Jump to content

what lenses to bring to Europe


Daniel Leung

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

 

Me and my family are going to a European cruise trip for 20 days, how many lenses should I bring ?

 

Following are the lenses that I current have

 

28mm F2

50mm F1.4

50mm F0.95

Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 F4

75 mm F2

 

Please let me know your thoughts

 

tks

DL

Link to post
Share on other sites

Knowing all that I do about you, your tastes, preferences and personal style, where you are going, what you are doing, how long you are spending in each location, etc. there is only one possible piece of advice.

 

Bring the lot.

 

Next?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Link to post
Share on other sites

There are lots of answers to this, including

  • The same ones you'd take on a cruise trip to any other destination
  • It's a wonderful chance to concentrate on just one lens - the 28mm f/2
  • It's a wonderful chance to concentrate on just one lens - the 50mm f/1.4
  • None of the above, you need a 18mm f/3.8, 24mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4 and 90mm f/2
  • The lenses you find easiest to use - so you spend more time enjoying yourself and less fiddling with the camera
  • The lenses you'd least mind falling into the oggin.
  • None at all. Let other people use their P&Ss while you really look at what they're just snapping.
  • If you can't decide for yourself, maybe you'd be better off with a cheap DSLR and an 18-200mm zoom.

As it happens I'm off for a few days holiday in Scotland tomorrow and am trying to decide what gear to take with me. It's not easy - film or digital, Leica or Nikon, will I need anything longer than 100mm? - but it's just a holiday so it's also supremely unimportant. Whatever you take you'll enjoy yourself.

Link to post
Share on other sites

That's a fine set of lenses - so bring the lot on the ship and take out one or two each day to shoot with. Obviously you won't need two 50mm's but I can look after that heavy 0.95 for you for 20 days no problem. Cheers

Link to post
Share on other sites

This was a serious question..right? And you hoped to learn something forum the forum?

 

The biggest thing you will miss is a longer lens. If you are on a barge/boat etc ..you can not control you distance to subject . You have a great vantage point from the water and around the water. With an M8 the best you can do is the 135apo .

 

I should warn you its hard to get calibrated particularly for infinity(where you need it). Your M8 can be spot on with all your other lenses and still be off enough to affect the 135apo. You will also benefit from the 1.4X magnifier . If decide to do this try to get a test of the lens with your body or at least the ability to return it. The lens can be quite accurate at 3M and out of focus at 10M on out. Its worth it if you get it right.

 

If you are using only one body ...you probably have too many lenses. I try to take two bodies and 6 lens for a trip of 10 days to Europe. Three to four lenses in a working set with the two bodies. The WATE is a good choice to be your wide angle solution..but its slow and your next choice is a 28( 37FOV). The other aspect to consider is how the lenses draw(render a scene)....the 28 is a nice blend of medium high contrast (and outstanding micro contrast and color) ........this works in most types of light. Great all around lens from the water (any 35 is also good). The two 50s and the 75 are too close ....they all are close in FOV and render in a similar high contrast near perfect way. You don t need the Noctilux ....but you will take it ..otherwise why have it. The 75 and the noctilux are the best choices ........but the 50 1.4 asph could be on the camera most...so this is a tough choice.

 

Beyond the 135 recommendation...I would go with 2 bodies and fewer lenses..you will get many more situations where you have the right lens available.

 

You would also benefit from a fast wide angle (the 21 or 24 1.4 summiluxes) would really open up your possibilities. :D

 

Roger Dunham

Link to post
Share on other sites

Depends on what you like to shoot. The WATE is nice but heavy and cumbersome. For architecture, get yourself the new CV15, it's light, compact and relatively cheap. With that, bring along your 28mm and 50mm. I'll be heading to Hong Kong and Shanghai in August where I'll be taking my CV15, 21mm,35mm and maybe the 90mm. I'll also bring my D-Lux3 P&S for flash and macro.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Where in Europe? I would bring as much as you can keep an eye on at all times. Don't mean to offend anyone but theft is a real issue in certain European cities. Japanese/Chinese are prime targets apparently.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've adopted a new approach (for me) which worked great on a recent trip to Scotland - take a fast, medium wide angle lens - the 28mm f/2.0 would work great or a 24mm Summilux - and add to this a tiny Canon p&s - I have the SD770IS, now replaced by the 780, I believe. I set the Canon on -1/3 stop compensation, slide film mode, and flash off. It is amazing what can be done with the little Canon. I can fill in the longer shots and close-up detail with the Canon and use the Leica for most everything else.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Two years ago, I went back to Portugal for the almost the entire summer. I could not decide on what to bring so I brought a lot. There were 4 bodies and around 8-10 lenses; old and new. However, over 90% of my photos were taken with my M3 and 50mm Summitar.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Depends on what you like to shoot. The WATE is nice but heavy and cumbersome. For architecture, get yourself the new CV15, it's light, compact and relatively cheap. With that, bring along your 28mm and 50mm. I'll be heading to Hong Kong and Shanghai in August where I'll be taking my CV15, 21mm,35mm and maybe the 90mm. I'll also bring my D-Lux3 P&S for flash and macro.

 

For someone who is fortunate enough to have one of the 3 50/0.95's Leica has managed to make so far, I don't think the weight of the WATE will even register...

 

Personally, I would leave the Noctilux at home and bring the rest. I'm just back from a trip when I took the WATE, MATE, 28/2, 50/1.4 and 90/4.

Link to post
Share on other sites

........, I don't think the weight of the WATE will even register...

 

.

 

He has got the whole family with him. They can all carry lenses and hold lenses while changing. And they are going on a boat trip, not on an aeroplane

 

What's the problem?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Depends on what you like to shoot. The WATE is nice but heavy and cumbersome. For architecture, get yourself the new CV15, it's light, compact and relatively cheap. With that, bring along your 28mm and 50mm. I'll be heading to Hong Kong and Shanghai in August where I'll be taking my CV15, 21mm,35mm and maybe the 90mm. I'll also bring my D-Lux3 P&S for flash and macro.

 

My wife always wants to be in the picture, this drive me nuts sometimes but I don't think I have a choice. family pictrues is a must as well as scenery. yes, I will also bring the Dlux-4. my daughter is using it all the time even though she is only 10. she likes taking pictures!!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Where in Europe? I would bring as much as you can keep an eye on at all times. Don't mean to offend anyone but theft is a real issue in certain European cities. Japanese/Chinese are prime targets apparently.

 

we will spend a week in London. Portugal - Lisbon and......don't remember, Spain - seville and....don't remember, Italy - Rome and Florence, France - Kane and Paris,

 

I know pick pockets is famous in Rome, all my friends warned me!! h/e, we are joinning the tour arranged by the cruise with group of peoples and hopefully, it will be better that way.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...