NY City and lenses

I am traveling to New York City in June, and wanted to run my photo plan by you all, validate my thoughts or adjust them while I still have time.

When actually in Manhattan, I am planning on carrying a Canon 28-105mm as my main lens on my Rebel XT. I was going to take my Sigma 10-20mm as a wide angle second lens.

My goal in the trip is to sight see. Photography is secondary. I want to travel light, I have a 80-400mm, but I don't want to carry it the whole time if there is little chance of needing that kind of reach in town (it is definitly going out on long island with me!)

I am limited on space, I get a couple square inches in the "family" bag, since I am going to be with a 4 year old and a 11 month old.

I would imagine that I will want wider rather than longer, but I have only briefly been in the city before.

Kevin

I think you will find that the 10-22 will be the primary lens in Manhattan. You will find 28mm just isn't wide enough on the crop body for NYC. Having said that, you still need the 28-105 as well (my guess would be that you will use it 20% of the time) so take them both. NYC is a fabulous city and make sure you take the time to visit B&H while there

Thanks for your quick reply. My initial throughts were the opposite. I imagined that I would be very glad that I brought along the 10-20, but mainly use the 28-105mm. That would be interesting since the whole 10-20mm range is new to me and I have not practiced mcuh with it. Seems like if I hit an object at some angles it will heavily distort the image. With the kids and the wife in tow, I might not get to shoot, then reposition and shoot, over and over again. Gotta make the first couple shots count.

The 28-105 I was thinking would be handy for family snapshot type shots, I am hoping. I had an old promaster 28-105, and I am banking that the USM on the new canon will pay off big in keeper shots.

I was planning to work with just the 2 lenses in Downtown Cleveland, to practice a bit (since they are both new) I doubt it would be a realistic substitute though. Plus the snow just does not seem to want to go away.

Practicing with the 10-22 is a great idea....when I first got mine I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to keeping it level and consequently a lot of the images (especially of buildings) had way too much distortion. Below is an example of why you need both lenses, the first of the Empire State building at 10mm and the second at 105mm from the top of the building.

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Good idea to leave the 80-400 behind. You will be surprised with the usage the wide angle gets.

Capture with the eye and then focus thru the camera Enjoy the city....

If I remember correctly B&H is closed on Saturdays (and a lot of other days too). Call before you spend the cab fare.

Check and see what the Mentor Series is going to shoot. Some great shots can be had if you "Mentor" their itinerary on your own dime.

http://www.popphoto.co​m …-city-june-8-10-2007.html

Some good advise. Thank you all. Nice pics too. I spent just about all that I can spend on the camera recently, and a little too much. It is best for the marraige that I stay away form B&H.

Definitely leave behind the 80-400 - not much to catch unless you want shots of pigeons! 10-22 is a great idea, especially if you want architectural type shots. Central Park has a zoo, but nothing that you couldn't see in any other zoo. Bringing both lenses is a smart plan in my opinion. Have fun there - if you want any suggestions, pm me, I work in Rockefeller Center and my wife is from Cleveland.

If your people watching (and shooting) the 10-20 may be too wide, and the 28-105 would be nice. For the parks and buildings wide would be good. With two very little ones with you it will be hard to get many shots in. Personally if it was me and I didn't want anything but 4x6 prints I'd consider bringing a P&S instead. Then you have less to worry about, and more time to have fun. If you want great shots you can blow up then bring the rebel.

sugarzebra wrote in post #3020330
Practicing with the 10-22 is a great idea....when I first got mine I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to keeping it level and consequently a lot of the images (especially of buildings) had way too much distortion. Below is an example of why you need both lenses, the first of the Empire State building at 10mm and the second at 105mm from the top of the building.

Those are excellent shots. I love the shot of the Flatiron building. Was that from the top of the Empire State Building? Through glass? Through a fence? Did you use a tripod?

Also, it's not at 10mm, it's 16, right?

mark

The 10-20 and 28-105 will be perfect. Things can be so close(and crowded), you won't have the luxury to back up.

80-400 will be good for candid shots, as most people don't want their picture taken. The only thing I bring my tele out for in the city is for taking pics of dogs and people

B&H is closed from 5:30 or Friday to Sunday morning, since they're a Jewish company. Nobody beats their prices and variety though

have fun!

MDJAK wrote in post #3022450
Those are excellent shots. I love the shot of the Flatiron building. Was that from the top of the Empire State Building? Through glass? Through a fence? Did you use a tripod?

Also, it's not at 10mm, it's 16, right?

mark

Yes its through the fence on top of the Empire State building, taken at 105mm (with 24-105). I cant recall the shutter speed, probably about 1/2 sec.

sugarzebra wrote in post #3022780
Yes its through the fence on top of the Empire State building, taken at 105mm (with 24-105). I cant recall the shutter speed, probably about 1/2 sec.

Shutter speed was 1/4.