Ireland trip - bring both 17-40 and 24-70 and grip?

Hi guys...

I'm planning to go to Ireland in a month or so and want to pack fairly light, but also not chance missing a shot. I'm taking my 5D mkII.

A few questions -

1) I have a 24-70 2.8 L right now. I think it would help to be able to go a bit wider, so I'm planning to rent or buy the 17-40 L (was considering the 16-35, but it uses different size filters than what I have (77mm) so I can't really). Do you think it's worth it to bring both the 17- 40 and the 24-70?

2) I want to get an L plate (probably from RRS) for my camera but I'm not sure if I should get the one for the camera with the grip, or without. I'm thinking of not taking my grip with me, just to save a bit of weight, which means I should get the corresponding L bracket. But... when I'm not traveling I have the grip on all the time, which means I'd have to start taking it off whenever I want to use the L plate... So should I just get the L plate for the body with grip, and suck it up and take the grip with me on my trip?

3) I have a 70-200 2.8 L and an 85 1.2 L. Both heavy... I'm not planning to take the 70-200 due to weight and doubt I'd use it much. But the 85 L might be good for shots in the pubs and when it's darker, especially if I take only a 17-40 which is only F4... What do you think, is it worth it to bring it?

Any other suggestions? I'm up for renting or borrowing just about anything for this...

Thanks!

17-40 + 85 would be a good travel combo. Even if it's dark you've got great high ISO performance with the 5D2 so the f/4 won't be a problem. If you're used to shooting with a grip then get the L plate for the gripped body because you'll use it more after.

If you really want wider than 24mm, then there are not too many options really. The 17-40 is a great choice and not too heavy. I would then question whether it is worth carting the 24-70. You probably do need something longer too, so the 85 could be just the job. You would have to decide to shoot wide or telephoto when you put a lens on, but that's not too hard (my setup is something similar).

So I'm agreeing with The Moose. If you use the grip, you may get away without having to charge the batteries for the trip.

I would also buy the lens as they hold their value well and you won't have any trouble selling it if you didn't find it was for you.

Enjoy your trip.

Graham

the 85 may be a bit long to shoot with indoors. there seems to be a bit of overlap in the 17-40 and 24-70. Why not rent a 10-22 and bring the 24-70?

You only need a plate if you have a tripod with you, which you don't mention so I assume you aren't taking one. No way would I take a grip. Just a battery for spare and your charger. I'd take the 24-70 on a FF. Good width. If you really want wider then the 17-40 and 85mm will be nice. Of course, the 10-22mm recommendation above isn't relevant on FF.

If it were me I'd leave the boat anchor 24-70 at home.

NeutronBoy wrote in post #8345188
Why not rent a 10-22 and bring the 24-70?

Great idea!

That's a hard decision.

On a FF in Ireland I don't think you need wider than 24mm, are they lots of building close by why you would even need wider? I would think a 24 is wide enough for landscape photos?

Traveling light the 24-70 is no light lens. The 17-40 to use alone is not long enough as I find the 17-40mm too short on a crop sensor.

The 24-105 F4 would have been a great walk around to travel light, maybe you can borrow from a friend.

Good luck.

Leave the grip at home and take the charger...don't forget a plug adapter for the Irish mains. I disagree that you won't need wider than 24 so take the 17-40. If it were me with my kit, I'd take the 17-40 and 24-105 and would be set. You'll be facing both tight town areas and amazing vistas, both of which work best very wide. I hope the weather cooperates for you. I was very lucky on our trip.

BigDaveE wrote in post #8344515
Hi guys...

I'm planning to go to Ireland in a month or so and want to pack fairly light, but also not chance missing a shot. I'm taking my 5D mkII.

What part of Ireland will you be visiting ?

I will be visiting Irleand in the next 3 weeks too.

I'm really having a hard time deciding what I want to bring.

I have the 5D (non-mrk II) an I know I will bring my 16-35 and my 70-200. I just cant live without them.

Right now my problem is deciding what to do about my 28-135. I have long been wanting to replace it simply due to the fact that it is my most used lens and I would like to replace it with something that is faster and capable of producing a better quality image. But I'm stuck!! The 24-70 is available but I like to use the long end of the range on my 28-135. 70 seems so limiting.
The 24-105 is sold out and on back order everywhere and I have to admit I'm not overly thrilled with spending that kind of dough and not geting a 2.8 stop which I use often on myother lenses.
I've looked at the 28-300 but I'm sure would still tote my 16-35 and my 70-200 with me....so now I'd really be weighed down. I've also heard that its pretty soft btwn 28-70, so what the point really? Esp with the price and the range I'm looking to cover is the replacement of 28-135.

I have long considered a second camera body. A crop body would be nice for my telephoto and I could keep my wide on my FF. This would prevent me from changing lenses all the time.
The question is.....what body??
Any thoughts on the 50D? Other options. The 50D does take EF-s lenses which my 5d does not. But @ 15 megs I'm afraid that any non L lens (or similar quality) would really show its limitations.

So I dont know what to do. I'm torn.

I will be selling my much beloved but much unused 300mm 2.8 IS USM to fund whatever I decide to do.

I've been taling about selling it for a long time now but its so hard to part with such a stunning lens.
I just dont use it enough to justify owning it.

What part of Ireland are you going to? I'm headed to Limerick but will be traveling to the coast as well.

First time?

I've been many times.

If I were you I'd dfinately take a wide angle. I guess it just depends on your style and what you will be shooting. But I can definately see a wide lens being beneficial if you end up taking pics in old castles with narrow entrances and stariways or churches.

Any advice from you gurus on what I should do (keep my 28-135 or what to replace with) and best choice for a second body, woul b greatly appreciatd.
I'm running out of time. I shouldnt have put this off so long.

*please excue any spelling errors. I wrote this in a rush

scot079 wrote in post #8345284
If it were me I'd leave the boat anchor 24-70 at home.

Great idea!

Bad idea! The 10-22 won't work on a 5D Mk II... EF-S mount.

spitfirejd wrote in post #8347133
Bad idea! The 10-22 won't work on a 5D Mk II... EF-S mount.

Ah really, that's too bad

I had both the 16-35 and 24-70 and never really found I actually needed wider than 24mm on my 5D, yes I used it now and then but didn't really get the feeling that I was improving anything that I could get at 24mm.

If it was my choice, I'd take the 24-70, a 135L f2 and a 1.4 tele extender.

If I were going to Ireland what would i take

Definately my 30D, and definately the grip, I dont mind carrying my gripped 30D and I much prefer the ergonomics with it on...

Definately my 10-20, landscapes and etc, also its tiny and light..pocketable..and oddly indoors i do find it "fast enough"

I'd rent a 50mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.2, Because I want something decently fast for as you said, in the pubs...

And to round things out a 135 f/2 or 200 f/2.8 for if i wanted to go long...

I'd leave my Tamron 28-75 at home because its the unloved child of my range, Also the 100-400 would stay home because i dont see myself needing it also its big and white...


If I had a 5D/5D2/1Ds2 I'd grab:

The grip, Because I like gripped bodies...

Sigma 12-24, Might not be all that fast, but i can imagine 12mm being stunning inside, besides with the high ISO ability of a 5D/5D2 I'd not hesitate to push up to 1600 or 3200 if i needed to...

Canon 24-70 f/2.8L, Because I'd love it more than the Tamron, its also not that big/heavy to me personally, its shorter than the 200 prime i loved and had glued on my camera 90% of the time..

Canon 200mm f/2.8, Small and light enough for if i want to go beyond 105mm...And its f/2.8