topic Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

dudeinwashingto — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:34:44 GMT

Hello friends

i will be taking a 5 days in Israel and 9 days in Eygpt ! really looking forward to it !!

I will be having a tour guide in Eygpt.

I have these two lenses

EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
18 55mm f 3.5 5.6 is sample pictures

If anyone travelled there and have any recomendations, please let me know

Also i will post pictures once i get back or if possible there

thanks

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

TTMartin — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 21:25:12 GMT

I'd pickup a EF-S 10-18 IS STM, and an EF-S 18-135 IS STM lens for your trip. You'll want the wide angle of the 10-18 IS STM for landscapes, city scapes, and interior architecture shots. The 18-135 IS STM should take care of everything else. I'd leave your current lenses at home, unless you're really into macro shots of the native flora.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

dudeinwashingto — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 21:27:11 GMT

thank you TTmartin

appreciate your insight!

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

RobertTheFat — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 01:25:49 GMT

@dudeinwashingto wrote:
thank you TTmartin
appreciate your insight!

I agree with Tom. The two lenses he suggests are one of very few good matching lens pairs (i.e., covering a wide focal range with little or no overlap) for an APS-C camera. Since they're not constant-aperture lenses, they're not ideal for shooting indoors, so you'll need flash for that, where it's permitted. But good indoor lenses, besides being more expensive, tend to be large and heavy - not necessarily the best choice for travel. And both of the lenses Tom recommended have a good reputation for image quality.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 06:33:41 GMT

"I have these two lenses

EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
18 55mm f 3.5 5.6 is sample pictures

I'd pickup a EF-S 10-18 IS STM, and an EF-S 18-135 IS STM lens"

On the surface of your question, I don't like any of these lenses. But if this is to be an ongoing thing for you as you will be traveling, "5 days in Israel and 9 days in Eygpt" several times just about any lens will do. If it is a once in a life time venture, I would certainly select better choices in lenses.

The "EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM" as a general purpose lens is almost useless. Primes have limited use anyway so I would stay with zoom lenses.

Variable aperture lenses are also more limiting. Plus the variable aperture lenses suggested are slow, to very slow.

What is your budget for photographic gear? The more desirable constant aperture zoom lenses are fairly expensive. You could go used or third party lenses and save some money. So, what is the budget?

Example, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens would be my first choice for you as a general use lens. It is around $800 bucks new. But has a substantially better constant f2.8 aperture.

One item you want to avoid if at all possible is a flash. "If anyone travelled there and have any recomendations", no, I have not but I can almost guarantee you a flash will not be welcome inside most of or any of the sites you will want to see. I have done enough photographic traveling to know that is almost universal.

So, what is the budget? It all comes down to that question! I know there are other lenses I would take with me.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

dudeinwashingto — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:56:34 GMT

Thank you Robert!

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

dudeinwashingto — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:17:59 GMT

ebiggs1

thank you very much for writing in detail. appreciate it.

my budget for new lens is 600 USD...but i can save a bit more in the coming month for the additional 200 dollars If needed

am looking around for deals..

thanks much again

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

kvbarkley — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:22:56 GMT

The best and safest deals are at the online Canon Refurbished store:

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

dudeinwashingto — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 16:36:20 GMT

thank you kvbarkley!

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 19:06:13 GMT

"...my budget for new lens is 600 USD...but i can save a bit more..."

This I would try to do. Is this trip a once in a lifetime event? How important would that be? A great deal to me if it were me.

A slightly cheaper choice that may even be a better choice would be the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon.

It has a very fast constant aperture and is a dedicated 80D (APS-C sensor) lens.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

RobertTheFat — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:51:20 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"...my budget for new lens is 600 USD...but i can save a bit more..."

This I would try to do. Is this trip a once in a lifetime event? How important would that be? A great deal to me if it were me.

A slightly cheaper choice that may even be a better choice would be the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon.
It has a very fast constant aperture and is a dedicated 80D (APS-C sensor) lens.

No one would argue that a member of Sigma's "Art" line isn't a fine lens. But 18-35mm is a pretty short zoom range that will leave you wanting at both ends. If you have space to carry three lenses, it should be great for the mid-range. Otherwise I just don't see it.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 21:15:03 GMT

Except it is light years better (IQ and/or speed wise). Far and away more useful than any f3.5-5.6 variable lens. One thing you can bank on, they will not allow flash inside the attractions. Most places don't.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

RobertTheFat — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 21:32:25 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Except it is light years better (IQ and/or speed wise). Far and away more useful than any f3.5-5.6 variable lens. One thing you can bank on, they will not allow flash inside the attractions. Most places don't.

Some don't; some do. (Actually, tripods are more likely to be banned than flash.) The company conducting the tour can probably tell you, or you may be able to find out from the attraction's Web site. For large interiors, flash, especially a camera's built-in flash, probably won't do the job anyway.

But travel is invariably a compromise. The King of Arabia may be able to bring along 50 trunks (or whatever it was, I forget), but the average traveler can't. We all adjust our equipment needs to the situation at hand.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 21:45:56 GMT

Robert,

I don't know what or why your are arguing this? None of the Canon ef-s lenses is in the same class as the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens. If I could only take one lens on a 80D with the choice being one of the ef-s variable kit lenses or the Siggy, the Sigma goes every time. You would too!

