Traveling with 70-200 2.8 IS II ... Yey or Ney?

Europe bound Thursday and I'm thinking of bringing my 16-35 naturally, a 50 1.4 and the bazooka, 70-200 2.8 IS II. Have any of you guys done it and regretted it? I usually hang around the wide side for this type of vacation trips but now that I have this super cool monster lens, I want to take it with me. What do you guys think? Overkill or should I just suck it up and take it along?

First issue to be concerned about is how you will pack that beast to travel NOT as carryon, when the airline imposes weight limitations of the carryon items. A number of airlines have 7Kg or 8Kg limits, as POTN members have actually experienced in their travels (myself included). And given that there seems to be no location in the world immune to baggage theft rings, if it was not for a specific commercial assignment that required its use, I'd not want to take risks.

Personally, travelling to Europe, I would least inclined to bring a long FL, and lean to the wider end of the lens lineup. I would only bring the longer lens when I have in mind a specific photographic mission involving a specific site where tele FL is really necessary.

I take mine with me, it's too versatile and good to leave behind.

Take it.

May come in handy on some of those clothing optional beaches they have there. :p

In the past couple of trip to Germany, I only took 24-105L and 50mm + tripod. No telephoto. Generally speaking that is enough for city shots, but might not be enough if you are planning to go some special places.

I'll drive from Vienna to Kratz and then Venice (and back). Lots of countryside but also city stuff. I imagine Venice may have some details that may require a longer reach ... I don't know.

Last year we traveled to Scotland. I brought my 24-70 f2.8 and never once wished that I'd had more reach than that (I'm using a crop sensor, BTW). I found it to be a great general purpose lens. But who knows, maybe if I'd brought more I would have found different shooting opportunities ? I kind of doubt that I'd have used it much, though.

Look at web sites of all airlines which you will be travelling, to make sure you understand the carryon baggage limitations that will be enforced by each.

Wilt wrote in post #14322343
Look at web sites of all airlines which you will be travelling, to make sure you understand the carryon baggage limitations that will be enforced by each.

I did that, thanks Wilt. I have a pound to spare

I'd bring it. Too versatile of a range to leave behind. On FF, you'll be wanting a little more reach.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #14321697
Europe bound Thursday and I'm thinking of bringing my 16-35 naturally, a 50 1.4 and the bazooka, 70-200 2.8 IS II. Overkill or should I just suck it up and take it along?

I travel with a 50L, and keep 16-35 II in my bag. The big 70-200 II way too heavy for vacations (it will only be worth carrying if someone is paying a hefty photography fees).

The real issue with the 70-200 is not the weight or if it's useful. If you manage to use it it will make sense to bring it. The real issue is the big IF you will be able find much use for it while traveling with 1 body.

When I was traveling to Hong Kong and China I find there are times to use the 70-200 when I can predict a need for it. What frustrated me was where I see a scene that I would use the 70-200 for it's not mounted and it would take too long to mount it.

So if you have the ability to bring a 2nd body that 70-200 is going to be much more useful. But that might be too much gear and too much weight.

I made a trip to Europe about a year ago with just three lenses (21/2.8, 35/2, 100/2) and didn't miss it at all. This was actually my first expedition without it and leaving it at home really lightened my bag.

Tough call. But if you do decide to take it and if you are not going to be carrying a tripod or monopod, then take off the tripod collar and that will lessen the weight and bulk a bit. That may be more psychological than actual but I think it makes it look and feel alot smaller/lighter.

I'll agree with Gotak on this. When I knew I was going to be going to events and places where a telephoto would be useful, I brought along a lightweight crop body so I could switch instantly between the two at things like the Edinburgh Tattoo and in Oslo on the water touring the bays and islands.

Otherwise, rarely do you need more than something in the normal wide to low telephoto, like 24-105 for FF and 15-85 for crop bodies. If you are a birder, that's another story.

I just got back from a trip and had no problems carrying everything as carryon. A Domke messenger bag carried camera, two lenses (60D, 15-85mm and 70-300 DO) and monopod, plus all chargers and cards and cords and medications, using the Domke backpack strap. My roller V2 International Thinktank bag carried all clothing, laptop and some photo items (RRS monopod head), shoes, etc. and all my personal stuff was in a vest that I could take off and throw on a tray for search and destroy. But I cause the scanner to ding everytime, old surgical mesh in my abdomen, and I get thoroughly searched, including my bags.

Still it all went in the cabins through Delta, KLM and Air France.