Lens to take with me to europe

Hello folks. I have no idea where else to post this but hopefully someone will post something insightful on a dilemma i've been dealing with.

My current set up canon 5d with sigma 50/1.4.

Dilemma: I'm going to go on a 3 1/2 week trip to europe, backpacking. I only have space for 1 lens and am considering whether or not the sigma 50/1.4 is adequate enough for me to use for the 3.5 week trek. Should I rent a wider lens or should I go for of a more versatile lens?

To those that has experience with this kind of things, what did you bring and what you wish you had brought with you?

Many people love 24-105L as travel lens; also 24-105L new or used is very cheap this day.

But I would rather use 50 f/1.4 as I love fast prime.

Just for the record, most my Euro trips I used 28-300L till last year - 24L II & 85L II are my current favor setup.

Happy traveling

I would say nay to the 50mm and bring something like the 24-105 along. There may be some areas where you cant get close to and the 105mm reach could help, and then there could be wide scenery 24mm could help.

For all my trips I have used the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 on my 7D for most of my pictures.
Since you're using the 5D, you might want to look at the something wider than the 50 f/1.4
perhaps the 16-35 f/2.8L II or the 24-105 f/4L or the 17-40 f/4L or the Sigma 12-24 II

And above all Have fun on your trip!!

--Evan

Between your 50mm f/1.4 and renting or buying the 17-40L, you should have most of your shooting scenarios in Europe covered. The 50mm will be great as your low light / church lens as well. You can always rent the 17-40 if you don't feel like buying, although I would say that after you visit Europe you will probably feel compelled to buy a wide lens anyhow. If you really only have space for one lens, then I would say rent the 16-35L if you're primarily into landscapes or the 24-70L f/2.8 for more general purpose.

I live in 'Europe' (well, a small part of it) and If I had to use just one lens on my 5DIII it would be my 24-105L.

It really depends where youre going in Europe, its not as small as you might think

Another vote for the 24-105 f/4 L as a 1 lens solution. That's my choice when I want to pack light. IQ is excellent and it covers most situations as a travel lens.

2slo wrote in post #16059551
Another vote for the 24-105 f/4 L as a 1 lens solution. That's my choice when I want to pack light. IQ is excellent and it covers most situations as a travel lens.

Without knowing what destination, id personally go with my 135mm L
And as addition my 40mm pancake, finds place in my jeans pockets :P

I use my 24-105 when I need a 1 lens travel solution... I have been happy with it in a wide range of situations, so that would also be my recommendation.

I'll also recommend the 24-105L
enjoy Europe!

24-105L for me to

Another vote for a wider zoomlens. The 24-105 is perfect for this. I couldn't travel with a 35mm lens only, let alone the 50.

Yeah, if you have $850-1100+ US to spend, by all means the 24-105 is a good choice for a "walk-around" lens.

Poor man's version is the EF 28-135 IS... which has been sold in kit with various cameras (though it really isn't a "kit lens") and can pretty easily be found used for $250 or less. Image quality is virtually the same at the focal lengths they share.... except that the 28-135 actually has less tendency to vignette at the wide end. Out at 135mm, beyond where the 24-105 can go, the 28-135 is a bit soft wide open (f5.6). Stop down to f8 ideally. Of course, the L-series lens is slightly wider and certainly is better built and sealed. Not that the build quality of the 28-135 is bad. It's Canon "mid-grade" gold stripe, similar to other lenses just below the L-series (but well above entry level build quality). The 28-135 often has a slight bit of lateral play in the front barrel, noticeable when it's extended during zooming... it doesn't seem to have any effect on image quality. Both lenses are known to develop "zoom creep", which can be a bit of a nuisance (though it normally doesn't effect anything)... it's more common in the 28-135, but there are DIY fixes posted online... or just put a rubber band around the lens. Both lenses are close focusing, have fast/accurate USM and offer helpful IS.

Thanks alot for the help everyone! I just figured my finances out and it looks like even renting a lens is out of the equation. For me to rent a lens (the 24-105L or the 17-40L) for a month, insured, would cost me around $320. Thats out of my budget for now. I'll fare with the 50mm and hopefully it'll serve me well, maybe it'll teach me even more about composing haha.