Paris - one lens to rule them all ?

For Paris, and most other European cities (thinking Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, London, Prague, etc), with only one lens, 28mm for sure.
I'm also a big fan of 21mm, but find it generally too wide to be a one lens only setup. I have tried it, but always end up cropping my 21 a lot in these cities.

35mm would be tempting, but if the goal is to capture the city and famous landmarks and the general atmosphere of these places, you might find it just a tad too tight.

As to add a second lens, 50mm no question.
 
Oscuro said:
Oh, and I should add, even with a card error message we were still able to download, shoot, etc. just could not playback on-camera. As long as you don't delete in-camera everything runs very smoothly.
Click to expand...

Cool beans, thanks for both responses. In this situation I would not delete in camera. I would transfer all to the external device, verify the transfer, then format the card in camera.
 
pechelman said:
For Paris, and most other European cities (thinking Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, London, Prague, etc), with only one lens, 28mm for sure. I'm also a big fan of 21mm, but find it generally too wide to be a one lens only setup. I have tried it, but always end up cropping my 21 a lot in these cities. 35mm would be tempting, but if the goal is to capture the city and famous landmarks and the general atmosphere of these places, you might find it just a tad too tight. As to add a second lens, 50mm no question.
Click to expand...

Thank you - that makes a lot of sense. If I have room I may take all three (21, 35 & 50) pour couvrir ma derrière.
 
Trius said:
Cool beans, thanks for both responses. In this situation I would not delete in camera. I would transfer all to the external device, verify the transfer, then format the card in camera.
Click to expand...

That's the way to go. The card keeps track of what's been transferred so depending on how much you shoot you can leave your originals on the card, I suppose.

The Nikon doesn't seem to care how full the card is, but the Fuji, being somewhat slower seems to get even slower with a fuller card (non-eye-fi as well). Regardless, we do daily upload/formatting, if not more frequently.
 
Here is my plan:

  • Buy some Tilley travel clothes - have a lifetime guarantee and are quick dry. Do I really need to have a different "outfit" every day when I am going on a trip of a lifetime? Am I on a friggin' fashion runway subject to reviews in the early edition of Vogue? I think not.
  • Send any other clothing ahead via courier - avoid any checked baggage charges
  • Buy toiletries in Paris - should I REALLY schlep anything across the ocean that I cannot buy a few steps from my son's apartment? Razor blades? Deodorant? WHY THE HELL DO WE SCHLEP THIS STUFF ON ANYTHING BUT DULL, BORING DOMESTIC JOURNEYS?
  • Travel incoming with a small carryon (if necessary) and camera bag with critical stuff - cameras, SD cards, charger, gear, travel documents) plus one change of clothes and basic toiletries in case there's a travel interruption.
  • If required, buy an inexpensive piece of luggage for shipping back purchases - wine, cheese (trying to figure out how to keep perishables chilled,) les souvenirs, etc.
  • Leave cheap/non-essential stuff behind.
  • Send exposed film back via courier that can certify non-destructive scanning. Maybe. Must research this.
  • Done
 
Trius said:
Here is my plan: [*]Buy some Tilley travel clothes - have a lifetime guarantee and are quick dry. Do I really need to have a different "outfit" every day when I am going on a trip of a lifetime? Am I on a friggin' fashion runway subject to reviews in the early edition of Vogue? I think not. [*]Send any other clothing ahead via courier - avoid any checked baggage charges [*]Buy toiletries in Paris - should I REALLY schlep anything across the ocean that I cannot buy a few steps from my son's apartment? Razor blades? Deodorant? WHY THE HELL DO WE SCHLEP THIS STUFF ON ANYTHING BUT DULL, BORING DOMESTIC JOURNEYS? [*]Travel incoming with a small carryon (if necessary) and camera bag with critical stuff - cameras, SD cards, charger, gear, travel documents) plus one change of clothes and basic toiletries in case there's a travel interruption. [*]If required, buy an inexpensive piece of luggage for shipping back purchases - wine, cheese (trying to figure out how to keep perishables chilled,) les souvenirs, etc. [*]Leave cheap/non-essential stuff behind. [*]Send exposed film back via courier that can certify non-destructive scanning. Maybe. Must research this. [*]Done
Click to expand...

All sounds good but I'd bring clothes that you wear every day. Stuff that you've never worn before looks funny.
 
