pechance wrote:
I have the 18, 33 1.4's and the 56/1.2 which is what I was originally thinking of taking but the idea of a zoom for trips like this with my wife might be better.....
I have gotten spoiled with my small MF glass (43 and 49mm filters).... If I had the courage, I'd take my 18/2.8 skopar, 27/2 Ultron and 50/2 APO Lanthar - no camera bag - just a fanny pack. But it doesn't really help in low light.
This, have the Courage!
Having super fast lenses or the highest MP bodies is the goal of most threads here on FM. But in reality carrying and using it all, especially on a long multi-stop foreign trip, is wrong for so many reasons. Extra weight, extra bulk, larger bags, larger filter sets, being noticed because of the gear, theft insurance and the chance of robbery? A “once in a lifetime trip” should be about you and your wife having the best of times and shooting with a minimalist kit with lenses and bodies you know, not a new, expensive and very complicated camera system you know nothing about. (I say this as a 8 year user of Sony FF with 3 bodies and too many lenses. My last 2 overseas trip have been with my Fuji's. )
On my recent Summer 2-1/2 month trip to Thailand with my wife, I took my Fuji X-T5, the C/V 18 f2.8 CS and 27mm f2 Ultron, and XF 50mm f2 Fujicron in a Peak Design 3 L bag as my daily kit. Really lightweight kit at < 3 Lbs; small, non-evasive and I just loved. Took 3,800 raw & Jpeg photos, just over 1/3 of the photos were with the Ultron. Had a TTL Godox IT30 Pro flash with me but it was only used a few times.
Yes I brought a 2nd, bigger 6L bag with a backup body X-E5, the XF 14 f2.8 (Exc. copy MPB used $278), XF 35 f1.4, Sigma 56 f1.4 and Sigma 18-50 f2.8 zoom, as it was my first overseas trip with my Fuji gear. But other than the 35 f1.4 I hardly touched them and most days the 6L bag was locked in the hotels safe. I bought the Sigma zoom as a do all lens just for this trip, but liked going bagless on many days, just a body with wrist strap and a pancake mounted, the other pancake in my pocket. Really came in handy as we used the very crowded Metro train system in Bangkok extensively.
In your case maybe bring the XF 18 f1.4 in your packed luggage as an alternate to the 18mm CS if you are worried about the corners. I was not and I am very happy with the results.
Sep 21, 2026 at 03:10 PM
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