So, Looking for Travel Kit for Europe

[Mr_Jones]

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I've been settling on a 28/50/90 kit but always miss the 35 from time to time. With digital post processing you can 'go wider' than 28 by stitching a panorama. Maybe not a solution for the purist but it helps to reduce the gear you need to carry. 28/2.8, 50/2 or 1.4 and 90/4 is the lightest option I own. Putz recommends the 50/2.8 collapsible and he's probably right!

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[Sandokan]

Take just the 35 and cut out the dilemna. The scenery is always stunning. If you need the 90 to capture the landscape, chances are that the atmospheric conditions wont be ideal, so just walk closer and use the 35.

 

Or dont take anything and enjoy the experience. If you are hiking, hike. If you are on a photo expedition, take them all.

[dj_61]

Just take the lenses that you will be using most. In almost any case that will be the 35 and the 50. Some people may argue that they are too close. But they render differently. 90 mm is almost always useless in landscape because of the atmospheric conditions in Europe. The 50 works great on portraits. If in doubt only take the 50. As Ralph Gibson said. Most great pictures are taken with a 50 mm lens. And he is right. Many many great photographers have managed with just that lens. True, you will miss a couple of shots. But there are many more out there. Just take another one.

[honcho]

....... 90 mm is almost always useless in landscape because of the atmospheric conditions in Europe......

 

One can find many good examples of expert and knowledgeable opinion on this forum but that statement isn't one of them.

[nik_nik9]

I always travel with 21 SEM / 35 LUX / 50 LUX. Thanks to Lightroom it's easy to tell what lens is used how often:

 

Destination, % use of 21 35 50

 

Indonesia, June 14, 15% 55% 30%

Guangzhou, April 14 , 10% 60% 30%

Beijing, March 14, 15% 60% 25%

Marrakech, November 13, 50% 35% 15%

Taipei, October 13, 10% 60% 30%

Shanghai, October 13, 15% 80% 5%

Japan, August 13, 25% 50% 25%

Cambodia, March 13, 10% 70% 20%

 

I'm always a little bit hesitate about taking the 75 instead of 50, but in the end I mostly opt for 50 due to the higher versatility - and I don't mind to crop!

 

Have fun on your trip!

 

Nik

[Duane Pandorf]

I "travel" every other week for a 7 day on 7 day off schedule. My job can take me most anywhere. I have found the 35mm to be a perfect travel companion on the FF Leica. You have enough file to crop a little and can often back up a couple steps if needed.

 

I also have a 50 and 90 but seem to never carry those with me. However, I am adding a 75mm Cron and this May be my travel kit: 35/75.

 

Just spent 2 days in Geneva and posted some of photographs on my blog. All with the 35mm.

[ktmrider2]

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Thanks for the input. As always, lots of different points of view.

 

If I was going super light, it would be one camera and one lens and it would not be an M9 but my Fuji X100. Next up in weight would be the M9 with 50, two lenses would be 35/90 and three lens will be either 21/35/90 or 21/50/90. If I decide to take a backup camera, it would be either the X100 or my M2. The X100 with lens is lighter then the M2 body.

 

I do use the 90 quite often in landscapes and the model I have is very, very small as is the 21. I am having a hard time deciding between the 35 and the 50. As I post earlier, I use them both equally. The 35 suggests itself due to the narrow streets in most European towns while the 50 gives just a bit more reach.

 

As I have said in the past, whatever I take usually works out ok. Perhaps, I should leave all the Leica stuff behind and take the latest and largest Canikon with 15 to 400 zoom. Since I don't own one, it would give me a chance for a big GAS attack.

[DigitalHeMan]

.....90 mm is almost always useless in landscape because of the atmospheric conditions in Europe.

 

 

Please can you help me understand this pearl of wisdom? Having lived in Europe my whole life understanding this might give my photography the break through that it needs.

 

Is it the whole of Europe? Does the atmosphere improve immediately when I leave Europe? For example, will a photo taken on the Asian side of Istanbul be automatically better than a photo taken on the European side? What if I take a photo of Asian Istanbul from European Istanbul?

 

Does this scientific mystery only happen at 90mm? Am I better using a zoom lens and then shooting at either 89 or 91mm instead?

 

Or will my photography improve by going outside and taking photos, rather than reading Internet opinions, as so far that has worked pretty well for me.....?

[Nick_S]

90 mm is almost always useless in landscape because of the atmospheric conditions in Europe.

It varies with the place, with the season, and the weather on the day. I have had amazing clear mountain vistas in, for example, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece... If I leave the 90 at home for a trip, then usually I regret it.

 

Nick