Lens for my travel to NYC

[marco_vietti]

I have a question about the lens that I should bring with me in my travel to NYC Manhattan this coming Friday.
My camera is A7R2 and when I want to be lighter without any lens I use RX1R2, so I bring with me two camera.
Basically I am interested in landscape, buildings, skyscraper, park, outdoor viewing and indoor (this time not so much museum)
Walking around I will bring my Peak Design everyday backpack 20 lt. I don’t know how to choose which lens I bring with me as walk around lens:
-FE 16-35/2,8 GM
-FE 24-70/2,8 GM
-FE 70-300 G
-FE 55 1,8
My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job. But reading on the forum maybe also with 24-70 I have extra reach that maybe is useful for indoor and 24-70 is the most versatile lens that I have.
And the extra wide angle 16 to 24 that I miss with 24-70 is not much important since with 24 I can take quite a lot (but not all…)
Since I want take only two lens in this travel, what combination you suggest to me?
At the moment I have two idea, 16-35/2,8 + 55/1,8 and other option 24-70/2,8 + 70-300 G ?
Time is not much to think and maybe I ask your suggestion in order to make the right choice …

 

[Hank Radt]

So much depends on how and what you shoot. So, there is no bad choice.

Me, two lenses only, I'd take the 16-35 and the 70-300. Gives you lots of range at either end and the GM gives you low-light indoor and evening capabilities, and it is good for city scapes. I find the 70-300 is also good for street photos, particularly when you want to capture shots outside the range of when people start to notice you.

You'll get lots of good advice, so weigh it against what you normally shoot.

And have a good time - NYC is an amazing adventure.

 

[Michael L NYC 99]

I live in NY. The lenses I would use the most for your described shots would be the 16-35 and 24-70.

The 16-35 is especially useful for architectural shots, although you will probably find 16mm not wide enough for certain shots.

Depending on how long you will be in town, you can also rent a lens from Adoramarentals on 17th Street near 6th Ave. They are closed on Saturdays.

Michael

 

[sportyaccordy]

Man I cannot imagine walking around NYC with a GM anything. RX1R + 55 1.8 + rent a Batis 18 or 25

 

[Bruce Oudekerk]

To quote Hank, “So much depends on how and what you shoot. So, there is no bad choice.”

This spring I spent a few weeks in Krakow and Prague and for comfort only wanted to carry a single camera/lens combo when doing a walk-about. If I carried my FE16-36 f4.0, I frequently wished for my FE24-105 f4.0 and vice-versa, so I ended up deliberately making multiple passes with different lenses and focusing on different views. The results were a few missed shots. However, what I didn't miss was not using my FE70-300... which surprises me a bit... but my 'photographers view' has changed a bit over the decades. My takeaway is three-fold: you can never have too many lenses available, the photographer's 'vision' affects everything even when the same situation presents itself, and I'm getting lazy (self-admonishment

If-push-comes-to-shove, and I can only have one urban lens, it would probably be the 16-35 because 24mm REALLY restricts architecture, but admittedly that's a very artificial constraint especially when I have other lenses to open up photographic possibilities.

Thinking out loud, between now and my next important urban excursion, I'm going to experiment with carrying my a7RII w/lens and another lens in some sort of single lens pouch and forgo my usual travel backpack or a bulky sling bag.

Bruce

 

[BBQue]

My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job.

Yes, and you will mostly use it at 16mm. If you want to add a second lens, take the 55/1.8

 

[marco_vietti]

thank you very much for the suggestion, definitely I will take 16-35 GM and I am still thinking for 2nd lens because if I travel light with peak design 10l sling instead of everyday backpack 20l than my back say thanks to me.

 

[marco_vietti]

My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job.

Yes, and you will mostly use it at 16mm. If you want to add a second lens, take the 55/1.8

Yes, almost sure that is a great combo and is not too heavy

 

[Fabercula]

Hi, my family and I are spending a week holiday in Denmark and I took with me as walkabout lens the 24-105 f4. I also put in my bag the 16-35 f4 and the 28 f2; the latter for when the light is dim.

 

[calirat]

why not

I would walk around NYC (and will soon) with my 24-70 F/2.8. The silent shutter and the articulated VF help a lot.

 

[markusw]

My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job.

Yes, and you will mostly use it at 16mm. If you want to add a second lens, take the 55/1.8

+1

 

[Jeff108]

Hello

Another NYer.....

Youre right on with the 16-35, you will probably have that on your camera most of the time. The only question you need to ask is if you will need the 1.8 on the 55. Its quite helpful when you want to shoot indoors.

If you dont need the 1.8 then definitely take the 24-70 as your second

 

[sportyaccordy]

why not

I would walk around NYC (and will soon) with my 24-70 F/2.8. The silent shutter and the articulated VF help a lot.

NYC is a crowded, highly walkable city. To me at least, a 3lb camera/body is a needless albatross. I'd much rather glide with a wide-normal prime.

 

[Jeff2013]

So much depends on how and what you shoot. So, there is no bad choice.

Me, two lenses only, I'd take the 16-35 and the 70-300. Gives you lots of range at either end and the GM gives you low-light indoor and evening capabilities, and it is good for city scapes. I find the 70-300 is also good for street photos, particularly when you want to capture shots outside the range of when people start to notice you.

You'll get lots of good advice, so weigh it against what you normally shoot.

And have a good time - NYC is an amazing adventure.

