A7 - What lenses to take? I'm off to France, Le Crotoy, Somme.

As per the title to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend here in the UK I've decided to get away for the long weekend.

I'm anticipating much landscape photography so next to the FE2870 I'm taking an FD24mm F2.8, a Canon FD 35mm F2.8 and a FD 100mm F3.5 Macro lens.
Now my concern is the kit lens already covers a good range of focal lengths. Should I leave the 35mm behind and take something else along with me?

I was thinking of an FD 50mm F1.8 as it is a faster lens in the event I do some low light photography.

I might put the 35mm away but then it's a very sharp lens and is pretty perfect for an average walk around lens.

I'm tempted to take my 500mm F8 along too in the event we get a very clear sky I might be able to get some lunar snaps but that's a big IF plus it's an additional 600grams in my bag!

Should I bother switching out the 100mm for something longer and should I bother with the 50mm F1.8?

I could always crop with the FE2870 on the long end if I need telephoto and the Sigma 24mm also has a macro function.

Sorry if this was just ramblings I don't get many opportunities to go to such a nice place so I'd like to be prepared!


Thanks
Nick

I've got a 3 week long trip to France coming up this summer, and will be taking my Zeiss 35 and 55, and likely something to be purchased in the 100 MM range, possible the new 70-200 g zoom. I've really enjoyed traveling light with the A7R (5 lbs vs. my 40 lbs of backpacked cannon 1d) and am committed to keeping it light. The zoom might be just too big.

Kevin Mayer said:

I've got a 3 week long trip to France coming up this summer, and will be taking my Zeiss 35 and 55, and likely something to be purchased in the 100 MM range, possible the new 70-200 g zoom. I've really enjoyed traveling light with the A7R (5 lbs vs. my 40 lbs of backpacked cannon 1d) and am committed to keeping it light. The zoom might be just too big.

Click to expand...

If your Canon kit weighs 40lbs and the Sony weighs 5lbs then you are bringing a ton of Canon gear and a small amount of Sony gear. A Canon 1d weighs about 3.5lbs so the other 36.5 lbs are lenses and other stuff. Sony lenses are sometimes lighter than FF 35mm lenses but the 70-200mm Sony proves that Sony lenses can be heavier than Canon lenses. Many Sony lenses are FF legacy lenses that are made of heavy materials and require an adapter making the entire kit bulkier.

I think everybody sees a slightly smaller Sony body so that means that your kit goes from massive to tiny. That is not true. Get a Canon 5d and we talking 1.89lbs vs. 14.67oz or about 1lbs difference. Maybe you save another half pound in lens weight so your massive weight savings is around 1.4lbs. 1,4lbs is hardly massive, so that means you are carrying a lot of other stuff, or you math is plain wrong. My laptop weighs 5lbs, so as much as a DSLR with lens.

People need to stop making up stuff and start doing real comparisons. If your are carrying a 4.5lbs camera with a massive battery and some big ass lenses that is Your fault. Canon certainly sells lighter bodies and lenses so why not buy that rather than going online and acting like Canon or Nikon only makes massive gear. Plus the 5d can easily do professional sports where the Sony can not. We are really comparing two very different systems but the Canon can do what the Sony can not.

You need to wrap your head around reality. The A7 is not a tiny kit because it requires FF lenses. Sony is shaving the lens weight, but that is it. NikCan could do the same, but we are not talking that much difference. If you are comparing two bodies you need to really compare them blow by blow. Saying Sony weighs 5lbs and Canon weighs 40lbs is beyond absurd.

Bring them all except the 500mm unless you are driving. If you are driving I am unclear why this question is important.

Have fun on the coast! Share some photos when you get back.

Firstly, I'm jealous!

Secondly, don't weigh yourself down with lots of lenses - I'd go with the 35 and 100mm - focus on coming home with maybe 5 images that define your trip, 5 great shots that you can print, hang up and be proud of.

Have fun

www.twitter.com/gavphotography

cheddargav said:

Firstly, I'm jealous!

Secondly, don't weigh yourself down with lots of lenses - I'd go with the 35 and 100mm - focus on coming home with maybe 5 images that define your trip, 5 great shots that you can print, hang up and be proud of.

Have fun

www.twitter.com/gavphotography

Click to expand...

Yes! Can't wait to hear what lenses you take and how you feel when you get home with the images. For me, traveling light has made me feel like a kid again just discovering photography.

npires said:

As per the title to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend here in the UK I've decided to get away for the long weekend.

