Vacation lenses: which ones will you bring in 2013?

[studio460]

Last summer we vacationed in Kauai, and I decided to bring the following lenses for shooting with my D800E:

1. AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D
2. AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G
3. AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G
4. AF Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR

But, as I've said before, I ended up shooting the 14mm/24mm for 95% of the trip. I did use the 80-400mm for some compression shots, but not many. Not sure if I even shot a single frame with the Micro-Nikkor.

This year, I have my new Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-56 FX lens, so I can carry a single "landscape" lens on our hikes (instead of the heavy 14mm and 24mm primes). Plus, since it's mostly all daylight exteriors, I certainly don't need the speed of a 24mm f/1.4 lens (but, I'll probably also take my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 "just in case"). I was actually planning to leave the 35mm f/1.4 at home, since 99% of the photography will be shot in bright, tropical daylight--no need for fast lenses really. But, it'll be good for handheld shots at magic hour, and for some shots in the room, and at the hotel bar:

1. Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-56 FX
2. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 FX
3. AF Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR

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Na Pali coast, Kauai, HI
Nikon D800E + AF Nikkor 14mm f/2.8D

Which lenses will you bring?

 

[Frits]

We are going to Disney with one of the granddaughters this year.
Over the years I have often hauled quite a load of gear on vacation, but this will be different (partly because we are flying): Just the D600 and one lens (Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8).

 

[general]

Two

On a recent guided tour to Tuscany, I took the 28-300 and 35mm f1.4 on the D800. That worked very well.

 

[bumeister]

I always bring too much stuff with me, so at a minimum it will probably be something like:

16-35/4
24-120/4
70-300 VR (always iffy on this one)

If it's a family vacation, I'll throw in the 85/1.8.

 

[Winkle]

I haven't taken my D800 on vacation yet, but my last vacation to Europe I took my 50 f1.4 and 17-55 f2.8 with my D300S and even that was just getting to be borderline on too much.

Next time I'll just lug two primes (50 and a 28 f3.5) and call it a day, much easier to travel with.

 

[Someguy]

We are going away for 4 days this weekend. Not far, and we go by car.
It's with the 2 children and my parents in law.

I packed yesterday, and I will bring: 24-120 F4, 70-200 F4, and 50 1.4. And two bodies, 700 and 7000. I guess that should be enough

 

[snagglepuss31]

When I traveled to California a few months ago I took:
Tamron 24-135
70-300Vr
AF-S 50F1.8

The 50 and the 70-300 stayed in the room most of the trip.

 

[studio460]

I was initially going to bring only an ultra-wide FX lens, and the 80-400mm zoom (two extremes). When I carry a DX body, I generally only carry the Tokina 11-16mm, and Tokina 50-135mm (again, two extreme focal lengths). But, I learned my lesson a couple of trips ago . . .

I carry insurance on my gear, so if anything is stolen from the hotel room, it's covered. So now I tend to bring anything I might want. Anything I don't need on the day, I just leave in the room. I finally realized that I've never actually regretted bringing too much gear--I've only regretted not bringing enough. Last trip, I thought about bringing a Speedlight and a 10' TTL cable, but didn't (thinking it would be "too much"). Sure wished I did, though.

 

[geowu]

15 days in Thailand with D800 (Bangkok/Ayuthaya/Samut Songkhram/Kao Yai):
- 24-70mm f2.8 90% of shots
- 14-24mm f2.8 5%
- 50mm f1.4 5%
Could have used the 14-24mm more, but elected to leave it in my apartment half the time.

21 days in China with D90 (Shanghai/Suzhou/Huzhou/Wuxi):
- 16-85mm 80%
- 35mm f1.8 18%
- 10-24mm. 2%
- 70-300mm remained in hotel room.

20 days in Vancouver, BC with D800 (Vancouver/Whistler/Victoria)
- 24-70mm 70%
- 14-24mm 25%
- 70-300mm 5%
Easily could have used 70-300 more if wildlife was my focus, so many eagles! Easily could have used 14-24 more if GF had more patience to hike with me to some wonderful vista points.

Brought Gitzo Traveler tripod all trips. Pain in the arse to carry around; still took up a lot of valuable luggage space despite its compact size. Used VERY RARELY, but never would have gotten the few but beautiful LE & night cityscape shots without it.

 

[Joseph]

The next 4 weeks will be all camping for me. My backpack is loaded and I'm taking everything. Why buy the good stuff if you're gonna leave them at home?

D800 with 16-35 attached
D4 with 200/2 attached
the trio of 28, 50, 85 1.8G's

I left the 200/2 at home once and regretted every second of it.

Everything fits in a Flipside 400, and the entire kit weighs 20 lbs. A little heavy, but I'm young and restless :wink:

 

[sarhento]

If you just have to carry one lens, the 24-120 f/4 VR is it!

 

[Kingfisher]

D800 and 35/1.4. You can shoot just about anything with that combo. What you can't you stitch in Photoshop. The D800 makes some of the best panos you ever want to see.

 

[jbailey930]

bought a 28-300 just for one lens solution on FX. Previously carried DX Sig 10-20, 35 1.8 and 70-300VR.

 

[BourbonCowboy]

I'm going to New Orleans next month and I plan to take...

F4/D700
Tamron 24-135
20/4 Ai'd
35/2 Ai'd
85 1.8 Ai'd
75-150E

I might consider taking the D200IR and 28 3.5 Ai'd, but I'm not sure.

This may seem like a lot of gear, but they're mostly small lenses that don't take up a lot of bag space. I doubt I'll walk outside with more than two or three at a time.

 

[Muonic]

Vacation was back at the beginning of May.

17-35 f/2.8
28-70 f/2.8
80-200 f/2.8

But the 28-70 broke on day one. Nothing more useless than carrying a broken lens around for a week. :frown:

 

[JanJacob]

Going on 2 family vacations in Fryslan and the Sauerland. Nothing really adventurous as we have a young baby. Taking all four lenses with me. Main use will go to the 28 and 85. For the kids. Would love a 24-120 for vacations.

 

[Naptown]

11-16 dx
17-55/2.8 dx
70-300 vr

 

[geowu]

D800 and 35/1.4. You can shoot just about anything with that combo. What you can't you stitch in Photoshop. The D800 makes some of the best panos you ever want to see.

+1

In the dark ages of film, when I was a poor college student, my father gave me a Nikon and a 35mm lens. I could barely afford film, paper and processing solutions, so additional lenses were never even a consideration. Inspired by Cartier-Bresson, I made due and shot everything with that wonderful lens. Life was so much simpler then...

 

[DeweyB]

Heading to Alaska in the morning. Taking my D800, 24-85 vr, 70-300 vr and 300 f4 afs, 1.4 tc.

 

[rkris]

Going to Switzerland this summer. I'm bringing my D800 with the 24-120 f/4 during the daytime and a two prime kit consisting of 35 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8 for the evenings.