Hi there! We are flying to Zurich next week to spend a couple days in Locarno, Switzerland then around Turin, Italy for my sister's wedding, then a couple days around Brienz, Switzerland. I am struggling to determine what lenses/kit to bring. I currently live in Oklahoma so mountain scenes are not something I can practice on here... I'll be taking my Sony a7RV and whatever lenses I decide on... I have a fair few available, but don't want to take them all if I really only need 2-3. Part of me thinks that taking my 16-35GMii and my 70-200GMii should cover my bases, especially if I bring a 1.4TC. Will I regret not bringing the Sony 200-600G or Sigma 24-70? Or any faster primes? Should I bring a tripod?
I know I'm over thinking this, but have taken too many trips where I never asked and picked the wrong kit out of ignorance having never traveled there before...
Thanks in advance for any advice or recommendations!
It's horses for courses. I mean, I take my Sigma 150-600 with me whenever I go to Switzerland but that's because I mainly want to take photos of birds. I can't imagine lugging it around for landscape pics.
Days are very long at the moment. Unless you're going to be doing some astrophotography in the middle of the night, you probably won't need a tripod either. There will be plenty of light - a polarising filter is more important.
As for lenses, again, depends on your subject matter and style. I think you'd be fine with 16-35 + 70-200. Unless you're going to be playing brother Bob at the wedding, I don't see why you'd need a fast prime. You'll be stopping down to f8-f11 in the mountains anyway.
Generally speaking, I find it a pity to leave good gear at home if it's going to make a real difference, but I don't think you need it in Switzerland and it's not much fun carrying heavy gear up a mountain, especially when you've got water and everything else to carry too.
We went to Switzerland then a Rhine River cruise fall of 2023. I had an A7Riv, Tamron 17-28/2.8 and 28-200/2.8-5.6. I took an A6700 and 18-135 as "just in case" and it got some use as a bit smaller than the A7Riv and 28-200 a few times. I seem to recall, perhaps a 24/1.8 prime but didn't use it if I had it.
I took a convenient (not too small/not too big) tripod, never used it. I don't usually use a polarizer so not in my routine. I could see a tripod for some things. If you want silky waterfalls, light trails or night lights, again, if your usual routine and interests, could be considered, not sure I'd say necessary.
I used the full range from 17mm to 200mm. Turns out, the 17-28 got some use in "urban" old city areas, like around Strasbourg and Cologne, narrow streets, cathedral interiors, etc. The 28-200 never came off the camera in Switzerland. I used the mid-ranges a lot. since you have the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200, that's what I'd suggest you take. On short notice, getting a new lens or lens and having time to test it might be difficult. If not a dedicated wildlife and birding sort of trip, not the 200-600. Big, heavy, in the way, takes up carry-on space.
Brienz? A bit jealous. We had planned on hitting Brienz and taking the steam Brienz Rothorn cog railway while going from the Interlaken area to Lucerne but track maintenance at some point in the route would have required train swapping and a bus leg and since we would have had all our luggage, etc., we took a different "easier" route. The Interlaken area there is magnificent so you won't have trouble finding things to do and photo subject.
