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San Francisco trip advice

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rusty needles

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Laguna Hills, CA, US
Hello Folks,

The wife, son and I are heading up to San Francisco tomorrow. We will have Friday and Saturday for sightseeing before driving back to Orange County on Sunday, hopefully via the coast. So here's what I have: Canons 5D, 7D, ef 24-70 f/2.8, ef 28-135 is, ef 50 f/1.8, ef-s 55-250 is stm and an ef-s 10-22. I will bring it all along with a tripod and monopod. I figure for when i can use the tripod it will be the 5D and the 24-70.

Now for walking around the city I was thinking 7D and 28-135 IS with the 10-22 in the bag. Thinking that the 24-70 will become a drag to lug around? Will I regret not using the 24-70 when I'm back home looking at the pictures? Or do I go 5D/24-70 while walking around with the 7D/10-22 in the bag? Something else?

Advice and/or suggestions?

thanks
 
Oh, I see you are new here like me. I have noticed that people here must not take pictures. They are too busy talking about gear and arguing over things like equivalence. Not much that actually leads to better pictures.

If you are going with the family, make sure you make as many memories as images.
 
You are walking around San Francisco. There are a lot of hills. Don't take so much gear. ;-)
 
braysghost said:
Oh, I see you are new here like me. I have noticed that people here must not take pictures. They are too busy talking about gear and arguing over things like equivalence. Not much that actually leads to better pictures.

If you are going with the family, make sure you make as many memories as images.
Click to expand...
Hahahhahahahahhhahahahahahhaha....lol. :)



You are right of course. So much blah blah blah goes on here. But forums will always have forum warriors that are more concerned with the minutia of stats then the actual or artistic application of photographic knowledge. In other words some people just like to talk about photos instead of create them. But some of us do actually shoot.



The last time I was in San Fran I used a Sony A7 with a Canon FDn 50/1.4 about 90% of the time and a Yashica ML 35/2.8 for the other 10%. Here is a selection of those images, if only to prove that some of us indeed do turn an aperture ring in anger.





shop window, Chinatown

shop window, Chinatown





Distopia

Distopia





reflections

reflections





Coco

Coco





the time for crossing is now

the time for crossing is now





Queen of the rooftop hooligans

Queen of the rooftop hooligans





all the little people

all the little people





Chill night (Lucy and Coco)

Chill night (Lucy and Coco)





sunset strip

sunset strip





evening transit

evening transit





waiting in the low room (Exploratorium)

waiting in the low room (Exploratorium)





The way the morning broke was quite unusual

The way the morning broke was quite unusual





gay bar in Castro

gay bar in Castro



--
While I suppose I could be considered a natural light photographer I prefer to think I am a natural shadow photographer...
www.flickr.com

α7

Full frame, mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera. Nuff said.
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com
 
For 95% of your photography you need 24-70mm for another 5% you would need Sigma 12-24mm and that is all you need really.
 
My suggestion, if it wasnt clear from my above post, was to take a FF camera and a fast fifty. You have both. Use the 5D and the EF 50/1.8.

This is a solid combo that, with some creative input from you (the photographer), can result in a memory card full of pleasing imagery. Dont worry about changing lenses, zoom with your feet, learn to anticipate images on how your lens will see your environment.

It seems like you are already (to a point) paralyzed over which gear you will take and what to carry around. Simplify. One camera, one lens. Let the burden of all that choice fall away and concentrate on getting the best imagery you can with that little 50. Its fast so you can blur out the backgrounds for creamy bokeh and its sharp so you can stop down to capture the landscape.

You will thank me. Your family will thank me. Your back will thank me. San Fran is a great town. Enjoy it. Take some great shots. Learn that lens. Post us some images when you get back.
 
The city is on the water and there is a certain bridge there. I would not be without the 55-250 which also affords some nice selective focus opportunities. Don't forget to wash your hands after eating the Ghirardelli chocolate!
 
the well known tourists areas are that because they are very scenic and or active so let the city guide work for you. I would though possibly avoid the cable car trip at least from the powel and market street turn table as there is always a huge line.
 
Information I could've used 16 hours ago. lol . I figured I was getting blown off. I admit my post is a bit kooky. I'll get more In depth when I get home Monday about the trip. But wanted say thanks for the replies.
 
rusty needles said:
Information I could've used 16 hours ago. lol . I figured I was getting blown off.

--
Rusty Needles
Click to expand...
"The wife, son and I are heading up to San Francisco tomorrow..."

Expectations aside, if you go again, you might post a little earlier for some helpful shooting tips specific to SF.

e3b57bdc0fb349b5ba5b27adb255b0bb.jpg

5b3017ee32ba4c68baf42f01cec3d853.jpg

3809f75463d44f13be1585e6f042efb5.jpg

8c927400e9e54842994cb2a88aedf6a5.jpg

--
"I'm just here for contrast."
 
Last edited:
rusty needles said:
Hello Folks,

The wife, son and I are heading up to San Francisco tomorrow. We will have Friday and Saturday for sightseeing before driving back to Orange County on Sunday, hopefully via the coast. So here's what I have: Canons 5D, 7D, ef 24-70 f/2.8, ef 28-135 is, ef 50 f/1.8, ef-s 55-250 is stm and an ef-s 10-22. I will bring it all along with a tripod and monopod. I figure for when i can use the tripod it will be the 5D and the 24-70.

Now for walking around the city I was thinking 7D and 28-135 IS with the 10-22 in the bag. Thinking that the 24-70 will become a drag to lug around? Will I regret not using the 24-70 when I'm back home looking at the pictures? Or do I go 5D/24-70 while walking around with the 7D/10-22 in the bag? Something else?

Advice and/or suggestions?

thanks
Click to expand...
 
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