gdanmitchell
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 Re: Best Lenses for European Street Scenes & Countrysides? | |
To those imagining that there is one right answer — or one "correct" way to shoot a given subject — the best we can do here is share our approach and suggest why it works for us while acknowledging that there are other ways of going about it that may work better for others.
To wit, I like to shoot only primes when I travel — some small lenses with not particularly large maximum apertures, but also a couple of lenses with large apertures for very low light or for when I want to highlight my primary subject against a less distracting background. FWIW, here's what I carry:
(Note: For travel I use a small Fujifilm APS-C system rather than my Canon FF system. You'll need to apply the usual conversion factors if you want to know angle-of-view equivalent FF lenses for what I use.)
Fujifilm XT5
14mm f/2.8
23mm f/1.4
27mm f/2.8
35mm f/1.4
90mm f/2
I also bring a small travel tripod for emergencies (Almost all of my travel photography is handheld), a remote release, three batteries, and the usual "other stuff" (for cleaning lenses, sensors, etc.).
Some of you are probably thinking: "Five lenses! Are you nuts?"
First, remember that I'm not saying you should do this, just that it works for me. Also, aside from when traveling between cities I almost never actually have all five lenses with me when I'm out and about. It depends on the situation:
1. Often I have only the 27mm f/2.8 with me, especially if I'm mainly doing, more or less, "street photography."
2. If I'll be in tighter spaces (indoors, narrow and crowded streets, etc.) I'll add the 14mm lens. If I think I'll need more reach or anticipate certain kinds of portrait stuff I'll add the 90mm.
3. I like to do night street photography in urban areas. For this I typically go out with only the one or both of the f/1.4 lenses.
(Other lenses get locked up at the hotel or other accommodation.)
I like primes for this stuff — but I'm perfectly happy if you prefer zooms. They make sense, too. For me, with my street photography orientation, I like the quickness and small size of primes. I also like that they give me the option of a very small, unobtrusive setup — for example, with just the body and the 27mm pancake.
I use a much wider range of focal lengths for my non-travel landscape and wildlife photography, and a much larger and heavier setup with large FF zoom lenses, a bigger camera, and one or more pretty substantial tripods. That kind of setup interferes with my approach to travel/street photograph, but that' just me — if you prefer to carry the big heavy stuff, have at it!
Zoom lenses can make great options for travel, too. The obvious pluses are more control over framing, the ability to adapt to different situations without needed to change lenses, and even the potential to carry only one lens or at least keep the number down to a couple. Some folks like the larger range zooms that come closer to being one-lens-only solutions, though the trade-off is usually a smaller maximum aperture and maybe some (possibly unimportant) potential optical issues.
I wouldn't discount the possibility of using a smaller system than you usually use. Some of them (like the one I use or some of the fine four-thirds systems) can produce excellent image quality with potentially less bulk and weight. For me, the trade-offs favor the smaller systems for travel, buy YMMV.
It isn't even out of the question to consider something like an all-in-one consumer camera or even — though, again, not for everyone — a smartphone camera.
The potential orientations to "travel photography" are so varied that the range of "right" answer is huge and quite personal. I photography the primary reason for your travel? One significant component of the experience? A way to bring back some memories? Something that could interfere with other aspects of your travel? Will you drive or use trains/planes? Do you like to walk?
Do you prefer to travel light, or are you happen to bring bags of gear and lug it around? What will you do with the photographs after you return?
Are you going to photograph landscapes? Wildlife? Urban icons? People? Locals or other members of your group? All or some of these?
Instead of trying to tell folks what "the right gear is," perhaps it is more useful to consider how different sorts of gear might (or might not) fit into their travel experience?
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