Lenses to take for weekend in DC

[Rachel Foster]

I've got an upcoming weekend planned with my son in Washington, DC. Baggage restrictions are getting tighter and tighter and carry on is limited to one "personal" item and one carryon. That means we have two personal items between us. I am planning on my laptop being one and a camera bag the second. My cam bags range from small (13" x 8" x 9") to large. So, I'm stuck with the small bag.

My question is lens recommendations. I'll have the 5d with the 24-105 on it. One more lens is possible... I have a 70-200 f/4.0, 100 mm macro, the 50mm f/1.8 to choose from. I'm thinking the 70-200.

Any suggestions?

 

[nicolas claris]

Bonjour Rachel

It all depends of what you want to bring back as pictures!

People? you'll need relatively long to long lenses.
Landscape and buildings? think wide…

I've never used the 24-105…

If it were me I would bring a very wide (I've seen you don't have any) and the longest, avoiding the mid range focal, too boring for me… ;-)
When I went to Venise (Italy) I made the choice to bring only the Sigma 12-24, jus to push me to find the right angles… See here, all full frame, minimum crop to adjsut.

We're now awiting to see here the results of your sharp eye

 

[Rachel Foster]

My Venice photos don't look like those!

So, the 24-105 and possibly the 70-200. I was considering the 24-105 only, leaving home the 70-200. I don't shoot people, generally, because I don't feel comfortable unless I ask permission first (personal quirk). I was toying with taking the macro but I'm not sure what I'd use it for.

The most interesting parts of your weekend will not allow photos at all, I think (tour of the Supreme Court, the Capitol, and the ballet at Kennedy Center). I also suspect cameras are not allowed inside the Smithsonian museums.

I know what Asher would say, of course.....jettison the 70-200 for now.

 

[nicolas claris]

Bonsoir (here) Rachel
Shooting wide is demanding, but you can be rewarded! It's all aout being in the right place, keeping the vertical lines vertical (unless you want to shoot a Ghery's building ;-), have a look (again!) on Cems images from his town here that's a pretty good use of a very wide angle…
My pics from Venice/Venise were done as the moments came, the initial purpose was to enjoy the city and the biennale with Marine, not to take images (nor snaps) I allowed myself one lens only… what you have seen is almost all I shot during a 4 days stay…
If you can't borrow a very wide (would be fun, I promise!) then I would go with the 24-105.

Only.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Bonsoir (here) Rachel
Shooting wide is demanding, but you can be rewarded! It's all aout being in the right place, keeping the vertical lines vertical (unless you want to shoot a Ghery's building ;-), have a look (again!) on Cems images from his town here that's a pretty good use of a very wide angle…
My pics from Venice/Venise were done as the moments came, the initial purpose was to enjoy the city and the biennale with Marine, not to take images (nor snaps) I allowed myself one lens only… what you have seen is almost all I shot during a 4 days stay…
If you can't borrow a very wide (would be fun, I promise!) then I would go with the 24-105.

Only.

Rachel,

The 24-105mm is fine for an indoor social event where you have flash or outside in good light. It really is useless for huge building or interiors at close quarters where you need at least 20mm and I think that something like 18mm would be the minimum without stitching.

The two lenses I'd seriously look at are the sigma Sigma 12mm-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM Autofocus Super Wide-Angle Zoom Lens, for Canon EOS Cameras at $699 and the Canon 17-40v f4 L

here for $669

The Tamron 10 - 24mm f/3.5-4.5 DI-II LD Aspherical (IF) AF Wide Zoom Lens, for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras is also worth consideration at only $499.

When you have this, then your other lens can be the telephoto. I'd keep a 50mm or 75mm Eos EF lens in you purse anyway. These are small, lightweight and will save the day in poorly lit places.

Asher

 

[nicolas claris]

The Sigma 12-24 is much better than the Canon 17-40 mm! but beatten by the new Canon 14mm (pricey!) I have had the 3 of them (I have kept the 14 mm)

But back to original post, Rachel did ask advice within the lenses she owns!

