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Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

ph77
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

For the remainder of this year, I have planned work travels to Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Dubai and a family vacation to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) and Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rosario).

I usually go with primes, but first time travelling internationally with our 2 toddlers and life will be much easier with zooms. Thinking of picking up a lightweight wide-normal zoom as part of a 3 lens travel kit together with my A7RV. I'll have a 70-350mm in crop mode for landscape and some light, opportunistic birding (but will likely be left in hotel quite often depending on the day's plan). Will also have a fast prime for low light shooting. Am looking at either the 20-70mm or 16-35mm PZ to complete the trio as the lens that will be on the camera 80% of the time.

How the kits could look like:
- 16-35mm / 55mm f1.8 / 70-350mm
- 20-70mm / 35mm GM or 55mm f1.8 / 70-350mm

Would love to hear some feedback on how these zooms have worked for you, and which combination could work better with the places I'm going to be at. I like the 20-70mm because it will likely require less lens changes, but would that 16-19mm gap be a big miss?

Appreciate any input!

Sep 11, 2023 at 03:01 AM

chez
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

What primes do you usually take? Do you have primes wider than 20mm? If not, do you miss images that could have been taken with a wider lens. If you do have a prime wider than 20mm, how often do you use it?

Personally I’d get the 20-70 as anything wider than 20 is a very niche case for me…but I shoot mostly people.

Sep 11, 2023 at 07:15 AM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I would lean to the 16-35 PZ and I have in the past. I do like wide angle more than anything else though. Problem with the 20-70 is that leads to buying a 15mm prime or something in that area if you want to get wider. It's easier to add longer than wider lenses. Far more choices around. You can start at 16-35 and maybe add a 65/75/85 to that kit or even a 50mm. Since you have the 70-350 maybe all you need is three lenses 16-35,50 and that longer zoom

Sep 11, 2023 at 07:23 AM

joychris
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I’d take the three zooms, add your favorite prime when needed. Personally, having been everywhere you mentioned except Rio, the 16-35 and 20-70 would be my most used lenses.

Chris

Sep 11, 2023 at 07:34 AM

treacle
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I too am working on small light kit. I just got the 20-70 last week and I already had the 16-35 PZ. I like to shoot on the wide side for landscape and seascapes but the 16-35 is too wide for most people shots so I’m hoping the 20-70 will be a good everyday lens. I also have the new 70-200 f4 and a few primes so I make choices depending on each situation and I usually don’t carry it all all the time.

Traveling with 2 toddlers you will certainly have your hands full so you might even want to have a smaller kit for when you are traveling with them.

What type of bag will you carry this in, backpack or shoulder bag?

Sep 11, 2023 at 07:59 AM

liggy
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

My lighter weight kit used to be the 17-28, 28-200 and a fast prime but that necessitated a lot of lens changes.

Went with the 20-70 - no longer a thing. I love it. No need for a camera bag either. Spare battery in pocket and camera around neck, 520gb CF-A card. Done.

I do like to shoot wide, especially in Europe but hate switching and carrying around lenses when traveling with non-photographers.

With an RV you can shoot in crop mode for decent tele. Anticipating the iPhone 15 Pro is going to be good wide or if I have to will bring the Voigtlander 15 prime.

Sep 11, 2023 at 08:36 AM

aCuria
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

When using the 35GM in APS-C mode, it effectively replaced my 55ZA, because I couldn't distinguish any differences in Lightroom. Owning the 35GM makes the 55 redundant.

The 20-70 would be better for a single zoom setup, but personally, I lean towards a two-zoom setup with the 16-35. With 2 zooms it makes sense to get more focal lengths covered.

Additionally, there are two new lenses to consider: the 16-35GMii and a future 17-50/4 Tamron lens, both of which might be suitable alternatives.

Sep 11, 2023 at 10:50 AM

offtraildog
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I'm considering a new travel kit for next year consisting of the A7CR and 20-70.

The 20-70 will cover 95% of my shooting, especially with the ability to crop for the <5% of images longer then 70. I have owned 16-35/2.8 and 16-35/4 and 16-35 PZ and found I rarely shot wider then 20. I ended up with the 15/4.5 and 20G to cover that range and would take only one of those primes as needed. Turned out I rarely used the 15.

So I am planning to also have the Sony E11/1.8 (16.5mm eq) for the occasional UWA interior & exterior shots. It is small and lightweight enough to always have with me since when I walk around I typically have a small pack for a jacket, water, etc.

