Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: General Purpose Travel Lens

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3

    General Purpose Travel Lens

    Hi Forum,
    I'm going on a trip to India, mix of urban/landscape/wildlife.
    I'm thinking a general purpose lens as I only have 1 camera body (T3i; waiting for 7D Mk II) and am convinced by the arguments in other threads about the hassle of changing lenses and/or missing shots.
    Given that, I'm thinking the 28-300 over the 100-400. I think the advantage of the wide-angle (limited I know on a cropped frame) outstrips the advantage of the extra 100mm. Only time will tell!
    My real concern is the age of these lenses. I'm thinking I don't want to wait and miss great shots on my upcoming trip, but I also don't want to buy, what could soon be, outdated equipment.
    Saying that, recent upgrades to lenses seem to have come w/ some considerable price increases, so should I buy now while stocks of older-generation lenses still exist. Will the likely upgrades be worth the extra cost given that I'm no pro photographer!
    All comments/thoughts welcome.
    Thanks,
    JtM
    PS I was thinking of the new 70-300, but don't believe its attributes (save price) are better than the other 2 lenses' (28-300 & (100-400).

  2. #2
    Senior Member neuroanatomist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    3,836
    Quote Originally Posted by JtM View Post
    I'm thinking the 28-300 over the 100-400. I think the advantage of the wide-angle (limited I know on a cropped frame)
    Actually, 28mm on APS-C isn't wide angle at all. Personally, I like the 28-300mm as a one-lens solution for travel, but on a FF camera only.

    I'd really recommend considering a 2-lens solution, either the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS or the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS combined with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS.

    I don't expect an update to the 28-300L any time soon, the 100-400 will likely be updated sooner, (but that's been rumored for years, there have been 2 patents, and still no lens).

  3. #3
    Administrator Sean Setters's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Savannah, GA
    Posts
    3,360
    Quote Originally Posted by JtM View Post
    Hi Forum,
    I'm thinking a general purpose lens as I only have 1 camera body (T3i; waiting for 7D Mk II) and am convinced by the arguments in other threads about the hassle of changing lenses and/or missing shots.
    Keep in mind that the 7D was recently given a firmware update that added significant features to the body. Many believe that's evidence that the body won't be updated for quite some time, if at all.

  4. #4
    Senior Member thekingb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    512
    Quote Originally Posted by neuroanatomist View Post

    I'd really recommend considering a 2-lens solution, either the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS or the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS combined with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS.
    +1. The 28-300 is also huge and heavy. 70-300L is an awesome travel lens.

  5. #5
    Super Moderator Kayaker72's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Hampshire, USA
    Posts
    5,565
    +1 on the recommendation of 15-85 or 17-55. For travel and if you only have one lens, I'd lean toward the 15-85. But if you plan to be taking more photos indoors or in jungles (lower light) then the 17-55 which is f/2.8.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Melbourne,Australia
    Posts
    60
    I have a Canon EF-S 18-200 3.5-5.6 Lens on a 60D (1.6x) body so effectively it is 29-320mm

    I am not sure if it is long enough for you needs.

    In the end of this review : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx it states that the lens is a good choice for Travel when you need to carry the bare minimum.

    if it helps..here are a few images i took recently.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1700.jpg 
Views:	158 
Size:	117.2 KB 
ID:	1347
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1671.jpg 
Views:	156 
Size:	113.4 KB 
ID:	1348
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1630.jpg 
Views:	149 
Size:	148.2 KB 
ID:	1349
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	100mm f6.3.jpg 
Views:	124 
Size:	103.1 KB 
ID:	1350

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3
    Many thanks to all who commented. Appreciate it.

  8. #8
    Senior Member FastGass's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Beautiful Ferndale Washington.
    Posts
    154
    Most of those comments and threads about one zoom vs multiple zooms or primes are very person specific where they may benefit very much from a super zoom. But it does not apply to everyone including, but not excluding, travel photography. In my experience the time spent on changing only two zooms is minimal in a casual situation such as a vacation, but if you are getting paid to get the shot than a super zoom might be more suitible. I say might because sometimes there are other qualities such as IQ or lowlight capability which will trump "getting the shot" because your client might be not happy with the result, or yourself. If you get a two zoom setup you can have a constant f/2.8 from 17mm to 200mmm vs the variable aperture of f/3.5 to f/5.6, thats a huge difference. And the IQ is better.

    John.
    Last edited by FastGass; 09-06-2012 at 03:21 AM.
    Amateurs worry about gear, pros about the pay, masters about the light, and I just take pictures!

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •