Purchasing questions for upcoming trip

[10dedfish]

Hey everyone,

The wife and I are going on a 10 day trip around Germany, Switzerland, and Austria this coming Summer, and I was thinking about what camera equipment I should get for the trip.

I have a Rebel XS, and a decent selection of lenses (Prime 50, Kit lens, and 70-250). I was thinking about buying either a 70-250 F2 L series lens or just buying a better body. The lens is around 1300$ at Adorama and the new body is 1000$.

Any recommendations?

Matt

 

[C&B Young]

Have you thought about getting something wider than your kit lens? A lot of people on the board (myself included) have the Tokina 11-16 2.8 lens and love it, Sigma also makes an 8-16mm lens which is popular. There is the Ultra Wide Angle Cult thr... sorry, the Photo Sharing: Ultra Wide Angle thread with a lot of discussion and examples.

 

[10dedfish]

Honestly I hadnt thought about it. I was thinking something along the lines of shooting inside some of the castles and stuff that we would be visiting. Can you post some examples of you shots with the Cult lens... I mean the Ultra wide lens?

Matt

 

[mom2rtk]

If you get to go into any of the castles, a fast wide angle would be invaluable.

Just curious, which body are you looking at? The Canon T2i can be had (body only) for a lot less that that.

 

[10dedfish]

I was thinking a 50D, but must admit that I never really considered the T2i. Any experience with it? Pros/Cons that sort of thing?

 

[Groucho]

I would definitely lean towards a wide angle, for both landscapes and interior photos. Even the difference between 18mm and 16mm is pretty clear - every mm counts on the wide end!

 

[Jax1023]

Having been in Germany last fall and Italy just this past month, I wouldn't bother conisdering shooting inside of castles/ museums etc. Photos are prohibited in almost all indoor locations.

That said, I was very happy to have mytokina 11-16. It helped with the large scale exterior shots. I even got some decent shots of my DH and I with it with the cathedral or whatever in the background.

I almost never used my fast prime which I bought for the inside picture purpose due to not being allowed

 

[Jax1023]

Here are a few of my tokina 11-16 shots from my trip

 

[photo_chick]

Unless you need the faster burst rate and larger buffer and greater customization ability of the 50D, I'd go for the T2i. It's got slightly better ISO performance and a better AF system.

As far as getting a new body... If you want the higher ISO settings it's a huge plus. In the past that's not something I'd have consider upgrading for, but from the Rebel XS to the T2i you're jumping from ISO 1600 to ISO 6400 (12800 expanded). That's a big gain that will apply to all of your lenses. If you do the math, it will give you more of a bump when it comes to low light than putting the 70-200 f/2 L on the Rebel XS. At least that's how I justified going from the Rebel XT to the 50D to my husband

But it really comes down to what you want and what you need.

Jax1023- I'm totally jealous of those shots. We have been studying Romanesque, Gothic and Ren. art in my art history class. I so want to go to Italy.

 

[My2Girls66]

I have found, after a few trips to Europe, I have never found the need for my 70-300mm lens(though I do usually take it 'just in case') and have found a need, many times, for wider than my widest which is 18mm on a crop body. I have used my 35mm 1.8 inside museums and churches where photography is allowed, flash is not usually allowed in any church, castle or museum.
You are going to 3 beautiful countries, btw.
There was no photography allowed inside Neuschwanstein Castle, in Hohenschwangau we were allowed to take photos of the views out the windows but not of the interior.

 

[10dedfish]

Wow, thanks everyone for you input. I will seriously consider a wide angle lens now, and the Tokina 11-16 is looking pretty sexy. Hmm, wonder if the wife will let me swing the new body and new lens?

Great pix Jax, and were you able to pull these off hand held?

Thanks for the info on Neuschwanstein Castle My2girls66, its on the list of places that we are going to visit. Schloss Shonbrunn is also on the list of places we are visiting. I will defenitley post some pix for you guys when we get back.

Thanks again everyone for all of your input. Really gave me more things to consider than I had originally thought.

Matt

 

[10dedfish]

Oh and C&B,

Have fun on your trip! I want to see the pix! I have to live vicariously through someone!

Matt

 

[My2Girls66]

There is a beautiful church, just off the Romantic Road that we found through Rick Steves' book. The Weis Church. It isn't all that far from Neuschwanstein.

Take a walk up behind Neuschwanstein to Mary's Bridge to get a view of the castle

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[10dedfish]

There is a beautiful church, just off the Romantic Road that we found through Rick Steves' book. The Weis Church. It isn't all that far from Neuschwanstein.

Take a walk up behind Neuschwanstein to Mary's Bridge to get a view of the castle

Have a wonderful trip!!

WOW! Those photos are awesome! I love to get pictures from the old churches, mainly because it's so challenging. And I will definitely look into Mary's Bridge. That shot of the castle is awesome!!!!

Matt

 

[My2Girls66]

That ceiling photo was taken with an 18-135mm at the 18mm end. A wider lens would have been in order. The walk to Mary's Bridge is short and worth it. You can actually walk farthur on the trail.

 

[ThurlFan]

On the lens vs. body question: Would moving up to a body with a full size sensor gain some width when compared to using the same lens on a crop body?

I thought that was the case, but I'm just wanting to make sure I understand it right, and it may help the OP on making a decision.