometimes two. Carrying three is rare. I lock the remaining lenses in the hotel.
If I were going to Portugal with truly minimal gear, I would probably take the 27mm f/2.8 and the 14mm f/2.8 and try to squeeze in that 90mm f/2. I could get by with just the 27mm, but that's me.
Alternatively, for many people something like the ubiquitous 18-55mm zooms (or my 16-55mm f/2.8) could be a good all-in-one solution.
And, of course, some folks really prefer a single zoom with a wider focal length range. Some people will augment one lens like that with single slightly wide prime with a large aperture.
If your goal is mostly fun pictures to record the travels and the family, the iPhone option is actually pretty good. The image quality from the current iPhones is excellent in 13" x 19" prints and can go larger. Don't discount that possibility, especially if you like to travel light....Show more →
That’s a great reply
I used to be extremely serious about photography (30yrs ago) but found it sucked all the fun out. Now I’m older (probably not wiser) I just want memories nothing more. Whatever canera I take will be a hindrance that is a certainty. I’d love to just take my phone and probably a M50 with no more than 2 lenses. I absolutely love my 6d, even tho it’s old tech everything about that camera is a dream to use and hold, the silent shutter is beautifully soft, the battery lasts for ever, it’s light and the files are simply stunning. But it’s ff and thus necessitates ff lenses, big heavy chunks of glass…ugh!!
So I’m caught in a quandary do I opt for the lighter M50 knowing the images would have been so much better on the 6d or do I take the minimum 6d outfit knowing I’d have nailed those missing shots had I brought the M50.
No, I won’t take both.
Obviously my phone goes absolutely everywhere with me.
But to answer your question they are just memories of family holiday. I tend not to kid myself I’m some kind of virtuoso, I’m honest enough to realise my own ability these days - hence I’m just grateful if I catch the moment and it’s sharp too…everything else is a bonus.
The idea of hauling some big ass white zoom on a family holiday is the stuff of nightmares for me.
On a separate topic, I think next year I may take a closer look at Fuji.
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