 

[Rachel Foster]

I don't think I'll have the opportunity to shoot indoors (due to restrictions on cameras in the Capitol and museums). I have a 17-85 but it's EFS and that would require me to take the Rebel. Feels like quite a come down after the few weeks I've had the 5d.

On the other hand, I'm not there to take photos, so maybe the Reb is the better alternative (with the 17-85 EFS).

 

[Rachel Foster]

And a new lens will be some time (way) in the future. The following weekend I'm taking my daughter to the San Diego Wild Animal park. (I'm putting a priority on traveling with my kids while I am still able. They come first, of course!)

 

[nicolas claris]

If I recall corretly, the Rebel is not full frame so even with the 17-85 you'll be back to around 24mm (FF equivalent) the widest… keep the 5D!

 

[Rachel Foster]

Oh, right! Thanks. Rebel goes back on the shelf.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Rachel,

Your lens line-up is less than ideal for this situation. I think that the 24-105 is a great lens (I have owned one on my 400D and later on my 5D). It will cater to all general purpose situations you can come across. If the reach of 105mm is not enough for certain pictures, remember that you are shooting with a 5D MkII so you can always crop some in the post; the details will be still there even if you crop to the 50-60% of the full frame. So the 70-200 can be left behind. It is heavy, big and white which makes you more prone to potential hassling from security personnel.
On the wide end, the 24mm is quite versatile. Had it been possible, I too would have preferred to put the 12-24mm in the bag. I have owned that lens but I have ended up keeping my 24-105 more often on the 5D than the 12-24 during my travels.

So my advice, take only the 24-105 along. You don’t need more than that

Cheers,

 

[Rachel Foster]

The nice thing with that solution is that I can take my mini cam back pack and put it inside the larger carryon instead of it counting as my personal item.

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

Main travel lens

I've travelled the world with my 24-105 extensively. I've never felt it lacking. It's lighter than the 70-200. I have the Sigma and found it limiting for me - the 24 end of the 24-105 has served me nicely. I usually also pop a 50 in my bag with it - I have the 50 1.2 but the 50 1.8 is a bargain, light and easy to travel with. Last year I did buy the Tamron 28-300 3.5 vr for travel and I know several well regarded Travel photographers who have also bought that lens and while I am not unhappy with it for my personal travel stuff, the 24-105 is my choice with my 5d. I haven't taken the 5d2 travelling yet.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

..The 24-105mm is fine for an indoor social event where you have flash or outside in good light. It really is useless for huge building or interiors at close quarters where you need at least 20mm and I think that something like 18mm would be the minimum without stitching.

Hi Asher,

Let's not forget that the 24-105 is an IS lens and it will be mounted on a 5DMkII which can easily shoot at ISO 1600-3200. So this combination will make up more than enough for the lack of a wider aperture than the f4. Rachel won't be shooting sport events which may need stopping the motion anyway. I have taken countless good to excellent pictures with my 24-105 on the 5D in interiors, museums, etc. 24mm is not wide enough for very wide vistas indeed. But if one shoots huge buildings with a 12mm or 18mm, then one has to pay attention to curvatures, converging verticals, etc. So all considered, I can recommend the 24-105 very strongly.

Cheers,

 

[Mike Shimwell]

Rachel,

To join the chorus If I take only one lens for such a trip it is likely to be the 24-105. it works really well on the 5D and (despite the internet naysayers) is a good choice on the higher resolution bodies too. I too don't have anything wider than that for my dslrs, which has been an ongoing problem that I've not yet solved, but actually if the trip is more about the trip than pictures then the lack of anything wider is unlikely to be a problem. You can always try to stitch wider fields.

If I were to take one other lens, I have a habit of walking around with a 50 1.4 on my 5D. It doesn't add much apart from lower depth of field and less motion blur compared to the 24-105, but I like the combo and the pics I get.

Mike

 

[Rachel Foster]

I do love the 24-105. I've never really used the 50 for much more than portrait work, but it sounds like it's time I figure out what it's good for.

I've stopped opening up the aperture so wide (rarely go down to 1.8) so it doesn't matter so much ... except I suspect the f/1.2 has better glass?

