Lenses for travelling in Asia

Daymouse

Daymouse

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Ok I'm looking to go travelling in Asia, I'm just about to purchase a 7D but don't want to be taking over crazy expensive L lenses so want to take a couple of decent but cheap lenses.

I was thinking something like 17-50 and a 70-300

So guys what would you recommend that's decent but reasonably priced?
 
Canon 15-85 IS. Not as fast as a 17-50 from aperture (it's 5.6 at the wider end) but a very good IS system (so things that don't move are captured well), pretty sharp and you have more reach either side of a 17-50. We spent 24 days in West USA (grand canyon/monument valley/death valley/yosemite etc) and it was the only lens on the 7D...
 
jacob12_1993 said:
When I was in Thailand I used my 17-50 and 50mm almost exclusively. I used my 70-200 occasionally but the weight probably wasn't worth the use

Jake
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Thanks

Ive just come back from 5 weeks in Italy and only had an 18-55mm on my Sony but found it frustrating i didnt have the reach to get right in on the detail of the buildings or capture a person from a distance so not to disturb them. So really i think i want some kind of long lens to atleast 250mm
 
i would definitely recommend taking a fast prime, 50mm f1.8 or 1.4 would be a sound bet. depending on how serious you are wanting to be with taking photos affects the kit that you would want
To match that, i would take my 70-200L and my 17-40L, but on a crop, perhaps a sigma 10-20mm and 70mm-250mm (or whatever canon lens it is that goes to 250, i've heard it get good reviews for a non L lens)
A tripod isn't a bad thought either, super-cumbersome, but worthwhile if you are into landscapes.
Whatever you take, you will get used to carrying it around. It will seem like a burden sometimes, but its always ultimately worthwhile.
 
arad85 said:
Canon 15-85 IS. Not as fast as a 17-50 from aperture (it's 5.6 at the wider end) but a very good IS system (so things that don't move are captured well), pretty sharp and you have more reach either side of a 17-50. We spent 24 days in West USA (grand canyon/monument valley/death valley/yosemite etc) and it was the only lens on the 7D...
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Thanks i will have a look at the 15-85.
 
I used a 35mm prime lens when I was last in Asia. On a 35mm film camera. I would imagine the same setup will be just as great in Continental Europe. Not tried it in the Americas yet.
 
Matty2 said:
i would definitely recommend taking a fast prime, 50mm f1.8 or 1.4 would be a sound bet. depending on how serious you are wanting to be with taking photos affects the kit that you would want
To match that, i would take my 70-200L and my 17-40L, but on a crop, perhaps a sigma 10-20mm and 70mm-250mm (or whatever canon lens it is that goes to 250, i've heard it get good reviews for a non L lens)
A tripod isn't a bad thought either, super-cumbersome, but worthwhile if you are into landscapes.
Whatever you take, you will get used to carrying it around. It will seem like a burden sometimes, but its always ultimately worthwhile.
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Yup the nifty fifty will defo be in there, a must have of any collection! (0:
 
Daymouse said:
I was thinking something like 17-50 and a 70-300.
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17-50? That's not a Canon lens is it, although your post suggests it is?

15-85 would be a great lens plus something longer if you fancied it.
 
Daymouse said:
Yup the nifty fifty will defo be in there, a must have of any collection! (0:
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I know people rave about the "nifty fifty", probably because it's so cheap, but it's never appealed to me. Partly because I like quality lenses but also because on a crop it's quite a long lens. If you want a fast prime I would go for something much wider, as I intend to do before a trip to Thailand later this year.
 
Jackwow said:
I know people rave about the "nifty fifty", probably because it's so cheap, but it's never appealed to me. Partly because I like quality lenses but also because on a crop it's quite a long lens. If you want a fast prime I would go for something much wider, as I intend to do before a trip to Thailand later this year.
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Yeah good point on a crop it would be something like 85? But the benefit is it's fast at 1.8 and hardly weighs anythings (0:
 
travellingcello said:
Just be careful in eastern Asia especially around the monsoon period, its humidity is heaven for mould!!!!
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Eastern Asia = Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia.

I doubt humidity is a major problem in these countries, whereas it could be in SE Asia. Having said that I've lived in SE Asia and the Middle East, where humidity is huge, for over 20 years and mould is certainly not an issue.
 
Jackwow said:
Eastern Asia = Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia.

I doubt humidity is a major problem in these countries, whereas it could be in SE Asia. Having said that I've lived in SE Asia and the Middle East, where humidity is huge, for over 20 years and mould is certainly not an issue.
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I find the biggest issue is air conditioning. If you are constantly in and out of air conditioning this causes the lenses to fog up. However if you stay in fan rooms and never enter air conditioning the lenses will be absolutely fine :thumbs:
 
Jackwow said:
Eastern Asia = Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia.

I doubt humidity is a major problem in these countries, whereas it could be in SE Asia. Having said that I've lived in SE Asia and the Middle East, where humidity is huge, for over 20 years and mould is certainly not an issue.
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Neil have you been to Japan? If you had, you would know its very humid. I would know, I'm Japanese!!! :thumbs:
 
Take the L lenses, surely you want the best photos you can get - you may never visit those places again and you'd regret it if you missed opportunities because you didn't have a decent lens with you. Just make sure everything is insured and take your best gear!!

Simon
 
simonkit said:
Take the L lenses, surely you want the best photos you can get - you may never visit those places again and you'd regret it if you missed opportunities because you didn't have a decent lens with you. Just make sure everything is insured and take your best gear!!

Simon
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I'm not sure whether he means he actually owns any L lenses or whether he's just not looking to buy one for this trip.

Personally my expereince is that I tend to use my 15-85 most of the time on exoitic trips where the photo opportunties come thick and fast and my 10-22 more in the UK.
 
Moreorless said:
I'm not sure whether he means he actually owns any L lenses or whether he's just not looking to buy one for this trip.

Personally my expereince is that I tend to use my 15-85 most of the time on exoitic trips where the photo opportunties come thick and fast and my 10-22 more in the UK.
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Yeah I don't have any L lenses yet, and as I'm jut starting out as photography as a career but 1st a trip to Vietnam I don't want to be taking crazy priced lenses away with me, I can always come back and sell the lenses I buy now to put towards more serious lenses once things start taking off.

I like the sound of the 15-85 what kind of spec is that? Aperture range, any IS?
 
Daymouse said:
Yeah I don't have any L lenses yet, and as I'm jut starting out as photography as a career but 1st a trip to Vietnam I don't want to be taking crazy priced lenses away with me, I can always come back and sell the lenses I buy now to put towards more serious lenses once things start taking off.

I like the sound of the 15-85 what kind of spec is that? Aperture range, any IS?
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3.5-5.6 + yes.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
 
Daymouse said:
I like the sound of the 15-85 what kind of spec is that? Aperture range, any IS?
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The IS is the latest generation, the appature range is your standard 3.5-5.6 same as the kit lens so its not an ideal low light lens for moving subjects. The long range in high image guality is really what sets it appart from anything else although its not cheap.

Personally for me the most important thing to consider with travel lenses(besides weight/size) is how your going to use them, espeically when you might have to change over and how comfortable you are changing often. That really depends on where your going and the kinds of pics your taking.
 
Daymouse said:
30mm would be about 50 odd mm with the crop so i wouldn't have anything at the wider end.
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Hence the + a zoom. Tbh you could easily get away with using a 17 - 55. You could just as easily get away with using a 30mm and thats it.

Primes might seem hugely restrictive, but tbh they really aren't.
 
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