Trying to put together a travel kit for my SL1 /100D

I have a 5D3 and the SL1 - so I have lenses suitable to each.

When I go light, I take the SL1 with two or three of the following lenses:

18-135 STM (almost always have this - not fast but very good for walk around purposes; for a number of reasons I prefer it over the more expensive solutions like the 17-55 or the 15-85). Have not tried Sigma or Tamron options on this camera.

10-18 STM - great when you need it

55-250 STM - ditto.

35 f/2 IS - which you have

50 f/1.4

My most used combination - which answers your questions - is the 18-135 STM and the 35 f/2 IS. Great little package.

Thanks everyone. On my travels I usually find myself wishing I had better low life performance much more often than wishing I had more reach. As such, I think I'll try to replicate the 35mm/85mm prime setup I've liked with my new 24mm pancake and my old 50mm 1.8ii. I like the idea of what a small/light setup this will be.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17334340
Thanks everyone. On my travels I usually find myself wishing I had better low life performance much more often than wishing I had more reach. As such, I think I'll try to replicate the 35mm/85mm prime setup I've liked with my new 24mm pancake and my old 50mm 1.8ii. I like the idea of what a small/light setup this will be.

That's a good combo. I'm planning on getting the 24 and 50mm as well in the future. Sold my 18-135 stm not long ago.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17332113
Thanks, I actually own the 35mm F2 IS. Haven't used it much since getting the 24-70 for my 6D. I was thinking of selling it but I guess I can consider using it on my SL1. Seems about the same size as the 30mm 1.4 (thanks for that tool btw, very useful). I could sell it and buy the 30mm 1.4 and gain that stop of light, but I'd lose the ability to use it on full frame if I want to. So kinda tough.

I wound up getting an SL1 (love it, btw!) and have that 35 f/2 IS USM. Personally, I find that that lens mates well to the SL1. It's not as small as the pancakes, of course, but doesn't dwarf the SL1, and between the speed and IS I have no issues hand-holding indoors without flash. Since you already have it, cheap option to try it out for a while!

I actually suspect the proportions of lens to body of this combination is similar to a larger body with a 24-70 type lens. Haven't looked up measurements to see, though.

I use my 60D with the Sigma 8-16 and the EF-S 18-200 as my travel kit. I spent 7 weeks traveling around Greece exclusively with the EFS 18-200 and it was only in the Basilica Cistern that I wished for a faster lens (like a 1.4, not a 2.8... there is small difference between f2.8 and f3.5 at 18 mm).

MakisM1 wrote in post #17348987
I use my 60D with the Sigma 8-16 and the EF-S 18-200 as my travel kit. I spent 7 weeks traveling around Greece exclusively with the EFS 18-200 and it was only in the Basilica Cistern that I wished for a faster lens (like a 1.4, not a 2.8... there is small difference between f2.8 and f3.5 at 18 mm).

Sorry for OT, but is the Basilica Cistern not located in Turkey rather than in Greece? If so, I had a bear of a time trying to get anything decent there.

Thinking small in size and easy for travel the first thing that comes to mind for me are the two pancakes 24mm and 40mm or 38.4 and 64 based on a 1.6 conversion. These would be light and excellent for travel also provide a couple good prime lenses. If there is more room for a zoom then there are also some very good choices available. My favorite is the 15-85mm for walk around, but I believe there is a 17-40 that is much faster that may serve you better depending on what you intend to shoot.

My answer to both of the OP's questions would be that my travel kit (when I want to prioritize lightness above other considerations) is my T2i with the 15-85 and both the 24 and 40 pancakes.

I personally think the 50 1.8 II has AF that is just too crappy to want to deal with at any time, esp. on travel, but that's just me.

I could see myself replacing the two pancakes for only the 35 f2 IS, but in that case I wouldn't be bringing a third lens. If you want to, I could see why a 85 1.8 could make sense, but even then personally I feel it's quite long on crop for more casual applications (I can't see such a focal length being easy to use in museums or in a busy place like the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul).

The Dark Knight wrote in post #17331935
After some thinking, I've decided to stick with my SL1 instead of switching to mirrorless for a travel kit. I felt like the size savings would be minimal and not worth the cost savings. I have a couple of lens "upgrades" I'm considering, and have some questions.

(1) Zoom lens - reach vs speed: Generally for a travel zoom type lens, do folks here like to go for reach (something like an 18-200) or speed (17-50 2.8)? What do you find more useful and also compact/light enough for travel? A Sigma 17-70 f/2.8 -4 also seems like a decent midway solution.

(2) Fast prime - Something in the 30-50mm (35mm equiv) range. I picked up an EF-S 24mm pancake and it's really good for the price, but I'm thinking I might want something a bit faster that also remains fairly compact on the SL1. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I travel with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 (original) and 55-250IS and maybe a Tamron 17-50

When I had a crop DSLR, it was the 15-85, plus the 24 IS USM, & 40 pancake. Great little setup. 15 mm was just wide enough, 85 was just long enough. Goldilocks setup.

Now I have the EOS M, 11-22, 22 pancake, & 40 pancake. Even better. The 35 f/2 IS would be nice, & I'd perhaps like the 85 1.8. Getting a tad bulky though. Hopefully Canon sees fit to release a fast 35, & 50 in M mount. That would be an awesome travel kit.