Talley wrote in post #18391794
So I have the 24-70 Art lens showing up and this will quickly become my main video lens and vacation lens. I would prefer to have a 2.8 zoom w/ a good bounce flash look over a non flashed 1.4 look during vacations. My 85A is NOT a vacation lens period. But I normally take the 50 to handle those needs. With the repurchase of the 16-35 and 24-70 I'm thinking of offloading the 24 and 50 to offset the cost but mostly I just don't like having too many lenses because I just don't use them all.
So for vacation I will always take the 16-35 F4 IS but in addition to would you take the 24-70 or the 50 or both?
That's really subjective.
I used to roll fast primes every where. Now, when we're on a trip, or an event, vacation, park, etc, I'd rather have my 17-40L and an ETTL/HSS flash. I don't bother with longer focal lengths on trips with the family, because generally, I'm not looking to exclude the environment, rather, I'd rather get as much as I can. I thought about picking up a 24-70 (the F4L IS specifically, I'd rather have IS over one stop of focal-ratio personally), but ultimately I'm more often with my family, not just off in the distnace doing photojournalism, I like to do the activities too, so ultrawide lets you do it and be in it too. Also, less is more, in terms of weight, bulk, managing stuff, things to drop, etc. The other lens I use is often the 35 F2 IS (because of the 4 stop IS, very handy over aperture).
The above is in the context of portrait while on vacation with your family though. If you're on vacation and the environment is what you're photographing, then I'd take longer focal lengths. But for specific portrait while on vacation, I'd go ultrawide to get your family and the environment together, as that completes the story/memory, rather than just a blurry background image with a family member but you have to tell someone where you were because they just can't tell.
For your kit, I'd take the 16-35 F4L IS and a flash.
Especially in low ambient light, I'd rather have ultrawide and 4 stop IS. You'll get sharper photos at that focal length with IS helping and even motion blur is less obvious at ultrawide focal lengths. ISO shouldn't be a concern at all (assuming flash isn't used sometimes when it's not appropriate to the situation/environment).
Now, I do often take my 35 F2 IS on trips, just for some specific portraits, specifically to be able to put the flash and the larger lens away, and go with a very small slim 5D + 35 F2 IS, which I enjoy and can handle all the light situations no problem with the kids while on a trip.
I often just take my EOS-M and 22mm F2 STM. Small, simple, touch screen, so anyone can use it, with the wee 90EX flash for basic close range fill. Works great. Dirt cheap. Don't care if it takes a dive. I do get tired of my 5D+17-40+flash being big and heavy if it's getting in the way of me participating in the activities and being in the photos with my girls and being on vacation too, I don't always want to just document it and not be involved.
Very best,
50mm Art Only
