What lens to bring to New York

jms_uk wrote in post #7218672
when I went to NYC first time [Still had 20D back then] EF-S 10-22mm was on about 95% of the time.

Things are big in New York, you want to be able to capture it - especially architecture.

I was in Toronto this past Christmas and it was 17-40mm most of the time, as it is the widest lens in my lineup.

I second that tbh, had a Tokina 12-24 f/4 practically glued on the whole time

darksparkz wrote in post #7486479
I'm not so sure you'd have much space to use the 70-200, especially downtown. The 24L and 85L would be good at night to use.

Maybe you want to consider to dump the 24-105L and use the 17-40L and 85L in place of it, and if you do bring the 70-200, then you wouldn't need the 24-105L at all.

Thank you. So to conclude, you claim that bringing the 17-40, 24L and 85L is sufficient? I think that I will try to take out the 17-40 more the coming weeks and see how it influences my picture taking.

I just hope that switching lenses in NYC doesn't draw too much unwanted attention ...

Thanks again for you comments!

wem wrote in post #7485158
I have a similar question, but with different lenses.

I will be going for 10 days or so in the summer and the lenses I take to NYC, I would like to carry with me all day.

My arsenal at that time will be the the following:
5D mark II
17-40
24-105
24L II
70-200 F4 IS
85L II

It will be too heavy to carry around all day - and I don't think my GF will appreciate it either. I will be over there for 10 days, so the scenery will be quite diverse: high buildings in downtown Manhattan, Central Parc, people shots in suburbs, night shots, shots from Empire State Building (or Rockefeller Center), ...

I definitely want to take my 17-40 lens for the high building. I want some IS lens. So either the flexible 24-105 (that is not as sharp as the 70-200) or the very sharp 70-200 with more reach (but less flexible and draws attention to it). I don't think I would fancy carrying both ...

I also want to take (at least) one fast prime and I feel that the 24L II will be more diverse than the (rather heavy) 85L. On the other hand, the latter is great for people shots a bit further away and, well, I just feel bad leaving it at home ...

So I would leave 1 or 2 lenses at home ... Could you please help me choose which one(s)?

Perhaps you should look at a belt system - they leave your hands free, and distribute the weight nicely so you can pack a heap of gear all day and still feel comfortable.

I use the Think Tank skins and they are excellent.

When i will go there i will take:
1Ds3
16-35
24-70
70-200
100-400
50 1.4
100 macro

Tareq -

As a native to the area, I'd like to let you know that the buildings are extremely tall! Be prepared to shoot panos.......

Also, and I know this could be alittle offensive and if I offend, I apologize in advance, but I urge you also NOT to take any shots of the ground zero area.....

I was on the ferry for an errand for my husband, not long after 9/11, and there were tourists there snapping the approach of ground zero. To me it was sickening, and most native NY'ers feel the same. Again, I say this with the utmost respect for all photogs out there, but this is just some honest feelings about this issue, I just wanted to make you aware of that....

pigtailpat wrote in post #7500865
Tareq -

As a native to the area, I'd like to let you know that the buildings are extremely tall! Be prepared to shoot panos.......

Also, and I know this could be alittle offensive and if I offend, I apologize in advance, but I urge you also NOT to take any shots of the ground zero area.....

I was on the ferry for an errand for my husband, not long after 9/11, and there were tourists there snapping the approach of ground zero. To me it was sickening, and most native NY'ers feel the same. Again, I say this with the utmost respect for all photogs out there, but this is just some honest feelings about this issue, I just wanted to make you aware of that....

Hey my friend,

Thank you very much for your advice!

I know that buildings there are tall, in all cases i was training in Dubai, they have the tallest building in the world now, so i can handle this issue, so do you recommend me to bring my fisheye Sigma then? or my Siggy 12-24?

What is the ground zero area? What is there? what is the problem with the ground zero area?

Nistelrooydude wrote in post #7217008
17-55IS, I'd normally say the 24-105L IS, but the short end on the 17-55 will be much better for architecture than that on the 24-105.

Nistel summed it up nicely.
I was thinking the same.

The problem with the ground zero area is with feelings...You cannot believe what people experienced in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 here in New York. It is a permanent, lasting undercurrent to everyone in New York, and for native New Yorkers seeing tourists snap away at the area, and maybe not everyone agrees with me, but alot of people who live in New York and experienced 9/11 first hand, to them, it is extremely unpleasant and distasteful. I just urge caution, and to be aware of how painful this still is to so many people here...... It is an area that requires tact as a tourist, which many either they don't understand or don't care.. I have seen really crass things and behavior there....

That area is around the old trade center area, you won't miss it, it'll be huge..

I also urge you take all wide lenses anything wide you have....I also think St. Pat's is one place I would go if I were you (if you are into churches at all)... There's also the Trinity Church downtown that is a wonderful spot.... I worked 10 years in Manhattan, and know it well.....but don't forget downtown Brooklyn, which is another wonderful spot, and the court buildings on centre street in Manhattan (where 12 angry men was filmed and alot of films...)......

