karateisland
Established
My girlfriend and I are headed to Morocco in December for two weeks--we'll be roadtripping for much of the time, but also spending a fair amount of time exploring deserts/the cities/mountains/etc.
I had briefly considered buying a compact camera (a Mju II, for instance) so I could pocket the thing and not to have worry about it so much, but now I am leaning toward bringing the G2 for the versatility and the sheer joy of use.
To get to the point: Does anyone have recommendations for what lenses to bring? I don't want to carry too many (maybe two?). I already have the 45mm and the 90mm, but have been blown away by the 28 and 21. On one hand, I feel like I could happily use the 45mm and get everything I need (40-45mm is becoming my favorite focal length), on the other, I will be moving through desert vistas and busy city centers, and IS an interchangeable lens camera so why not use that to my advantage and bring a full kit with a wide, standard, and short tele?
If you were me, what would YOU do?
I had briefly considered buying a compact camera (a Mju II, for instance) so I could pocket the thing and not to have worry about it so much, but now I am leaning toward bringing the G2 for the versatility and the sheer joy of use.
To get to the point: Does anyone have recommendations for what lenses to bring? I don't want to carry too many (maybe two?). I already have the 45mm and the 90mm, but have been blown away by the 28 and 21. On one hand, I feel like I could happily use the 45mm and get everything I need (40-45mm is becoming my favorite focal length), on the other, I will be moving through desert vistas and busy city centers, and IS an interchangeable lens camera so why not use that to my advantage and bring a full kit with a wide, standard, and short tele?
If you were me, what would YOU do?
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
The 35-70 if only taking one lens. (it’s nice.) The 35-70 and the 21 if taking two lenses. But, if it were ME, which was your question, and only going to Morocco once, I would take every G lens I owned, which is all of them, because they are all small, and I’m just that way. Granted, there is much to be said for just taking one lens, but no matter which one I took, I inevitably wish I had “the other one”.
I am happy limiting myself to one lens when going someplace I know I will go multiple times, but for someplace I will only have one opportunity to see once, take them all (and don’t leave the MF camera behind either.)
I am happy limiting myself to one lens when going someplace I know I will go multiple times, but for someplace I will only have one opportunity to see once, take them all (and don’t leave the MF camera behind either.)
retinax
Well-known
Most of us seem to get the gear angst before travels, I'm in the middle of it myself.
Yes, I'd take a wide. When I traveled Morocco, the majority of my pics were made with 35mm equivalent on a zoom compact, but that depends on your style obviously. However three lenses require at least two bodies IMHO, or you'll be juggling lenses all the time. So either that or limit yourself to one or two lenses. If your travel partner isn't involved with photography, better keep it simple I think (but I won't follow this advice on my upcoming trip, I'll bring two bodies, but still undecided about a tele or just wide and normal...).
Yes, I'd take a wide. When I traveled Morocco, the majority of my pics were made with 35mm equivalent on a zoom compact, but that depends on your style obviously. However three lenses require at least two bodies IMHO, or you'll be juggling lenses all the time. So either that or limit yourself to one or two lenses. If your travel partner isn't involved with photography, better keep it simple I think (but I won't follow this advice on my upcoming trip, I'll bring two bodies, but still undecided about a tele or just wide and normal...).
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Archlich
Well-known
Personally I shoot a 35mm lens in all my backpacking trips to places big and small. You can never take everything away with the little camera. The reality is infinite.
Photography can be about what you didn't frame in, right?
Photography can be about what you didn't frame in, right?
Peter_S
Peter_S
21mm and 45mm. I used the G system for quite a while, and those lenses are not only the best in the system, but cover a lot of ground.
narsuitus
Well-known
raid
Dad Photographer
One approach is to go with the 2 extremes for radically different perspectives; use the 21mm and the 90mm lenses. It will let you easily switch between two different types of images. Or, go simple. Take with you only the 45mm lens. You are used to it, and it is an amazingly good lens.
jarski
Veteran
I went there using phone as my wide, and a6000 with 55-210. Combo worked reasonably well.
It's amazing place with lots to explore. Two weeks will be gone fast.
edit: had also near disaster regarding my equipment. while visiting a museum in Marrakech, I dropped my phone hard on floor. when testing it, noticed there was black spot in middle of every new photo, dust had moved on impact into sensor. after returning my room, saw no other option but to get rid of the dust same way it had entered = I literally hit the phone on the floor, few times and always the same side and angle it worked and images became clear again, but I lost confidence on it and bought used 18-55 from Marrakech souk (bazaar). funny story now, but I was fuming when realising first what had happened.
