Which wide angle lens for Egypt tour?

This is a multi-part question.

#1: I’m planning on RENTING a lens for an upcoming tour of Egypt. I’m wondering if it‘s worth the extra cost to rent the Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8f R WR vs. the more affordable Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR. The 8-16mm is almost double the cost also double the weight.

#2: I’m trying to pack light and I want to take as few lenses as possible without suffering regrets! Here’s what I own: a Fujifilm X-T2 camera, a Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8 zoom, a 55-200mm f/3.5 zoom, and a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens. What do I take & what can I do without? We will be doing a multi-day cruise on the Nile – will my 55-200mm zoom come in handy? Will I regret leaving that at home? Finally, I was planning on leaving my heavy tripod at home. I have a small tripod that I’ll bring for my iPhone 14 for some night shots. Again, do you think I’ll regret not bringing my heavy tripod along?

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

onedawnnelson wrote:

This is a multi-part question.

#1: I’m planning on RENTING a lens for an upcoming tour of Egypt. I’m wondering if it‘s worth the extra cost to rent the Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8f R WR vs. the more affordable Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR. The 8-16mm is almost double the cost also double the weight.

#2: I’m trying to pack light and I want to take as few lenses as possible without suffering regrets! Here’s what I own: a Fujifilm X-T2 camera, a Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8 zoom, a 55-200mm f/3.5 zoom, and a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens. What do I take & what can I do without? We will be doing a multi-day cruise on the Nile – will my 55-200mm zoom come in handy? Will I regret leaving that at home? Finally, I was planning on leaving my heavy tripod at home. I have a small tripod that I’ll bring for my iPhone 14 for some night shots. Again, do you think I’ll regret not bringing my heavy tripod along?

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

3 lenses max ! - 10-24 + 18-55 + 55-200 . And 55-200  because Nile is a wide river, really. Why 8-16?

Tripod is impossible to carry around and in many places you can not use a tripod. You will regret if you take a tripod IMO

My X-T1 travelled a lot and these three lenses have OIS ... at the moment i really would like to have a camera also with IBIS if i ever travel to Egypt again (like my X-H1) - my trip  to Egypt was when film was still used... Evenings, indoor places  and time just after sunset are easier with IBIS (  without tripod ). Flash is usually NOT allowed in historical places. OIS lenses do help.

A comfortable shoulder bag is probably the most important gadget ...  spare batteries , protective filters because it is easier to clean the lenses when they get dusty  , possibly a polariser .filter for 18-55

Last year we took a trip riding a motorcycle through part of South America for 7 weeks. I brought my X-T2 and three lenses. The 10-24, the 35 1.4 and the 50-230. I would do the exact same again. I don't shoot a ton between 24 and 50 and when I wanted to the 35mm was nice to have. It also gave nice low light capabilities.

If I were you I'd take the 10-24 over the 8-16. It's nice to have the OIS on a camera without IBIS. It's even better than the extra stop of light.

As for a tripod... That depends on what you want to shoot. I brought a small tripod for taking some night exposures as well as setting up for "selfies" (pictures of me and the my wife). I'm glad I did. But if you are on a cruise it might not be useful. I don't know.

I would choose the 10-24 on weight grounds.

To cover all potential needs, I’d take the set of three zooms, though I wouldn’t necessarily carry all three at once depending on where I was going and what the opportunities were likely to be (unless I were young and strong - which I’m emphatically not!).  The quality of the set of zooms isn’t stellar, but good enough for all digital displays and for prints up to medium size.  OIS helps, also.

Wherever you stand in the debate about lens protection filters, I’d fit them on this occasion and try to limit - or even avoid - lens changes outdoors.

Wolf's Head wrote:

I would choose the 10-24 on weight grounds.

To cover all potential needs, I’d take the set of three zooms, though I wouldn’t necessarily carry all three at once depending on where I was going and what the opportunities were likely to be (unless I were young and strong - which I’m emphatically not!). The quality of the set of zooms isn’t stellar, but good enough for all digital displays and for prints up to medium size. OIS helps, also.

Wherever you stand in the debate about lens protection filters, I’d fit them on this occasion and try to limit - or even avoid - lens changes outdoors.

Yes,

i would also avoid changing lenses on the go - it can be dusty and windy sometimes and in a group it is less disturbing to use a zoom - you do not have to "zoom with your feet" ( if you run around others have to wait for you ) . Wiping dust off from a filter is faster and more safe.

I have made some  big prints from some pictures i have taken with these three zoom lenses -  with a protective filter on.  They are not "stellar" lenses, but a very good picture taken is better than the stellar hi-fi pictures that were just planned ...

I really would like to make a trip to Egypt again  ...

onedawnnelson wrote:

Thanks Kari! I will do just as you suggest. dawn

Enjoy the trip! I'm a bit envious ...

Of course you must choose a bag that fits your style and the ways you use your gear.  I personally like to have a shoulder bag that does not look like a typical camera bag. Of some reason i like to carry an old and a bit dusty Billingham Hadley Pro ... camera body + 3 lenses  fit in. If it is possible i can leave one of the lenses in the hotel room safe. For example in  Jerusalem  55-200 was not needed... and in some places a long  black lens can look a bit hostile.

I really do not know how it is nowadays, but in the Arab world (Egyptians are not exactly arabs)  taking photographs of people can be different. Of course tourism is economically  important in Egypt and people do tolerate ....

K

Get a book with photos from Egypt, research what you want to photograph, and then decide.

horacetooth wrote:

We toured Egypt in 2019 part of which was a Nile cruise. I took my 10-24 and my 18-55. I estimate that 80% of my photos were with the 10-24. I don't remember ever wishing I had a telephoto.

