Travel Lens 85 1.8 or 70-200 F4 SE Asia

If you had a choice between a new 85 1.8 or a used 70-200 F4 as a travel lens what would you choose. I'm heading out to South-East Asia and would like to know what would be the best choice. I only want to take one lens.

I like the zoom ability on the 70-200 but the price, size and color concern me.

85 1.8 sounds amazing but might have to do a little moving around to get picture in frame. Might be a problem in Cambodia (lots of undiscovered land mines!)

So far my kit is a 350D, 17-40, and a nifty right now. I'd prefer to spend less than more.

Advice from anyone who has been to the region would be great.

I'd take both. The 85 is very small and you can fit it in a jacket's pocket.

If you really really can't take both, then I'll take the 70-200. You will need the zoom.

edit: re-read your post. Are you looking to get one of these lenses for the trip? If that's the case, then get the zoom.

Get the 70-200, but if you really think you'll need the f1.8, pick up a 50 f1.8. $65 can't be much of a setback.

I am not sure which specific areas you are going to visit or what types of photographs you will be taking but when I visited Ankor Wat in Cambodia and Ayutthaya in Thailand visiting many temples and ruins I found I used my wide angle mostly but about 25% were in the 70-200mm range.

One caution is to watch out for condensation on your lenses (going from warm moist outdoors into overly air conditioned buildings/cars). Have a good trip.

Zooms are always more versatile, I'd definitely take the 17-40 and the 50. whether or not you really need 70-200mm is debatable - personally as a travel lens I would not need that much reach - but it does make a great lens for street candids etc. and it is not that big or that intrusive really. Not heavy either.

I don't personally think a long fixed focal length lens like the 85 - it's really a telephoto on a crop camera - would be versatile enough to be worth taking.

If you are worried about weight the sigma 17-70 is a great focval range and great quality. and if you are worried about changing lenses in unhealthy environments, this is one time a superzoom 18-200 or even 28-300 is worth considering.

I dont think you would need an 85mm 1.8. The nifty will be fine, just move up a few steps.

The 17-40 will probably be on your camera at least 75% of the time. The zoom will be nice for candids, especially when you are in Phnom Penh.

Have a safe trip, and stay on the roads so you dont have to worry about any landmines!

I don't think the 85mm adds enough value unless you are heavily into portraits ... but if you want to take another lens to what you have then the 70-200mm f4 should be useful now and again. Me, I'd rather take a single lens for day to day walkaround and widey like the 17-70mm DC, which is great, and then a 30mm 1.4 for low light. Otherwise, I'd just take the 17-40mm L and 50mm in your shoes. Both will do a great job. I've used that combo for travelling around and works fine.

Take the 70-200. There is no contest. As everyone else has said, take a wider angle as well... you'll use it a lot.

As for your concerns - I can understand price and size, but I dont see why color is an issue. I don't think people's reactions or safety will be different for a white lens compared to a black lens.

As for landmines - if you stay in the marked paths, you'll be ok. The tourist areas have been reasonaby well cleared.

Vandit

My primary reason I don't want to carry around the 70-200 essentially to deal with theft. This is a region of the world where theft is common and those types of lenses often signal high quality. I might be more prone to getting my camera and lenses stolen.

looking at my photos from the area (and my travel photos as a whole) - most of them are with the 24-70, some with wide angle/fisheye. but i do have several portraits taken with the 135L and 85 1.8. i don't really travel with my 80-200 anymore as i just wasn't using it (unless i was shooting local sport).

agatep wrote in post #2223710
My primary reason I don't want to carry around the 70-200 essentially to deal with theft. This is a region of the world where theft is common and those types of lenses often signal high quality. I might be more prone to getting my camera and lenses stolen.

I understand your concerns, as I have been around all Asia travelling on my own, not in organized tours and/or expensive western type hotels. (Actually, I would have the same concerns while travelling everywhere. Europe or America are not necessarily "safer", they seem so, because they are more "familiar" to western people.)

