Northern Vietnam, Beijing, and Japan... what system to take?

[I Love Film]

Take the lightest camera and very few lenses.

Shoot photos of people and your group.

If you want photos of the scenery, which 100 million people have shot before, buy some picture postcards.

 

[RFluhver]

There's a really funny blog post from way back that pokes fun at these sort of questions. Anybody remember that?

 

[myM8yogi]

Difficult choice.
Lighter is always best for travel, but at the same time travel is such a rich and inspiring source of subject matter that you will be kicking yourself if you didn't bring your best gear with you.

It's interesting that nobody has recommended the middle-ground option of the Ti - intermediate weight, intermediate image quality and functionality? Most people either want full image quality or the most miniscule kit. Do you prefer the maximum freedom of travel experience itself, or is your mission to come back with the best shots you possibly can?

I would start your reasoning by thinking what you want to shoot, to what level of quality (how much time will you be spending doing photography?) then how much you want to carry.

So whilst I first wanted to say take the m4/3 system, I think the best option would be the 5DII+ three small prime lenses. The OM 21/2 is a peach. The Canon 50 is small and light, and gives you AF. For the tele I would look at a cheap old 135 with adaptor. Throw in a lightweight tripod with quick release for landscapes. Also a polarising filter and 72R filter if your sensor has some IR sensitivity you can use.

My city travel kit:
M9, 21/2.8 biogon, 50/1.5 sonnar, 135/3.5 canon ltm. Gorillapod + filters.

My landscape/hiking kit:
M9, 21/2.8 biogon, 40/2 rokkor, 90/2.8 elmarit-M. Gorillapod + filters.

In the city my normal lens is a fast and inconspicuous 50mm with excellent bokeh. Not super-sharp wide open, it's great from f/2 down. Super for people photos, indoor shots, and walking around once the sun goes down. I also prefer the old 135 in cities for architectural details and because it looks its age.
In the country, my normal lens is wider and less prone to flare. The tele is a little shorter but weighs much less, is far more resistant to flare and focusses closer for flower shots.

In either situation, my feeling is that three small primes should cover most things. Total weight should be about 1.3kg max, but the crucial thing is to make sure that camera+normal lens combination hanging from your neck most of the time weighs well under 1kg, and the weight of the other lenses can be distributed about your person. The smallest lens on the camera, and one in each pocket makes for a quick, light, and simple setup that will cover the vast majority of shots.

Good luck and enjoy a wonderful trip!

 

[gavinlg]

5d with the smaller lenses personally.

 

[taskoni]

The one you are feeling most comfortable with! At the end that's all that matter to make a good pictures, right?
Have fun on your trip!

 

[menthel]

I would take the first one. For me that doesn't sound like a lot of kit and it should all fit into a fairly small bag. If you had listed some really big lenses I might have suggested otherwise!

 

[Sam N]

Well I'm back from the trip and it was great. Shooting at waist level with the flip-out screen, nailing exposure constantly, and being able to use 400mm equivalent (with the 45-200) and a very light tripod (Gorillapod ripoff) were great. The G3's sensor really held up well through ISO1600. Out of 3800+ images, only TWO were out of focus, and those were both due to user error.

The Oly 9-18 is at least as good as the 17-40L.

I have fallen in love with the 25/1.4, and might end up buying my own now that the one I used has to be returned to the friend who lent it to me.

I have zero regrets about not taking the 5D2.

 

[taskoni]

Welcome back! Show us some pictures! 🙂

 

[boomguy57]

Yeah, I'd take the G3, although I don't love any of the choices. Luckily it's not my cameras, it's yours!

Go with light first, versatile second. You could always take the Canon DSLR with you and get a cheap m4/3 body to use those lenses on as a second camera. Maybe the GF3 or something: small, cheap, and uses the 14/20/45 lenses.

 

[shadowfox]

I wouldn't bring a 4/3 sensor with me anywhere. I know it's small footprint but you're sacrificing IQ

This kind of nonsense always amazes me.

Glad the OP didn't take heed.

 

[jaredangle]

G3 mu-43 kit:
Panasonic G3 + 14/2.5 + 20/1.7 + 45/1.8 = 1.3lbs.
Pros: Lightest kit, tilt screen makes high or low compositions easier, all lenses are decently fast and quite sharp, good live histogram, includes a short tele for portraits
Cons: More high-ISO noise, slightly slower focusing, less dynamic range, much less control over depth-of-field

My vote is to bring the G3 – light, compact, perfect for shooting on the streets (I think Vietnam and Thailand would have lovely street shooting opportunities, let alone Japan). Especially if you buy anything on the street... carrying around a 5D and lenses is not so bad, until one forgets that they will be buying food, drinks, and maybe the odd souvenir, then the weight adds up.

 

[Matus]

Guys he is BACK from the trip already 🙂

 

[Sylvester]

Choose between the best quality or the most portable. I like small cameras, but a Mark II mustn't be THAT big... You'll want to make landscapes and such, think about it if you want to blow those picture up.

 

[kbg32]

I traveled for two weeks with a 5D and 2 zoom lenses in a backpack. Never again.