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

I do love the 24-105. I've never really used the 50 for much more than portrait work, but it sounds like it's time I figure out what it's good for.

I've stopped opening up the aperture so wide (rarely go down to 1.8) so it doesn't matter so much ... except I suspect the f/1.2 has better glass?

Rachel,

Take it from me, the only reason why you need a prime lens such as the 50mm 1.8 is due to the fact that it offers a wider aperture than a zoom lens and that it is lighter/compacter to carry around. The IQ of the 50/1.8 is not very exciting, I've had it for a while. I would go for the 50/1.4 if I'd buy again. The 1.2 is way too expensive and it is an exotic beast which needs taming. Ask Asher all about it.

Shooting with a prime lens is something not every photographer can cope with. For travel purposes, zoom lenses are more versatile. If you want to see how it feels to have the 50mm on your camera, just set the 24-105 to 50mm and shoot at that fixed focal length for a day. Resist the urge to change the focal length. And decide for yourself if you would be willing to change the 24-105 with a 50mm while travelling or not. I bet you won't, LOL

Cheers,

 

[Mike Shimwell]

Rachel,

Take it from me, the only reason why you need a prime lens such as the 50mm 1.8 is due to the fact that it offers a wider aperture than a zoom lens and that it is lighter/compacter to carry around. The IQ of the 50/1.8 is not very exciting, I've had it for a while. I would go for the 50/1.4 if I'd buy again. The 1.2 is way too expensive and it is an exotic beast which needs taming. Ask Asher all about it.

Shooting with a prime lens is something not every photographer can cope with. For travel purposes, zoom lenses are more versatile. If you want to see how it feels to have the 50mm on your camera, just set the 24-105 to 50mm and shoot at that fixed focal length for a day. Resist the urge to change the focal length. And decide for yourself if you would be willing to change the 24-105 with a 50mm while travelling or not. I bet you won't, LOL

Cheers,

Spot on Cem, I did say that the 50 habit is mine. I think because when I first bought a zoom in about 1985 I couldn't ever get used to it and finished up giving it away. When I moved to digital I found the zooms much easier to adjust to, partly I think because the 24-105 is such a nice lens, and IS is superb.

Mike

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

50 all day and all night

I am a fifty freak myself. I bought the 5D because the 50 2.5 macro I was using on my film body was just too long on my 20d. (and a bit slow to focus). Oh but the beauty of portraits. I never feel hampered shooting with the 50. That said, in DC if you are walking around the weight of the 24-105 might be an issue and you might enjoy the light weight factor of the 50 1.8 as well as DC may not be the best city to be flaunting $1000 lenses for walking around some parts of the city.

BTW Rachel, the Trolley is a great way to see DC. You can catch it at various parts of the city, and see most of the sites, hop on and off all day or even for two days and get a good overview. The nice thing is the tours cover everything you want to visit and you don't worry about getting lost. I highly recommend it. They run every 15 minutes so you can hop off at the memorials, get back on after you've seen them and then see the next thing on your agenda.

 

[Rachel Foster]

I'd love to, but time is tight. We're arriving just before noon on Thursday; our senator's office arranged a tour of the Court that afternoon...the next morning we have a tour of the Capitol. Dinner and ballet Friday night. That leaves Thursday evening, Friday afternoon, and Saturday for the museums. It's going to be hard making decisions.

Any recommendations? My son is a gifted 12 year old who is a math prodigy, interested in science and particularly human anatomy (even BEFORE he hit puberty!). I have been to DC a number of times and the National Gallery is a must for me.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Rachel...simple, 5D + 50mm. If pushed + 24-105.

Enjoy DC. Have not been there for sometime, but not much must have changed photog-wise.

Best.

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

Your son will love the

Air and Space Museum! Of course the Smithsonian Museum of American History is great - much current stuff and next to the National Gallery. The Train Station is beautiful and has some good places to eat.

 

[Rachel Foster]

It's on our list!

 

[Rachel Foster]

By the way, he DID love the Air and Space Museum. He did the flight simulator three times!

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

Good to hear

Good to hear you had fun. And which lenses did you use ? Tell us about the trip!