Canon kit advice please for India trip

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Phil
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Hi all,

I'm off to Mumbai and Delhi for a week and trying to decide on kit to take.

I'm going on business. There are two days where I'll have lots of time for photos all day. The other days will be snatched chances in the day, but mostly low-light stuff.

I'll take the 1ds II body and the 30d as a back-up.

Lens-wise I'm undecided.

I don't really want to take the 70-200 - too heavy / valuable / conspicuous.

I want to get shots of the environment and also some candids of locals.

Not sure how many lenses it is sensible to carry around...

Could just go with 35L & 135L (I also get 50 ish and 200 ish by putting them on the 30D)

Thought it might be sensible to take the 24-105 - perhaps just that one and the 35L for low-light stuff. Could add 50mm f/1.4 in the mix or even take it instead of the 35L.

Really in a quandery and would appreciate some thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

Phil
 
1Ds mkII - yes
30D - can you buy a cheap rebel out there if anything happens?
primes ONLY - nice but too limiting for travel photography
24-105mm - good plan
35mm or 50mm - perhaps 50mm for my liking and they don't weigh much
135mm or 70-200mm - I'd pick the zoom preferentially, but prime should do. f/4 version is really nice for travel.
 
1Ds mkII - yes
30D - can you buy a cheap rebel out there if anything happens?
primes ONLY - nice but too limiting for travel photography
24-105mm - good plan
35mm or 50mm - perhaps 50mm for my liking and they don't weigh much
135mm or 70-200mm - I'd pick the zoom preferentially, but prime should do. f/4 version is really nice for travel.


Thanks for the post.

So you'd go 24-105, 50 1.4, 135 f/2?

Phil
 
Thanks for the post.

So you'd go 24-105, 50 1.4, 135 f/2?

Phil

That would work. Don't forget extenders (light weight) for 135mm. You will want 200mm+ sooner or later.
 
Saw an article a few months back, might have been Nat Geo of a tog that went to India with a 1D, not sure if it was an s or not, and only took a 50mm. Stunning set of shots in the article.
Brave choice, and for him it worked. No indecision about focal length. Forced him to really think about each and every shot.
Easy to carry and apart from the size of the 1D body, fairly inconspicuous.
One of the reasons I only ever take 1 lens out with me for togging. I own a few but always choose just one for a trip out.
Maybe take all your kit and decide when you're there on a lens for that particular day ?

Sorry to ramble on....
 
If it was my trip I'd be taking the Ds with the 24-105 and the 35 or 50.

After years of large format, medium format and too much 35mm style kit I hate to be dragged down by bulky bags. Travel light and fast is my new philosophy and I've enjoy the shooting far more.
 
That would work. Don't forget extenders (light weight) for 135mm. You will want 200mm+ sooner or later.

That's what I'd go for.

Forget the 2nd body. You are only there for 2 days, Some of my best shots in India were taken with a telephoto (200 on a zoom) candid shots in the cities.

You'll love it, but don't get upset about the poverty, you can't do anything about it and the Indians look after their own.

If you start giving to anyone you'll be pestered within an inch of your life.

Enjoy!!

George
 
Many thanks to all. I've thought for a bit about 35mm 1.4 or 50mm 1.4 and decide to go with the 50mm.

Sooo... 1DSII, 24-105, 135L, 50mm 1.4
 
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