Help me choose (for Europe)

Going to Europe. Which lens should I bring in addition to my trusty 17-55 2.8?

Thanks. I value each of your responses.

Been to Europe last year and the 17-55 stayed mounted like 99.9% of the time. I only took it off to put on my Tokina 11-16 for some indoors shots.
Between your options, I chose the 70-200 F4 because it's lighter, smaller and you can actually find some use for it to gather details on churches or things like that.
I wouldn't use the 100-400 at all.
Congratulations for the trip! Which countries are you visiting?

This trip probably France and Germany. Thanks for the advice!

i voted 100-400... you're taking the 17-55 so you got wide covered, between the 70-200 and 100-400, i think you'd miss the 200-400 range more then missing the 70-100 range

what about the 2.8 IS...might help you if you are trying for reach (of non-moving subjects) late at night?

oh...haha just notice you already have these two and are trying to decide...not which one to pick up

100-400 then for reach!

I agree with Alex. The 17-55 will probably stay on your camera almost all the time. However, there were times when I was in Italy and Spain that I wished that I had something longer than I had (I was using a Sigma 17-70) to get detail shots, specifically in churches.

Tim

Take a small fast lens, like your Sigma 30. There is always the chance of damaging a lens on a trip, and a small backup is useful.
An alternative would be to take the Tamron 28-75, but I would rather have a short fast lens. I rarely needed long focal lengths on trips to Europe, but there were a few times when I would have wanted very wide - like inside the Coliseum or inside the Diocletian Baths in Rome. Perhaps the best choice would be to take your 11-16 Zoom along, rather than the other options.

DEFINITELY THE 70-200MM F/4L IS

The 70-200mm f/4L IS is absolutely the best companion for the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS as a travel companion. These are the two lenses I have on my cameras all the time. I can shoot just about 100% of my travel photography and about 90% of all my imagery using these two lenses...

The 70-200mm f/4L IS lens is relatively light for a lens of this focal length. The IS capability allows it to be used in fairly low light levels. I can shoot at 1/60 second with expectations of 100% sharp imagery - even at 200mm! At 1/30 second, my keeper rate goes down slightly but, is still respectable if I concentrate on a steady hold.

The 70-200mm f/4L IS lens allows me to isolate subjects with selective depth of field...

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I like to travel light. I voted neither but the 70-200 woudol not be a bad idea. No way I'm lugging the 100-400.

Living in Germany I would cerrtainly say that the 17-55 will get the most use. I voted 70-200 out of the options that you provided simply for the usefulness of the range vs the weight.

For general use I would say that the 17-55 will be perfect. My only advice would be too take something a little faster for interiors.


Have fun

Neither. Take an ultrawide along with the 17-55.

Like everyone else said, you will use your 17-55 most of the time. I loved using it when I was in Europe. When I went, I brought along the 70-200 2.8IS, 10-22, and Sigma 30 1.4.

I only used the 70-200 twice out of the entire 3 month trip and the sigma a few times. I did use my 10-22 quite often tho. Personally, I prefered the ulta-wide option over the telephoto, especially for buildings/landscapes.

I say neither.

Bring your 17-55, which is by itself quite versatile and well-suited for much of Europe. Instead of lenses, I would make sure I had a small travel tripod and some filters.

All that weight adds up and it amounts to more things to keep track of. Make enjoying your trip job #1, and capturing your trip job #2.

70-200 makes sense to me... add an extender if you have one.

Have a FUN trip!

70-200 and 1.4 tc if you need extra reach. much smaller and lighter have fun on your trip!