I'm anticipating much landscape photography so next to the FE2870 I'm taking an FD24mm F2.8, a Canon FD 35mm F2.8 and a FD 100mm F3.5 Macro lens.
Now my concern is the kit lens already covers a good range of focal lengths. Should I leave the 35mm behind and take something else along with me?

I was thinking of an FD 50mm F1.8 as it is a faster lens in the event I do some low light photography.

I might put the 35mm away but then it's a very sharp lens and is pretty perfect for an average walk around lens.

I'm tempted to take my 500mm F8 along too in the event we get a very clear sky I might be able to get some lunar snaps but that's a big IF plus it's an additional 600grams in my bag!

Should I bother switching out the 100mm for something longer and should I bother with the 50mm F1.8?

I could always crop with the FE2870 on the long end if I need telephoto and the Sigma 24mm also has a macro function.

Sorry if this was just ramblings I don't get many opportunities to go to such a nice place so I'd like to be prepared!

Thanks
Nick

Click to expand...

I'm off to northern Israel in a week with my A7. My shooting will range from a wedding near the Galilee, new twins - the seaside caves of Rosh HaNikra, the Basilica of the Assumption in Nazareth, the Roman city ruins of Caesarea, the harbor at Tiberius, etc.

Here is my equipment:

1. The 28-70mm kit zoom

2. Canon FD 24mm f2

3. Leica 35mm, 50mm and 90mm M mount lenses, mostly for the wedding and twins

4. Nikkor 70-210mm f4-f5.6 zoom

5. Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens, which does a nice job FF at 16mm on the A7

My backup kit is my NEX-6 with

1. 16-50mm kit lens

2. 16mm+UWA

3. 8mm f2.8 Rokinon

4. 55-210mm zoom

-----------------------

8 batteries, 2 battery chargers, sixteen 8-16GB Class 10 SD cards

Polarizing filters for all lenses except the 8mm and UWA adapter

Small tabletop tripod that doubles as a chest pod for steadying in low light

An old Canon strobe from my T90, with wireless trigger

The A7 system fits in a small Tenba messenger bag; the NEX-6 in a tiny Domke bag.

Snap, I get on the ferry tomorrow night two weeks in the Dordogne, hope to get some great landscape and city/village shots

Traveling light with;

a6000

16-50pz and 55-210

plus some filters and tripod

Back up canon G12 for emergencies!!

Would love to see some pics of what you get.

Weather picking up for the weekend then downhill Tuesday though.

Thanks for the replies guys. Makes me feel a bit better with my thinking. Well there's 9 of us going in two cars and we're all amateur photographers yes we're getting the ferry down too.

But again I don't want to travel too heavy as we're likely to be doing a lot of walking around too (parking the car up and going for walks).

cheddargav said:

Firstly, I'm jealous!

Secondly, don't weigh yourself down with lots of lenses - I'd go with the 35 and 100mm - focus on coming home with maybe 5 images that define your trip, 5 great shots that you can print, hang up and be proud of.

Click to expand...

This is what I try to do whenever I go on holiday! So this will be an interesting challenge.

RonFrank said:

Bring them all except the 500mm unless you are driving. If you are driving I am unclear why this question is important.

Have fun on the coast! Share some photos when you get back.

Click to expand...

True but I don't intend to carry too much! As I need to factor in carrying the tripod on top of the bag weight too!

Mel Snyder said:

Here is my equipment:

1. The 28-70mm kit zoom

2. Canon FD 24mm f2

3. Leica 35mm, 50mm and 90mm M mount lenses, mostly for the wedding and twins

4. Nikkor 70-210mm f4-f5.6 zoom

5. Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens, which does a nice job FF at 16mm on the A7

My backup kit is my NEX-6 with

1. 16-50mm kit lens

2. 16mm+UWA

3. 8mm f2.8 Rokinon

4. 55-210mm zoom

-----------------------

8 batteries, 2 battery chargers, sixteen 8-16GB Class 10 SD cards

Polarizing filters for all lenses except the 8mm and UWA adapter

Small tabletop tripod that doubles as a chest pod for steadying in low light

An old Canon strobe from my T90, with wireless trigger

The A7 system fits in a small Tenba messenger bag; the NEX-6 in a tiny Domke bag.

Click to expand...

That is a lot of kit! I don't have much in the telephoto range but by having a quick look on Flickr most shots in that region are 35mm or less. I still do have my NEX-5 with 16mm+UWA I could possibly take that with the 16-50 too.

