Europe vacation - bring which lenses & storage [ lens storage decisions european ]

Let me first apologize for starting a thread. I did struggle with the decision to start a thread or not. I prefer to search for and review existing threads. While there are many helpful threads on this subject, they leave me wanting more personal feedback. So here I am.

My wife and I are soon leaving for Europe in a few months. I would love some insight from the experts on what to bring. I have a host of lenses and the ability to make a trade or another purchase. Having never been to Europe or done extensive touring with my gear, I have a lot to learn from all of you with experience. Long trip, want to limit myself. Considering weight, risk, need. Wife is supportive, but I don't want to be annoying/wasting time, swapping lenses all the time.

Itinerary
Provence & Nice, France. Florence, Naples, & Rome, Barcelona
Additional time in Germany including Oktoberfest with some local friends.
Amsterdam.

What do I shoot? Portaits, lol.

What will I want to to shoot in Eur? Everything. I LOVE cars and architecture.
I'll be doing the typical tourist stuff (wine/food/architectur​e tours).

The Family (at time of original post)
5D markIII, S100, 16-35L, 35L, 85L, 24-105L, 135L, flashes.

editted above to revise kit
50L, 85 1.8 were removed.
35L, 85L were added.

Storage I was originally going to bring a small laptop. Recently decided not to risk it, and to save weight/space by bringing (3) 32gb cf cards, and a 128sd card (which will work in my 5dmiii / not shooting sports).

Oktoberfest Was considering using the S100 for this event, so I can chill.

Tripod / Flash Wasn't planning on bringing either.

Notes My original plan was to bring the 16-35 and 35L. Done. Small kit, all fits in the Timbuk2 XS, easy!
Until today, when I was reading a thread that prompted me consider the 24-105 for the reach and IS. 3 Lenses?


Thank you for reading and any support you have to offer.

Hi fellow Philadelphian! My wife and I visited most of the place you're going to, expect for Germany. We have very similar gear. On our trips, I bring the 16-35, 24-105, and 50 1.4, but honestly, my 16-35 stays on my camera 99% of the time. I'll occasionally switch to the 24-105 when I'm on a tour bus and I need IS and the reach. If you like taking detailed shots, you'll want to bring a longer lens for all the churches you'll visit - trust me on this when you get to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I'm not a big details kind of shooter, but there definitely were times when I wished I had a 70-200.

Have fun on your trip! Looks like a great lineup!

PS, definitely bring your S100 for those self-portrait shots.

Thx PhotoRebel. Interesting you're from Chicago, I have traveled there recently and feel in love with it almost instantly.
you're right, you have very similar glass, even the p+s is in the family.

your insight helps a lot. and I guess you're right, the 16-35 is needed, since everything is prolly wide over there
I just want to make the right choices, I won't be on a trip like this for a LONG time.
thx again. PM if you street shoot in philly and want to get together.

Thanks for the offer, I'll definitely take you up on that sometime! Been looking for people to shoot with around Philly.

Chicago is pretty awesome and I totally miss it, but Philly's grown on me. At least I get to visit Chicago to see my family during the holidays.

Yes, wide is definitely needed in the places you'll be at - especially landscapes in Provence and architecture in Florence and Rome. Also, keep in mind that some places like churches won't let you take pictures inside, so the 50 becomes dead weight, to an extent. You can still use it at night, but if you bring a tripod (I don't bring a tripod), you'll be fine with the 16-35 and bumped up ISO.

i don't have a similar kit, but i agree with what you said
the P&S for the "chilling" and the times you don't want to be weighed down
the 16-35, 50 and the 24-105.
I have travelled around Europe also with the 70-200 and found that my most used lens was the 24-105 and then the 10-20...and like 2-3 times I used the 70-200. I am not sure that it was worth the weight!
In regards to the memory though, if you have the ability - I would suggest having more cards of lower volumes (just in case of loss, theft, or destruction - e.g. instead of 1 32GB card 4 8GB cards or something of the ilk). Again a hard lesson learned on my part. I lost 2/3 of a vacation once that way.

Just 2.5 cents from me

If I have your gear, I'll take 5D3 + 85, 40D + 16-35L.

BTW, my stander 'Europe trips' setup now a day are: 5D3 + 85L II, 5D2 + 24L II.

Africa / S. America trips setup: 5D3 + 28-300L, 5D2 + 200mm f/2.8II L.

Happy traveling

You want wide for a lot of the cities in Europe. The 5DIII and 16-35L are perfect for your
trip. The 50L would be good for low light situations, and the 24-105L would be good for when
your outdoors in parks for a little more reach. Although a 70-200F/2.8 L IS II would be better.

I'm headed for Bordeaux and a few towns around it in a few days, and I'm taking my
7D with a Tamron 17-50mm/F2.8, Sigma 30mm F/1.4, Sigma 10-20mm,
Canon 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS II, and either my Sigma 150-500 OS or 120-300F/2.8 OS + 2X TC
because of all the birds in the area.

If you want to do some night shots of some of the cities a Light Carbon Fiber Tripod
will be very helpful, unless you can find something to set a bean bag on to rest your
camera.

As for storage, I have 5 - 64G 400X cards, so I'm leaving the laptop at home this
year, rather than lugging it around. I thought about picking up a Dell XPS 13/14 Ultrabook
or a Mac Air, but decided I would rather spend the money on the trip, than another
piece of computer equipment.

In any case, have a fun trip.

--Evan

I hink your question is very strange. Asking what lenses you need for Europe is like asking what lenses do I need for North-amerika. It doesn't depend on the location but on what you want to photograph. Europe is a very diverse continent with mountains, seas, oceans, cities, wildlife, events...

Having read the places you're going to visit, I get the impression you'll be mainly shooting landscapes, architecture and portraits. I went to all the places you mentioned (I live in Belgium) and honestly your trip is way too short to experience the South of France, Italy, Spain. Oktoberfest is long enough. I just came back from 2 weeks in the south of France close to Montpellier and still haven't seen everything worth visiting. The best way to visit Europe, is taking a plane and a rental car and exploring yourself. Cruises and guided tours show you the main touristic highlights of the region but not the beautiful corners, impressive views in de mainland etc.

Getting back on what lenses I think you should take based on your subjects.?

Architecture: 16-35mm on FF. European cities, and certainly Florence have big, high buildings and monuments but not a lot of space to step back.

Landscapes: depends on your preferences, some take landscapes with telelens, others with a UWA. Personally, I think the 24-105 will be the most versatile, offering you enough reach for various situations. Certainly in combination with the 16-35 it would be great.

Portraits: again, this depends on your likings. Are you looking for a lens to take portraits of your wife or people who know you're photographing them? Personally I'd take a 70-200 for that because it's more flexible but a 24-105 can take great portraits as well.

So, I would take 16-35+24-105+50. Don't forget a decent light tripod. Essential for good night, landscape and architecture photography. Note that in many touristic monuments tripods (and sometimes cameras as well) are prohibited.

We are on our way hom from 5 weeks in Europe. Similar shooting but adding some Motorsport stuff too, and I took my 7D, 24-105,8mm,10-20 plus a 70-200 & 2x for the motorsport stuff.

Tripod was essential too, I just had a little Slik Sprimt as I am limited on size with luggage.

Next time I think i would take a 17-40 and my filters too.

My thoughts: you're cramming a LOT into a very, very short amount of time.

Short version: Bring the 5DIII, the 24-105 (most versatile focal range, with IS, with great IQ, great for almost everything) and the 16-35 (for architectural/urban shots), and if you just want to drink beer and party just the S100 for Oktoberfest. I would personally also definitely bring a fast prime; I love 50's, so in your case the 50L is a no-brainer. Although the 135L is an awesome portrait lens for outdoor candids. Amazing.

My 'standard' DSLR travel kit, which fits in a small to medium photo backpack or shoulder bag, is a 5D mark II, 24-105, and a fast prime (depending on mood and destination: 35L, 135L, contax/zeiss 50/1.4). I add a 100-400 if wildlife is involved (so not required for Europe unless you're a birder, really). I tend to add a tripod (lightweight, carbon) but do not use it often, and never take the flash because it doesn't suit my style.

As far as storage goes, lots of cards is good, but I almost always take along a hard drive and USB card reader. Hotels and 'net cafes will have computers you can use to back up your cards as extra insurance.

If you're worried about theft, get insurance. Seriously, what's the point of having all the kit if you don't take it with you when you travel? It's where the majority of my best photos come from.

I'd bring the 16-35 and the 50L if I were you. But I'm a sick-in-the-head ultrawideangle-ist and Europe is small and tight. None of that thousands of miles of nothingness Texas style...

As a 3rd lens I'd bring the 24-105L which is definitely your most versatile walkaround.
Best of all, have fun! Sounds like an awesome trip.

Thank you everyone, thus far, for amazing replies. I feel less stressed now about "what to bring".
Keep it coming. I'm sure this will help others in my shoes. Comfortable shoes.

Photo_Rebel wrote in post #14732753
Thanks for the offer, I'll definitely take you up on that sometime! Been looking for people to shoot with around Philly.

thx again for your replies. I shoot with 2 or 3 other canon shooters around 2X per month. we typically park near the art musuem and walk the gardens, parkway, logan square, etc. in the near future, we want to cover south street & penns landing in one visit, olde city for another visit. keep in touch.

ceriltheblade wrote in post #14732776
I would suggest having more cards of lower volumes (just in case of loss, theft, or destruction - e.g. instead of 1 32GB card 4 8GB cards or something of the ilk). Again a hard lesson learned on my part. I lost 2/3 of a vacation once that way.

GREAT suggestion, thank you so much.

x_tan wrote in post #14732780
If I have your gear, I'll take 5D3 + 85, 40D + 16-35L.

Hmmm, makes me ponder... perhaps I should ask the lady if she would be interested in shooting! I can set her up with the 40D. Could be fun for both of us. Thx!

Evan Idler wrote in post #14732883
If you want to do some night shots of some of the cities a Light Carbon Fiber Tripod
will be very helpful

I could use a light setup for my city shoots around home. I'll consider this, thank you!

freddyronny wrote in post #14733227
I hink your question is very strange. Asking what lenses you need for Europe is like asking what lenses do I need for North-amerika.
and honestly your trip is way too short to experience the South of France, Italy, Spain. Oktoberfest is long enough.

you're right, it's a strange question for sure. I agree. touche.
however, it's been very helpful, this thread.
you're right again. short trip indeed, for so many places.
but this is the #1 cruise out in this area for a reason. some of us americans who have never been to europe, we want to see it all, and inexpensively (cruise makes this happen). this way, we'll find the the spot(s) that we MUST go back and spend a longer period of time there.
your info seems "spot on", thank you!!!

mattia wrote in post #14734510
My thoughts: you're cramming a LOT into a very, very short amount of time.

as I mentioned above, I know, it's nuts! gonna be wiped!
and all of your info is helpful, thank you!

andrikos wrote in post #14734521
I'd bring the 16-35 and the 50L if I were you. But I'm a sick-in-the-head ultra-wideangle-ist
As a 3rd lens I'd bring the 24-105L which is definitely your most versatile walkaround.
Best of all, have fun! Sounds like an awesome trip.

haha! I know the type, you remind me of my friend, 16-35 is glued to his mark ii.
thanks so much!

After dropping my camera on the second day of a two week trip, I will never travel without a second body. If you think your S100 will be OK for a back up leave your 40D at home. (I'd bring it.)

A cruise the last expensive? That's new to me. I think a small rental car and renting a house or an apartment will be less expensive. Even a hotel should be less expensive (unless your looking at 4 or 5*.
I

Anyway enjoy your trip and you want some tips about what places in Europe are 'must-sees', just ask.

Tapeman wrote in post #14735696
After dropping my camera on the second day of a two week trip, I will never travel without a second body. If you think your S100 will be OK for a back up leave your 40D at home. (I'd bring it.)

wow, I just realized, when I was in chicago last year, my mark ii stopped working, completely died. I bought a 7D off the forum, from a local user, this was day 2! power module replaced by cps when I got home.too funny, good call. thx

freddyronny wrote in post #14735777
A cruise the last expensive? That's new to me. I think a small rental car and renting a house or an apartment will be less expensive. Even a hotel should be less expensive (unless your looking at 4 or 5*.Anyway enjoy your trip and you want some tips about what places in Europe are 'must-sees', just ask.

pricing is great right now, for obvious reasons. seems like a decent way to see five amazing cities in a week. but hey, i'm no professional. we shall see. we want to spend time in germany with friends for the other half of the trip. thx for your offer, ppreciate it, cheers.