I suspect that you could take one camera and one lens and come back with wonderful images and a great family album. Pretty hard to go wrong in Hawaii at any focal length.
Thanks! Yes, that and also the bag is more water resistant than others I have.
chez wrote:
Make sure you have a way to keep your equipment dry if you get caught in a down pour. Take a big plastic bag that you can put your bag into while you weather out the quick storm. I’ve been caught in plenty of downpours and always carry an extra large plastic bad that fits my pack nicely. This sudden rain can sneak up on you very quickly, but usually last on,y for a while.
With me it’s more that this is a trip of a lifetime that I may end up doing only once, so taking the best I have for this trip.
bwcolor wrote:
I suspect that you could take one camera and one lens and come back with wonderful images and a great family album. Pretty hard to go wrong in Hawaii at any focal length.
I just came back from Michigan, which I imagine is nothing like Hawaii... But I shot mainly with the 50-150 I rented, on my a7R V and the 35-70 (28-55 equivalent) on my GFX100S II. Took a few other lenses, but we drove, so it wasn't a big deal stashing some extras as options. My third most used lens was probably the 20-35 (16-28 equivalent) on the Fuji. So not completely dissimilar from what you're taking.
Yes slightly different - Michigan and Hawaii . During my consulting days, I used to visit Detroit in January every year when North American Motor Show used to happen in January, and still carry all my lenses to photograph the cars!
At Hawaii, we will have a rental on all days, and it’s a small backpack that I can easily carry. I’m super excited about the 50-150, and think it will be the most used. I’ve also put black skin on its shiny white surfaces, let’s see how conspicuous it will be in black. Thanks for your kind wishes.
tsdevine wrote:
I just came back from Michigan, which I imagine is nothing like Hawaii... But I shot mainly with the 50-150 I rented, on my a7R V and the 35-70 (28-55 equivalent) on my GFX100S II. Took a few other lenses, but we drove, so it wasn't a big deal stashing some extras as options. My third most used lens was probably the 20-35 (16-28 equivalent) on the Fuji. So not completely dissimilar from what you're taking.
I was more in the middle of nowhere, state parks, the UP…stayed in Ann Arbor the first leg, that was as busy as it got. Mackinac Island was a bit busy too.
I had two people come up and chat with me about the 50-150. One thought it was the 100-400, the other thought it was a 70-200.
sandy27000 wrote:
Yes slightly different - Michigan and Hawaii . During my consulting days, I used to visit Detroit in January every year when North American Motor Show used to happen in January, and still carry all my lenses to photograph the cars!
At Hawaii, we will have a rental on all days, and it’s a small backpack that I can easily carry. I’m super excited about the 50-150, and think it will be the most used. I’ve also put black skin on its shiny white surfaces, let’s see how conspicuous it will be in black. Thanks for your kind wishes.
tsdevine wrote:
I just came back from Michigan, which I imagine is nothing like Hawaii... But I shot mainly with the 50-150 I rented, on my a7R V and the 35-70 (28-55 equivalent) on my GFX100S II. Took a few other lenses, but we drove, so it wasn't a big deal stashing some extras as options. My third most used lens was probably the 20-35 (16-28 equivalent) on the Fuji. So not completely dissimilar from what you're taking.
Hope you have a great trip!
Really spectacular images. Are those your two boys, or just happy campers?
Thanks, still working though the photos, but yes they are my sons. My youngest has pulmonary hypertension, and has been battling it for 10 years. He's on a new treatment that is reversing it quite a bit, although his heart has taken a beating. He was able to do much more than he has done in years. My wife and I were the ones struggling to keep up.
bwcolor wrote:
Really spectacular images. Are those your two boys, or just happy campers?
Jun 28, 2025 at 06:58 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
tsdevine wrote:
I was more in the middle of nowhere, state parks, the UP…stayed in Ann Arbor the first leg, that was as busy as it got. Mackinac Island was a bit busy too.
I had two people come up and chat with me about the 50-150. One thought it was the 100-400, the other thought it was a 70-200.
Hi Tim,
I grew up in that part of Michigan, the middle of nowhere part, and I went to school in Ann Arbor for 5 years. Are the pictures posted in a thread somewhere? I would love to see them. I spent some time in that part of Michigan with my son last summer. It really is a lovely area that not many people know about.
I've been posting a bit in the 50-150 image thread, but given I was shooting Sony & Fuji, there really isn't a thread where everything can go.
