p.1 #1 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
I normally don't mind carrying a full frame with a regular set of lenses, but getting into the minimalist/one bag travel ideal, it can be quite challenging to carry a full kit.
So thinking of a more low profile kit, I wonder what people would prefer between these two options:
Full Frame Body (like a Nikon Z 7II or Zf)
24-50 zoom lens
40mm f/2 prime
maybe 1 or 2 other lenses
OR
APS-C Body (like a Zfc, Sony 6xxx series, or a Fuji XT-5)
And normal lenses
p.1 #2 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
„Minimalist“ for me is max 2 lenses and you could argue that’s stretching the idea already..
For me that would be the Zf + 24-70mm f4 + 40mm f2 (or 50mm f1.8).
The APS-C kit has the potential to be less bulky overall because of the lenses, e.g. the Fuji X-T5, their new 16-50mm + the old 35mm f1.4 (or the 35mm f2).
Or go primes only (with either system) and accept that you will miss some shots anyway, with any setup, and instead focus on the ones you can get. E.g. I like 28mm + 50mm or 35mm + 75mm / 85mm
p.1 #3 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
FF (Z7 II) with 14-30 & 24-120.
In DX mode you reach 180 mm equiv. focal length with enough resolution (20-21 Mpix).
You can add the 40/2, which is small and lightweight.
p.1 #4 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
Ripolini wrote:
FF (Z7 II) with 14-30 & 24-120.
In DX mode you reach 180 mm equiv. focal length with enough resolution (20-21 Mpix).
You can add the 40/2, which is small and lightweight.
This is exactly what I took to Italy, the Z7 plus the 14-30 and 24-120, it was a great setup and I didn't miss anything else.
p.1 #5 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
fjablo wrote:
Or go primes only (with either system) and accept that you will miss some shots anyway, with any setup, and instead focus on the ones you can get. E.g. I like 28mm + 50mm or 35mm + 75mm / 85mm
I agree. You could even go so far as to opt for FF and only use a fast 35mm lens, cropping as needed. In the case of a Voigtländer Nokton 1.2 35mm, this would mean being able to simulate a 1.8 50mm f/1.8 by cropping. Personally, I would probably only take a 40mm or 50mm f/1.8, but that's due to my preference for standard focal lengths. In any case, I generally find it very relaxing (and that's what vacation is all about) to use only one focal length.
p.1 #7 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
Just depends on how much you want to carry. I also took a small FF kit to Italy last year, with the Zf, 14-24/2.8, 24-120/4 and the 40/2. If I were going now, and the focus were not photography, I’d bring my Z50 II with 12-28, 18-140 and Viltrox 25/1.7. More compact, notably lighter and a very competent kit. My Z50 II kit comes with me most days as my daily “have a camera with you” kit, because it’s just extremely easy to carry and never weighs me down.
p.1 #8 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
Personally, a prime lens in the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Apo Lanthar category is enough for me when I really want to travel light, including a small tripod.
It's certainly not for everyone, but for me it's not only a very liberating feeling, it also helps me in my creativity.
But that's probably due to how I learned photography in the 70s with a Pentax Spotmatic and an SMC Takumar 35mm.
I love it and don't need anything else when it comes to traveling with minimal gear.
So I have always worked mainly with fixed manual focus focal lengths and never felt like I was missing out by using only one focal length, a prime lens.
I am definitely not one of those people who can only find peace of mind when they are prepared for every conceivable scenario in terms of focal length.
It's quite the opposite.
At that moment, I am completely focused on the focal length and concentrate on suitable scenarios.
And that's despite the availability of options such as a Z 14-30/4 S or Z 24-120/4 S.
For more extensive travel, these would also be included, but the most pleasant way for me to reduce the load is with a really high-quality, yet still very compact fixed focal length lens of my choice.
p.1 #10 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
story_teller wrote:
I would agree that the 24-120mm f/4 S is a great travel lens. It’s a “must have” when I travel.
Yeah, my normal travel set up is a Z7II with the 24-120 and a few other lenses, but I find it glued to the camera like 70% of the time. Sometimes I do think it's overkill.
So I have considered getting a 24-70 like someone had mentioned above, but it seems like losing a lot of range just for chopping a bit of bulk.
p.1 #11 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
Vento wrote:
Personally, a prime lens in the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Apo Lanthar category is enough for me when I really want to travel light, including a small tripod.
It's certainly not for everyone, but for me it's not only a very liberating feeling, it also helps me in my creativity.
But that's probably due to how I learned photography in the 70s with a Pentax Spotmatic and an SMC Takumar 35mm.
I love it and don't need anything else when it comes to traveling with minimal gear.
So I have always worked mainly with fixed manual focus focal lengths and never felt like I was missing out by using only one focal length, a prime lens.
I am definitely not one of those people who can only find peace of mind when they are prepared for every conceivable scenario in terms of focal length.
It's quite the opposite.
At that moment, I am completely focused on the focal length and concentrate on suitable scenarios.
And that's despite the availability of options such as a Z 14-30/4 S or Z 24-120/4 S.
For more extensive travel, these would also be included, but the most pleasant way for me to reduce the load is with a really high-quality, yet still very compact fixed focal length lens of my choice....Show more →
Yeah, I think that's my discussion topic here to some extent.