Sep 11, 2023 at 12:34 PM

joychris
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

offtraildog wrote:
I'm considering a new travel kit for next year consisting of the A7CR and 20-70.

The 20-70 will cover 95% of my shooting, especially with the ability to crop for the <5% of images longer then 70. I have owned 16-35/2.8 and 16-35/4 and 16-35 PZ and found I rarely shot wider then 20. I ended up with the 15/4.5 and 20G to cover that range and would take only one of those primes as needed. Turned out I rarely used the 15.

So I am planning to also have the Sony E11/1.8 (16.5mm eq) for the occasional UWA interior &...Show more →

The 11mm is something I’m getting as a small, wide lens to use with the a7cR and 20-70 as well. All them pixels means so much flexibility with your kit. 👍

Chris

Sep 11, 2023 at 04:38 PM

byhyew
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I've been to the places you mentioned except for Frankfurt and Hong Kong. From my experience with my Voigtlander 21mm back then I didn't feel limited on the wide side, but it really depends on what you plan to shoot. Unless you do a lot of indoor architecture, which would be reasonable with all the classic European architecture in Buenos Aires, personally I would not give up on the versatility of the 20-70 during a family trip.
On a side note, if your family trip to Argentina is not focused on football at Rosario, may I recommend taking a de-tour to Chubut instead? There you can see whales, orcas seals and penguins in the wild up close and as personal as it gets, it's just an one-hour or one hour and half flight from Buenos Aires, depending on whether you land at Puerto Madryn or Trelew. Toddlers absolutely love them. And depending on the date of your travel, if you go in December, I've yet to know a kid that doesn't go crazy over all the penguin chicks running around them.

Sep 11, 2023 at 05:08 PM

mojoh
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I'd recommend the second option. The 20-70 should cover the majority of images captured. 70mm reaches 105mm when cropped on your 61MP sensor, further reducing the need to swap to the telezoom.

Also suggest 35GM and crop to 50mm if necessary.

On the wide end, shoot overlapping images and stitch if 20mm is not wide enough.

Sep 11, 2023 at 05:53 PM

ph77
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

Thanks folks - this is immensely helpful and I really appreciate this.

Will likely go with a 20-70. The potential to have one lens most of the time is appealing especially traveling with the kids. I usually have a 20mm f1.8 as my widest lens anyway - there are occasions where wider would have been nice, but relatively uncommon.

Given my horrible spending habits though, will probably end up with both before too long!

Sep 11, 2023 at 07:54 PM

isohw
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

Traveling with kids.

My 2 cents
I would suggest to had a pocketable camera (ricoh like) and/or add a small prime 40ish.
At some place or moment (walk with bags, commute, restaurant or evening walk) I just want to be the lighest possible or just do snapshots (its fun and often better memories catched)
A7+zoom is still cumbersome to carry.

ph77 wrote:
Thanks folks - this is immensely helpful and I really appreciate this.

Will likely go with a 20-70. The potential to have one lens most of the time is appealing especially traveling with the kids. I usually have a 20mm f1.8 as my widest lens anyway - there are occasions where wider would have been nice, but relatively uncommon.

Given my horrible spending habits though, will probably end up with both before too long!

Sep 12, 2023 at 03:10 AM

Charlie N
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

I like the 20-70 better, but it is kind of big, and sometimes I'll take the 20-40 instead, mainly for the size, and the secondary is the f2.8 aperture.

Sep 12, 2023 at 09:19 AM

ytwong
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

You can ask me anything about Hong Kong

16-35 is good and useful, but for staying on the camera 80% of the time I'd pick 20-70.

If you eventually want a wider lens maybe get a prime(~15mm) instead.

Sep 12, 2023 at 10:48 AM

da_habakuk
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

isohw wrote:
Traveling with kids.

...
I would suggest to had a pocketable camera (ricoh like)
...

father of three here. this. often even the a7c is too big so i got a ricoh griiix. great little family cam.
(i will grab the 20-70 too some day

)

Sep 12, 2023 at 11:14 PM

ph77
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Lens for travel - 20-70mm vs 16-35mm PZ

Thanks again for the input folks - I had an RX100 that I really enjoyed, but always find myself going back to the iPhone as the pocketable option. Works well enough in a pinch!

Sep 13, 2023 at 03:31 AM


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