Re: One all purpose zoom for travel in Spain.

Greetings,

First time traveling to Spain soon. Barcelona, Seville, Alicante , and Malaga. Usual tourist sights. Want to take general photos including street scenes and of details like arcetecure. churches, Gaudi buildings, etc.

Can you recommend an all-in-one travel zoom that will work on both Panny and Oly M43 Panny GX7 and Oly Pen F? Prefer small and light lens. Not interested in carrying heavy Pro quality zoom. I will be walking a lot and taking bus tours.

I was looking at this lens (within my budget):

• Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm Telephoto Zoom Lens with F3.5-5.6 II ASPH, Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Mount and Power O.I.S. - H-FSA14140 (Upgraded USA Black)
• Olympus 14-140 (?)

I have only Panny 20 mm f/1.7 and Oly 45 mm f1.8 lenses. Can you suggest an all-in- one zoom of comparable image quality I can keep on camera during daytime for walk around? The Panny or Olympus?

• I do not want to switch lenses during daytime due to pickpockets in Barcelona.. I plan to switch to using smaller and lighter 20 mm f/1.7 in evening for taking photos at night and inside cafes.

And safety in Barcelona. I will be staying at a hotel in Las Ramblas tourist area.

Thank you for recommendations.

My lightweight walk-around kit (on a Panasonic body) and in circumstances where I wish to avoid lens changing, is Panasonic 14-140 / 3.5-5.6 + 20 / 1.7 for low light. I'm happy with the resultts from the 14-140, but you must recognise that whilst good, is not up to the quality of the  20/1.7 or 45/1.8.  Avoid the original 14-140 / 4.0-5.8.

If you are worried about security of kit, I strongly recommend getting a bag that does not look like a camera bag

I wonder whether the 14-140 is wide enough at the short end; at the long, there may be more range than you need. Have you considered the Olympus 12-100 or Panasonic 12-60?

The 14-140mm is my regular travel lens for day time use. It is comfortable to carry, and is also good for video.

After my first trip to Europe, I went back and looked at my most used focal lengths. I found 80% were in the 12-50 range. So I spent the money on a 12-40 and have been a VERY happy camper.  FWIW, I also take my little 12-32 for my GM5, along with the 15 and 20 primes.

But that's just me. The travel zoom range in m43s is almost impossibly wide. Not a bad lens in the bunch. Bottom line: your shooting range and subject preferences should rule. There really are no bad options.

Re: the bag. I bought a PacSafe camera bag that is green (!!) so (a) it's not a camera bag color and (b) has a lot of inconspicuous protection built in. It's also a very useful and adaptable bag.

Have fun and don't let the gear get in the way of the experience!

You might take an allround lens like the 14-140 for daytrips. At evening or inside the Oly 8mm/f1.8 might be a good choice. Bright, fast, plenty of wide angle range. De-fished and cropped to your liking.

+1 for the Panasonic 14-140 ii for the all-in-one. You've got the low light/indoors covered with the Panny 20mm. My preference for that is the Olympus 12mm/f2. I find room for the SLR Magic 8mm/F4 as well. So small it will fit anywhere. I use these on an Oly E-M1 Mki.

As for bags, I've used one of these in the past. Take your pick on Amazon for ~$20US. Definitely don't look like a camera bag and they hold a lot! A standard body+2 lens insert fits, if you size right. Those Barca pickpockets will steer clear of a bagful of dirty diapers/nappies.

Alan

https://www.amazon.com/ROYALFAIR-10x4-3x10-Aluminium-Environmental-Protection/dp/B01N4GSGAT/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=diaper+bag+tote&qid=1581786163&sr=8-17

Works just fine with my Pen F , E-M10 II and E-M5 III for a small do-all travel lens. Maye not as sharp as my Oly 12-100, but no slouch in the IQ department.

Here's a couple of examples with the Pen F,

With the E-M10 II

with the E-M5 III

I have the Panny 14-140 and love it, but for architectural shots, you might prefer having 12mm at the low end. If you don't anticipate needing telephoto, perhaps one of the 12-60s would be a good choice.

mring1 wrote:

... But that's just me. The travel zoom range in m43s is almost impossibly wide. Not a bad lens in the bunch. Bottom line: your shooting range and subject preferences should rule. There really are no bad options. ...

