what lens to take to Europe?

[readstoomuch]

I know that dozens of threads have been started about what lens to purchase . . . but I have tried to plow through them and haven't found what I need.

Sooooo . . . I would love to see what your favorite lens is for general photography. I am going to France with my cousin next month and need a good can't travel with it lens to replace my Tamron 28 - 300 lens which I dropped last year. I am taking my Canon D50 and want to really just take one lens in addition to my Canon 50mm 1.4 lens. I am sure that I will be photographing scenery, buildings, etc . . . you know all that stuff that the take hundreds of shots of!

Any other advice?

[anke]

Wow, sounds like a wonderful trip Mollie, you are so lucky! You didn't replace your zoom lens I take it? For outside that is what I would go with I think. Nowadays, thanks to Randy, I use my 24-70 2.8 for everything, but of course that is Nikon, I don't know if there is an equivalent for Canon, but I would think there must be.
Have a wonderful trip!!!

[thessh]

I have a Tamron 28-300mm for my Canon, and that's the lens I ALWAYS bring wherever I go in the world... Then I take a 50mm, a macro or a wide-angle depending on where I'm going and for what.

[muddygirl]

I have my 28-105mm on my 40D almost all the time, except when I put on my 50mm. I have a 100-300mm also, but hardly ever use it. If I was traveling, the 28-105 would be on my camera, with the 50mm in my bag and if I was worried about space and weight the zoom would stay at home.

So for general photography, I love the 28 -105 because its small, and light. I can zoom out to capture landscapes, but zoom in for portraits and detail shots. Its a good general range I think and I have always been happy with the quality of the pictures from it. I have even shot 5 weddings with it.

[sweetpeony]

No good advice - but I volunteer to help you carry your gear!!!

[esther_a]

We're thinking of traveling next year so suddenly I'm interested in these discussions again. Last time we traveled I took my p&s but somehow I'm not sure I'll be happy with it now! I have a friend to takes 10kg of camera gear with him when he travels!!!!
I guess you need to decide what sorts of photos you'll most want to take and work back from that. I'm travelling to a poorer country where I think I'd love to zoom in and take sneaky portrait shots, so I'll need a zoom.
I have my 28-70 lens on my camera most of the time, but it's not a zoom lens!

[sarahorton]

Hmm... I don't know what happened to my post, but *poof* it's gone! LOL! Trying again...

I'm am not an expert by any means, but I take the 18-200mm lens when I travel. Sigma makes a great one (with terrific reviews) for the Canon which saves you about $200 over the Canon one. That said, if you can swing it, I'd get the Canon one ;-)

I find that this lens lets me get the shots I want - both wide angle and close-up. If I were more technically proficient with my camera, I might notice some degradation at each end, but I am happy with the shots I get anyway ;-) I have tried traveling with my primes and other lenses, but I find that I use this one 98% of the time when I'm walking about touring. (Read: I am too lazy to carry around a bunch of lenses and change them out.)

If I had to choose just one, I'd take that one. And that's my very non-expert advice

And your trip sounds absolutely WONDERFUL! I can't wait to share it vicariously through your beautiful pages. What a great time you will have!

[Jen D]

I took my 24-70mm 2.8L to Disneyland and wished I had more of a zoom for the outdoor shots. It was great for most things though. We are going again next year and I haven't decided if I will bring anything different. I have a bunch but I am another one that doesn't really want to be switching lens all the time.

[deanie]

Mollie, I'm so sorry you dropped your lens! I just looked at Amazon and the 18-200 3.5 IS is about the same price for both Sigma and Canon's version. I love my 28-300 though, because you can get great close ups with it as well. There were a couple 28-300's that were cheaper but didn't have image stabilization and would be awful without it! Have fun shopping.

[readstoomuch]

Thanks everyone . . . I'm mulling all of this over . . . checking my bank account . . . and the weights of each lens to see if I can tote it! Most trips my husband will carry the camera much of the time . . . but this time I'm on my own!!

[Britgirl]

hmmm.. how easy would it be to 'oops' get on the wrong plane home and take a little break in Uk too ? cant believe how close you'll be!! {take a zoom you like - try several, and take the 50mm without a doubt. I would absolutely go away right now with only my 50mm}

[MIDA78466]

I have no advice but would love to be a stowaway in your luggage!!