Lens/gear choice for trip to Germany

I did parts of Europe with a a 20D, 11-18, 28-75 and a cheap 2x (worked ok on the 28-75 if stopped down just a touch, surprisingly). The 11-18 and the P&S in my pocket ended up getting the most use. If I did it again it'd be an ultra-wide, a longer small prime (i.e. 85 F/1.8 for APS-C) and a nice P&S. It depends on how you like shooting though.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16643156
Take off the grip, bring the zoom. If you have a gorilla pod or table top tripod, bring that, I definitely wouldn't lug a tripod around. I went to Germany/Switzerland for 3 months when I was 21 and I loved it, I really want to go back. I brought my 20D and Tamron 18-270mm when I went and I'm really glad I didn't have more gear than that.

Enjoy your time there, not just capturing the moment in a photograph, but living it. My time there literally changed my life, while a school trip likely won't be as profound, it's still a big opportunity and you shouldn't weigh yourself down with extra gear and worrying about catching perfect photos.

EDIT: Just realized you never actually said it was a school trip. May I ask the details of the trip? Family? Vacation? Just because...? (no answer would be wrong )

Well, we have some family friends there and they have been dying for me to come over for the past 3 years. It worked out with my school that they'd let me take two weeks off to go over as they see it as a 'cultural learning' type trip (definitely exaggerated it a lot, lol). I'll be staying in Bremen, but I'm given free roam basically of the whole country for day trips and such. Let's just say our family friends would be considered the 1% here in the states and want me to get the whole German experience.

justinbeisner wrote in post #16644292
Well, we have some family friends there and they have been dying for me to come over for the past 3 years. It worked out with my school that they'd let me take two weeks off to go over as they see it as a 'cultural learning' type trip (definitely exaggerated it a lot, lol). I'll be staying in Bremen, but I'm given free roam basically of the whole country for day trips and such. Let's just say our family friends would be considered the 1% here in the states and want me to get the whole German experience.

Awesome. In that case I'd definitely not weigh yourself down with gear. Get out there and meet people, experience the country/culture, you're the perfect age to do it!

I basically went there under similar circumstances. My father is Swiss and I was trying to claim my citizenship, the consulate here told me I'd have to go to Switzerland to have a shot at claiming my citizenship. Around the same time my sister was with her husband stationed in Bavaria and she welcomed me to stay there as a constant place for me to figure out my plans. In my travels I met dozens of people who remain friends, most of them I just met at random from talking to people. I stayed with them for days at a time over there and developed real bonds with them, then even deeper bonds with my newly discovered (for me) family in Switzerland. It was just a fantastic experience and it's honestly worth far more than any amount of photographs.

Also, for those who care, never did get my citizenship I would've had to visit the country 7 times a year for a few years and eventually serve in their military or do 2 years of community service there, which people on the base in Bavaria told me would've risked my citizenship here in the states.

I don't know why people tell you to only take wide angle lenses to Germany. I lived in Germany for four years. I go back almost every other summer. I always carry a long zoom. There are so many things that you will want to bring closer. Sure there are times when you need a wide angle but you need a telephoto lens as well. Take a lot of pictures. You'll appreciate them 50 years from now.

Consensus seems to be ditch the grip. But I have big hands, and like it.
If you do leave the grip at home, then take the extra battery with you.
I've packed 3 lenses and a tripod on a trip, cut back to a SLR + 50mm and taken just a point and shoot with zoom. Today I'd go with the P+S.

I would like to ask the people who took their long telephoto with them, what it was that they shot? Particularly those folks who used it as the only lens. It is not a challenge, but a real question.

I travel to Europe often, and I used to take the 70-300 with me. I learn very quickly that I very seldom used it, a midrange zoom, now it is the 15-85 mm, is the most useful lens. I sometimes take an UWA 10-20, to assist the main lens. No grip, no tripod, no monopod - I just do not want to carry all that wight on my shoulders.

Lbsimon wrote in post #16645873
I would like to ask the people who took their long telephoto with them, what it was that they shot? Particularly those folks who used it as the only lens. It is not a challenge, but a real question.