I couldn't agree more!

I've been to Europe a bunch of times and, by nature, I see things in a Wide Angle sort of way, so I would be more comfortable with a 12 to something lens. What I actually take is a P/L G9 with both a 12-60 and a 7-14 lens. I almost never feel the need for a longer telephoto lens, and when I do almost nothing would be long enough.

Have fun and don't let the gear get in the way of the experience!

Seriously!

I was going to recommend the 12-100mm F4 until I read your “no Pro lenses”

regarding security . . .

In Barcelona, La Rambla and the other popular tourist venues such as La Sagrada Familia have a reputation for being high risk of pickpockets.

We spent a week in Barcelona last year and the advice given by hotel staff, taxi drivers etc was to not wear any backpacks or shoulder bags on your back or at your side - always at the front.  On one occasion we were walking with some Spanish friends on the Rambla and we were approached by a uniformed Police officer who advised one of our party to bring her shoulder bag around to the front.

That said, we never felt unsafe in Barcelona and even found the Metro to be very good. My advice is to just use common sense, don’t carry valuables in your pockets, don’t carry unnecessary gear and don’t use bags which have easy-open zips or pockets.

I carried the E-M1 II with 12-100 F4 in a small shoulder bag along with phone etc without any concerns. The bag has a flap with hidden buckle and noisy Velcro fasteners, so  not an easy target for pickpockets, and was easy to keep it under my arm and pull it around to the front in crowds

We did get caught up in the Catalonian separatist protests and associated transport blockages, so while there keep an eye on the news for any pending ‘events’.

We had no security concerns in the other cities we visited; Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz, Segovia and no problems riding buses and intercity trains, or walking in the streets.

Peter

Messier Object wrote:

I was going to recommend the 12-100mm F4 until I read your “no Pro lenses”

regarding security . . .

In Barcelona, La Rambla and the other popular tourist venues such as La Sagrada Familia have a reputation for being high risk of pickpockets.

We spent a week in Barcelona last year and the advice given by hotel staff, taxi drivers etc

As the most usual advice from tourist guide:

was to not wear any backpacks or shoulder bags on your back

= 100% invitation to pocketpicker to try it

or at your side -

=50% welcome pocketpicker

always at the front.

= 100% safe

On one occasion we were walking with some Spanish friends on the Rambla and we were approached by a uniformed Police officer who advised one of our party to bring her shoulder bag around to the front.

My last visit there (a 12 days trip to portugal and Spain) was in 2018.

When we finished our planned visiting in Toledo, we walked to the underground garage to our coach for next destination. During the <10 minutes walking, a few young local girls (or gypsies might be?) walked into our group of 20 tour members. One guy had his backpack at his back. Inside a staircase to the garage, 2 of those young girls surrounded him, joking loudly to distract his attention. Another girl unzip his backpack from behind... Fortunately one of tour group members saw it and alerted the group. Nothing lost, the girls dispatched quickly like nothing had ever happened...

I personally had my wallet stolen from my leg pocket of my cargo pants in Prague a few years ago. Since then, I keep small changes only inside my pant/jacket pocket. My travel documents and wallet etc will be stored inside the inner compartment of my shoulder camera bag. When at any tourist spot, or it will be crowded, my camera bag will alway be in front of me around my belly for security and easy lens swapping.

That said, we never felt unsafe in Barcelona and even found the Metro to be very good. My advice is to just use common sense, don’t carry valuables in your pockets, don’t carry unnecessary gear and don’t use bags which have easy-open zips or pockets.

I carried the E-M1 II with 12-100 F4 in a small shoulder bag along with phone etc without any concerns. The bag has a flap with hidden buckle and noisy Velcro fasteners, so not an easy target for pickpockets, and was easy to keep it under my arm and pull it around to the front in crowds

We did get caught up in the Catalonian separatist protests and associated transport blockages, so while there keep an eye on the news for any pending ‘events’.

We had no security concerns in the other cities we visited; Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz, Segovia and no problems riding buses and intercity trains, or walking in the streets.

