Hi All, I am a newb to the forum and please forgive me but im just gonna dive in and ask you all your advice! Please forgive my long post but does anybody out there travel with their DSLR regularly?
In two weeks im driving down to Provence with my wife, little boy and best friends, we are lucky enough to have a villa for the duration and we will be doing a hell of a lot of sightseeing. We will be doing motorway to Lyon, staying the night, then a scenic route through the Ardeche to Brignoles in Var, Provence. We have two weeks in Provence doing and seeing everything possible and then we have a scenic return trip along the Route Napoleon to Dijon, then a motorway return home.
Now ive taken my Nikon D60 away with me to Paris before on my honeymoon and at the time id just bought my Sigma 10-20mm so i just equipped that and used it for the whole holiday as a test run. Having a UWA was an advantage due to architechture and panoramas obviously and I got some good shots, but I missed a few due to restricted focal length these included some good tele shots as well as the odd portrait. Due to the fact it was my honeymoon i didn't want my camera to be centre of attention (As it usually is!).
This time i have acquired a bit more kit but again this is supposed to be a relaxing holiday and the camera can't be a big deal (wife's orders!). I plan on carrying it with me all the time so i can shoot handheld off the shoulder without interupting anyones day (As im sure you'll agree us Photographers can be quite demanding for that shot and almost dictate the day if camera is in hand).
I was thinking about a D300/35mm f1.8 combo, the 35mm of late has really pushed my skills to the limit and made me move around and plan the shot a bit more rather than just setting up and shooting so im thinking it might make a good travel companion? It's crisp and fast and light. A lot of people say a 35/50mm prime makes you a better photographer and I think this is true.
I do have my tele (70-300mm VR) and UWA (Sigma 10-20) as well should i need it but i want to see if good all round shots can be achieved a little easier. Unfortunately i trashed my 18-70mm Nikkor at work a month ago so i am without a kit lens currently, but this isn't a problem as i feel a kit lens makes me lazy so im actually improving my skills by shooting sans kit lens! I see a lot of 18-200mm VR's on holiday and days out and although i could get one i want to avoid it as it won't force me to find the perfect shots and angles. I want some really nice crisp shots a few mono shots and interesting pics and i know it's a tall order with my kit but i think it can be done.
Has anyone out there got any tips for travelling light and discreetly but also being able to get that perfect shot should it arise. Does anyone have any insight, advice, tips or experiences of their own they would like to share, alternatively what do people think of my idea? Are there any perfect settings people use to get those golden images? Im all ears! Please enlighten me.
In two weeks im driving down to Provence with my wife, little boy and best friends, we are lucky enough to have a villa for the duration and we will be doing a hell of a lot of sightseeing. We will be doing motorway to Lyon, staying the night, then a scenic route through the Ardeche to Brignoles in Var, Provence. We have two weeks in Provence doing and seeing everything possible and then we have a scenic return trip along the Route Napoleon to Dijon, then a motorway return home.
Now ive taken my Nikon D60 away with me to Paris before on my honeymoon and at the time id just bought my Sigma 10-20mm so i just equipped that and used it for the whole holiday as a test run. Having a UWA was an advantage due to architechture and panoramas obviously and I got some good shots, but I missed a few due to restricted focal length these included some good tele shots as well as the odd portrait. Due to the fact it was my honeymoon i didn't want my camera to be centre of attention (As it usually is!).
This time i have acquired a bit more kit but again this is supposed to be a relaxing holiday and the camera can't be a big deal (wife's orders!). I plan on carrying it with me all the time so i can shoot handheld off the shoulder without interupting anyones day (As im sure you'll agree us Photographers can be quite demanding for that shot and almost dictate the day if camera is in hand).
I was thinking about a D300/35mm f1.8 combo, the 35mm of late has really pushed my skills to the limit and made me move around and plan the shot a bit more rather than just setting up and shooting so im thinking it might make a good travel companion? It's crisp and fast and light. A lot of people say a 35/50mm prime makes you a better photographer and I think this is true.
I do have my tele (70-300mm VR) and UWA (Sigma 10-20) as well should i need it but i want to see if good all round shots can be achieved a little easier. Unfortunately i trashed my 18-70mm Nikkor at work a month ago so i am without a kit lens currently, but this isn't a problem as i feel a kit lens makes me lazy so im actually improving my skills by shooting sans kit lens! I see a lot of 18-200mm VR's on holiday and days out and although i could get one i want to avoid it as it won't force me to find the perfect shots and angles. I want some really nice crisp shots a few mono shots and interesting pics and i know it's a tall order with my kit but i think it can be done.
Has anyone out there got any tips for travelling light and discreetly but also being able to get that perfect shot should it arise. Does anyone have any insight, advice, tips or experiences of their own they would like to share, alternatively what do people think of my idea? Are there any perfect settings people use to get those golden images? Im all ears! Please enlighten me.
or a ruck sac full of equipment, but then my last hol was to the Czech Rep to watch and photograph the Czech TT road racing.... As for the 18-200mm, great holiday snap lens and in good light gives you a useful range, but never been a fan of these hyperzooms, delivers average performance. 
