Camera kit for three weeks in Europe.

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.

Are you going to take everything there?

I suppose it would depend on how you visit there, drive by your own and a free schedule, or join a tour group there have a schedule to meet?

When I visit anywhere (group tour), I would take 7-14 f/4, 12-32, 45-150 (replaced the 14-45 and 45-200) with me anywhere. GX7 and 14-140 II for my wife having GX1 as backup. A total of 1.1Kg for me, 0.7kg for my wife and 0.5kg as backup (in the coach).

I rarely shoot moving object in low lighting, the stabilization of my gear could support me to cover most shooting environment. The mobility of consumer grade zooms give me more benefit than the faster speed. Even when shooting in the mostly low lighting sub-zero winter in the north, I am still happy with the result from my gear.

I would consider which lens would be used most, and the focal length that the remaining lenses to be carried would cover. For my early venturing into M43, I bought a few old Nikon ai lenses with me for the fun. Finally as just a few shots been used, they stayed home forever.

My goal is to make my gear light, sufficient covered, not to affect my movement, not to make me tired easily, not to reduce my appetite to shoot/change lenses/enjoy the scenery at there.

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.

14-140 II is a very sharp lens. Under the good IBIS of EM1/5, it could likely shoot at a >1/10" shutter speed. Plus the usable higher ISO, it might be one of the single lens solution for most application except for the wider coverage of 12 or f/2.8 situation that you might needed.

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

Long summer day time in Europe might not required a fast wide angle that much, unless for the Dof.

- 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.

Fast primes are good to cover low lighting (evening dinner, indoor of museums, places, cathedrals etc) in complimentary to consumer zooms. Depending on how many/important portrait shooting for your trip, a wider lens like 14~25 might be more useful than >40mm IMHO.

- 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.

When you have 9-18 or 7-14, whats the use of 9mm cap?

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.

After free to shoot >ISO400, I rarely need flash except for the in-camera one. A small one for standby purpose might make sense IMHO.

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.

Do you do selfie? Do you do long exposure? If so how often would you do?

I sometimes carried a monopod in the old day, but recently a mini table tripod would do.

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.

Instead of compacts, why not EM5 (a smaller EM10-II mnight be better) + 14-42 EZ and ready to go reasonably small? I doubted that IQ from TZ5/LF1 could satisfy you.

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.

YMMV

I would take the EM1 with both 2.8 zooms and the 7-14.  I always pack a tripod but rarely use it.  The 7-14 will give you dramatic shots of cathedral interiors.  I did Europe with an E520, 14-54, 11-22, and 40-150 F4-5.6.  Never used a flash.  Have a great trip!

Keep an eye on your gear, pack extra batteries and a second memory card.  There ark thieves who will distract and steal.  Stay with your group a travel buddy.

john isaacs wrote:

I will be in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.

I made a similar trip last fall, traveling by train between cities. FANTASTIC!

Plan to take the following:

- 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.

Sorry, but bringing that amount of gear is crazy. Keep it simple. Don't carry a bunch of lenses that duplicate what other lenses do. Don't worry about "gaps", either. Take lenses you like. Forget gimmicky things, too. There's always Photoshop for making a mess of things at home.

I travel often, walking a LOT and used to make the mistake of lugging lots of gear… not all at once, I kept some in the hotel. I found myself making excuses to use certain lenses simply because I carried them along. I made a decision to minimize what I carry and not take "what if" lenses and gadgets.

At this point, for mainly urban travel, I've boiled it down to…

• GX8
• 12-40mm for daytime, general shooting
• 7-14mm for when I really want wide (I've found that I don't use it as much since I started carrying the 12-40mm, but the 7mm end is something I really want at times. My girlfriend likes to use it, too. In the narrow streets of European cities and villages it's invaluable!)
• 75mm f2.5 Voigtländer Color Heliar
• 17.5mm Voigtländer for night shooting and interiors.
• UltraPod II (I used to carry a tripod, but found I rarely used it. Same with a monopod. The UltraPod is so small and light, if I don't use it, it's not an issue)

My girlfriend carries a GX7, 14-140mm II and a 20mm. I'll use the 14-140mm sometimes. And she'll use the 12-40mm and 7-14mm.

I used to carry the Voigtländer 42.5mm, but got tired of lens swapping, so, the 12-40mm got me close enough, but I just have to accept the lower image quality.

• For nature trips I'll swap out the 75mm for a 100-400mm (used to be the 100-300mm) and may bring a macro lens, depending on the destination and whether or not I'm renting a car. Tripod is optional. The UltraPod I use against my chest with the long lens. I prefer it to a monopod as it's easier to manage when hiking.

Looking forward to getting lots of great shots.

Budapest is fantastic, BTW! Have a great time.

Michael M Fliegel wrote:

Keep an eye on your gear, pack extra batteries and a second memory card. There ark thieves who will distract and steal. Stay with your group a travel buddy.

I traveled a lot and had been visited a lot of high risk countries/places. Prague is the only place where my wallet was stolen.

john isaacs wrote:

I will be in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.

Leaving the Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 behind because I want some consistency in filters.

What a mistake. Please reconsider that decision. The M.Zuko 12-40mm F/2,8 is the best standard zoom for cameras that have IBIS. If sharpness has a greater importance to you than being able to use of a polarizer filter, please bring that zoom.

- 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.

IMHO, Prague is the most beautiful city in the World. It has spectacular churches and castles. Some have extraordinary ceilings (namely the St. Nicolas Church in Malá Strana).

