Thank you so much for your advices. I have purchased the 24-105 f4, and 16-35 f4 PZ. Decided to wait on 24-70 f2.8 GM after I figure out what range I really like. Intend to take the 24-105 to destinations with vast landscapes like Iceland, and 16-35 f4 PZ for streets in the cities. Currently I might not take my 70-200 f2.8--it's an excellent lens, but heavy and bulky. But who knows. I can image that 70-200 would be all one needs like BEMEI pointed out.
Trying to decide between 24 f1.4 vs. 35 f1.4 for the prime. Since I do more portraits, landscape is a new hobby, I will likely get the 85 f1.4 to pair with my 70-200 f2.8. I know many like the 50 range.
IMO, any travel kit should include something like the Tamron 28-200. It’s small, sharp, fast AF and has a really useful range. It has great close focus ability too. Add in a wider lens, and a fast prime at your favorite FL and you’re good. I picked up one cheap here on B&S and I love it, wish I would have gotten it sooner. Tamron has a v2 that starts at 25mm and Sigma has one that starts at 20mm for even more versatility. The only real drawback is Tamron’s sunstars are just meh, but I have other lenses if I want a good one. I did a southwestern road trip after getting the Tammy and it was on my a7cII about 95% of the time. If I needed a wider shot, I mostly just shot a vertical pano.
While I own the FE 16-35/2.8 GM II and it’s a great lens I’ve built by travel bag with the smaller and lighter FE 16-25/2.8 G and FE 24-50/2.8 G because I’ve been using them on a Sony A7CR body. As a second camera I have the A7CII.
As a long lens I’ve been very happy with the FE 70-200/4 MACRO G II even though I also own the heavier FE 70-200/2.8 GM II. Its even lighter than my FE 135/1.8 GM which of course is excellent.
So these three zooms give me lots of flexibility but can always swap them out for a small prime like the FE 14/1.8 GM or FE 20/1.8 G at the wide end and other smaller f/1.8 primes if I think it will help.
joychris wrote:
IMO, any travel kit should include something like the Tamron 28-200. It’s small, sharp, fast AF and has a really useful range. It has great close focus ability too. Add in a wider lens, and a fast prime at your favorite FL and you’re good. I picked up one cheap here on B&S and I love it, wish I would have gotten it sooner. Tamron has a v2 that starts at 25mm and Sigma has one that starts at 20mm for even more versatility. The only real drawback is Tamron’s sunstars are just meh, but I have other lenses if I want a good one. I did a southwestern road trip after getting the Tammy and it was on my a7cII about 95% of the time. If I needed a wider shot, I mostly just shot a vertical pano.
chez wrote:
My travel kit is composed of 3 primes ( 25, 40 and 85 ). I love shooting with primes and feel my images are stronger than when shooting zooms.
I used to only using primes when I first started. Slowly changing to zoom after I got my first 70-200 f2.8.
Landscape photography throws in a twist, but I'd likely bring Thypoch 28, Sony 40, and a Sigma 90.
Thank you for bringing in the tripod selection. I had forgotten about it. I mostly do handheld when shooting portraits but tripod will be a must with certain landscapes.
There is a place for portrait mode use shooting landscapes although I'd say its a small percentage, JMO. If I was planning a trip to Iceland the primary perspective in deciding on equipment would be landscape. Individually it comes down to how someone sees their subject in conjunction with preferred lenses ex) prime vs zoom. For most of my landscape trips I go with three zooms that basically cover the 16-200 range. Usually it's the 16-35, 20-70 (or 24-105) & 70-200, tripod with good leveling base & ball head, along with 2 bodies to reduce lens swapping which can be critical not only in wind but also when timing becomes important during shorter golden hours. At that point air travel, weight and distance on foot enter into the equation to refine the final backpack contents. Over the years, I've not yet been in a situation where this rig wasn't able to cover the captures I wanted.
Being confident with the rig you bring eliminates a bunch of useless worry and allows me to concentrate on composing each frame to capture.
