Another what lens thread......

[TEBnewyork]

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This will be my first trip with my M8. I'm headed to Morocco. I'll be in and around Marrekesh for just 4 days so I want to travel really light. I was thinking about this combo:

 

CV15

CV 35 color skopar

90 elmar macro

 

 

Other lenses available:

CV21 skopar

CV28 skopar

50 'cron

CV 75 Heliar

 

I'm sure someone is going to convince me to get something new!

 

Thanks,

terry

[Kent10D]

Hmm ... sure you don't want to take that 28 along?

35 might be a little tight when wandering around the exotic markets and other locations I'm imagining (never been to Marakesh, so imagination is all I have).

[Printmaker]

terry

 

You know those tight streets really beg for a 21... and its so small:)

[nryn]

Though not with an M, I've been to Morocco. I can offer some suggestions.

 

A lot of your lens kit depends on where you're going. If you're going to the Atlas Mountains or the desert, bring whatever you shoot landscapes with and know that you'll have a lot of space to move around. In the cities and even small towns--you won't get much use out of your 90. Spaces are too tight and in many places they'll be too dark for an f/4.

 

If you're married to three lenses, If you're married to bringing something long, I'd suggest the 15, 35, and 75 or the 15, 28, and 75. I don't know how much you'll use the 75, though. I had zooms with me and, having just looked at the EXIF, never went over 35mm. So I'd probably bring the 15, 21, and 35 or the 15, 21, and 50. But you said really light, so I'd probably just bring the 21 and 35.

 

Anyway, tell us a little more about your trip.

[TEBnewyork]

Though not with an M, I've been to Morocco. I can offer some suggestions.

 

A lot of your lens kit depends on where you're going. If you're going to the Atlas Mountains or the desert, bring whatever you shoot landscapes with and know that you'll have a lot of space to move around. In the cities and even small towns--you won't get much use out of your 90. Spaces are too tight and in many places they'll be too dark for an f/4.

 

If you're married to three lenses, If you're married to bringing something long, I'd suggest the 15, 35, and 75 or the 15, 28, and 75. I don't know how much you'll use the 75, though. I had zooms with me and, having just looked at the EXIF, never went over 35mm. So I'd probably bring the 15, 21, and 35 or the 15, 21, and 50. But you said really light, so I'd probably just bring the 21 and 35.

 

Anyway, tell us a little more about your trip.

 

Exactly why I am asking as I haven't been before. We are starting in the Atlas mountains and then heading into Marrekesh exploring the city. So, the 15 was in there for the mountains. Everyone is probably right that I do need the 21 in the city and it will also be useful in the mountains.

 

I wasn't sure about a long lens but it makes sense if the spaces are really so tight tight that it will be useless. I remember someone posting shots from a Morocco trip where they used a longer lens to get some people being a bit more stealthy (and me still a bit shy doing street stuff especially in a place where some don't want to be in photos). I was a bit afraid of the f4 on the 90 but the lens was much smaller than the 75. I haven't been there before so I just didn't want to kick myself for not bringing something long. So, given all of this I will leave both longer lenses at home.

 

So that takes it down to either of two kits:

 

15, 21, 35 or 15, 21, 50.

 

I have a 21mm finder but not a 28mm, I've been using the full frame of the viewfinder to approximate. Might be time to add a finder to my kit.

 

Thanks for your help!

[TEBnewyork]

Thanks Kent and Printmaker,

 

See my response above. I have amended my choices. If I felt confident in what I was doing I wouldn't have posted so this is really helpful!

 

Terry

[geoffreyg]

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While shooting in Venice, I fund the 15 CV vey useful in tight streets. So I'd go with the 15 and maybe the 21 (or the 28) for more normal shots.

 

I tend to prefer the 75 to the 90 for my long shots, but have been using (surprisingly) a 50 'cron a lot for both a short tele, and for general shooting.

 

I'd leave the 75 and 90 at home, take the 15 and 50. Maybe take something in the middle, to calm the nerves.

 

Geoff

[Guest guy_mancuso]

I would not leave that extremely small 15mm that don't even know it is in the bag at home. For street work of buildings and such a perfect lens. I would go without question 15 and 21mm. Than just make a jump to either 28 and 50 or 35 and 75. On my ten day to Germany I used the WATE and the 75 a lot along with my 28 cron. So you could go 15,21,28,75 or 15,21,35,75. Not sure i could go on a long trip with 3 lenses only, that 4th lens just makes more sense.

 

now since I have the 12mm i would go personally 12, 21, 28 and 75

[TEBnewyork]

I would not leave that extremely small 15mm that don't even know it is in the bag at home. For street work of buildings and such a perfect lens. I would go without question 15 and 21mm. Than just make a jump to either 28 and 50 or 35 and 75. On my ten day to Germany I used the WATE and the 75 a lot along with my 28 cron. So you could go 15,21,28,75 or 15,21,35,75. Not sure i could go on a long trip with 3 lenses only, that 4th lens just makes more sense.

