Help me pick my travel lenses

Hello - time for me to pick your brains! I'm going "home" for 17 days - I live in the UK, going to visit family and friends in South Africa. I'd like to travel light if possible.

So far, I have planned: 1. A friend's wedding (as a guest, not the photog - the main reason for the trip), 2. A weekend safari, 3. Several parties. There will probably be some impromptu shooting too.

Only taking 1 body - 6D.

I have the following lenses (all Canon): 24-105, 17-40, 70-300 IS non-L, 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 100 macro non-L. Also 580EXII Speedlite.

What do you suggest I take? Ideally, no more than 2 or 3 lenses, depending on size. Flash - yes or no? At the moment, I'm leaning towards 24-105 and 70-300 and flash. But since I just recently got the 85, I really want to play around with it - just not sure I'd have the opportunity. The wedding perhaps?

My gf has 100D and will take 18-55 STM and maybe 40 pancake. I can always beg/borrow/steal the 40 if absolutely necessary.

TIA!

Only you can decide what sorts of images you intend to make. Once that's done, then we might be able to help decide what equipment in your list WE might choose to use for those images. In the end, I suspect you're going to make a lot of the same types of images that you make at home (such as distant shots of groups of people, closeups of people, shots of buildings, or whatever).

If you are going out to shoot wildlife on your weekend safari, you'll need that 70-300 IS. The 85 is a good lens, but the two wide zooms and the longer zoom will be more practical.

24-105 + 50/85 + 70-300. Might even leave the flash at home if you have your primes.

Me personally, I'd take the 17-40, the 50, and the 70-300. That covers your wide-angle, your telephoto, and something in between, and I'd probably leave the flash at home. However, these would be my personal choices based entirely on the types of pictures I would be hoping to take on such a trip. Whatever you decide, good luck and have fun!

I would take the 24-105 for general use, the 50 plus flash for parties, and give the 70-300 to your GF for the extra reach on her crop camera on Safari.

24-105L for general use, 70-300 for the safari, and 85mm for the wedding.

24-105L, 70-300mm for the majority of your shooting and the 85mm to play with since it is new and you will regret not bringing it if you don't have it with you.. Definitely take your flash.

Of those lenses, I'd take the 24-105 and 70-300 and flash

Fitness Freak wrote in post #16374079
Me personally, I'd take the 17-40, the 50, and the 70-300. That covers your wide-angle, your telephoto, and something in between, and I'd probably leave the flash at home. However, these would be my personal choices based entirely on the types of pictures I would be hoping to take on such a trip. Whatever you decide, good luck and have fun!

This ^^^ although I would take the flash too.

The 17-40 is a nice wide angle, the 50 is fast for low light, and the 70-300 works to reach out on safari.
The gap between 40mm and 70mm isnt that big, and can be easily worked around by moving your feet, or cropping later.

Thanks all for the replies! You've given me something to think about, that's for sure!

Snydremark wrote in post #16374321
Of those lenses, I'd take the 24-105 and 70-300 and flash

Ditto

I think that you can easily decide on what lenses to take. If you will be taking any photos at the wedding take your flash. With an F4 zoom, like the 24-105, you will miss it. I would want a fast prime as well.

I'd bring everything

EDIT: Just a thought, could you give your GF the 17-40 instead of her kitlens? That way you can swap lenses if you really want UWA.

This is a tough one. If you don't expect to shoot in low light, the 24-105, 17-40, 70-300 IS should cover your bases well. The IS on the 70-300 will help if you want to shoot on the margins of low light. That said, I have the 85MM 1.8, it is a small lightweight, very sharp lens and has better bokeh than the 70-300. You might also consider leaving the 17-40 home if you do not think you need the extreme wide and take the 50 1.4 for low light as well.