Which Lens Did You Take on Vacation?

Instead of asking the dreaded "Which lens should I take?" question, I'm asking which lens did you take on vacation? How did you feel about your choice later? Great pictures and you had a blast? Great pictures and a sore back? Meh pictures and you didn't even notice your camera bag? And the worst possible result, you spent the whole trip wishing you had that lens you left at home.

I'll start: This spring, I went on a wildflower hike on the Little River Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I took my Canon 70D, 10-18, 100L Macro, and my iPhone. It was awesome. Great photos of the flowers, the water, and the old vacation homes near the start of the trail. A few years ago, I took the Canon T1i, 15-85mm, 50mm f/1.8 mk II, and the Tamron 18-270 with me to Europe. I won't say regret (Non, je ne regrette rien!), but I learned a lesson: I prefer the 15-85 in the city, I hate switching lenses, and won't take two heavy zooms with me again.

What about you?

Hi Karen:

My standard vacation gear is:

5DIII, grip left at home
17-40
24-105
100-400

On most vacations I use one lens more than the others, but the lens that is used most has not been consistent.

A Florida vacation in winter - the 70D plus the Sigma 120-400 (I did not have the 100-400 L II then) for Everglades NP, and the 15-85 for everything else. Never wanted anything else.

A Paris vacation in May - the 6D with the 24-105. Nothing else, and never wanted anything else.

Voaky999 wrote in post #17592919
Hi Karen:

My standard vacation gear is:

5DIII, grip left at home
17-40
24-105
100-400

On most vacations I use one lens more than the others, but the lens that is used most has not been consistent.

Wow Don! Here I am saying I don't like to carry two heavy zooms and you've got three! I feel like a wimp. Those are great lenses, though.

repete7 wrote in post #17592992
Wow Don! Here I am saying I don't like to carry two heavy zooms and you've got three! I feel like a wimp. Those are great lenses, though.

Of course you probably have more fun, my vacations resemble a boot camp training program.

heading to yellow stone and grand teton soon, I'll bring my 5D3 without grip, 11-24, 24-70, 150-600, and maybe my Rokinon 14mm and/or 8mm fisheye mostly for star photos. Or I'll bring my 100mm macro, since the 11-24 covers all that, just doesn't open quite as much.
Also wired remote or camranger, a vari-ND if I can't fit my HiTech ND filters, have to pack some clothing too, LOL

travel tripod, iPad, my pocket camera, probably my Sony rx100II.

Hi.

I went to Turkey last year (from the UK) beach type holiday with my better half and 1 year old year.

I wanted to go light as first time flying with our daughter, plus I knew I'd want some nice round the pool shots but didn't want the extra attention from my two L zooms. I also don't like leaving expensive gear in the room.

So I just took my 5D and 35mm F2. Felt very strange not having any flexibility!! If I was planning some landscape type sessions I would have probably taken more. But the main focus on this holiday was our daughter, and I got some awesome photos of her by/in the pool, which is exactly what I wanted ☺

Last trip (WDW) I took the 18-270 for when I was at the Animal Kingdom only. I used the 30mm 1.4 for dark rides and night, and the 17-50 2.8 for everything else. I did not carry all three lenses at any one time.

Heya,

Went to the Carolinas both the fall & winter at separate points, with a little APS-C and an 18-55 lens. Was more than satisfied with using it for everything from water falls, streams, mountains, trees, indoor shots of the gang, etc. Didn't put a lot of emphasis on the photography side of things, and just had it for memories, but it ended up being way more worthwhile than a bunch of cellphone shots.

These days I just take my EOS-M instead and I'm actually happy with just the 22f2 pancake lens on it and nothing else.

Next month, going to Universal with a group of work friends, so will be taking my GoPro & EOS-M, GoPro for the water rides, EOS-M for the rest.

When I "vacation" weekly at the coast, I take a 600mm, and a wide angle... lol.

Very best,

My vacation camera is now a G15. It has a larger sensor and a faster lens than my previous vacation camera, the SX260HS. The G15 also has a hot-shoe.

THere have been time very recently I regretted carrying around my gear bag all day riding trains and only coming home with maybe 20 photos all day.
I also regret using my Iphone 5 for taking photo, as the image quality is unacceptable for 90% of the shot.

Insert a 'middle ground' I bought a G7x! Specifically for travel.

I am hesitant on whether to take my 6D and prime to Europe next month and lug them around for great photos (first time to Europe)

Or take my G7x, get good photos, be free from a gear bag and just enjoy my trip.

Only regret would be the miss opportunity for 5-10 amazing photos I could not achieve with my G7x
(low light, thin dof)

I typically take everything I own. Unless flying.

We've driven to our vacation locations this past couple years so I take a full camera bag. I do leave a lens or two behind along with my backup body, though I really should take the 70D. A backup body won't do me much good at home.

might add, if I'd not be hoping for some wild life in Wyoming I'd not bring the 150-600, I'd only take the 11-24 and 24-70.

I'm from Germany and we go over to Europe often, I used to bring everything and use one lens, then I only took my G12 (new then) and was much happier. Last time we also went to Paris so I brought more, was a PITA to lug all that stuff around all day and I often ended up just taking the G12 with me for long days out and about. It was a family vacation, not a 'photo' vacation and even my small bag with the 5D3, 17-40 I borrowed, 24-70 and 70-200 got hot and heavy and I rarely switched from the 24-70 anyways.

Really depends on where I'm going and for what purpose. Wyoming is photography heaven, I'd bring everything if I could but weight is limited and any checked bag costs $50 one way.

Also consider what you usually prefer to shoot. I'm much more a fan of as wide as I can get than linger on the long end. I'd definitely bring a small pocket camera if you have one (or buy one), some place you can't bring a big bag and have to check it, and a long day of walking around some town in summer can make you hate your backpack

InfiniteDivide wrote in post #17593496
I am hesitant on whether to take my 6D and prime to Europe next month and lug them around for great photos (first time to Europe)

The 6D is made for European travel. However, you may want to use it with a zoom lens, as there is a big range of subjects to photograph, from architectural details on top of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to the Colosseum in Rome.