 

now since I have the 12mm i would go personally 12, 21, 28 and 75

 

Guy

I knew if you answered this I would have four lenses with me! While I can actually fit everything i own in a little Domke FX-5B bag, I would be fumbling trying to get to a lens at the bottom of the bag. I also want to only have one small bag that can also hold a phone passport etc. I will se how much fits and fill it up. I know it is heresy but I also have a small point and shoot (Panny TZ3 that will take me from 28 to 280mm in a pinch). While slowish this would be a great WATE plus MATE trip!

 

Thanks!

[Guest guy_mancuso]

It's really tough because you want small but have enough too. It's one of those brain wreckers to decide.

[nryn]

A couple tips:

 

Many Moroccans don't like having their photo taken. Most of the time they'll just scowl but once, on a particularly bad day, I was physically thrown into an orange stand. Oops. I don't think teles are necessarily an solution; as I mentioned previously, in cities you often won't have the space to use a long tele.

 

Also, the souqs / medinas, particularly in Fez and Marrakesh, tend to be very dark due to narrow streets. When there is light, it's usually at noon when the sun is directly overhead, so the light is pretty contrasty. Bring relatively fast (2.0) lenses to get the most out of those environments. The 15 will come in handy in courtyards and the like.

 

In the mountains, particularly at this time of year, it'll be a little hazy and if it has rained, the glare is really hard to deal with.

 

And yeah, don't bring 4 lenses. Three lenses if not two--many of these places are not conducive to easy or safe lens changes. Chances are you'll walk around a souq with the 21 or 28 and just leave it on. The 50 will make a reasonable tele.

 

Lastly, be careful. I met a lot of people while traveling in Morocco who lost their stuff to thieves and pickpockets. I think this probably has more to say about those people than it does about Moroccans, who on the whole I found extremely charming, but still--it became clear to me that easy pickings were definitely ... picked, and quickly too.

 

I went from Tangiers to Chefchaouen to Fez, then drove to Azrou, Volubilis, Meknes, and Marrakech, then Casablanca. It's one of the best trips I've taken but also one of the hardest.

[jonoslack]

....erm

Oh hell Terry - it doesn't matter - just have fun. . . . . . . don't leave the 15 behind though. . . . .

[TEBnewyork]

A couple tips:

 

Many Moroccans don't like having their photo taken. Most of the time they'll just scowl but once, on a particularly bad day, I was physically thrown into an orange stand. Oops. I don't think teles are necessarily an solution; as I mentioned previously, in cities you often won't have the space to use a long tele.

 

Also, the souqs / medinas, particularly in Fez and Marrakesh, tend to be very dark due to narrow streets. When there is light, it's usually at noon when the sun is directly overhead, so the light is pretty contrasty. Bring relatively fast (2.0) lenses to get the most out of those environments. The 15 will come in handy in courtyards and the like.

 

In the mountains, particularly at this time of year, it'll be a little hazy and if it has rained, the glare is really hard to deal with.

 

And yeah, don't bring 4 lenses. Three lenses if not two--many of these places are not conducive to easy or safe lens changes. Chances are you'll walk around a souq with the 21 or 28 and just leave it on. The 50 will make a reasonable tele.

 

Lastly, be careful. I met a lot of people while traveling in Morocco who lost their stuff to thieves and pickpockets. I think this probably has more to say about those people than it does about Moroccans, who on the whole I found extremely charming, but still--it became clear to me that easy pickings were definitely ... picked, and quickly too.

 

I went from Tangiers to Chefchaouen to Fez, then drove to Azrou, Volubilis, Meknes, and Marrakech, then Casablanca. It's one of the best trips I've taken but also one of the hardest.

 

Thank you! This is perfect information. Your tip about being careful and since it is such a short visit are exactly the reasons why I wanted a tiny kit in a tiny bag that I could carry across my body. So, looks like 15, 21 and either 35 (really teeny and f2.5) or 50 cron. It will be interesting as I have never gone away with wide, wider and widest before .

 

terry

 

Glad I posted!

[LichMD]

Late to this one, but my 2 cents:

 

15, 21 and 50.

Don't change lenses on the fly, during our recent trip to India I made sure to switch in the car or in a store. No need to call attention to your equipment. The M8 tends to draw very little attention, but the lens change will slow you down and make you more "visible".

Be safe, carry plenty of SD cards and enjoy!

[mustafasoleiman]

I think that to travel without a small telephoto is madness!

You will need a 75 for all the intimate close ups you will see, both in landscape, people and architecture, where anything wider will not do.

Marrakesh is not as tight as Fez or other moroccan cities, and you have the famous square Jamal l Fna that is huge and where you will definitely need a telephoto. (hint: go there at sunset)

The architecture will also provide elements that you will want to isolate and see close.

The landscape is so wide that, after a few all enclusive 15mm images, you will start seeing far away spots and villages, and minarets, that again will beg for a tele, as you will not be able to get close.

So... 15/28/75 or 15/35/75.

don't forget to show us what you did!