Trip to Washington DC

Going there with my family next month. My question is, would bringing my 400mm 5.6 L prime be too much? Maybe at the zoo only? Not at all just leave it home? I also have the 55-250 that although not L quality is very good and half the focal length.

Brain Mechanic wrote in post #16315338
Going there with my family next month. My question is, would bringing my 400mm 5.6 L prime be too much?

...leave that beast at home as I am sure you will not be spending the entire trip at the zoo! it will be useless to bring that inside the free museums, you'll also probably will have a difficult time framing your family and scenery together! just my opinion!

I also have a 400mm f/5.6L and I would not carry that to visit a city. hat lens is pretty much reserved for wildlife, birds and some occasional sports.

However, I would want a mid-range zoom and a mid-range telephoto.

My two lenses for visiting just about ANYPLACE are the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS...

I should have said that Im taking my Sigma 10-20 and Canon 24-105 f/4 L. Have a 7D. Should I take the 55-250 too?

Or... consider an SX50HS for travel stuff. Sort of an all-in-one package.

Brain Mechanic wrote in post #16315362
I should have said that Im taking my Sigma 10-22 and Canon 24-105 f/4 L. Have a 7D. Should I take the 55-250 too?

If you plan on visiting the zoo, I would take the 55-250. It's not very big or heavy, and you'll want a telephoto there.

When going to Washington DC last year, the longest lens I brought was my 70-200 F4 IS. It had plenty of reach to capture what I needed....I would not bring the 400mm, but I would bring the 55-250. It is a good lens. I just hope for your sake it is not 100 degrees and raining like it was when we went.

Take the 55-250 to the Zoo, and leave it in the hotel room all other times. I don't think it is worth carrying a telephoto with you in DC at all times.

We are going next month and weather is supposed to be comfortable if not a bit chilly. Im from Puerto Rico and we have hot weather all year long.

Sounds like you are going at a better time of year (at least weather wise for my taste). Many have talked about the zoo, but overall my favorite shot were all wide angle. Here is one at 10mm.

I went and used my 17-50 about 85% of the time and then the other 15% of the time, I used the 70-200. 10-22 might be a good option too but I rarely found myself using it and if i did then I would just stitch it together. Washington DC is not a place to be carrying a lot of stuff around you at night. I would be careful carrying everything and just bring what you need.

Im not planning going anywhere at night. For what Ive read I will just stay at the hotel.

Brain Mechanic wrote in post #16317138
Im not planning going anywhere at night. For what Ive read I will just stay at the hotel.

Actually, Georgetown is a great place to be after dark. Have a dinner there, walk in the streets, go to the river, have a drink in a bar. You will like it there, and it is really safe. Then take a taxi to the hotel.

After 7, we would walk out for dinner but not carry my gear. I would of stuck out and probably would be been targeted.
But I had a great time there.