What lens setup should I take to NYC with a Canon 60D for family photos and city scenes?

Asked 9/12/2014

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I shoot with a Canon 60D and currently have the EF-S 18-135mm kit lens. I’m still learning and want a practical travel setup for a week in New York City with family. I expect to shoot family photos, street scenes, and city views, and I’ll be doing a lot of walking.

I originally considered a 50mm prime, but I’m worried it won’t be versatile enough for travel. I also looked at ultrawides like the Canon EF-S 10-22mm, but I’m unsure whether that would be too specialized on its own. Would an ultrawide make sense as a companion to the 18-135mm?

I’d like to carry no more than 2–3 lenses total, and my budget is under $1500. The 18-135mm is convenient, though it feels bulky and has some zoom creep. Should I keep it and add something, or replace it with a different travel-friendly lens combination?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

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When picking a lens, you need to consider what it is you want to shoot with that lens. For street/travel, most folks would probably opt for an ultrawide zoom (if they're interested in cityscapes/landscapes or shooting in smaller spaces), a superzoom (for versatility), and/or a few wide-to-normal fast primes (street, night, and across-the-table shooting).

You already have the superzoom. You say you don't want the ultrawide (EF-S 10-22 or Tokina 11-16/2.8 are probably your best choices there), so maybe all that's left to contemplate are the wide-to-normal primes.

However. You may also want to keep in mind the fact that travel is when you're most likely to get gear stolen/broken/lost. It's also when you may want to keep the bag lighter than you would back home, when you can stash things in the car. Going for small, cheap gear might be better than looking at L lenses, unless you've got great insurance, or are traveling solely for the purpose of photography.

The two candidates I'd propose would be the EF 35mm f/2 IS USM (if you want to spend a bundle), or the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM or EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM if you don't. Both EF lenses are closer to normal on a crop body camera like the 60D than a 50mm would be; the 24/2.8 is a 35mm full-frame equivalent. And all of them are sufficiently fast for available light shooting--the one thing your 18-135 can't handle. Were you planning on shooting indoors without a flash at any point? In addition, the 40/2.8 is not only low-cost, and sharper than the EF 50/1.8 II @f/2.8, it is a pancake lens (as is the 24/2.8 STM). Super-compact, and very discreet for street shooting.

But these are what would work for me. You are not me. What would work for you could be completely different. Consider analyzing the images you like that you've taken with your 18-135 and seeing if there are any focal lengths you tend to use more frequently. EXIF analyzing tools like ExposurePlot, or Lightroom ability to show images by metadata might help make it clearer if you have a "missing" focal length, or one that you favor.

You may also want to consider renting lenses for the trip, rather than purchasing them, if the lens isn't one that you can see yourself using when you get back home. So, you could have an ultrawide available for the trip and if you decide it's not your cup of tea, the rental will have cost far less, and you get to send the lens back.

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

11y ago

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For this kind of trip, your current 18-135mm is already the most versatile lens in your bag. It covers family shots, general street photography, and many city views, so it makes sense to keep it as your main travel lens.

If you want to add one companion lens, the most useful choice is usually an ultrawide zoom such as a 10-22mm-class lens. That complements the 18-135mm well for big cityscapes, architecture, and tight indoor spaces where the kit zoom may not be wide enough.

A 50mm prime is less versatile for travel. It can be nice for low light and portraits, but it won’t help much with sweeping city scenes, and on a 60D it behaves more like a short telephoto than a general walk-around lens.

So the simplest recommendation is: take the 18-135mm, and if you want a second lens, add an ultrawide. If you prefer to travel light and avoid extra cost or risk, just bring the 18-135mm and learn what focal lengths you actually miss most.

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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