I travel to Europe often, and I used to take the 70-300 with me. I learn very quickly that I very seldom used it, a midrange zoom, now it is the 15-85 mm, is the most useful lens. I sometimes take an UWA 10-20, to assist the main lens. No grip, no tripod, no monopod - I just do not want to carry all that wight on my shoulders.

You sound like a prime candidate for a mirrorless system Fuji is calling your name

I did have a few shots at 270mm with my 20D in Europe, but the overwhelming majority of them were between 18-100mm. If I were to go back today I'd probably take the X-E1 with the 18-55mm and a fast prime to compliment it (50mm equivalent, don't have one yet, but I'd definitely buy one for that trip).

Leave the grip at home but take the extra battery(ies). Take at least one plug adapter (US to EU). The charger should be compatible with 220.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16646193
You sound like a prime candidate for a mirrorless system Fuji is calling your name

I did have a few shots at 270mm with my 20D in Europe, but the overwhelming majority of them were between 18-100mm. If I were to go back today I'd probably take the X-E1 with the 18-55mm and a fast prime to compliment it (50mm equivalent, don't have one yet, but I'd definitely buy one for that trip).

I have been shooting SLRs, on and off, since 1978. Sometimes for a couple of years going to P&S, but always going back to SLRs. I tried a mirrorless (my son's), but never learned to like it.

And you just confirmed what I said - a wide angle is more useful in Europe than a long telephoto. I would still like to hear from people who used mostly the telephotos - what it was that they shot.

Lbsimon wrote in post #16647429
I have been shooting SLRs, on and off, since 1978. Sometimes for a couple of years going to P&S, but always going back to SLRs. I tried a mirrorless (my son's), but never learned to like it.

And you just confirmed what I said - a wide angle is more useful in Europe than a long telephoto. I would still like to hear from people who used mostly the telephotos - what it was that they shot.

You should try an X100s, has the option of using the optical viewfinder and also an electronic one. The Fuji sensors are really remarkable and so are their lenses. The X100 also has a leaf shutter for 1/4000 flash sync speed (and its dead silent) and a built in ND filter. It's the perfect walk around camera imo.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16647711
You should try an X100s, has the option of using the optical viewfinder and also an electronic one. The Fuji sensors are really remarkable and so are their lenses. The X100 also has a leaf shutter for 1/4000 flash sync speed (and its dead silent) and a built in ND filter. It's the perfect walk around camera imo.

But then people will be looking down on me if I do not have my camera with the white lens on it!

I don't think I am going to switch to another system any time soon. Got too "embedded" in Canon SLR (well, I do have the S110 too).

Lbsimon wrote in post #16647875
But then people will be looking down on me if I do not have my camera with the white lens on it!

I don't think I am going to switch to another system any time soon. Got too "embedded" in Canon SLR (well, I do have the S110 too).

That's the thing though, the x100 is a fixed lens camera, so you don't have to think of it as another system, just think of it as your 35mm lens

justinbeisner wrote in post #16644292
Well, we have some family friends there and they have been dying for me to come over for the past 3 years. It worked out with my school that they'd let me take two weeks off to go over as they see it as a 'cultural learning' type trip (definitely exaggerated it a lot, lol). I'll be staying in Bremen, but I'm given free roam basically of the whole country for day trips and such. Let's just say our family friends would be considered the 1% here in the states and want me to get the whole German experience.

I would bring the 17-50mm as a general use lens while roaming the streets. And I would still bring the 85mm for portraits. The 14mm is somewhat wider than 17mm, but I wouldn't bother with it.

I'd definitely take 85 to take pictures of people you meet, details of Deutschland and also maybe detailed landscape panoramas. Not everything in Europe is 'wide'! But it's great to have that option too for cities/architecture etc.

I'd go with the 17-55 and 85.
I always find a lot of use for a long tele in Europe, whether its for shots of interesting people, compressed views of that castle from a distance, architectural details or other objects you want to bring closer. You need a telephoto to finish telling that story that your wide lens started.