I think I have traveled with every combination of lenses imaginable and have now settled on the GM 16-36mm and FE 70-300mm... sometimes with a 35mm f1.4 thrown in if I expect to shoot a lot at night, or indoors. Shots taken between 200mm and 300mm certainly add a lot of variety to the portfolio that people seem to really like.

 

[marco_vietti]

So much depends on how and what you shoot. So, there is no bad choice.

Me, two lenses only, I'd take the 16-35 and the 70-300. Gives you lots of range at either end and the GM gives you low-light indoor and evening capabilities, and it is good for city scapes. I find the 70-300 is also good for street photos, particularly when you want to capture shots outside the range of when people start to notice you.

You'll get lots of good advice, so weigh it against what you normally shoot.

And have a good time - NYC is an amazing adventure.

I think I have traveled with every combination of lenses imaginable and have now settled on the GM 16-36mm and FE 70-300mm... sometimes with a 35mm f1.4 thrown in if I expect to shoot a lot at night, or indoors. Shots taken between 200mm and 300mm certainly add a lot of variety to the portfolio that people seem to really like.

 

[Hank Radt]

One other thing you might consider, if you've been thinking about new gear, is visit B&H or Adorama when in the city - with the exchange rates and lower taxes (you'll pay 8.875% sales tax on in-store purchases), you might find something you've been hankering for at a lower price than in Italy. Of course, customs declaration on your return is up to you... If you go this way, you can contact them before you go and even order for in-store pick up. Just a thought.

 

[Steve W]

I go to NYC all the time because my son, his wife, and my grand daughter live there.
I always take to much gear but since I am not traveling by air I can get a way with it.

For walking around I may take the following although I have a lot I can choose from.

FE 24-105 f/4 G
FE Loxia 21/2.8 or Batis 18/2.8

Or alternatively
FE 16-35/2.8 GM (same size and weight as the 24-105)
FE 55/1.8

But I am only carrying one body since I don't own the R1X

Since I alway use a wrist strap I will open have one lens on the camera and not in my bag and take the Thinktank sling with two additional lenses so I might actually carry three total.

FE 24-105 f/4 G
FE 16-34 f/2.8 GM
FE 55/1.8 or Batis 25/2

Steve w

--
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe! - Words to live by. Albert Einstein

 

[Abel89er]

My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job.

Yes, and you will mostly use it at 16mm. If you want to add a second lens, take the 55/1.8

That is my 2 lens to go combo and I'm having fun. That 16-35 is hard to unmount from the body

 

[Al D]

I have a question about the lens that I should bring with me in my travel to NYC Manhattan this coming Friday.
My camera is A7R2 and when I want to be lighter without any lens I use RX1R2, so I bring with me two camera.
Basically I am interested in landscape, buildings, skyscraper, park, outdoor viewing and indoor (this time not so much museum)
Walking around I will bring my Peak Design everyday backpack 20 lt. I don’t know how to choose which lens I bring with me as walk around lens:
-FE 16-35/2,8 GM
-FE 24-70/2,8 GM
-FE 70-300 G
-FE 55 1,8
My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job. But reading on the forum maybe also with 24-70 I have extra reach that maybe is useful for indoor and 24-70 is the most versatile lens that I have.
And the extra wide angle 16 to 24 that I miss with 24-70 is not much important since with 24 I can take quite a lot (but not all…)
Since I want take only two lens in this travel, what combination you suggest to me?
At the moment I have two idea, 16-35/2,8 + 55/1,8 and other option 24-70/2,8 + 70-300 G ?
Time is not much to think and maybe I ask your suggestion in order to make the right choice …

Manhattan is best visited by foot, and there's a lot to see, and from Central Park to Battery Park, it's a lot of walking. Unless you do it all on the hop on hop off bus, which is not my way of visiting a city. One thing I know for sure, I wouln't be carrying the big tele zoom. I'd take the 16-35, and the 55. That's it.

 

[superchalupa]

I have a question about the lens that I should bring with me in my travel to NYC Manhattan this coming Friday.
My camera is A7R2 and when I want to be lighter without any lens I use RX1R2, so I bring with me two camera.
Basically I am interested in landscape, buildings, skyscraper, park, outdoor viewing and indoor (this time not so much museum)
Walking around I will bring my Peak Design everyday backpack 20 lt. I don’t know how to choose which lens I bring with me as walk around lens:
-FE 16-35/2,8 GM
-FE 24-70/2,8 GM
-FE 70-300 G
-FE 55 1,8
My idea was to use the 16-35/2,8 most of the time since it does a wonderful job. But reading on the forum maybe also with 24-70 I have extra reach that maybe is useful for indoor and 24-70 is the most versatile lens that I have.
And the extra wide angle 16 to 24 that I miss with 24-70 is not much important since with 24 I can take quite a lot (but not all…)
Since I want take only two lens in this travel, what combination you suggest to me?
At the moment I have two idea, 16-35/2,8 + 55/1,8 and other option 24-70/2,8 + 70-300 G ?
Time is not much to think and maybe I ask your suggestion in order to make the right choice …

New York City is BIG and IN YOUR FACE, therefore, the wider you can get the better, IMHO. (think: big skyscrapers right in front of you, big cityscapes, bridges)

New York City also is tiny and cramped, again, arguing for wider. (think: tiny/crowded restuarants and public spaces where you have to deal with the teeming mass of humanity)

I kept my 16-35 on the camera almost full time for all of my NYC trips.