So far my bag consists of:

• A7 with FE28-70
• FD 100mm F3.5 Macro
• Sigma FD 24mm F2.8
• Canon FD 35mm F2.8
• Polarising Filter and Graduate Filter.
• EasyAcc 9000mAh USB Battery Charger (Charge the A7 in my bag while on the move)
• 2 spare batteries (I have 5 in total)
• 2 spare SD cards, card reader and other accessories.

All of this weighs around 2.5Kg then I'll have my tripod on top which will be another 1.3kg.
Is there anything you might change in the above setup?


My selection to choose from:


My lens collection.

From top left:

• FE2870
• 3M5CA M42 500mm F8
• MC Rokkor 58mm F1.2
• FD 100mm F3.5 Macro
• FD 135mm F2.8
• Sigma 30mm E-Mount
• FD 50mm F1.8 + Lens Turbo
• Vivtar 2X Macro Adapter
• FD 35mm F2.8
• SEL1855
• SEL16+UWA
• NEX-5 + 1650
• FD 28mm F2.8
• MC Rokkor 28mm F2.8
• FD Sigma 24mm F2.8

The bold items are what's already in the bag so far. Forgot to mention I also have the battery grip but probably won't take it as it's tricky to fit the A7 in the bag with it attached (it's doable but just awkward).

Thanks
Nick

npires said:

Thanks for the replies guys. Makes me feel a bit better with my thinking. Well there's 9 of us going in two cars and we're all amateur photographers yes we're getting the ferry down too.

But again I don't want to travel too heavy as we're likely to be doing a lot of walking around too (parking the car up and going for walks).

cheddargav said:

Firstly, I'm jealous!

Secondly, don't weigh yourself down with lots of lenses - I'd go with the 35 and 100mm - focus on coming home with maybe 5 images that define your trip, 5 great shots that you can print, hang up and be proud of.

Click to expand...

This is what I try to do whenever I go on holiday! So this will be an interesting challenge.

RonFrank said:

Bring them all except the 500mm unless you are driving. If you are driving I am unclear why this question is important.

Have fun on the coast! Share some photos when you get back.

Click to expand...

True but I don't intend to carry too much! As I need to factor in carrying the tripod on top of the bag weight too!

Mel Snyder said:

Here is my equipment:

1. The 28-70mm kit zoom

2. Canon FD 24mm f2

3. Leica 35mm, 50mm and 90mm M mount lenses, mostly for the wedding and twins

4. Nikkor 70-210mm f4-f5.6 zoom

5. Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens, which does a nice job FF at 16mm on the A7

My backup kit is my NEX-6 with

1. 16-50mm kit lens

2. 16mm+UWA

3. 8mm f2.8 Rokinon

4. 55-210mm zoom

-----------------------

8 batteries, 2 battery chargers, sixteen 8-16GB Class 10 SD cards

Polarizing filters for all lenses except the 8mm and UWA adapter

Small tabletop tripod that doubles as a chest pod for steadying in low light

An old Canon strobe from my T90, with wireless trigger

The A7 system fits in a small Tenba messenger bag; the NEX-6 in a tiny Domke bag.

Click to expand...

That is a lot of kit! I don't have much in the telephoto range but by having a quick look on Flickr most shots in that region are 35mm or less. I still do have my NEX-5 with 16mm+UWA I could possibly take that with the 16-50 too.

So far my bag consists of:

• A7 with FE28-70
• FD 100mm F3.5 Macro
• Sigma FD 24mm F2.8
• Canon FD 35mm F2.8
• Polarising Filter and Graduate Filter.
• EasyAcc 9000mAh USB Battery Charger (Charge the A7 in my bag while on the move)
• 2 spare batteries (I have 5 in total)
• 2 spare SD cards, card reader and other accessories.

All of this weighs around 2.5Kg then I'll have my tripod on top which will be another 1.3kg.
Is there anything you might change in the above setup?

My selection to choose from:

My lens collection.

From top left:

• FE2870
• 3M5CA M42 500mm F8
• MC Rokkor 58mm F1.2
• FD 100mm F3.5 Macro
• FD 135mm F2.8
• Sigma 30mm E-Mount
• FD 50mm F1.8 + Lens Turbo
• Vivtar 2X Macro Adapter
• FD 35mm F2.8
• SEL1855
• SEL16+UWA
• NEX-5 + 1650
• FD 28mm F2.8
• MC Rokkor 28mm F2.8
• FD Sigma 24mm F2.8

The bold items are what's already in the bag so far. Forgot to mention I also have the battery grip but probably won't take it as it's tricky to fit the A7 in the bag with it attached (it's doable but just awkward).

Thanks
Nick

Click to expand...

