could use some advice on lenses

Hi All,

still a rookie with the canon 60d, but getting better, and in may we're taking a trip to europe (scotland mainly, ireland, denmark, england & amsterdam likely as well) and I'd really love to be able to get the very best pictures I can on the trip. I'm currently using the canon 60d with mainly the 18-200mm IS lens (also have a 50mm 1.8) but I've been looking a lot at the 70-200mm F4L IS. My concern is if I go with that, am I just buying another lens with more solid construction to cover the same range I already have? Or is the IQ enough of an improvement that it's worthwhile to buy?

My main interests are landscapes and portraits but I'd really like to do some sports photography as well as some street photography, and I'm unsure of what lenses would be useful. Am I better to keep the 18-200mm and go for a wide angle lens? Buy the 70-200 F4L IS and another lens and sell the 18-200mm?

any thoughts or advice?

thanks in advance

If you are going on a trip, I suggest you take your 18-200 and leave the rest at home. Just enjoy your vacation.

70-200 IS would certainly be an improvement, but for know I would go for a ultra wide.

I like the 15-85 on my 60D for a travel lens.

I tend to take all my stuff with me when I go on vacation. It gets heavy at times, but I never know what I'm going to be shooting.

My stuff stays home and I will take the Fuji x-20 with me on vacation.

I spent 7 weeks in Greece and Turkey with the 60D and the 18-200. I'd do it again and take the 8-16 with me as well. I'd leave the heavy equipment home.

Take the 18-200 and nowt else.
It'll be fine.

What is the the 18-200 not doing for you?
Only change it if you want wider (such as the 10-22), longer (300, or 400 zooms), or faster.
If you want fast... use a prime.
Look at the exif data of the 18-200, find what you mostly shoot at as this will help determining your prime choice.

Don't forget, your 18-200 means you can use one lens.
Get a 70-200 and you'll need another "normal" lens.


I could easily survive, and be happy with, the 18-55.
Then again, I'm happy to just use the 60D and a 28mm prime for a holiday... just like my SLR days.

I have the 18-200 and it's a great travel lens.

However, if your not opposed to carrying a couple of lenses then I would also recommend the 15-85 as a walk around. For me, I would also take my 10-22 as 15mm is just not wide enough, especially in Europe. And a nice fast prime, I'm sure there are better choices but I would take my 35f2.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #16633876
I like the 15-85 on my 60D for a travel lens.

I tend to take all my stuff with me when I go on vacation. It gets heavy at times, but I never know what I'm going to be shooting.

This was my favorite 'do everything' lens when I had a crop camera. Light enough, great color, contrast and sharpness. Great wide shots and zoomed in. This would be my choice.

Travel photography is much more abut catching "the moments" as well as "places/landscapes" rather then picture quality.
U would be better off with just the 18-200mm over any other lens when traveling.

The way to make your travel pictures awesome is to take "proper" pictures (proper framing, moments, subjects, etc...) rather the equipment.

The only other lens I would use on a travel would be an ultra-wide lens.

Islesfan91 wrote in post #16633820
Hi All,

still a rookie with the canon 60d, but getting better, and in may we're taking a trip to europe (scotland mainly, ireland, denmark, england & amsterdam likely as well) and I'd really love to be able to get the very best pictures I can on the trip. I'm currently using the canon 60d with mainly the 18-200mm IS lens (also have a 50mm 1.8) but I've been looking a lot at the 70-200mm F4L IS. My concern is if I go with that, am I just buying another lens with more solid construction to cover the same range I already have? Or is the IQ enough of an improvement that it's worthwhile to buy?

My main interests are landscapes and portraits but I'd really like to do some sports photography as well as some street photography, and I'm unsure of what lenses would be useful. Am I better to keep the 18-200mm and go for a wide angle lens? Buy the 70-200 F4L IS and another lens and sell the 18-200mm?

any thoughts or advice?

thanks in advance

Heya,

I would say, don't buy a lens to replace your current zoom. Instead, focus on simply improving with what you have.

The 70-200 F4L IS is going to be sharper, faster focus, etc. But not by an amount that justifies the $700~1k price tag honestly. Great lens, very good lens, but I wouldn't replace your 18-200 for travel with this lens, at all. And since you're asking, I assume you haven't quite outgrown that lens yet, or you would know for sure whether or not you need something new.

I would not drag a telephoto on vacation. I would go for a smaller, lighter setup. Wide angle has great applications in landscape, cities, etc. You don't need long reach for portraits of family/friends. Wide lets you get the scene and your people too. I find wider lenses are more often the travel companion's friend. Telephoto can be very useful, but it comes down to where you are, and what you're shooting.

If you want more lenses regardless, then I would probably consider:

EF-S 10-22mm (Wide & Ultrawide)
And your 18-200 or something like 24-70 F2.8, 17-55 F2.8.

That said, I have the 70-200 F4L, 35 F2 IS, 85 F1.8, Tonk 11-16mm F2.8, etc. and when it comes to travel, I'm always wanting to pick up an inexpensive 18-200mm lens so that I'm not constantly swapping lenses and opening the camera body in the street or in a busy area. So easy to mess something up like that. I like my better lenses. But when you're in public, I find it's easier just to lose a few stops, and have the convenience of a single zoom lens.

Very best,