Telephoto or 2nd body or neither

OK, doing a 2 week Europe trip covering Vienna, Prague, Salzburg and some outdoorsy places such as the Dolomites and the Black Forest....

Should I leave behind my 100-400? Should I use that reduced weight to carry my 20D backup body? Could use the wide angle and the 24-105....

Or am I planning too much - and just drop both the telephoto and the backup body?

I will be going with family including my 4 year old.....

If it's just a vacation, drop all the extra gear; take your primary body, the 24-105 and wide angle, IMO. Concentrate on having fun and spending time with the family, it'll make a happier trip

Snydremark wrote in post #14817360
If it's just a vacation, drop all the extra gear .... Concentrate on having fun and spending time with the family, it'll make a happier trip

On our trip to Europe I decided at the last minute to leave the "main" kit at home and take a P&S with plenty of batteries & mem cards. Truly enjoyed the trip much more without lugging all the extra equipment ... managed to get at least 95% of the shots that I wanted without the extra gear.

Canon 7D , Tokina 12-24 F4, Can 24-105 F4 L,
50 F1.4, for indoor and night

Thats what I would take from your kit.
Now if you had a 70-200 f4 Lis that would come along as well. (Light)

Bianchi wrote in post #14817668
Canon 7D , Tokina 12-24 F4, Can 24-105 F4 L,
50 F1.4, for indoor and night

Thats what I would take from your kit.
Now if you had a 70-200 f4 Lis that would come along as well. (Light)

I would take the same kit. Recenty I was in India(New Delhi, Jaipur, Arga, Amritsar, ...) and with 50D I had 21mm f2,8, 35mm f2 and 90 mm f3,5 FM lenses and 50 mm f2,5 AF lens. I was perfectly happy with those. There was no need for telefoto lens.

Telefoto lens would be useful if you plan to shoot animals, car race, air show or similar on normal tourist destinations telefoto lens is very seldom needed.

No way I can comment...

I don't know your photo style.

As for me, I carry a pair of 1.6x cameras along with 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS (which I bought because of its relatively light weight and portablity) lenses.

I can travel anywhere with these two cameras and lenses.

If I know that I am going to shoot a LOT of wildlie, I will carry a longer lense in acdition and if I know that I will be shooting in cramped quaters (such as the old towns of Europe) I will carrry a wider lens.

Take the ultra wide and the 24-105L. This will do it.

Bianchi wrote in post #14817668
Canon 7D , Tokina 12-24 F4, Can 24-105 F4 L,
50 F1.4, for indoor and night

that's all i would take...

Bianchi wrote in post #14817668
Canon 7D , Tokina 12-24 F4, Can 24-105 F4 L,
50 F1.4, for indoor and night

That would also be my choice...

Thanks everyone. The decision's made. As sad as it is, the 100-400 will stay home. Do regret having sold my 70-200 F4. It would have been my ideal portrait and candid lens.....

Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16, Canon 15-85, Canon 70-200 L

I need to add...

When I posted my first reply, I did not take into consideration that you were taking your 4-year old. A 4-year old is enough to lug and keep track of.

I would travel as light as I possibly could...

I've done many trips with my two boys and lighter is better so the 24-105mm would suit most of my shooting needs. Good luck as a European trip with the family sounds like fun.