Definitely take the NEX and 16/UWA. It's your backup in case your A7 fails. I'd take the 135 vs the 100 macro - unless you are into macro, you may be more likely to want to go longer than closer. I don't know the 35mm FD - if it's significantly sharper than the kit at 35mm, yes. Otherwise, for outdoors, it just gains you a stop.

I'm working out of the trunk of a rented car for the week. I will be able to put the NEX-6 with 16mm/UWA in the same messenger bag with my "outdoor" kit - 24mm, kit zoom, 70-210 zoom and 11-16. The rest can sit in my trunk. I have my fast M mounts only because I may end up being the only "pro" shooting the wedding in an unknown wedding venue ("herb garden"?) - and the newborn twins will not be in bright light.

The 24mm basically handles the widest range of situations for me - landscape, cathedral/church/synagogue interiors, markets. Along with my kit zoom, I expect those two lenses will cover 90% of the trip. I just want to be prepared for some spectacular opportunities I've planned for early morning sunrises over Roman ruins, and sunset over the caves along the Mediterranean at sunset.

And I will be there for a week - not a weekend.

PS- Don't forget the polarizing filters! They work WONDERS on foliage as well as skies and enhancing texture. And I'd take more SD cards. Suppose one suddenly corrupts - then you have just one. I take 2 8GB or one 16GB per day, minimum. And I forgot - I also carry a Ravpower wi-fi SD copier and a Toshiba 1TB hard drive to which I back up each SD card daily. And my iPad 3 with Zagg keyboard that runs Lightroom.

npires said:

I'm tempted to take my 500mm F8 along too in the event we get a very clear sky I might be able to get some lunar snaps but that's a big IF plus it's an additional 600grams in my bag!

Thanks
Nick

Click to expand...

There is one af the famous place for birding, just near le Crottoy !!

http://www.parcdumarquenterre.com/

I'd bring a nice Vivitar Series 1 70-210 F/3.5.

This lens is sharp all the way through and gives you the convenient 70/200 range.

Mel Snyder said:

Definitely take the NEX and 16/UWA. It's your backup in case your A7 fails. I'd take the 135 vs the 100 macro - unless you are into macro, you may be more likely to want to go longer than closer. I don't know the 35mm FD - if it's significantly sharper than the kit at 35mm, yes. Otherwise, for outdoors, it just gains you a stop.

I'm working out of the trunk of a rented car for the week. I will be able to put the NEX-6 with 16mm/UWA in the same messenger bag with my "outdoor" kit - 24mm, kit zoom, 70-210 zoom and 11-16. The rest can sit in my trunk. I have my fast M mounts only because I may end up being the only "pro" shooting the wedding in an unknown wedding venue ("herb garden"?) - and the newborn twins will not be in bright light.

The 24mm basically handles the widest range of situations for me - landscape, cathedral/church/synagogue interiors, markets. Along with my kit zoom, I expect those two lenses will cover 90% of the trip. I just want to be prepared for some spectacular opportunities I've planned for early morning sunrises over Roman ruins, and sunset over the caves along the Mediterranean at sunset.

And I will be there for a week - not a weekend.

PS- Don't forget the polarizing filters! They work WONDERS on foliage as well as skies and enhancing texture. And I'd take more SD cards. Suppose one suddenly corrupts - then you have just one. I take 2 8GB or one 16GB per day, minimum. And I forgot - I also carry a Ravpower wi-fi SD copier and a Toshiba 1TB hard drive to which I back up each SD card daily. And my iPad 3 with Zagg keyboard that runs Lightroom.

Click to expand...

Thanks I'll revisit my bag when I get home tonight before I finishing packing.



The FD 35mm F2.8 is nearly as sharp as the FE35mm which is why I bought it on recommendation from forum members here along with the Sigma Wide 24mm and decided on taking those two along with me.

When I went to Lithuanian I took the SELP1650, SEL35F18 and a 135mm 2.8

Of course not sure what you will be seeing exactly but when I was in the Castle (Trakai castle) for example and most of the streets I hoped I have brought a SEL16 with the adapters to grasp more of the beauty and the interiors of the castle for sure. I managed with the SELP1650 and the SEL35 as my two lenses to work around. Barely used the 135mm but next time I would take the SEL16 and the SEL50210 just in case.

Exaggerated but the difference is there (even in terms of weight):
Sony a7r + 24-70/4 + 70-200/4 + 55/1.8: 4.5 lb
Canon 1Dx + similar lenses but 50/1.4: 7.5 lb

More importantly though, the Sony gear will easily fit in my sling with room to spare (a7r is comparable to my a55 but slimmer, 70-200G is lighter and comparable in size to my 200/2.8G with EA2 installed).

