Travel Photography Kit

Hi All,
I just wanted to get feedback on a travel photography kit that i am planning on taking to Japan for the Winter.

Basically i feel as though i am lacking on the short focal length prime end of my setup and the long end simoutanoulsy but can only afford 1 additional lens. Because i always seem to shoot only at the wide end @ 24mm or go long at 105mm on the L, not very much in between. So its either UWA lens like a 24mm L or 135mm L long end that would compliment my current setup.

BTW i am not all that interested in telephotos main aim of this game is primes. I'm a sucker for fast primes that is.

My current kit consists of:
5D Mark II
24-105L
50mm 1.8 II
580EX II

Backup body will be a:
EOS 3 35mm Film Body
I'll be stocking Delta 3200 B&W Film, Fuji Velvia 50 and 100, and Fuji Provia 100F
& Misc support accessories Plus a Macbook Pro

I intend to place the 50mm 1.8II on the EOS 3 or perhaps pick up a UWA or Long prime for it, not too sure yet.

This will all be packed into a Lowepro Primus AW, i'll also tag team with a small Crumpler 5 million dollar bag, in case i decide not to bring the whole kit and want to go light as can be whilst i'm out and about.

Suggestions Feedback..
Cheers!!

I would trade the 24-105 for a 24-70. Buy either a 70-200L 2.8 or 16-35L. Consider renting some lenses since Japan is freaking amazing

If I was going to japan I would either rent or buy the following kit since it would offer me the most versatility,price,weig​ht factor,usablity,lowlig​ht,ect:

5d mark II
16-35L
24-70L
70-200L 2.8 (add IS if needed, and if weight would not be a problem)

Optional: 1 larger focal prime(300mm,400mm,ect)

This kit would be good for travel,photo-journalism,and portraits =]. Even have video if needed.
I would take 2.8/versatility over fixed focal lengths/1.8 and lower apertures. If you must have primes maybe substitute in a 50mm 1.4, 28mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8 for the 70-200L if you don't want a tele lens.

70-300DO? I've seen plenty of people with a 24-105 + 70-300DO setup very compact. Maybe replaces the 580 with a 430 to save space. Or the 135, as you said is nice. The 70-200/4 would also compliment well.

What are you planning on taking pictures of over here???

Knowing that would help! Might even be able to take a few snaps out of the window to show you

Thanks guys, welcome feedback thats for sure.

Sky44 I'll be travelling to Yudanaka = snow monkeys, Nikko = temples and general landscape scenics, Hakuba = skiing and snowboarding action shots, Tokyo = general street, Sumo wrestling, shrines, various, Kyoto and Nara = landscape, street, temples shrines, Osaka = general street, landscape, seaworld, Oita & Saiki, Seascapes, general travel.
Ummm... i'm sure there are plenty more!! hahaha but you get the drift...

70-300 is all you might want.

what about the 14L?

gambit wrote in post #6942304
"...i feel i am lacking on the short focal length prime end of my setup and the long end simultaneously but can only afford 1 additional lens...."
"...i always seem to shoot only at the wide end @ 24mm or go long at 105mm on the L... / ... So its either UWA lens like a 24mm L or 135mm L..."
"...i am not all that interested in telephotos main aim of this game is primes."
My current kit consists of:
5D Mark II
24-105L
50mm 1.8 II
580EX II
I intend to place the 50mm 1.8II on the EOS 3 or perhaps pick up a UWA or Long prime for it, not too sure yet.

Ok, well...it's really dark here a lot at the moment. Don't know where you're coming from, but it gets light around 7am and dark by 5pm so summarising your list of things to photograph:

1) snow monkeys/skiing/snowboa​rding/Sumo/Sea World = fast tele = 135L
2) temples/landscapes/cit​yscapes/street shots/general travel = reasonable zoom or UWA.

You've got the 24-105L f4, which would probably do the trick on your 5DMkII so I'll recommend the 135L. If you can stretch to a 1.4x TC (even a nice 'n' cheap Kenko, which I own and have no real issues with poor IQ when photographing real subjects as opposed to optical test sheets) you'll max your 135 without any major problems in loss of aperture.

Have a great time, no matter what you get.

thanks sky appreciate it, ill definitely be soaking it all up!! I cant wait!

gambit wrote in post #6942500
Thanks guys, welcome feedback thats for sure.

Sky44 I'll be travelling to Yudanaka = snow monkeys, Nikko = temples and general landscape scenics, Hakuba = skiing and snowboarding action shots, Tokyo = general street, Sumo wrestling, shrines, various, Kyoto and Nara = landscape, street, temples shrines, Osaka = general street, landscape, seaworld, Oita & Saiki, Seascapes, general travel.
Ummm... i'm sure there are plenty more!! hahaha but you get the drift...

That's a broad range of activities.

When traveling to Japan, I always take my 24-105L with the 5D, but also carry a 28 f/1.8 for shooting about the town at dusk, and for inside shrines/temples, which have very low ambient light.

For your monkey and ski shots, the 135 will be too short. Get the 70-200 f/2.8IS and a 1.4x teleconverter. I mounted one on a 40D last December to shoot family and relatives during a ski trip to Hokkaido, and returned with some memorable photos.

BTW, I applaud you for continuing to use your film camera (my EOS3 has been gathering dust the several years).

Thanks Eori, good point on the 70-200, i'll have to suss that out, i'm looking forward to the trip and definitely looking forward to working the EOS 3.

When I'm traveling I bring 3 lenses. The Sigma 10-20, Canon 24-105 (that you already have) and Canon 70-200 F4IS.
Since you have a 5D I would think you miss some tele. So I would opt for a quality (lightweight) lens like the 70-200F4IS. It surely is a great travel companion. I traveled with a Sigma 100-300 F4 before and due to the weight and size I didn't use it as much as the 70-200F4IS (also had the 70-200F2.8IS that I didn't like) for travel and the image quality of the Canon is much better.

Here's a link with photos from India (I've just returned) with these 3 lenses:
http://www.pbase.com/t​vw/india

I do mostly travel photography as a hobby. When I go for the 70-200 on my 5D I still find it shorter than I'd like. The 24-105 is quite often wide enough, but not always. I find myself wanting wider more than more reach. One simple solution for you would be a wider lens and a cheap crop body, or extender.

Thanks for the feedback on a 70-200mm that would be a very useful lens to have.. i feel as though i want the reach.

gambit wrote in post #6950970
Thanks for the feedback on a 70-200mm that would be a very useful lens to have.. i feel as though i want the reach.

Thought I'd drop in again and let you know the first snows hit Kyoto on 26th Dec - Kinkakuji looked very pretty with snow on top of the golden roof!
Anyway, I see various POTN members have been recommended zooms...
thought you wanted a prime(!) but if you're tempted, think you need to either increase your budget or decide exactly where your priorities lie.
If it's "snow monkeys", you might even be cursing a 70-200mm as being too short....if it's indoors, especially at shrines, then even the 17-40L probably would struggle....
These are both affordable alternatives to the 135L, but not really as good in the long term (IMHO!!!!!!) considering you requested a prime.
But if you can stretch, then I'll revise my suggestion to a 16-35L (and/or 70-200L f/4 IS....and just hope those monkeys are feeling friendly and come close enough - which, thinking about it, they usually do!!!)