For those of you who have traveled Europe

also, forgot to mention that I do have a cropped sensor.

I spent a month there and only took a backpack as my suitcase.

My setup was a 60D, the kit Canon 18-135mm, and Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I split my time pretty evenly between the two. Having two was really nice, but if you're sold on only one I'd take the 17-50 for sure. That will force you into a lot of good compositions I feel.

when i was doing study aborad (4 months) i brought a decent chunk of my gear, but probably used my 28mm prime 90% of the time, followed by my 11-16 occasionally (these were the only two i would bring on trips, i also had 50 and 135mm primes which i would use on occasion but could have easily gotten away without having them)

thanks for the response guys.

Im going to be in Portugal, so I dont think Ill need any tele lenses. I like the idea of a 35mm prime, but at that point i might just bring my 17-50.

Ill be mainly in the city so I dont think id have many shots past 50-85mm

Have you considered a 24-70 2.8? Regardless of the brand, those are fantastic walkarounds.

ForcilloHave you considered a 24-70 2.8? Regardless of the brand, those are fantastic walkarounds.

yes, ultimately I decided I want something a little wider.

It would be a perfect lens for a FF, but the 17-50 is sounding more and more attractive with the more research I am doing

Get a 35mm or 40mm equivalent, so on a corp sensor thats a 24mm prime, the OG canon 24mm f2.8 is like $200 and I used that for years for travelling. I think bringing more than one lens, especially a big zoom, is both unnecessary and asking for trouble, esp if this is just 'personal work'.

zbphotoGet a 35mm or 40mm equivalent, so on a corp sensor thats a 24mm prime, the OG canon 24mm f2.8 is like $200 and I used that for years for travelling. I think bringing more than one lens, especially a big zoom, is both unnecessary and asking for trouble, esp if this is just 'personal work'.

do you think you would find any need for a 85mm prime?

[J_Gasper]do you think you would find any need for a 85mm prime?

I doubt it. I think the range of a 17-50 has benefit, but a 35mm equiv gets you through 90% of stuff and I can almost guarantee you will get better shots shooting with a prime for travel.

50mm FF.

I spent a month in Europe last summer, and two weeks in Brazil the year before. took the 50mm off very rarely, besides shooting inside churches, some of the time. Still shot 50 most of the time.

What it really comes down to is personal preference. Even when I shoot professionally, I use the 50mm 50% of the time. It's just a focal length that works for me.

Going to Ireland this summer and bringing 85mm on a MF, and my DSLR with a 50... odds are nothing else.

I'll post some pics in here sometime, but I haven't really uploaded them all yet. Photos from Brazil - see if you can spot the not 50. Hint - there's only two.

http://www.lunarsolarcreative.com/brazil-2013/

Actually, here's a bunch of photos from Paris that are up (don't laugh, the description is for my parents and family who want to know what the fuck I'm doing and how I afford it.)

http://www.lunarsolarcreative.com/france-and-italy-2014-paris/

4 months in Europe and only used my 50mm

TWoodsActually, here's a bunch of photos from Paris that are up (don't laugh, the description is for my parents and family who want to know what the fuck I'm doing and how I afford it.)

http://www.lunarsolarcreative.com/france-and-italy-2014-paris/

all of those were shot with the 50mm?

I like that idea a lot. I sold my Canon 50mm f/1.4 about 3 years ago for an SMC 50mm 1.4 that was a great copy of the lens. I mainly made the switch because I was so impressed. Obviously did it for video for the most part.

Do you think no AF will be a big issue? Again, only shooting stills.

[J_Gasper]all of those were shot with the 50mm?

Not all of them, I think the two of the guys in the market were shot with a 28 and the one of the chapel at Versailles, as well as the flag under L'arc De Triomphe. Everything else though, yes.

I was using my Olympus OM-1, all that it shot on film. As you can see, a couple are a little soft because I fucked up. If you have a prism that helps you focus in your camera, it's not as big a deal, but if you just have a matte screen on a DSLR finding focus might get annoying - depends on how good you are with it.

Here's my advice - don't worry about what lenses you would take to make sure you get the shot 100 percent of the time. Take the lenses, or a lens, that you will ENJOY shooting. You'll only lift your camera to make photos that you really think will be worth it, and you'll enjoy doing it - thus enjoy your trip more and live more in the experience rather than fiddling with your camera.

Although, that could be terrible advice if you're the type of person that really really hates it when you don't have the right lens for just the right situation. I let go of that side of my self on vacation, and I'm pretty good at it - some people aren't!

BTW - super jealous that you are going to Portugal. How long and what's your itinerary?

TWoodsNot all of them, I think the two of the guys in the market were shot with a 28 and the one of the chapel at Versailles, as well as the flag under L'arc De Triomphe. Everything else though, yes.

I was using my Olympus OM-1, all that it shot on film. As you can see, a couple are a little soft because I fucked up. If you have a prism that helps you focus in your camera, it's not as big a deal, but if you just have a matte screen on a DSLR finding focus might get annoying - depends on how good you are with it.

Here's my advice - don't worry about what lenses you would take to make sure you get the shot 100 percent of the time. Take the lenses, or a lens, that you will ENJOY shooting. You'll only lift your camera to make photos that you really think will be worth it, and you'll enjoy doing it - thus enjoy your trip more and live more in the experience rather than fiddling with your camera.

Although, that could be terrible advice if you're the type of person that really really hates it when you don't have the right lens for just the right situation. I let go of that side of my self on vacation, and I'm pretty good at it - some people aren't!

BTW - super jealous that you are going to Portugal. How long and what's your itinerary?

alright, thanks for the advice I appreciate it.

Im leaving on the 12th for Seville, Spain for a couple days, then we're going to Lisbon for 6 nights. Going to a Sporting Lisbon game and hopefully going to try to make it to the southern part of the country for a little beach and golf time. Excited is an understatement.

Had a gh2. Brought the kit lens, a Helios 44-2, and a Pentax 200mm. Used those lenses about 1 or 2 times each over a whole semester. Did over 95% with the panasonic/leica 25mm (50mm equivalent) and the rokinon fisheye.

If you are going to be shooting anything indoors, like churches, I would get a small, fast, medium wide lens to go with the 24-105.

I've lived in Switzerland for 2 years now. When I travel I usually only bring my tamron 17-50 (on a crop sensor). It's not too heavy, excellent for shooting anything outside of tele, and super fast for low light. I love it

50mm is too narrow on a crop IMO with all the narrow streets and indoor shots, on a FF it'd be fine, but the side angle is nice sometimes

i spent 2 months there and shot 35mm on a 35mm RF and then had a P&S that was 24-75. honestly i wish i would have had my old 28mm in some situations, but honestly it all comes down to preference.

Im leaving tomorrow and decided to bring both my 17-50mm and 50mm. I have to bring my dakine photopack because I needed to bring my laptop and some chargers to do some work while I am there.

Stoked! Ill let everyone know how the shots turn out