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Lens for India trip

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applefan

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I'm packing for my trip to India, leaving on Monday. On every other trip I've taken, I've brought all three of my lens with me (17-55 f/2.8, 24-105 f/4 and 70-200 f/4). I know many of you will think I'm nuts. I use mostly the 17-55 and the 70-200 but sometimes when I walk around during the day, I just take my 24-105 f/4 with me and leave the rest in the hotel. So I'll be going to Delhi, Goa, Agra and Jaipur. Should I just leave the 24-105 f/4 at home this time? Forgot to mention that I'll be shooting with a 50D.
 
I'm just back from India (and Nepal). I carried the Sigma 10-20, 24-105 and 70-200F4IS the whole time and never regretted it.

The 24-105 was my most used lens on my 40D during the trip. I really like the range of this lens (I'm now using it for 3 years).
It's not a heavy lens, if you like it take it with you.

Have a fantastic time in a fantastic country.

Tim
applefan said:
I'm packing for my trip to India, leaving on Monday. On every other
trip I've taken, I've brought all three of my lens with me (17-55
f/2.8, 24-105 f/4 and 70-200 f/4). I know many of you will think I'm
nuts. I use mostly the 17-55 and the 70-200 but sometimes when I
walk around during the day, I just take my 24-105 f/4 with me and
leave the rest in the hotel. So I'll be going to Delhi, Goa, Agra
and Jaipur. Should I just leave the 24-105 f/4 at home this time?
Forgot to mention that I'll be shooting with a 50D.
Click to expand...
--
New gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/tvw/corfu
 
Thanks. I actually love the 24-105 f/4, especially the colors it captures. I guess I'll take all three with me again. Did you feel "safe" using the 70-200 f/4 IS given that it's white? I'm very much looking forward to the trip and wish I have enough time to go to Nepal as well!
 
Safe? I feel more safe in Asia at night than I feel in most big European cities at night.
India is no problem!
applefan said:
Thanks. I actually love the 24-105 f/4, especially the colors it
captures. I guess I'll take all three with me again. Did you feel
"safe" using the 70-200 f/4 IS given that it's white? I'm very much
looking forward to the trip and wish I have enough time to go to
Nepal as well!
Click to expand...
--
New gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/tvw/corfu
 
sweet.
im taking a 17-40 and 70-200 on 50D.
not till feb though... would like to see how your combo goes.
 
I agree with you. I grew up in Asia although lived half my life in the US but recently moved back to Asia. I've traveled to many of the developing countries in the region as well but the only reason why I asked is because my friends who recently moved to Delhi seem to be very concerned about having their things stolen. They've lived around the world and are very well traveled and I've never seen them that concerned before. I guess one has to use common sense and keep an eye out for pick-pockets and thieves in India and everywhere else, including Europe and N. America as well.
 
I'll try to post some photos as I go along on my trip. Where will you be traveling to? I'll be in Delhi, Goa, Agra and Jaipur.
 
I shot extensively in India for 2 years. You need to take the usual commonsense precautions you would anyplace. A bigger concern in India is getting accustomed to the crowds around you and wading through crowded areas with you gear. Make sure you have a sturdy, secure bag.
applefan said:
I agree with you. I grew up in Asia although lived half my life in
the US but recently moved back to Asia. I've traveled to many of the
developing countries in the region as well but the only reason why I
asked is because my friends who recently moved to Delhi seem to be
very concerned about having their things stolen. They've lived
around the world and are very well traveled and I've never seen them
that concerned before. I guess one has to use common sense and keep
an eye out for pick-pockets and thieves in India and everywhere else,
including Europe and N. America as well.
Click to expand...
 