I spent 3+ weeks recently in England and Germany; I used (98% of the time ) the 16-70 ZA lens on the Nex 7. And the 12 mm lens maybe for 4 shots, or just 2 (?), and the f/2 45 mm lens for about 6-8 shots. Now multiply these focal lengths by 1.5 and you have what I would have used on that trip 98 % of the time in FF.

(I intend to do the same again; just 1 lens, the 16-70, for 5 weeks into SE Asia next month. That allows me to make do and learn how to see for that one (zoom!) lens only. All this frugality while I have about a dozen lenses (with adapters and without) available from 12mm to 500mm, zooms and primes.)

I deliberately wanted to go light and efficient. You have but a weekend and changing lenses takes how long? Time wasted in my (current) book. Enjoy and keep it simple.

If you have a car and good break-in insurance, take all your lenses and 2 tripods and … flash and macro and … , by all means.

Felice62 said:

I'd bring a nice Vivitar Series 1 70-210 F/3.5.

This lens is sharp all the way through and gives you the convenient 70/200 range.

Click to expand...

I agree re that Vivitar! I own the 70-210mm f2.8/f4 version and it focuses REAL close:




From about 3 feet

I'm taking my Nikkor 70-210 f4/5.6 because it's more compact, and equally sharp - and for outdoors, I don't expect to need the extra stop in speed.

EinsteinsGhost said:

Exaggerated but the difference is there (even in terms of weight):
Sony a7r + 24-70/4 + 70-200/4 + 55/1.8: 4.5 lb
Canon 1Dx + similar lenses but 50/1.4: 7.5 lb

More importantly though, the Sony gear will easily fit in my sling with room to spare (a7r is comparable to my a55 but slimmer, 70-200G is lighter and comparable in size to my 200/2.8G with EA2 installed).

Click to expand...

My A7 with 35mm Summilux is smaller than my Leica M4P!

npires said:

As per the title to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend here in the UK I've decided to get away for the long weekend.

I'm anticipating much landscape photography so next to the FE2870 I'm taking an FD24mm F2.8, a Canon FD 35mm F2.8 and a FD 100mm F3.5 Macro lens.
Now my concern is the kit lens already covers a good range of focal lengths. Should I leave the 35mm behind and take something else along with me?

I was thinking of an FD 50mm F1.8 as it is a faster lens in the event I do some low light photography.

I might put the 35mm away but then it's a very sharp lens and is pretty perfect for an average walk around lens.

I'm tempted to take my 500mm F8 along too in the event we get a very clear sky I might be able to get some lunar snaps but that's a big IF plus it's an additional 600grams in my bag!

Should I bother switching out the 100mm for something longer and should I bother with the 50mm F1.8?

I could always crop with the FE2870 on the long end if I need telephoto and the Sigma 24mm also has a macro function.

Sorry if this was just ramblings I don't get many opportunities to go to such a nice place so I'd like to be prepared!

Thanks
Nick
That depends on where you will go and how many days you'll spend there. And also the kind of photography, you mentioned landscape and the lunar, how about street photography? It would also depends on if you have any one the accompany you? Do you need to take selfies?

Click to expand...

If I were you I would try to settle for 2 bodies and 3 lenses. For me one large aperture lens is a must. Then an ultra wide, then tele. From your list the best combination for 3 lenses only is 24, 50, 28-70. Once you get down to the absolute essential, then you could add some lenses according to your taste. The lesser the better. IMHO the 500 and 100 should be left. If I bought the 100 I would consider leave the 28-70 behind.

That's what I think. But in the past, the first time I went Europe, I bought almost all gears I have, and the total weight of my backpack is 9kg (including a MBP). And the minute we arrived and checked in we have no time to repack and I start the trip (it was afternoon already) with that 9kg on my back. I were still young so I survived. But if I were to plan it again, I wouldn't do the same and try to force myself to get down to 3 lenses per day, if not for the whole trip.

le_alain said:

npires said:

I'm tempted to take my 500mm F8 along too in the event we get a very clear sky I might be able to get some lunar snaps but that's a big IF plus it's an additional 600grams in my bag!

Thanks
Nick

Click to expand...

There is one af the famous place for birding, just near le Crottoy !!

http://www.parcdumarquenterre.com/

Click to expand...

the presence of birds is warranted - the only problem is that the cam might not be AF'ing sufficiently fast

jpr2