Went on a 2 week vacation with all my lenses - guess what I ended up using?

So I have the lenses in my sig:

• 16-35/2.8L II
  
• 24/1.4L II
  
• TS-E 24/3.5L II
  
• 50/1.4
  
• 85/1.2L II
  
• 100/2.8L IS
  
• 70-200/2.8L IS II
  
• 400/5.6L

I've taken my DSLR on a few vacations and never seem to use it. It's just more convenient to pull out the cell phone or P&S when you're out sight seeing and what not. The DSLR is just to big to be carrying all over haha.

RazorsEDGE2003 wrote in post #15035960
I've taken my DSLR on a few vacations and never seem to use it. It's just more convenient to pull out the cell phone or P&S when you're out sight seeing and what not. The DSLR is just to big to be carrying all over haha.

Yeah my latest interest is wildlife and birds, so when we'd go fishing I'd bring the 7D and 400 5.6. Everything else was snap-shotty and ended up using the camera phone (which turned out to be quite capable).

Youre strong, I couldn't walk a step carrying so much gear lol
Your lens collection is very good, each lens has its purpose.
Might just need some research on what photography opportunities there are in your next vacation location, and decide which lens to bring accordingly

I've made it a habit to carry my DSLR everywhere... only recently, started to carry my 580ex recently along with my DSLR, and the extra flash is kind of a drag. I would love to have in body flash for those times...

I dont even own a point and shoot. Heck, I carry my DSLR more than most people carry their point and shoot.

Edit: btw, my lens collection is nice and small, I usually only carry one lens with me, either the 50 or 24-70 depending on where I go.

Charlie wrote in post #15036017
I've made it a habit to carry my DSLR everywhere... only recently, started to carry my 580ex recently along with my DSLR, and the extra flash is kind of a drag. I would love to have in body flash for those times...

I dont even own a point and shoot. Heck, I carry my DSLR more than most people carry their point and shoot.

Edit: btw, my lens collection is nice and small, I usually only carry one lens with me, either the 50 or 24-70 depending on where I go.

I've been carrying my camera with me most places I go. It tags along as part of my daily carry back pack. 28mm is usually always there, sometimes the 70-200 f/4L comes along. Generally a 430ex II is tossed in as well

In the year that I have been carrying it around 'incase I need it', I've used it maybe three times. Generally the gear only is used when I'm going somewhere planning to take photos and not during general every day outings.

RazorsEDGE2003 wrote in post #15035960
It's just more convenient to pull out the .... P&S when you're out sight seeing ....

In recent trips to Europe and the Far East I debated long & hard about what gear to take. The trips were to visit family/friends and to sightsee so I took the S90, extra mem cards/batteries, and couldn't have been happier. I will probably continue to travel lighter UNLESS I'm specifically on a photo-centered trip (i.e. we're hoping to do a photo safari in Africa some day). Until then I will continue to truly enjoy the "freedom" from lugging a lot of gear, especially when my travel involves a lot of public transportation and walking.

JonK wrote in post #15035911
So I have the lenses in my sig:

• 16-35/2.8L II
  
• 24/1.4L II
  
• TS-E 24/3.5L II
  
• 50/1.4
  
• 85/1.2L II
  
• 100/2.8L IS
  
• 70-200/2.8L IS II
  
• 400/5.6L

I had my pelican case full of my lenses with me and brought my 7D and 5DII. 300 of my images were taken with my Samsung Galaxy S3. About 1/3 of my photos were with my 5DII and 16-35II. The rest were with my 7D and 400 5.6. I didn't end up using any of the other lenses at all.

I know that's a dramatic "realization" but one could deduce that, when trying to take photos of specific things I like to photograph, it seems I could get away with way fewer lenses.

Has made me start to think...

I was going to guess the 16-35, since that seems like a good walk-around focal range, but you really fooled me with the 400 f/5.6 - I guess there were a lot of birds where you were?

HoT.Shek wrote in post #15035996
Youre strong, I couldn't walk a step carrying so much gear lol
Your lens collection is very good, each lens has its purpose.
Might just need some research on what photography opportunities there are in your next vacation location, and decide which lens to bring accordingly

Well, I went to the FL Keys (Key West, snorkeling, boating, fishing, etc). There's opportunity to use each and every lens. From the macro for small shells, fish, crabs, plants, rock/corral, to the 400mm.. I guess I just posted more in the mindset of "Out of all these choices, I used this" - kind of a revelation. It was just more convenient to leave the 16-35 on than swap to either 24mm for landscapes. I used the TS-E for a couple shots, but not many at all. I do all sorts of photography overall, but was surprised to find that I used so few lenses at the end of the trip. Just goes to show the newcomers that you don't necessarily need, or even use, a huge selection of lenses sometimes.

Two weeks vacation, bag full of cameras and L lenses.

what I'm doing wrong ? .

Luckless wrote in post #15036078
I've been carrying my camera with me most places I go. It tags along as part of my daily carry back pack. 28mm is usually always there, sometimes the 70-200 f/4L comes along. Generally a 430ex II is tossed in as well

In the year that I have been carrying it around 'incase I need it', I've used it maybe three times. Generally the gear only is used when I'm going somewhere planning to take photos and not during general every day outings.

that's the difference between you and me

I was at the DMV recently, but missed taking out the DSLR for the shuttle... bad timing more than anything. More often than not, I will leave it in my bag, but I still draw from the bag quite often. It's my version of a point and shoot.

On vacation, if we're out and about going to dinner or something, our P & S is my wife's T1i with the 40mm 2.8 STM. Before that it was the 35mm f/2. With her purses normally being big enough to carry the rations of a small army, there's plenty of room for it, and with a small lens it's a fairly small setup.

And if, for example, we're hiking in Maui like we typically do in November, I've got a hiking backpack with my 7D & 15-85mm, along with some water and protein bars, so the DSLR doesn't get in the way.

However, it just depends on what you are doing really. If I had to carry the camera on me at all times, and I had no need to have anything else on me except for a camera, I might be hard-pressed to justify a DSLR hanging over my shoulder unless I was out with the intention of specifically shooting something.

usually whenever i go on vacation, i'll end up sticking with one lens. =( all the other ones are just weight on my bag. i think my next trip my walk around lens will just be the 35L.

My typical European beach holiday gear is 5D2 & 50/1.4

I'm tempted to pick up a wider prime though somethign like the 28/1.8 & use that on the 450D to travel even lighter.

I traveled extensively in Ethiopia a few times and never had more than a 1D3, 24-105, and 580EX with me. Worked out quite well and made me realize the overkill that I used to let creep in when traveling.