7mm and 9mm give very different points of view. In Prague you must have the widest lens that you can bring. The M.Zuiko 7-14mm is big and heavy but it is indispensable. Finally, to shoot at ceilings, you don't need polarizing filters. Moreover, in the narrow medieval streets of Prague, you'll appreciate having a lens that stats at 7mm.

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

Fine. I like that lens for street photography.

- Panasonic 25mm f/1.4.

Very good choice.

- Olympus 45mm f/1.8. Good for indoors and portrait.

Your PanLeica 25mm F/1,4 will be more useful

Small and light. Not bringing the 75mm f/1.8, again due to size and weight

I couldn't disagree more. A telelens won't be the most useful lens in a city like Prague (where beauty is everywhere) except to catch small details. But you need one.

Outdoor, the choice is not that important. But indoor, you'll need the brightest tele prime (and crop your photos as needed): for now, that lens is the M.Zuiko 75mm F/1,8.

So my suggestion is : the M.Zuiko 12-40mm F/2,8, the PanLeica 25mm F/1,5, the M.Zuiko 7-14mm F/2,8 and the M.Zuiko 75mm F/1,8. Other lenses if you like.

My preference is to take a minimal kit for vacation shooting in a city and a full kit for travel in the countryside, when I'll have a car to tote everything. My city kit is a PM2 with the 12-40 on it and a 7.5mm Samyang fisheye in my jacket pocket. With defishing and cropping, these two cover everything. I keep the PM2 on a wrist strap, holding it by the lens when walking. It's secure and convenient.

Less is more, as in "more vacation."

You have two pro quality Panasonic zooms.  You should always take them.  Anything wider than 12 will be useful indoors.  Travel and pack light.  You will not need anything longer than the 35-100.

Will you have room for any?

JeanPierre Martel wrote:

john isaacs wrote:

I will be in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.

Leaving the Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 behind because I want some consistency in filters.

What a mistake. Please reconsider that decision. The M.Zuko 12-40mm F/2,8 is the best standard zoom for cameras that have IBIS. If sharpness has a greater importance to you than being able to use of a polarizer filter, please bring that zoom.

Agreed. Even though I shoot with Panasonic bodies, I chose the 12-40mm over the 12-35mm. More reach, sharper, close-focus (leave the macro lens home and snap-back focus ring.

- 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.

IMHO, Prague is the most beautiful city in the World. It has spectacular churches and castles. Some have extraordinary ceilings (namely the St. Nicolas Church in Malá Strana).

7mm and 9mm give very different points of view. In Prague you must have the widest lens that you can bring. The M.Zuiko 7-14mm is big and heavy but it is indispensable. Finally, to shoot at ceilings, you don't need polarizing filters. Moreover, in the narrow medieval streets of Prague, you'll appreciate having a lens that stats at 7mm.

7-14mm.

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

Fine. I like that lens for street photography.

The lens is redundant. Travel light. Use the 7-14mm and/or the 12-40mm.

- Panasonic 25mm f/1.4.

Very good choice.

YEP. Though 25mm is too narrow for the very narrow streets of European cities. I would prefer wider, especially in the narrow streets of Prague and Budapest at night! I was just there (and Barcelona a couple months ago) and the Voigty 17.5mm was a necessity after dark in all those places!

- Olympus 45mm f/1.8. Good for indoors and portrait.

Your PanLeica 25mm F/1,4 will be more useful

Redundant. 12-40mm is close enough. Bump up the ISO a stop for low light.

Small and light. Not bringing the 75mm f/1.8, again due to size and weight

I couldn't disagree more. A telelens won't be the most useful lens in a city like Prague (where beauty is everywhere) except to catch small details. But you need one.

Outdoor, the choice is not that important. But indoor, you'll need the brightest tele prime (and crop your photos as needed): for now, that lens is the M.Zuiko 75mm F/1,8.

So my suggestion is : the M.Zuiko 12-40mm F/2,8, the PanLeica 25mm F/1,5, the M.Zuiko 7-14mm F/2,8 and the M.Zuiko 75mm F/1,8. Other lenses if you like.

Yep. you hit it on the head! 7-14mm, 12-40mm, 25mm, 75mm. All excellent lenses! All can be carried at all times. The 12-40mm will see the lions share of the work.

KISS!

Alcec and Michael,

I'll join with the many others stressing traveling light and enjoying the sights with minimal gear distractions. The "tri-cities" of Budapest, Prague and Vienna are a fine combination. If you have some interest in World War II, these cities all played very different parts, e.g., some were occupied, some were not, and following the war, all were occupied, but not not always in the same ways. And, in the unlikely event you may be an old-film buff, Vienna is the location of The 3rd Man (named by the British Film Institute as the greatest British film of the 20th Century) and the huge Ferris wheel in the Prater Part, a dramatic setting in the film and well woth the historic ride.

If one is a male and not yet expended all the traveling wardrobe budget, I'd suggest a few pairs of hidden, zipped pocket security trousers from TravelSmith or Magellan; they can supplant wallets altogether.

And, for photo equipment, I carried a Nikon D80 and just one lens, a 16-85 with IS, and in those cities I found I very rarely shot <18mm or >70mm. With my current travel kit, a GX85, 15mm Summilux and 12-35mm f/2.8 Panasonic I can easily cover the same ground for in-city images. When possible, I plan each day's tourist outings and really think about the likely need for changing lenses, aiming to mount and leave one lens on the body for the day's shooting, obviating lens changes, dust. camera dropping on cobblestones, etc. In fact, a couple of years ago I traved to and around Paris and Ireland with just a GX7 and the 15mm and never missed anything wider or longer.