It's amazing place with lots to explore. Two weeks will be gone fast.
edit: had also near disaster regarding my equipment. while visiting a museum in Marrakech, I dropped my phone hard on floor. when testing it, noticed there was black spot in middle of every new photo, dust had moved on impact into sensor. after returning my room, saw no other option but to get rid of the dust same way it had entered = I literally hit the phone on the floor, few times and always the same side and angle
it worked and images became clear again, but I lost confidence on it and bought used 18-55 from Marrakech souk (bazaar). funny story now, but I was fuming when realising first what had happened.Roger Hicks
Veteran
Just round up the usual suspects: 21, 45, 90.
Cheers,
R (Ricky Blaine)
Cheers,
R (Ricky Blaine)
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Take the lens (lenses) you would use at home. You basic style will not change as a result of being on an airplane. No chance you are going to change from being a street photographer to a bird photographer or architectural to macro guy.
BTW, take the same camera(s) you use at home. A trip is no place to relearn how to use a different camera.
Realize the quality of the photos you take will depend 1% on the equipment and 99% on your eye and brain.
BTW, take the same camera(s) you use at home. A trip is no place to relearn how to use a different camera.
Realize the quality of the photos you take will depend 1% on the equipment and 99% on your eye and brain.
Peter_S
Peter_S
In principle yes...but your mindset changes when traveling. I took my Zeiss G 21mm to Kyrgyzstan a few years back, also the G Sonnar 90mm. I had not really shot with either focal lengths before (but with the G2 for a while prior). One shot with the 21 is among the best I ever took, one with the 90mm was printed in a pretty renowned mag.
So...That said, one part of the gear should definitely be the one you are used to.
Agiknee
Documentarian
28mm and a 90mm. Most affordable of the bunch and great lenses. If you can find a clean f/2 35mm then get that over the biogon
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
What Roger said, but also Bob said too. Remember, you are taking your eye, your sensibility, to this other place. Make sure you can make "your" pictures when you get there. But also take the 21. LOL. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
But also take the 21. LOL. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
karateisland
Established
This is all excellent advice. I am leaning toward grabbing the 21mm--in spite of the need for an external viewfinder--because it is almost universally adored, won't add a lot of weight to my travel backpack, and offers the value of being different from the 28mm FOV common to smartphone cameras.
Call it being a contrarian, but I tend to shy away from the 28mm focal length since it's almost all I see on the internet these days, even if it might be slightly more convenient on the G2. Plus, I've always been intrigued by the wider lenses, and few are said to be as good as this one. If I go this way, I'll test it out and give it a few months of solid use before I go.
Call it being a contrarian, but I tend to shy away from the 28mm focal length since it's almost all I see on the internet these days, even if it might be slightly more convenient on the G2. Plus, I've always been intrigued by the wider lenses, and few are said to be as good as this one. If I go this way, I'll test it out and give it a few months of solid use before I go.
gavinlg
Veteran
28mm and 45mm. Not only are they the two best lenses, but there's nothing a wider or longer lens is going to do better in terms of your photos when you ignore the novelty of more extreme focal lengths.
teddy
Jose Morales
I would just take the 35 Biogon or the 45 Planar - just one. Go simple. Less stress, more fun, more photos.
santino
FSU gear head
I'd take a back up body with me (G1)... you don't want to see your only camera fail on an important trip.
maigo
Well-known
You say "road-tripping", and that allows more gear in the bag that's left out of sight in the car while you wander nearby with the one camera/lens you've chosen for the circumstances.
I took the ferry to Tangier from Gibraltar for the day carrying only a Voigtlander Bessa-L with 25mm f/4 Snapshot Skopar. It was a useful choice.
As one example of too much gear... I don't often carry a bag when walking about, but there's a memorable time that I did - in Old San Juan Puerto Rico - resulting in very sore shoulders. In the bag were two Contax G2 cameras with 28mm on one and 45mm on the other, with the 90mm in reserve. That combination was very useful, and two cameras were indeed handy in switching as needed, much better than changing lenses frequently. But the kit was uncomfortably heavy to carry all day.
Lesson learned, but if repeating the occasion I might ditch the bag and hang the two cameras over shoulder or neck... lighter and even better prepared for action than in the bag. I don't do that myself, but it's an option...
I took the ferry to Tangier from Gibraltar for the day carrying only a Voigtlander Bessa-L with 25mm f/4 Snapshot Skopar. It was a useful choice.
As one example of too much gear... I don't often carry a bag when walking about, but there's a memorable time that I did - in Old San Juan Puerto Rico - resulting in very sore shoulders. In the bag were two Contax G2 cameras with 28mm on one and 45mm on the other, with the 90mm in reserve. That combination was very useful, and two cameras were indeed handy in switching as needed, much better than changing lenses frequently. But the kit was uncomfortably heavy to carry all day.
Lesson learned, but if repeating the occasion I might ditch the bag and hang the two cameras over shoulder or neck... lighter and even better prepared for action than in the bag. I don't do that myself, but it's an option...