Trip to Paris, what lenses should I bring?

I would keep in mind that in place of an ultra wide angle, multiple shots merged with panorama stitching software can do a very good job too, and save on the hassle of carrying additional lenses. If there is a down side to the 15-85, it's the slower aperture that might make interiors more difficult.

I'd still be inclined to go light, especially since photography isn't the primary focus of the trip. The 15-85 should handle 95% of what you want to shoot, and the IS on the lens and the ISO handling of the 70D will come in handy for some of those less well lighted inside shots.

I've been to Paris many times. The last two times I went, I took my 7D and I found
I used my Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 the most, but also used the Sigma 10-20mm and my
Canon 70-200 F/2.8 L IS II multiple times as well. It all depends upon where you are
and what you are going to do. I also found a light tripod was very handy, as the city
is amazing at night. I even found use for a 10 stop filter, several times.

If you are staying for more than a couple weeks, make sure you grab a NaviGO card
so that you can hop on and off the trains and busses, all you want. And if you pay for
all zones, it works for trips out to the Palace at Versailles as well.

--Evan

mine1 wrote in post #16848413
... but It would have been nice to have something for inside restaurants at night so it would have been nice to have a wide fast prime.

For that I always have the S110 in my pocket. I hate it to pull out the SLR with a large lens in a restaurant. The P&S can do it admirably. Another role for a P&S is when I want to have a photo of my wife and me together in front of a tourist trap, I can always ask a fellow tourist to do it for us, and do not have to hand over my SLR to a stranger.

Small world. I'll be in Paris, then Italy, in late September. I'll be taking only a G12.

Evan Idler wrote in post #16848525
I've been to Paris many times. The last two times I went, I took my 7D and I found
I used my Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 the most, but also used the Sigma 10-20mm and my
Canon 70-200 F/2.8 L IS II multiple times as well. It all depends upon where you are
and what you are going to do. I also found a light tripod was very handy, as the city
is amazing at night. I even found use for a 10 stop filter, several times.

If you are staying for more than a couple weeks, make sure you grab a NaviGO card
so that you can hop on and off the trains and busses, all you want. And if you pay for
all zones, it works for trips out to the Palace at Versailles as well.

--Evan

I wish I'll be staying for a couple of weeks! Sadly, I'd only be there for a week, and I think we've just added Milan to the list, so it'd be a really rushed trip to take in everything and all the good food.

Just want to say thanks for everyone's advise. It sounds like a fast wide lens would be useful in addition to the 15-85. I could either bring my 20 f/1.8 or buy the Tokina 116. I have a coworker that has the 116, so I'll borrow it for a weekend and try it out in Toronto and see how I like it. I'm not that familiar with him that I would be able to ask to borrow it for a week in France, but then I do have 6 months... hmm, 6 months of coffee and favors vs renting one

I went this past summer and used my 17-40 (at 17) and 70-200 (at 200) mostly. The 70-200 was perfect for picking out architectural details and for compressing the cityscapes. If I were to go again, I'd add a 35L for some street shooting and call it a day.

I did take my 50 f/1.4, but never pulled it out of my bag. At the time, it just wasn't a focal length I liked.

Staszek wrote in post #16848633
I went this past summer and used my 17-40 (at 17) and 70-200 (at 200) mostly. The 70-200 was perfect for picking out architectural details and for compressing the cityscapes. If I were to go again, I'd add a 35L for some street shooting and call it a day.

I did take my 50 f/1.4, but never pulled it out of my bag. At the time, it just wasn't a focal length I liked.

I like your lens lineup. Fine thing

davidfarina wrote in post #16848863
I like your lens lineup. Fine thing

The one I took to Europe or my current kit?

BRING EVERYTHING! Are you kidding? It's not like you can run home and get something if you forget it. Insure your stuff just in case so you don't have to worry.

I haven't been to Paris in quite a while but the last time I was there I had a Nikon 35mm and an 85 f1.8 lens. I loved that lens, used it for everything. It was fast enuf for indoors (I bought it to shoot stage dance/theatre originally) and long enuf for me outdoors. I was a lot younger then, zomed with my feet. I'm old and lazy now, prefer real zooms, thus my 24-105, 70-200 post earlier. I even have a 28-135 in my bag, hidden away somewhere. <g> I started shooting when I was a grad student so I had enuf trouble scrounging up the $$ for that Nikon so that was it. I'm retired now and while not rich, I can afford more than one lens.

Just got back today and used my x100 the entire trip. 35mm equivalent and occasionally went with the WCL-100 attached so 28mm with that. As a side note, check out Bd. Beaumarchais for a nice fix of shops selling anything and everything camera related.

"I was talking about using the 24-105 on YOUR camera. Not wide enough."

Not on a crop, I agree. But selfishly, I was thinking of "me" - I shoot a 5D and I'm really not much interested in WA. My widest prime is a 35mm, for example.

When I was there, I had my 7D along with my 15-85 and 24L and I wanted for nothing. I did bring along a tripod that I used for some night shots, but I mainly used the tripod for landscapes in Switzerland. The 15-85 will serve you well in the streets of Paris. I found the 24L very useful in the museums and churches, although it could have been wider for the church interiors, but that was what I had in my kit.

Have fun on your trip, but be aware of the HOARDS of people that are everywhere you want to go, and always in your shots.

My recommendation to the OP is - take the 15-85 and get that 11-16. My 15-85 is my go-everywhere lens, and the only lens I take if I want to travel light. Having said that, I find a longer lens useful, even indoors. On a trip to Rome 18 months ago, in St. Peter's Basilica I used all three of my lenses and every focal length from 10mm to 300mm. I also suggest that the OP consider the latest STM version of the 55-250IS as an alternative to his 70-200/2.8. It is much lighter.