It is very dusty in the majors cities in India - the less you change your lens the better - take a long zoom like 24-105.
 
i would take all 3 lenses, as you said you can then leave one or two at the hotel (in a safe or at the reception) when visiting during the day. my most used lenses in bombay were the 24-105, the 70-200 f4 and the 85 f1.8. i would also take a (very) small tripod, even a table-top one, just in case. i missed having one with me.

you won't have any problems in india concerning safety despite the recent events. your biggest problem will be the police asking you what you are photographing, why you are photographing, and trying to confiscate my roll of film… (i'm using a dslr). those white lenses look too "pro" …!

--
regards, alexandre
 
My little suggestion is to use only a very portable compact and feel the human beings or to bring all 3 Canon lenses with you and enjoy them.

There's not a "safe" or "not safe" continent. Big cities are not so safe in many western and eastern countries. In Asia Manila or Jakarta are not so safe. Goa and Kathmandu needs some attention. But Beijing, Shanghai and quite all cities in China and Japan are safe. Anyway, i don't recommend to walk after sunset with a visible 2000-3000$ camera with a big gun-lens and another quite visible 2000-3000$ of lenses, money, Iphone, Ipod and Imrich in a luxury bag, in countries where million people have to live with less than 1$ a day.

It's not only a problem of safe or not safe place, it's also a problem of respect, i think. Have a good trip in India!
 
I would take ONLY the 17-50 f/2.8.
But this depends a LOT on both how you travel and how you shoot.

My last 2 trips to India I had (1st trip) an 18-55 kit lens (too slow) and (2nd trip) 24 and 50 primes (much better). I used the 24 prime 90% of the time. traveled by bus, in autorickshaws, by train, etc - small was most important - so I used a Rebel body as well. You will find places that you have to check-in your camera (museums, palaces).

I shot in the streets, out auto windows, etc and generally from within the crowd. I have watched people sit back in a restaurant with a 400mm and shoot people 100s of meters away, but entirely not my style. Big gear bags, especially in cities, may make you a crime target, but my experience is India is as safe as most European and US cities (I would not walk around my hometown at night with a 50D and 400 prime).
 
Nice.

Um, I don't really know where I am going to go yet. I fly into Mumbai and 6 weeks later I will fly from Delhi to Kathmandu. In between is anyones guess.

I like the idea of going south to Goa and Kerala, before flying back up to the North for a bit of a look around there also.

Split the 6 weeks into two 3 week packets I suppose.
 
Thanks for all your comments! I've been in India for almost a week now and have used my 24-105 f/4 95% of the time. I've actually not used this lens this much ever since I bought the 17-55 f/2.8. The only time I used my 17-55 f/2.8 is in low-light situation and that's mostly at my friends' home in the evenings. I also brought the 70-200 f/4 out for the first time today to shoot from my friends' balcony. I've been in Delhi all this time but am heading to Goa tomorrow for five days. I'm actually going to take just the 24-105 f/4 with me and leave the other two at my friends' home. I also have my Canon G7 with me. Maybe, when I wake up in the morning, I'll decide to take the 70-200 f/4 with me as well. Part of the reason I haven't used that one that much is that I've found it difficult (or maybe I'm just lazy) to change lens where there are so many people around, even if I wasn't concerned about the dust.... A lot of my shots are also candids so changing lens wouldn't really work....
 
Glad to know that you had a good trip.

When I lived in India I found that I used my 28-135 lens much more than the 17-55. Despite the loss of speed and some image quality, the 28-135 seemed far more convenient to use. I ended up using the 17-55 only when I needed the 17 mm focal length.

I was in Goa a few months ago, and it is a very beautiful place. If photography is not the primary goal of this trip, you should consider taking only the 24-105 lens with you. I would not recommend leaving expensive lenses in "budget" hotels in Goa. If you take the other lenses to Goa, make sure that you take them with you when you are out of your room. This would not be a problem at the fancier hotels with better security.
 
Yep...I just ended up taking the 24-105 here and it's perfect. All the shots I'm taking are in broad daylight so I don't really need the f/2.8 and I haven't really found a need for the wider lens here either. It's a fascinating place to photograph. As my friends wander around markets to buy stuff, I just take shots! :)
 
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