Decisions, Decisions...

Preparing for an upcoming trip to Brittany, visiting places such as St Malo and Mont St Michel, I'm in that dreadful process of deciding what will and won't go into my Billingham Hadley.

I don't want too much weight for travelling, but don't want to miss out on photo opportunuties either.

This is what I've decided on so far, but comments and suggestions are welcome!

K10D
10-17mm
16-45mm
43mm
50-200mm
3 batteries
Lots of SD cards

Sue will be taking:
K10D
18-55mm
75-300mm
100mm Macro
3 batteries
Lots of SD cards

Being potentially left behind:
12-24mm
24-90mm
50mm f1.4

In fact the three lenses left out could be a viable travel kit in themselves...any thoughts?

Mont St. Michel - I have not been there for years but from memory there are many architectural photo opportunities and therefore I would take the 12 - 24.

Sorry to add to the weight

I'd just take the 12-24 and the 24-90. There's nothing worse on holiday than being bogged down by two much kit.

G

John,
We went to Brittany last year and I took: 12-24, 16-45, 50-200, 50/1.4.
Hmmm. Wasn't happy.

This time I'm going with: 12-24, 24-90, 80-320

The 50/1.4 was useful, but not a great deal.
I'd go with George's suggestion Definitely
Matt

12-24 / 43 / 100 Macro

But then I might just be biased towards this particular combo...

I'd trust my wife to pack along as much stuff as she (and possibly a pack mule..) could carry.

At the last moment I'd make up some bs/contrived monologue about wanting to push my brain into thinking outside the box, by limiting myself to the 50mm 1.4.....(knowing of course, that there'll be a carload of stuff nearby, that I could mooch from, when the need arises...)
javascript:emoticon('')

I'd substitute the 10-17mm (but then, I'd never buy a fisheye lens) for the 12-24mm. The rest is about right for most eventualities.

I would go for 10-17, 12-24, 43, 100, 50-200 overall

but then I'm a sucker for wide angles, and dont see the need in two tele zooms, or two standard zooms, infact thats why I said the 12-24, I figure you would mostly be using 18-55/16-45 at the wide end with all the architecture and scenery anyway, the 43 fills the gap between kinda, 35-50, and then for telephoto you have the others

that is considering both of you
but if you both want to have similar lenses on at once then the set up you have there is fine

although I'd sub the 10-17 for the 12-24

OK, the decision is (that is, until we start to change our minds again..)

Me:
12-24mm
16-45mm
43mm
50-200mm
Leica-style table tripod
Lens Hoods
SD Cards
Torch
3 batteries
K10D

Sue:
18-55mm
50mm
50-200mm or 75-300mm
Close up lenses
Tripod
Lens Hoods
SD Cards
3 batteries
K10D

We both have a Hadley Pro bag, which has plenty of space left for documents and in Sue's case for Girly Bits and Pieces (!) and yet remains very compact.

The only thing from the great suggestions made that I can't live with is the 12-24mm and 24-90mm combination. It sounds ideal, but most of my images lie in the overlap region and it means too much lens changing. Most will be covered by the 16-45mm and 50-200mm, the other lenses being used when necessary.

Thanks for the ideas!

That's a very valid point. Minimising lens changes is a good idea for several reasons.

G

Good choices, but I wouldn't take 2 x 50-200mm lenses unless you are likely to both need them at the same time. I'd opt for the 75-300mm in Sue's kit.

Have a great holiday.

My wife and I have very similar cameras. She likes telephoto and for practical purposes I am learning to love wide. It stretches us both composition wise and when we want the other's lens we just switch cameras. So fast and easy, and we don't end up with a whole bunch of very similar photos. If you are fussy about who's photos are who's, just write down the frame #'s or swap cards too.

If I was you John, I would bring both the fisheye and the 12-24mm because they are both so very different and you will be in a place with a whole new world of opportunities. Besides, you seem to really like them both.

Of course, if I was you...who the hell would be me? (and do you think Sue would let me use her camera?)

Drew