Camera kit for three weeks in Europe.

john isaacs wrote:

I will be in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.

Plan to take the following:

- E-M1 and E-M5. Don't plan to use both often, but want to have a backup.

- Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8. The only weather sealed lens I'm taking. Leaving the Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 behind because I want some consistency in filters.

- Olympus 9-18. While I have both 7-14s, I like the small size and ability to use regular filters. Will bring 52mm polarizer plus 52-58mm step up for other filters as needed.

- Panasonic 14-140 Mk II. I'm slightly torn here, because the option is to take the Panasonic 35-100. Both take 58mm filters, so I can use my Canon 58mm 500D close up lens. This is the lighter of the two, and it can also be an all-around lens when I'm traveling light.

- Olympus 12mm f/2 prime. I like some faster lenses for shooting indoors, and this is one of them.

- Panasonic 25mm f/1.4. My second fastest lens (and I'm not going to take the Nocticron 42.5 f/1.2 due to size and weight considerations). Plus, it uses the same 46mm filters as the 12mm. I could bring the Olympus 25mm f/1.8, but I like the extra ~1/2 stop and shallower DOF. I did swap that stupid lens hood with the shorter one for the 45mm.

- Olympus 45mm f/1.8. Good for indoors and portrait. Small and light. Not bringing the 75mm f/1.8, again due to size and weight considerations. My main issue with this lens is the 37mm filter size. So I'll bring a 37mm CPL and a 37-46 step-up.

- Olympus 9mm body cap fisheye. It's a toss in, fun to use for certain shots.

Bringing some flash gear (FL300R is great for food, FL36R is great for portraits and macro because I can use diffusers). Bringing a 42" ultra-light travel tripod and extensions to mount on.

Bringing a Sirui T-005X tripod (2.3 lbs, <12" long) for night shots and panoramas. Also bringing a panoramic head, nodal slide, L-bracket, and radio trigger with remote shutter cable.

Bringing a Panasonic TZ5 that I converted to IR by removing the IR filter, with 720 and 850 filters. Only shoots JPG, but shoots IR fast so I don't need a tripod.

Finally, bringing a Panasonic LF1. Fits in the pocket, shoots RAW, has viewfinder and Wi-Fi remote control. Great for those times when I want to step out without the main camera gear.

I won't be carrying all at once (in case you are wondering). The joy of m4/3 is that I can lock this all up in a hotel room safe and just take what I need for a given outing.

Looking forward to getting lots of great shots.

Damn when you plan on actually doing some picture taking and enjoying your travels?  All that MILC gear and 2 compacts?  I don't know about you but changing lenses is such a nuisance.  I tried swapping between the 12-32 and 35-100 cheapo lenses and it drove me nuts and takes the joy out of travelling and picture taking.  Sold both and bought the 14-140 instead for day time use.

If I were you, I would just bring 1 body, the 14-140 and the 12mm prime.  1 compact as backup.  Bring the 12-35 2.8 if you must.

I'm in the process of finding a cheap GM1 for my gf so I can have my PL15 permanently on my GX8 and she can have the zoom.

Taking photos while traveling shouldnt be work.  All that baggage and lenses swapping...sounds like work.  Just enjoy the trip and travel light.  Your eyes is the best camera.