I'd take a single carryon that has a retractable handle and 4 wheels
Like the samsonite spinners - if you have one carryon , you may as well have a good one and fill it
Toiletries can be expensive when you don't know where to buy them
I take a minimum - usually the travel sizes, also don't take up much room

Clothes - a little goes a long way, you can get by on 1-2 changes , shoes are the
Big no-nos, if I take 2 pair, I pack the smaller lighter ones and wear the heavy
Layers - warmer and decomposable for use as separates
Tilley - to each his own
No need to ship anything

Camera stuff usually fits in the roll on bag
No need for laptop etc usually now just a phone
Chargers and euro-plugs
Knapsack or satchel for daily use - knapsacks on one shoulder - must be American...
Dark colors are more reusable


The traditional rule is pile your clothes next to your money before you go
Take away half the clothing and then double the money pile and you are set!

Trius said:
Here is my plan:

  • Buy some Tilley travel clothes - have a lifetime guarantee and are quick dry. Do I really need to have a different "outfit" every day when I am going on a trip of a lifetime? Am I on a friggin' fashion runway subject to reviews in the early edition of Vogue? I think not.
  • Send any other clothing ahead via courier - avoid any checked baggage charges
  • Buy toiletries in Paris - should I REALLY schlep anything across the ocean that I cannot buy a few steps from my son's apartment? Razor blades? Deodorant? WHY THE HELL DO WE SCHLEP THIS STUFF ON ANYTHING BUT DULL, BORING DOMESTIC JOURNEYS?
  • Travel incoming with a small carryon (if necessary) and camera bag with critical stuff - cameras, SD cards, charger, gear, travel documents) plus one change of clothes and basic toiletries in case there's a travel interruption.
  • If required, buy an inexpensive piece of luggage for shipping back purchases - wine, cheese (trying to figure out how to keep perishables chilled,) les souvenirs, etc.
  • Leave cheap/non-essential stuff behind.
  • Send exposed film back via courier that can certify non-destructive scanning. Maybe. Must research this.
  • Done
Click to expand...
 
Spent 5 days in Paris over the New Year with M6 + 35/2 over the shoulder, two extra rolls of Tri-x in my pocket and literally nothing else. (Rest of the Tri-x was in my backpack with spare clothes back in the hotel)

Walking around carrying nothing, not even a light backpack or messenger bag, and one small camera under your arm or around your neck is extremely satisfying to me.

Wonderful Bruno Barbey show at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, by the way. Highly recommended.
 
xixi_gelly said:
Spent 5 days in Paris over the New Year with M6 + 35/2 over the shoulder, two extra rolls of Tri-x in my pocket and literally nothing else. (Rest of the Tri-x was in my backpack with spare clothes back in the hotel) Walking around carrying nothing, not even a light backpack or messenger bag, and one small camera under your arm or around your neck is extremely satisfying to me. Wonderful Bruno Barbey show at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, by the way. Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

This aesthetic is right on the money.

We regularly go to work for five to six months at a time. On the road. Hotels, BnBs, Hostels, outposts, bases...

One change of clothes.

Nothing that can't be put in a very small backpack. We often work camera to phone. I make a small concession and bring a small wireless keyboard for writing copy.

Oral hygiene is key.

I met my now-husband when we were both covering the same story back in the early nineties. I liked the way he packed (even lighter than I).
 
My 2 cents. While I have never been to Paris, I have traveled to many other places in Europe. A couple of years back we went to Italy and visited several cities. My camera gear was : Epson RD1s with CV 35/1.2 and CV 15/4.5 - perfect set for me (and having 1.2. lens was just perfect for all those dark churches and museums). For film I took Rollei 35s and MF vintage Welta Weltur 6x6 RF folder. Only used a few rolls in film cameras - mostly used RD1s. But this set up was perfect. Light enough to carry all day and covered pretty much every situation I encountered.
Prior to that trip I used to bring more lenses/cameras and it was a pain to carry and later think/chose what lens to use when. Having something simple - makes life much easier.
Oh - I forgot, I also had a little digital Canon P&S - mo bigger than pack of smokes - for back ups - if batteries run out or something breaks. Used it a few times too, but just because I had it, fortunately never actually NEEDED it.
 
Oh, and since this thread is called - one lens to rule them all - for me it would be CV 35/1.2 - wide AND long enough for most situations and FAST. Yes, it's on a larger side but it's worth it - image quality it delivers and it's speed saved my behind so many times....you'd be surprised how many times you need that extra 1/2 stop .
 
paris

paris

did Paris for a week not that long ago and took a group of wide lenses for my M6...15 Cosina, 21, 28, and 35mm.. an amazing number of the "keeper" images are off the 15 and 21...Paris is a wide angle subject
 
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