You should be aware that nearly every attraction requires you to buy a photography permit to use your camera. These are not expensive but the authorities are very adamant that you buy one so have cash available. As you are walking around the cities you will be approached by people (mostly kids) wanting their pictures taken. They do so expecting to be paid for the privelege and if you do pay you will immediately be besieged by others wanting the same thing. Also be aware that in general people there do not want to be photographed by a stranger so be respectful as you take photos.

Some general advice. Do not rent an auto and drive - it's chaotic and dangerous. Use a local guide wherever you go as English is not widely spoken and they can facilitate your entry into museums and attrations as well as steering you toward good restaurants.

We enjoyed our Egyptian trip immensely and I'm sure you will as well.

Your questions about lenses depend a lot on the places you are going to visit
Since you will be cruising on the Nile for a few days probably you will go to Luxor and you should this is where you will benefit the most from the wide lenses
horacetooth advice are very important and I prefer to use Uber over other means of transportation. Using a local guide will make it a much easier and more enjoyable trip in my opinion (i didn't try). As you walk, many will approach you and offer you their services and they can be persistent sometimes. being with a guide will push them away a little and let you enjoy more

wish you a nice trip

robert1955 wrote:

If there’s anything that looks like a camera bag, it’s a Billingham😺

the point about people not like being photographed is important

I think Billingham started to make bags for fishermen and then photographers found them. On some street an old dusty Bilingham looks like just a bag where some old dusty guy keeps his Notebooks , books, umbrella etc Modern well designed stylish and fine camera bags scream…”valuable stuff inside”

As a smaller backpack i like to use is Missionworks backpack , that is designed for bicycle drivers originally - expensive like Billinghams ,  but has sort of a low profile…

I try to avoid certain attention when i’m on a walk with camera gear. Not afraid of thieves or robbery , some kind of camouflage and hopefully not like a guy carrying ”weapons of mass destruction” . 
Of course in a country like Egypt everyone can see who is a rich tourist and who is also stupid without manners.  It is quite easy to be just some ”normal” guy walking around in Stockholm , TelAviv , Budapest or Rome. A bag can help , sometimes

My three lens travel kit:

• Samyang 8mm f2.8 FE II
• Fuji XF 10-24
• Fuji XF 16-80

I've sometimes brought my XC 50-230, but I find I rarely ever use it.

The Samyang (=Rokinon) 8mm fisheye is quite small, and I find many occasions to get creative with it.

If I'm on a tour where I know I won't have time to be switching lenses, I put one lens on my X-T100 (a nice small camera) and the other on my X-S10.

With just one body, I start w/ the 16-80 until I need wider and switch to the 10-24. Then I shoot with that until I need longer. Both are versatile lenses.

onedawnnelson wrote:

I took a 10 days trip to London late last year and wanted to travel light. Lighter the better IMO...However, knowing the weather (rain or snow), I also wanted WR.  I imaging in Egypt, it would be the same but maybe more for the dust resistance!  While I didn't take my Fuji's (but I should have just taken my X100V and called it good), I wanted wide angle so I went with my Lumix S5 and a 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 WR lens. That 20mm was very handy. I never really felt I lost anything on the long end. YMMV.  So, what do I recommend?

#1: I’m planning on RENTING a lens for an upcoming tour of Egypt. I’m wondering if it‘s worth the extra cost to rent the Fuji XF 8-16mm f/2.8f R WR vs. the more affordable Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR. The 8-16mm is almost double the cost also double the weight.

Size/Weight here....if you are set on renting one, I'd take the 10-24 f/4 OIS WR.  Why? I think getting that 15-36mm FOV is great for travel. The OIS can help with lower light and the f/4,.  It's WR and is (I think) the lightest of the bunch. I seriously hate weight on a trip. Yes, that 8mm is nice, but's it going from 15mm FOV down to 12mm FOV....is that extra 3mm of FOV worth the extra cost and weight? You are also losing the longer "normal" end of the lens, if that matters to you.

#2: I’m trying to pack light and I want to take as few lenses as possible without suffering regrets!

Bingo!

Here’s what I own: a Fujifilm X-T2 camera, a Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8 zoom, a 55-200mm f/3.5 zoom, and a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens. What do I take & what can I do without? We will be doing a multi-day cruise on the Nile – will my 55-200mm zoom come in handy? Will I regret leaving that at home?

The cruise on the Nile may make that 55-200 worth it. I had that lens, nice little gem for what it does. I'd take it and pair with only ONE other lens.  See below.

Finally, I was planning on leaving my heavy tripod at home.

No tripod for travel.  Hassle to pack, carry, etc.

I have a small tripod that I’ll bring for my iPhone 14 for some night shots. Again, do you think I’ll regret not bringing my heavy tripod along?

I took my 14 Pro Max to London and used it about 50% of the time. Again, no heavy tripod.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

WHAT I WOULD DO: For the Nile cruise, take that 55-200 and just plan on leaving it at the hotel on the other days, unless you are doing any wildlife on additional days. Next, personally, I'd just take that 18-55 f/2.8-4 zoom (27 - 85mm FOV) and call it a day.  It's a great range, reasonably bright and you aren't paying any extra for it.  I'd use the cash for something else.  However, if you REALLY want/need to go wider than that (which I do understand), then I'd rent that 10-24 f/4 OIS WR.  Then take your iPhone 14 (non-pro version, right?) and call it a day. Walk about with 1 camera (on a strap), 1 lens (attached), extra batteries (in your pocket), extra SD card in your pocket and your phone.  Ditch the big tripod. I even ditch the photo bag when I travel. I go out with 1 weather sealed body and lens and let it fly!