Ever been to DC? Don't bother with your flash or tripod there. Why chance it on a grand trip like this when there is a reasonable solution.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

TTMartin — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 22:33:07 GMT

I agree with Bob and other posters that suggested an external flash. However, I strongly disagree with posters recommending large f/1.8 or f/2.8 aperture lenses. Back in the film days when you were restricted to ISO 400 or ISO 800, those lenses were a necessity. However, your 80D has at least a 3 stop advantage over those film days or even early days of digital. So there is no reason to carry a larger heavier constant aperture lens and sacrifice zoom range, maybe at the expense of unnecessarily having to carry a third or fourth lens. 10mm-135mm should cover your needs while traveling as a tourist.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

Waddizzle — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 22:56:40 GMT

I think everyone has raised a valid concern. Whenever I'm going somewhere without any prior knowledge of what i will be shooting, then I want a high quality, super wide angle lens. On an APS-C body like the 80D, that means I want to be able to go as short as 10-14mm, and still get shots that don't look like a fisheye. A wide lens works indoors and outdoors.

How long of a lens do I need really requires some research and advance knowledge. I think the 100mm macro may have limited use, and is not as versatile as a zoom, but it may be just the ticket inside a museum filled with small artifacts. However, i would still be inclined to leave it at home, though, because a zoom is really more flexible.

How wide of an aperture do you need? Again, this will require some research and advance knowledge of what you will be visiting and photographing. You probably won't need a wide aperture outdoors, and probably wouldn't want one, either. But, a wide aperture may be just the ticket when visiting indoor locations like caves or older buildings.

Your photos will never be better than the quality of your lens. It is better to carry one very high quality lens than two good lenses. Whenever I am in doubt, I make sure I have one of my super wide angle lenses in my bag. If I know that I will be indoors, then I will also carry a fast lens, f/2.8 or better, like 50mm f/1.4,, which would be a little long on an APS-C body to use indoors.

If you want fast and wide, then you will have to pay for that sort of performance. Only invest in lenses that you would want to keep for a lifetime. Don't waste money on a lens to tide you over, but i will make exceptions for Canon's "nifty fifty", though, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Note the "STM" at the end of the model number.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

TTMartin — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 02:12:46 GMT

Just to be clear Canon's STM lenses offer image quality on par with all but the latest second generation IS II L lenses. Don't be fooled by their low price. In the case of STM lens paying less doesn't mean you are sacrificing image quality.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 16:13:51 GMT

dudeinwashingto,

There is an old saying in photography, "No lens is ever too fast." It is still true today. If a slow variable aperture f3.5-5.6 kit lens can take the shot a faster higher IQ lens will only make the shot better and easier.

If you were to load up the family car for a grand vacation would you pull out a couple spark plugs? Yeah, you can still most likely complete the vacation but how much easier and better it is will all cylinders firing? The same is true with the faster lenses. Anything the slow variable aperture f3.5-5.6 kit lens can do will be better with a faster lens like the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens. I only site it because it is the fastest zoom lens made in this category. There are other things beside the constant aperture that make this lens the best choice. It has an attractive price point for what you get. It has an extremely strong build. Its finish is gorgeous. Much better than the kit lenses. It has 9 diaphragm blades and some other things.

Truth be, any lens with a constant aperture of f2.8 or faster will be a better choice than any of the kit lens. Actually it is a better choice for 90% of all people. Whether you are the Mom wanting to shoot the kids playing around in the dimly lighted living room or the guy, "taking a 5 days in Israel and 9 days in Eygpt." trip.

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens or the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens remain at the top of my list for you. One of these is what I would choose.

BTW, I am softening my views about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. Not a first choice for me but at this price point it has a lot to offer. It's results can't be overlooked. They are very good. It is not a good choice for your trip unless you are going to take several lenses?

I admit either of these faster zooms will have one issue, a limited focal length. The only way to have the best of both worlds, so to speak, is to add another lens. But a bag that contains the 80D with either one of the fast zooms suggested plus the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens would be pretty sweet. That should cover any and all the things you will encounter while keeping a tight bag. Forget the flash and forget the tripod. Leave home without them!

Have a wonderful time................and be safe.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

TTMartin — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 21:56:47 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
dudeinwashingto,

There is an old saying in photography, "No lens is ever too fast." It is still true today. If a slow variable aperture f3.5-5.6 kit lens can take the shot a faster higher IQ lens will only make the shot better and easier.

Except when you are traveling where the slight benefit does not outweigh the negatives of the extra size and weight of fixed aperture lenses.

Plus you really will want an ultra wide lens like the EF-S 10-18 IS STM. So now your up to carrying 3 or 4 lenses instead of two.

I'm just going to ignore the overly dramatic convoluted spark plug, stretch at a metaphor.

Re: Israel and Egypt with Canon 80D

Waddizzle — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:44:16 GMT

@TTMartin wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
dudeinwashingto,

There is an old saying in photography, "No lens is ever too fast." It is still true today. If a slow variable aperture f3.5-5.6 kit lens can take the shot a faster higher IQ lens will only make the shot better and easier.

Except when you are traveling where the slight benefit does not outweigh the negatives of the extra size and weight of fixed aperture lenses.

Plus you really will want an ultra wide lens like the EF-S 10-18 IS STM. So now your up to carrying 3 or 4 lenses instead of two.

I'm just going to ignore the overly dramatic convoluted spark plug, stretch at a metaphor.

The EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is currently being sold by Canon in a "portrait kit" with the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. I find having a fast lens [low f-number, for max aperture size] is invaluable when venturing into unknown territory. Having a fast zoom, or an even faster prime is one of life's mysteries, when you don't know what to expect. I'd go for the faster prime, but 50mm may feel a little long, if you are in indoor, close quarters.

Didn't you get a kit lens, like the EF-S 18-55mm IS STM, with the 80D in a camera kit? You have the right idea, though. Traveling light works best. Beware of changing lenses in dirty, dusty environments. You will get your sensor dirty. So, carry a "rocket blower" to blow out the camera. Your camera is very sensitive to dust, and lingering static only makes it worse.