China vacation- what lenses should I buy?

Hi there,

I am jumping in with both feet into the DSLR plyground and I need advice on what kind of lenses to buy. As mentioned in the subject line, I'm vacationing in China in June for three weeks and I want to buy my equipment for this and future vacation trips. I've read a lot on camera's and lenses and I don't mind paying the money to get excellant results.

For the China vacation, we are going on a 13 day tour - four cities plus a three night cruise down the Yangze River (three gorges dam project). I imagine that I'll need various types of lenses for this trip, but I would prefer I limit it to 2-3 lenses, since I will be traveling a lot and I don't want to haul a lot of gear around. This is my dilema.

20D or 30D body only
580EX flash
Rover II AW bag
1 x 4GB or 2 x 2GB Ultra II CF cards
filters for lenses

Now the lens question

Should I go with

24-70mm f/2.8L
70-200 mm f/4L

or

17-40mm f/4L
50mm f/1.4
70-200mm f/4L

Basically the same price for both sets of lens. I would prefer to go with Canon and "L" lenses because I don't mind paying for quality. I've read that the 24-70mm may not be wide enough for buildings, which there will be many of in China.

Ron

You want wider than 24mm on a crop body. Look more at set 2. Or get set 1 and add an UWA.

Yeah, I'd go with a UWA (I'd recommend the Tokina 12-24), the 24-70L, and the 70-200/4. If that's pushing it for you budget-wise, you could probably replace the 24-70L with the Tamron 28-75 or the Sigma 24-70 Macro.

Also, don't forget a tripod. You can get great night shots in Shanghai, Beijing, and HK.

17-40mm f/4L
50mm f/1.4
70-200mm f/4L

go with that. youll be disapointed when you dont have a wideangle.

Since you said you don't mind paying up, I'd suggest set 1 with a UWA like some previous posters mentioned. I don't think you'll need the 50mm prime to be honest.

I have tested several of my lenses in Canada, USA, Europe, Caribbean and Mexico.
They all seem to work comparably well in those geographic regions and climes. However, can not vouch for China, never been there.

Set two is much more balanced for the kind of trip you're talking about. The 17-40 will be a good general lens that you can carry all day and won't feel too intrusive for town and city candids, the 50mm for lower light and portraits is great and the 70-200 for when you need decent distance. I wouldn't take a flash unless you will need it on a regular basis. The 50mm 1.4 and on board should cover most uses. If you use filters get good quality. The 30D is a lovely camera but so is the 20D so personal choice. I'd get the 30D unless you get a great deal on the 20D. With the CF's don't put all your shots in one card. Get 4 x 1GB. If you are a slow shooter then you will be fine. If you are more point and shoot and fill the buffer every shot then you will need a hard drive storage device or lots of CF's.

For where you are going you'll need more wide then tele. Youshould consider a FF sensor where your wide is wide. With that you can go with jut two lens instaed of three. For the cost your should consider the Sigma/Tamron option 24/28-70/75f2.8 and the Sigma 70-200f2.8. There will instance where flash is not an option the faster f2.8 tele zoom will come in handy. But if money not a problem 5D w/ 24-70f2.8L & 70-200f28L IS & 1.4X/2X TC is the way I would go.

if this is my trip. 1dsmk2 with my 24-70 & 70-200 + 1.4x

... and if it's still the OP's trip and you have their budget?

Joe is you want to take buildings etc this is what I highly recommend for your "setup"

20D or 30D - both great bodies
580 ex - not sure your going to need this much because it looks like most of your pics will be outdoors but your choice
Rover II AW bag - dont know much about bags
2 x 2GB Ultra II CF cards - HIGHLY recommend the 2 x 2GB rather then 1x4G

Lens
24-70mm f/2.8L
70-200 mm f/4L
EFS 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 although this is not in your budget i recommend this lens for ANY wide angled shot its a great lens for the price.

OP's didn't say what the budget was.....

Cannon 10-22/Sigma 10-20
Canon 24-70L/Sigma 24-70/Tamron 28-75
Canon 70-300IS (make sure it can take sharp verticle shots at 300mm) or 70-300 DO IS

5D
24-105 IS
Lowepro Slingshot 100 AW

Get to know your camera and one lense before investing in more. In a few months you will know more about what you want from your own experience.

The Rower is a fantastic bag but its a monster to lug around on vacation. I suggest the slingshot for easy camera access and compact design.

don't recall seeing anyone else saying welcome

so welcome here (with your first post)
you will find the advice well worth the time

looks like we are doing the same trip
but wont cross paths because we are going first two weeks of May

I had the same considerations
my bag is the Lowepro Mini trekker
and will hold more than what you say you are planning to bring

my plan is the following
which is simpler for me since I own the lenses already
my EFs 17-85 for walk around
EFs 10-22 for the wide shots
EF 70-200 F4 for some range
add the 1.4 TC incase I need more distance
50mm F1.8 in case I run out of light

have 1gig and 2 2gig cards
plus bringing an Epson P2000 for the additional storage (plan to shoot large Jpeg and RAW)

probably a heavier load than I should carry

the question in my mind was whether I should bring my Elan 7 as a spare body in case I have camera troubles
don't have a second digital SLR body (just a P&S)

share some of your shots when you return...