Best Lens / Camera combo (2 weeks in Europe)

I Live in Europe, and have a 6D, and like you I like my primes, and for a holiday without doubt I'd leave them all at home. You'll be seeing lots of landscapes, interiors, and small narrow congested streets, so take a wide angle zoom, 16-35 or a 17-40, 9 times out of ten it'll be on your camera. If you have to have a prime, take a 40mm pancake, on a 6D it's a killer combo for street, and something with a bit more length for picking things out, possibly a 70-200. Personally, for my 'days out in Europe', mostly with the family, I take the 24-105L, a much maligned lens, and for the life of me, I don't know why, it covers the most useful range, and can be sharp as a tack.

As for security, it's as secure as anywhere in the world! The only common sense thing I've ever done is remove the 'CANON 6D' neck strap and substitute it for something more subtle ( and a LOT more comfortable! ), one advantage it that it stops you advertising that you're carrying something worth nicking, but rather it saves your holiday being ruined by camera nerds wanting to talk to you about cameras

Personally the second I see anyone with the OE CANON neck strap, no matter what model it's advertising or how much it costs, I know they don't spend much time using it....

Lbsimon wrote in post #17513197
I have a diametrically different approach. I really love shooting in Europe, and carrying one camera with one lens on a BlackRapid strap (or in a backpack) is really not important. And after the trip, after I process the photos, I use them for the wallpaper or screensaver, and I really enjoy looking at them - they remind me of the trip.

My wife carries her own DSLR, as she also likes photography, and after coming back home we like to compare our shots and help each other with selecting and processing them.

Ah! We've discovered the difference. My wife has no interest in photography. I found that out the one time I did carry an SLR on vacation.

maverick75 wrote in post #17513223
I'd go with the EOS 3 with the EVF, that 22mm is worth $500 by itself, bloody fantastic glass.

EOS 3 with an EVF? One of us is confused. Likely me. I thought that was a film body.

i'd rent a 16-35IS, and bring the 50L as well

but i voted for 6D

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17513253
EOS 3 with an EVF? One of us is confused. Likely me. I thought that was a film body.

EOS-M3

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #17513404
EOS-M3

Thanks. Guess I missed that. It is usually safe to assume that I am the confused party.

I am liking the feedback so far. Currently this is a 'once in a lifetime' trip to Europe.
It's funny I said the same thing about a 6 week trip to Japan, three years ago.
I have been living here in Japan for the past two years now... go figure.

I am surprised no one has any interest on the smaller cameras. It must be for good reason.
They are marketed as the 'do all' travel cameras, but there must be a reason no one votes for them.
The positive trade off in size / weight must be grossly outweighed by the low image quality.

I would not get the 40mm pancake, as I would rather prefer the 50L and that weight difference is of little concern.

As for the 100L Lens, You are correct, I would probably leave that at home.

I have considered getting the new 16-35L IS but the cost here in Japan is too high. About $1,250
Renting is not an option. And I would choose to buy it over rental cost anyway.
If I could afford the UWA I would consider only taking that lens, and raising the ISO and PP the images.
That is not an option as I would NOT want to sell my 24L to fund the purchase.

maverick75 wrote in post #17513223
I'd go with the EOS 3 ....

Maybe I'm old, but to me this meant something completely different than what you intended!

You're old Jake.

InfiniteDivide wrote in post #17513501
I am surprised no one has any interest on the smaller cameras. It must be for good reason.
They are marketed as the 'do all' travel cameras, but there must be a reason no one votes for them.
The positive trade off in size / weight must be grossly outweighed by the low image quality.
.

Bear in mind you're asking a bunch of DSLR nerds if they prefer a cheap compact or a DSLR...

Your best bet really you didn't mention for a one off trip, a second hand Sony A7R with some second hand voigtlander primes, great quality, minimal size/weight, all primes, then sell them on when you get home, cost virtually nothing.

I voted for 6D with primes. Based on your lens line up it sounds like you're a prime lens shooter, but if you can borrow / rent 24-105mm it will get you covered. If I had room for two lenses, second one would be a UWA.

I like a zoom with a wide range, like the 24-105 for architecture, and a fast prime for interiors. Museums and cathedrals can be dark inside, so you may want a fast prime. The 6D has good high ISO performance, so cathedral interiors can be photographed with the zoom.
I generally like primes, but a zoom is versatile when traveling. A 35 is a great compromise on a trip to Europe, but won't always be wide enough for architecture.
The essential question is where are you going and what do you want to photograph? This should determine your answer.
If you want something small, you might consider the SL1 with the kit lens - the 1855IS STM. If you won't be happy with any compromise in quality, you can bring a fast prime with you, like your 24L. That will do a lot to make up for the crop sensor.

While my European experience is limited to Rome, I don't recall a time when I needed 100mm length. Six days of The Vatican, 12 cathedrals around the city, four museums, Colosseum, The Forum, various piazzas, Spanish Steppes, and miles of waking around and everything was either WA or low light.

The 6D+24/50L will be brilliant.

I bought a camera to take photos of interesting places, and that definitely includes vacations. Take the 6D and find a good way to carry it. A slim belt system would be my personal preference. Second preference would be a mixture of bag and belt attachments for the lenses, third would be a Think tank retrospective 10 to comfortably carry all of your gear and some accessories. You're kit is a little heavy so best bet is to offload some of that gear to a belt.

Having traveled through SE asia, I comfortably carried two lenses, a prime and a zoom. Tripod would stay back, except for some night photography. it doesnt have to include zooms btw, I just happened to start photography a decade ago and was advised to shoot zooms, and did for many years. I happen to have a few big prints that are very high family value, that are hung up on a wall. Family group photo years back, printed fairly large 24" or so, with my older APS-C kit. I have one or two international trips coming up, and you bet I'm bringing the whole herd of gear. My gear probably weighs as much, but a lot more parts. I try to trim it down, but keep add to it