Also, you must be aware that because of 9/11, the city is much more heightened about what photos can be taken, photos of bridges and tunnels are now banned...I'm not sure about the Brooklyn Bridge..check that out...the Brooklyn Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, and it used to be you could walk down the bridge and take as many photos as you wanted, I am not sure if that has changed due to 9/11......Some of the official buildings might be banned as well - you must do a check of that and see what is and is not permitted now....

I hope this helps....

Pat

Tareq wrote in post #7500947
Hey my friend,

Thank you very much for your advice!

I know that buildings there are tall, in all cases i was training in Dubai, they have the tallest building in the world now, so i can handle this issue, so do you recommend me to bring my fisheye Sigma then? or my Siggy 12-24?

What is the ground zero area? What is there? what is the problem with the ground zero area?

pigtailpat wrote in post #7501017
The problem with the ground zero area is with feelings...You cannot believe what people experienced in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 here in New York. It is a permanent, lasting undercurrent to everyone in New York, and for native New Yorkers seeing tourists snap away at the area, and maybe not everyone agrees with me, but alot of people who live in New York and experienced 9/11 first hand, to them, it is extremely unpleasant and distasteful. I just urge caution, and to be aware of how painful this still is to so many people here...... It is an area that requires tact as a tourist, which many either they don't understand or don't care.. I have seen really crass things and behavior there....

That area is around the old trade center area, you won't miss it, it'll be huge..

I also urge you take all wide lenses anything wide you have....I also think St. Pat's is one place I would go if I were you (if you are into churches at all)... There's also the Trinity Church downtown that is a wonderful spot.... I worked 10 years in Manhattan, and know it well.....but don't forget downtown Brooklyn, which is another wonderful spot, and the court buildings on centre street in Manhattan (where 12 angry men was filmed and alot of films...)......

Also, you must be aware that because of 9/11, the city is much more heightened about what photos can be taken, photos of bridges and tunnels are now banned...I'm not sure about the Brooklyn Bridge..check that out...the Brooklyn Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, and it used to be you could walk down the bridge and take as many photos as you wanted, I am not sure if that has changed due to 9/11......Some of the official buildings might be banned as well - you must do a check of that and see what is and is not permitted now....

I hope this helps....

Pat

Thank you very much, Pat,
Sure that will help a lot!

To be honest i just will go to New York to visit a friend there, not interested in NY, i am mostly into landscapes and nature, and not into cities or urban and streets, but i will try new category in Photography this time maybe, so i will see what i will shoot there, but if i will face troubles there then i will stop taking photos if that help them, just i don't want problems, and i don't know where or who i should ask for permission to take photos here and there, worry if each one will tell me different story of what to shot and what not.

Tareq wrote in post #7500824
When i will go there i will take:
1Ds3
16-35
24-70
70-200
100-400
50 1.4
100 macro

That's going to be a heavy bag to carry around all day. Not to mention, about $13k worth of gear. If you're going to be carrying all that around, and swapping lenses out, just be careful. Your bag would be a tempting morsel for some opportunistic thief.

And to the OP, if I was only going to take one, I would go w/ the 17-55 as well (but I'd probably figure out a way to sneak the 50 in )

Mayor Bloomberg, if I recall correctly, even floated an idea to issue permits to tourists to take photos for a fee. That idea - I think - was never passed - although I am not sure........ I don't think it didn't pass the mustard because it would have hurt tourism in New York......

I know there is some central office in New York that can answer your questions regarding what is and is not permitted....living here though, never thought to look it up....

Have fun while in New York!

Pat

Tareq wrote in post #7501045
Thank you very much, Pat,
Sure that will help a lot!

To be honest i just will go to New York to visit a friend there, not interested in NY, i am mostly into landscapes and nature, and not into cities or urban and streets, but i will try new category in Photography this time maybe, so i will see what i will shoot there, but if i will face troubles there then i will stop taking photos if that help them, just i don't want problems, and i don't know where or who i should ask for permission to take photos here and there, worry if each one will tell me different story of what to shot and what not.

17-55 AND the nifty... i mean its muy pequeño so I am sure you could fit that in with the gear...

Mk1Racer wrote in post #7501139
That's going to be a heavy bag to carry around all day. Not to mention, about $13k worth of gear. If you're going to be carrying all that around, and swapping lenses out, just be careful. Your bag would be a tempting morsel for some opportunistic thief.

And to the OP, if I was only going to take one, I would go w/ the 17-55 as well (but I'd probably figure out a way to sneak the 50 in )

I am not crazy to carry that all at once outdoor, when i go shooting outdoor for landscapes or cityscape then i carry one camera and 2 or 3 lenses mostly.

pigtailpat wrote in post #7501153
Mayor Bloomberg, if I recall correctly, even floated an idea to issue permits to tourists to take photos for a fee. That idea - I think - was never passed - although I am not sure........ I don't think it didn't pass the mustard because it would have hurt tourism in New York......

I know there is some central office in New York that can answer your questions regarding what is and is not permitted....living here though, never thought to look it up....

Have fun while in New York!

Pat

Thank you very much, i will checkout that later!

Tareq wrote in post #7501321
I am not crazy to carry that all at once outdoor, when i go shooting outdoor for landscapes or cityscape then i carry one camera and 2 or 3 lenses mostly.

Glad to hear that.