Europe trip; bring DSLR or buy small camera?

[ScottyP]

We will be going to Europe and I am probably going to take the DSLR and 2 or 3 lenses.  I am also considering buying a small but good non-interchangeable lens camera.  Something with a big-ish sensor and with a big aperture lens, though, not just a cheapo.

Since lens compatibility is not an issue, I am not limiting myself to Canons as I go to look into this possibility.

I am not particularly worried about the weight and bulk of the DSLR, more worried about theft, I think.  Perhaps I should worry about the bulk, but I do want to get really high quality photos because I probably won't be going back any time soon so this is kind of a big deal.

Thoughts on lenses, backpacks and small cameras?

[Waddizzle]

What 2-3 lenses were you considering?  Sounds like you want to be prepared for anything.

What sort of stuff do you expect to photograph?  You cannot go wrong with a wide, or ultra-wide, angle lens.  

The Powershot G Series seem to be pretty good, although P&S cameras are not for me.  I think P&S cameras are expensive disposables.  If I ever buy another one, it will be an inexpensive one.

I have two setups I use so that I don't look like Joe the Pro Photographer.  I use my T5 with a Rokinon 14mm, although the EF-S 18-55mm STM has come out since I bought that combo.  The fully manual lens gives me long battery life.  My second small setup is an EOS M3 with an adapter and a pancake lens.

[ScottyP]

I was thinking of taking the 6d with the 35 Art and the 70-200.  Maybe take the 24-105L for daytime trips.  

I look at the Fuji and Sony  and Canon top end point and shoots,  some of which have APS-c sensors and think...hmmmmm....  

Really though, I am probably going to go ahead and carry the DSLR and lenses. 

Trip is Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain.  Subjects will as always be mostly my 3 girls but with the expensive scenery ad a backdrop. 

Im in a dangerous spending mood, having just pressed the BUY button in the airfare and hotels. Perhaps I should not be trusted with lens decisions now, but for purposes of this trip,do I need a wide angle lens?  Should I take a tripod for low light instead?

[RobertTheFat]

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@ScottyP wrote:

I was thinking of taking the 6d with the 35 Art and the 70-200.  Maybe take the 24-105L for daytime trips.  

I look at the Fuji and Sony  and Canon top end point and shoots,  some of which have APS-c sensors and think...hmmmmm....  

Really though, I am probably going to go ahead and carry the DSLR and lenses. 

Trip is Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain.  Subjects will as always be mostly my 3 girls but with the expensive scenery ad a backdrop. 

Im in a dangerous spending mood, having just pressed the BUY button in the airfare and hotels. Perhaps I should not be trusted with lens decisions now, but for purposes of this trip,do I need a wide angle lens?  Should I take a tripod for low light instead?

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I don't see what the 35 Art does for you if you have the 24-105. I'd bring a 16-35 instead. If you have to buy it, the price is more or less roundoff error in a trip that takes four or five people through four countries.

Many tourist venues are hostile to tripods; and if you're in a group tour, you might rarely have time to set it up. I'd leave it at home.

In your shoes, the only "top end point and shoot" I'd consider is the new Canon mirrorless with the built-in viewfinder. But really, I think I'd stick to DSLRs.

I'm well past the point at which air travel is virtually impossible because of the camera equipment I insist on bringing along. Keep that in mind if you're tempted to take any of my advice.

[Waddizzle]

I agree with Bob about the 35mm lens.  The standard range zoom 24-105 should be sufficient, not unless you want the wide aperture.  I would take one or the other, but not both. 

I'm a ultra-wide angle lens nutjob, so when I tell you that 24-35mm isn't wide, then take it with a grain of salt.  I love my EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM.  I always have it mounted when I'm sightseeing and do not know what to expect.  I think Bob's suggestion on the lens is a good one.  I'd never disagree with carrying that lens, anyway.

The shot below was taken at 16-35mm with a 1D Mark IV.

The 70-200 is a big, heavy beast when it comes to air travel.  I rarely fly, but I left it at home during the one domestic trip I took since I bought it.  I took my 16-35 f/2.8L, 50mm f/1.8, 100 f/2.8L Macro.  If I had a flash, I would have brought that and left the macro behind, because I expected most of my shots would be taken indoors at private homes.  I now have a flash for the 6D.

As it turned out, I used the 50mm for nearly all of my indoor shots of family and friends.  I used the 16-35mm for all of my outdoor shots as i was sightseeing.  Never did use the 100mm macro, even though I could have for a couple of indoor closeups.  The 50mm was just fine for closeups indoors, and the 16-35mm worked well for taking in the entire rooms.

[jrhoffman75]

I've been to Europe several times. For the places I went a tele zoom was not needed. Like wadizzle said, wide is more useful..

Inside churches, narrow streets and the like were the main venues I was at. 16-35 and 24-105 would be a good two lens set for that trip based on my experience.

A monopod for steadying inside buildings would be helpful - forget a tripod.

[ebiggs1]

Usually two 1 series cameras go with me everywhere I go.  I have a basic bag with the ef 16-35mm f2.8L, ef 24-70mm f2.8L and ef 70-200mm f2.8L.  My extended bag for warranted use adds and includes the ef 8-15mm f4L and Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Sport.

If I headed for Europe tomorrow this gear would be going with me.  I have a shoot in Lawence, Kansas on Thursday and this gear will be going with me.

However, on-the-other-hand I do have and rely on a G1x.   This and the newer G1x II are great little, not so little, cameras.  They are capable of very nice shots.  It goes with me, too.

I love some of my unique primes but for a journey like Europe, they are too specialized if you do not know exactly what you will be shooting.  One example would be the ef 400mm f5.6L.  Fantastic lens, has no peer.  Another is my ef 50mm f1.2L but not for Europe unless I know of a particular shot I want to get.

BTW, the G1x II may not be the best P&S on the market today but it is the best Canon P&S.   G1x Mk II

[ebiggs1]

Scotty,

"I was thinking of taking the 6d with the 35 Art ..."

Don't let anybody kid you the Siggt 35mil Art is a seriously sharp lens.  It might just be the sharpest lens made.  If you want great IQ, take it.  It and the 50mil Art are in another class of high IQ lenses.

[ScottyP]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

Scotty,

"I was thinking of taking the 6d with the 35 Art ..."

Don't let anybody kid you the Siggt 35mil Art is a seriously sharp lens.  It might just be the sharpest lens made.  If you want great IQ, take it.  It and the 50mil Art are in another class of high IQ lenses.

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I sure love mine. So sharp and it can practically see in the dark. Seems like there may be some dim indoor shots to grab over there. 

[ebiggs1]

People that have never owned one have no idea.  Probably should hold their comments! 

I take a lot of heavy gear where ever I go but I also take a P&S.  Currently I have a G1X but there is a newer verison.  These are very capable cameras and they work where a full size DSLR won't.  I used to use a G15. I still have it.  But check out the G1x Mk II

It isn't the best P&S on the market but it is Canon's best.