Peter

Last time I used a GX7, 7-14 f/4, 12-35 f/2.8, 45-150 and 15 f/1.7. My wife used GX85 and 14-140. We had taken around 8K images plus many short video back home which had been converted into a ~5.5 hours travelling video for that trip... I found an ultra wide angle lens could be very interesting inside the beautiful cathedrals there, of course the Sagrada Familia.

Nice trip to look forward to! It looks like you'll be in cities a lot. Even though you say, 'no pro' I'd recommend the oly 12-40mm, f/2.8. It isn't the lightest lens around but it's small and not heavy and it gives you those needed 12 mm as the older quarters of the cities aren't spacious. Great quality, too!

The 'pro' qualities will come in handy in unforeseen circumstances. Happened to me this week, but that's a different story.

Actually I live in Spain, mainly Madrid and wouldn't worry too much about getting stuff stolen. Just use the common sense precautions as in any city. When you get ice cream/drink spills on your jacket, hold tight to your belongings. Leave important docs/stuff in the hotel.

We've been getting returned a dropped iPhone, a forgotten laptop (airport) a left behind backpack with laptop, quite a lot of cash, e-book, c-cards, well everything. But that was in the countryside.
You'll see many people walking around with camera gear. Enjoy your trip!

alcelc wrote:

When we finished our planned visiting in Toledo, we walked to the underground garage to our coach for next destination. During the <10 minutes walking, a few young local girls (or gypsies might be?) walked into our group of 20 tour members. One guy had his backpack at his back. Inside a staircase to the garage, 2 of those young girls surrounded him, joking loudly to distract his attention. Another girl unzip his backpack from behind... Fortunately one of tour group members saw it and alerted the group. Nothing lost, the girls dispatched quickly like nothing had ever happened...

Classic Roma gypsy distraction technique. Another is to hold a map or even phone up close to you asking directions while using it as cover for another of the kids to steal your stuff. Only solution is to push them away.

My recommendation is Leica 12-60/2.8-4.0 to compliment 20/1.7.. Second hand price is not expensive..

12 is better than 14, while 60 may be long enough for 95-99% of the shot.. f2.8 @12 will come in handy for interior church shot, like in Cordona, Barcelona, or Seville.. 60f4 can be used for portrait, so you can live 45/1.8 at home.. FYI

Len_Gee wrote:

Greetings,

First time traveling to Spain soon. Barcelona, Seville, Alicante , and Malaga. Usual tourist sights. Want to take general photos including street scenes and of details like arcetecure. churches, Gaudi buildings, etc.

Can you recommend an all-in-one travel zoom that will work on both Panny and Oly M43 Panny GX7 and Oly Pen F? Prefer small and light lens. Not interested in carrying heavy Pro quality zoom. I will be walking a lot and taking bus tours.

I was looking at this lens (within my budget):

• Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm Telephoto Zoom Lens with F3.5-5.6 II ASPH, Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Mount and Power O.I.S. - H-FSA14140 (Upgraded USA Black)
• Olympus 14-140 (?)

I have only Panny 20 mm f/1.7 and Oly 45 mm f1.8 lenses. Can you suggest an all-in- one zoom of comparable image quality I can keep on camera during daytime for walk around? The Panny or Olympus?

• I do not want to switch lenses during daytime due to pickpockets in Barcelona.. I plan to switch to using smaller and lighter 20 mm f/1.7 in evening for taking photos at night and inside cafes.

And safety in Barcelona. I will be staying at a hotel in Las Ramblas tourist area.

Thank you for recommendations.

If you want to travel to Spain with just one cheap zoom, make it the Olympus 9-18mm.

The moment you walk into any cathedral, church, convent, palace, fortress, etc, etc... you're gonna be sorry 14mm is the widest you've got. Even 12mm isn't good enough.

Also, there isn't a whole lot to zoom in on. On my last trip 5 week trip to Spain (been there 5 times, going again next month) I had a 7-14mm f/4 and a 14-140mm, so the full range of focal lengths. Only 20% of my pictures are zoomed in more than 20mm, and only 5% more than 60mm, and those are mostly shooting condors in Grazalema nature park.