Here is a Flickr album, but I'm still working through photos. It will probably take me another week or so, given how busy things are, to finish up. Since it's a vacation, not a lot of "right time of day to shoot" shots, but there is beauty around all day.
This was our second time visiting Michigan, we went to quite a few places we had visited the first time, but also mixed in some new places.
We drove over 2900 miles in 11 days, my son drove 99% of that. He loves driving, which is good, because I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done that.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Hi Tim,
I grew up in that part of Michigan, the middle of nowhere part, and I went to school in Ann Arbor for 5 years. Are the pictures posted in a thread somewhere? I would love to see them. I spent some time in that part of Michigan with my son last summer. It really is a lovely area that not many people know about.
Jun 28, 2025 at 07:14 AM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
tsdevine wrote:
I've been posting a bit in the 50-150 image thread, but given I was shooting Sony & Fuji, there really isn't a thread where everything can go.
Here is a Flickr album, but I'm still working through photos. It will probably take me another week or so, given how busy things are, to finish up. Since it's a vacation, not a lot of "right time of day to shoot" shots, but there is beauty around all day.
Thanks for sharing the pictures. You did a very nice job in capturing the feel of the area. I especially liked the Tawas pictures, which isn't that far from where I grew up. You hit the East side of the Lower Peninsula when most people tend to go to the West side. I think the East side has some nice hidden gems and you found. But you made it pretty far West in the Upper Peninsula, if you made it to Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks. You covered an amazing amount of territory. If you get a chance to go back, and get to the West side of the Lower Peninsula I would recommend South Manitou Island and Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. Both absolutely lovely and a bit out of the way. They both have fabulous lighthouses too, which obviously is a favorite of yours to photograph.
All the best for the new treatment and hope he continues to improve and enjoy his life. Lovely photos and thanks for sharing them!
tsdevine wrote:
Thanks, still working though the photos, but yes they are my sons. My youngest has pulmonary hypertension, and has been battling it for 10 years. He's on a new treatment that is reversing it quite a bit, although his heart has taken a beating. He was able to do much more than he has done in years. My wife and I were the ones struggling to keep up.
Yes, we definitely got around. First leg we drove to Ann Arbor, when to the arboretum there a bit while the kids slept in. It was raining in Mackinaw City, so we didn't rush up there, we went up the east side instead, and took our time. We stopped at Tawas Point State Park (it truly was beautiful there), Sturgeon Point State Park and then we stopped at Rockport State Recreation Area (hunting fossils). After that we kind of caught up with the rain. Next day we went out to Mackinac Island. Day after, hit Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Log Slide, Au Sable Light, Miners Castle (in 2023 we stayed in Paradise and hit Whitefish Point and did some yooperlight hunting at Crisp Point Light). The next day we hit Kitch-iti-kipi, Fayette State Park and then did the Pictured Rocks sunset cruise (no sunset...was cloudy, but better than in 2023 when it was borderline rain). Next day we went all the way up to Copper Harbor, stayed in Houghton, did yooperlight hunting that night. Hit stopped at the mineral museum in Houghton, hit the Michigan state high point (my oldest son is into that), almost got stuck on a dirt road...turned around at a stream crossing. Luckily found a more sane way to get there. Hit Presque Isle, then went back to Munising. Did some more sightseeing around Pictured Rocks the following day, then starting heading home. Went down the west side, stayed in Beulah. The next day we went further down the west side, but it was extremely windy. Anywhere there was sand, you'd get sand blasted. Big Sable Point Lighthouse was closed for 4 more days for maintenance, that was a bummer. Beautiful lighthouse. We hit Little Sable Point instead. Worked our way back to Fremont Indiana, then drove home to PA the next day.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Thanks for sharing the pictures. You did a very nice job in capturing the feel of the area. I especially liked the Tawas pictures, which isn't that far from where I grew up. You hit the East side of the Lower Peninsula when most people tend to go to the West side. I think the East side has some nice hidden gems and you found. But you made it pretty far West in the Upper Peninsula, if you made it to Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks. You covered an amazing amount of territory. If you get a chance to go back, and get to the West side of the Lower Peninsula I would recommend South Manitou Island and Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. Both absolutely lovely and a bit out of the way. They both have fabulous lighthouses too, which obviously is a favorite of yours to photograph....Show more →
sandy27000 wrote:
Thanks for all your suggestions. I’ve finally ended up with the following kit for my trip:
A1 II
16-35 GM2
50-150 GM
85mm GM2
These fit into Think Tank Photocross 13 backpack in a compact package and this is the kind of weight I’m happy to carry. I’m also taking my Peak Design shoulder bag that can fit in the body with 16-35 mounted and 85mm just in case it’s needed. For all my day trips I’ll take the 16-35 and 50-150, and in the evenings 16-35 and 85mm. Will post a few pictures from the trip when I’m back. Thanks again folks.