It is not only about getting your gear stolen, but about your own personal safety as well, not to mention comfort, so I like to travel light and with a kit that is the less expensive and conspicuous as possible, without compromising quality. (I am a photographer, so a point & shoot or camera phone is unfortunately not enough for me...)

My travel kit (if I travel for personal reasons) is the 17-40L on a 20D, and the 85 f1.8 in my bag or pocket. I think the 85 mm lens significantly adds to the reach without the need to carry a heavy and conspicuous lens.

The 17-40L and 85 f1.8 on a 20D or other crop camera is a great combo, great image quality, small, light, good DOF control for candids and details, built-in flash for fill-in, etc.

I hardly ever missed the gear I leave at home, even though I usually come back with hundreds or even thousands of pictures. Just take a good set of filters, particularly a polarizer, and you will be happy with the results.

Besides, you will sleep better during your trip -if you are thinking about these issues it means that they do concern you- and therefore you will enjoy your trip much more.

I think the perfect combination would be the 17-55 IS and the 70-200 f/4 but you don't want to buy all new lenses and I understand you concern regarding the possibuility of theft.
I like the suggestion of the 17-40L with the 85 f/1.8. Even the 17-40L with the 50 f/1.4 would be a nice combination.
Traveling light is so much more pleasurable than lugging around lots of gear. Sure, there will undoubtedly be some times when you see something and think to yourself, "Damn, I really wish I had that longer lens with me right now!" But overall you'll have what you need for lots of great shots.

agatep wrote in post #2223710
My primary reason I don't want to carry around the 70-200 essentially to deal with theft. This is a region of the world where theft is common and those types of lenses often signal high quality. I might be more prone to getting my camera and lenses stolen.

There is a lot less crime in SE Asia than in your typical American city. If you keep your stuff on you, you'll be absolutely fine. The people of most SE Asian countries are some of the nicest, mellowest folks you'll meet. Theft should be the least of your concerns.

And white vs black makes no difference when it comes to likelihood of being stolen. Take my word for it - I live and shoot in this part of the world.

Vandit

vkalia wrote in post #2224749
There is a lot less crime in SE Asia than in your typical American city.
Take my word for it - I live and shoot in this part of the world.
Vandit

I agree with you, as I commented in my previous post. I remember once in India I even had a young boy running behind me to give me back the bag (full of expensive gear, passport and money) that I left behind in a shop.

Actually, I had my camera and lenses (a 70-200 btw) stolen once, and it was from my apartment in Melbourne, Australia, not in SE Asia. The scariest experience I ever had was in the streets of New York, not in Bangkok.

There are all sorts of people everywhere, but it does make a difference to live somewhere (as you do in India, or I do in Europe) or to go there without knowing really where you are and what you are doing. Reading a Lonely Planet guide is no substitute to direct experience and you are definitely more prone to trouble, particularly if you are alone.

In my view, carrying big cameras and lenses, particularly big white ones (or expensive jewelry), does attract more attention, and that is precisely what you may not want to do, not only in Asia but everywhere you are as a traveller.

vkalia wrote in post #2224749
There is a lot less crime in SE Asia than in your typical American city. If you keep your stuff on you, you'll be absolutely fine. The people of most SE Asian countries are some of the nicest, mellowest folks you'll meet. Theft should be the least of your concerns.

And white vs black makes no difference when it comes to likelihood of being stolen. Take my word for it - I live and shoot in this part of the world.

Vandit

Agreed. Not sure why people are mentioning the weight of the 70-200 f/4, that thing is pretty darn light.

The white lens wont attract any more attention than a black lens. In fact, a black lens on a black camera would look more expensive to them. If you are still concerned, take a long sock and cut it to fit the lens.

You shouldnt really be concerned about safety, it is very unlikely that someone is going to try to take anything from you, they arent really known for that. They would rather try to rip you off while you are shopping, or negotiating a price for a taxi ride.

That being said, most thefts occur right in your hotel/guest house room. If you are going to leave the room, always take your camera with you.

Good luck, and if you need any more travel advice re: Cambodia, you can shoot me a pm.