Taking your camera on vacation

[AJ2]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but my husband and I are heading to Hawaii in June for the first time and we'll be taking along our EOS Canon 40D. We have 3 lenses, and we're wondering if we should invest in just one lens with a wider focus range that we could use on the trip, but also for general use at any events we do. We currently have a Canon 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, a Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, and the Canon EF f/1.4 USM. Should we consider an 18-200 mm lens for this trip? Is there something else we should consider?

[Naturalist]

No.

I dislike "wonder lenses" that try to do it all and I think you are better served with what you are faimiliar with prior to leaving on vacation.

[xoldboy]

i agree with naturalist, you should invest in equipment a few months before the trip and familiarize yourself with it rather than spending x amount of cash and not getting the quality images you had hoped for.

plus, you have the 28-135 and 70-300.

[Just Be]

I brought two cameras and two bodies to Kauai last year.

Xti with Canon 10-22

Xti and Canon 24-105

The 24-105 got most of the use but the real keepers on my wall were all shot with the 10-22.

Now that I have the Canon 17-55IS and replaced 1 of my Xti with a 50D, I'll bring just the 50D and the 17-55 IS next time. Carrying too much gear on vacation is a pain.

Have fun. Aloha!

[Mosca]

I'd take the 28-135 and the 70-300. I agree with Just Be that a wide angle lens would be very useful; even an 18-55 IS will be good to have. If you are looking to buy a different lens, get the 17-85 and go with two; the 17-85 and the 70-300.

Also, a tripod would be worthwhile. We went to the Big Island several years ago, and trekked to the volcano flow at dusk. It is incredible... but you ain't gettin' a picture without a tripod.

Have fun! Don't stress it too much.

[AJ2]

Thanks so much everyone! I agree with the idea of a 17-85 or even the 17-55 if we decide to get a new lens.

Mosca, do you think our full size tripod is necessary? We have a portable 'Gorilla pod' that's much smaller and easier to carry, but it would have to be set 'up high' somehow if we wanted a full body shot of everyone together.

[yogestee]

I tripped around SE Asia with a 350D and Sigma 18-200mm for a few years with good results.. For "vacation" style pics the 18-200mm will do the job..

Another thought,,are you going on holidays or a photographic assignment??

[AJ2]

Another thought,,are you going on holidays or a photographic assignment??

It's for vacation... with 8 other people. So I suspect we'll be taking hundreds of landscape shots, plus some family portraits in certain settings.

[oaktree]

28mm is not wide enough for Hawaii. I bring a 17-55/2.8 and even that isn't wide enough, occasionally. But then, POTNers said just shoot several shots and stitch them together. If you do that, almost anything is wide enough.

I've also brought my 135/2.0, 200/2.8, 70-200/4L IS and (before I sold it) 70-300/DO to Hawaii but these were rarely used. Go wide!

[deletedpenguin]

I can't recommend a wide angle lense enough for Hawai'i. My Sigma 10-20 stayed on my camera probably 80% of the time during my last trip to Kauai. It's likely to be stuck on the camera again this year when we return. If interested, have a look at my Flickr account for my Hawai'i photos. 99% of the keepers were with the 10-20.

[shomat]

Should we consider an 18-200 mm lens for this trip? Is there something else we should consider?

I don't trust these all-in-one lenses. Less is more in my opinion. I travel with one general purpose zoom lens. The 28-135 should be alright, and if you are looking to add one more piece of kit I would go for a wide angle.