It's been many years since visiting Hawaii It would have been film time so probably Kodachrome 64. Aside from the weight, I don't see why that set wouldn't be fine. We did a helo trip over Kauaii and it was half great. I liked it, my wife was mostly face down in a paper bag. after the first couple of minutes. I was fortunate, our trip, there was a vacation police chopper pilot so she got second seat up front and the pilot saw my slr and, iirc, 70-300, and gave me a door seat, with open window, so a bit rainy at times but no reflection problems. I'd think the 50-150 would do well for a helo ride.
Just wondering, if you'll go to Washington state or Texas, would you take different lenses? You have never specified what you are going to take a picture of, or your subject, or interest but you tell us a location. If you just want to share you are going to Hawaii you do not have to tell anything about your glass. I'm sure we all very happy for you. Have a great time!
tsdevine wrote:
Yes, we definitely got around. First leg we drove to Ann Arbor, when to the arboretum there a bit while the kids slept in. It was raining in Mackinaw City, so we didn't rush up there, we went up the east side instead, and took our time. We stopped at Tawas Point State Park (it truly was beautiful there), Sturgeon Point State Park and then we stopped at Rockport State Recreation Area (hunting fossils). After that we kind of caught up with the rain. Next day we went out to Mackinac Island. Day after, hit Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Log Slide, Au Sable Light, Miners Castle (in 2023 we stayed in Paradise and hit Whitefish Point and did some yooperlight hunting at Crisp Point Light). The next day we hit Kitch-iti-kipi, Fayette State Park and then did the Pictured Rocks sunset cruise (no sunset...was cloudy, but better than in 2023 when it was borderline rain). Next day we went all the way up to Copper Harbor, stayed in Houghton, did yooperlight hunting that night. Hit stopped at the mineral museum in Houghton, hit the Michigan state high point (my oldest son is into that), almost got stuck on a dirt road...turned around at a stream crossing. Luckily found a more sane way to get there. Hit Presque Isle, then went back to Munising. Did some more sightseeing around Pictured Rocks the following day, then starting heading home. Went down the west side, stayed in Beulah. The next day we went further down the west side, but it was extremely windy. Anywhere there was sand, you'd get sand blasted. Big Sable Point Lighthouse was closed for 4 more days for maintenance, that was a bummer. Beautiful lighthouse. We hit Little Sable Point instead. Worked our way back to Fremont Indiana, then drove home to PA the next day.
The pictures are great in giving a well-composed feel for the area, as Steve says, and you have a very lovely family with young men who are still willing to travel with you! I'm sort of stunned by the detail in your verbal account. I hardly ever know so clearly the last ten or twelve places I have been on a vacation, especially if I am not the one driving!
I did indicate all that in one of the early responses. Of course a trip to different location would require different lenses. For example, I took my 400mm f2.8S (Nikon) and Z9 for my trip to Yellowstone National Park, and take a 600/800mm lens for birding trips, and more recently, just my iPhone to a trip to Dubai. I started by asking about use of Macro lens in Maui and Oahu. Thanks for your time and response.
tester_V wrote:
Just wondering, if you'll go to Washington state or Texas, would you take different lenses? You have never specified what you are going to take a picture of, or your subject, or interest but you tell us a location. If you just want to share you are going to Hawaii you do not have to tell anything about your glass. I'm sure we all very happy for you. Have a great time!
But I shot mainly with the 50-150 I rented, on my a7R V and the 35-70 (28-55 equivalent) on my GFX100S II. Took a few other lenses, but we drove, so it wasn't a big deal stashing some extras as options. My third most used lens was probably the 20-35 (16-28 equivalent) on the Fuji. So not completely dissimilar from what you're taking. 
. During my consulting days, I used to visit Detroit in January every year when North American Motor Show used to happen in January, and still carry all my lenses to photograph the cars!