I normally travel with a 'cover most bases' kit, which includes 24-120, a 14-30, and a prime (or 2) for low light. I've grown to like the 24 1.8 more than the 35 for low light urban travel.
But I don't mind slowing down... and I don't *need* to cover all bases. I got a 35 Voigtlander and I'm hoping to take it around more during travel.
Then from a lightweight perspective, I'm debating whether to go with a full frame body and then take less bulky lenses with me.
p.1 #12 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
Each has pros and cons.
Smaller crop kit is easier to lug around for sure, but compromises on image quality, although not much these days. The biggest difference is DoF control.
Bigger kit can become a boat anchor if you're not careful.
For my casual weekend trips with the family, I usually stick to phone and ricoh GR.
p.1 #13 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
nineblade wrote:
I normally don't mind carrying a full frame with a regular set of lenses, but getting into the minimalist/one bag travel ideal, it can be quite challenging to carry a full kit.
So thinking of a more low profile kit, I wonder what people would prefer between these two options:
Full Frame Body (like a Nikon Z 7II or Zf)
24-50 zoom lens
40mm f/2 prime
maybe 1 or 2 other lenses
OR
APS-C Body (like a Zfc, Sony 6xxx series, or a Fuji XT-5)
And normal lenses
If you really want FF, the Sony A7c and A7Rc, 2 generations and 24mp to 61mp, are hard to beat sizewise.
p.1 #14 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
I have found time and time again that the quality of my photos on a trip (as well as my enjoyment of said trip) is inversely proportional to the amount of gear I bring. One camera, one prime lens; anything I "miss" due to lack of reach, lack of wide angle, etc. was not meant to be anyway. For some of my most productive and fun trips photographically I carried nothing but an X100. I recommend all travelers try it at least once or twice.
p.1 #15 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
It is depends on where I'm traveling.
1, Road trip 3-5 hours drive, I will have either ZF, X-E4, X-E5 with one telephoto lens or two prime lens.
2, National state parks Z7II with 24-70 is must for me and a long range lens may be for wild life depends on which park I go. A 120 film camera as well.
3, Going to city like LAX , Chicago etc. Hard to make decision for these cities but a 35mm film camera is for sure with me
4, Europe , a wide lens is must needed with a prime lens.
p.1 #16 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
nineblade wrote:
Yeah, my normal travel set up is a Z7II with the 24-120 and a few other lenses, but I find it glued to the camera like 70% of the time. Sometimes I do think it's overkill.
So I have considered getting a 24-70 like someone had mentioned above, but it seems like losing a lot of range just for chopping a bit of bulk.
If you are OK losing megapixels, a 16-50 on a Z7 will dramatically shrink the size over the 24-120, or a 24-50 cropping to 75mm DX mode seems decent as well for a size/weight reduction. Add a Z30 for when you want to go really small with the 16-50.
From your OP it seems like you like to have large aperture primes as well, and in this context I think Fuji and Sony have it over Nikon in terms of small bodies with IBIS.
p.1 #17 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
I think for my z5II my set up would be 24-200mm plus a faster prime like my 40mm f/2 or viltrox 50mm f/2 air. That really would cover most anything I would need.
I sold my z50II for my shaky hands it's lack of IBIS and the fact the body was about the same size and not much lighter than my Z5II pushed all of my Nikon use to it. To tell the truth I liked the fuji xt-5 better.
I replaced the z50II with a full frame Sony A7CII which is is lighter than everything we have other than my wife's zfc. With the sony 40mm 2.5g lens it's only about an ounce heavier than my Fuji x100VI. My standard kit with it are some lighter prime lenses. If just doing landscape type of things the kit 28-60 f/4-5.6 is only 4.75oz which is only one once heavier than my wife's nikon DX 16-50 f/3.5-6.3 aps-c lens. Also have the 40mm, Sigma 90mm f/2.8, and Sigma 24mm f/2. With an APS-C crop turned on the A7CII that gets me from 24/36, 40/60, 90/135mm in just three prime lenses. If you had the a7cr instead which only ads one once to things the APS-C crop is still 26mp and more than my z5II's sensor can put out. These two Sony models are lighter than most APS-C cameras.
I haven't had the Sony long enough to know if it will replace my z5II. I like the Nikon colors better and it has a little better ISO performance, but proper editing makes both of those disappear. The z5II does have a nicer viewfinder, but is it worth a 5oz heaver body when wanting to go light? That's the about weight of one of these prime lenses.
p.1 #18 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
With FF you can just count on cropping. Carry primes, so slightly wider. 2-3 kit isnt that bad if they aren't crazy fast lenses. 2.8 is fast enough, especially with IBISI or VR.
With APS-C you can carry zooms that are the size of FF primes and get the comp in-camera. f4 24-105 equivalents are wonderful.
p.1 #19 · Lightweight Kit: Full Frame + Small Lenses or APS-C for travel?
If you don’t have a specific shot or location in mind that requires a special lens, just take the 24–120/4 and leave the rest at home. I’ve never ended up using the compact primes I packed when I also had a zoom. Of course, if you’re into macro, birding, or whatever else you enjoy shooting on vacation, the recommendation might be different
