Relocation: which lenses to bring?

[pooschey]

I'll be relocating to Beijing sometime in the middle of Apr, and am right now confused about which of my lenses to bring along with me. I can't bring them all with me.

My interest lies mainly in cityscape and streetscape.

This is what I have now...

Zooms
Sigma 10-20/4-5.6 (should be a no-brainer)
Tamron 17-50/2.8
Sony 16-105/4-5.6
Minolta 28-135/4-4.5 (highly likely)
Minolta 100-200/4.5
Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX DG

Primes
Minolta 35/2 (likely)
Sony 50/1.4
Minolta 85/1.4 G
Minolta 100/2
Minolta 100/2.8 M
Minolta 135/2.8
Minolta 200/2.8 HS G

I'll be carrying my gear over in either my Lowepro Flipside 300 (easy on my shoulders) or Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home. I just realised that the 7 MDH actually is bigger volumetrically!

I've got a couple of ideas...

Option A:
10-20, 17-50, 70-200, 85
This is a fast zoom option (not counting the UWA) but lugging a 70-200 could end up as a quick trip to the masseur (lucky it's cheap there).

Option B:
10-20, 28-135, 35, 85/100, 200
This option will most likely allow me the least lens swapping with the 28-135 as the general walkaround lens with decent speed. Pop in the 35 when light goes down; or should I take the 17-50 instead?. From my usage of the 70-200, I realise I use it mostly at 70, ~135-150 and 200. So the latter 2 primes should cover this well and give much better IQ.

What would you suggest if you had to keep to a 5-6 lens to bring along with me. This doesn't mean I'll carry it for all trips, since once there, the lenses go into a cabinet.

Oh, I'll also include my F42 flash.

[Wes Gibbon]

Which camera body(ies) do you have?

[pooschey]

Sorry, forgot to mention. A700.

Which camera body(ies) do you have?

[David Kilpatrick]

Sigma 10-20, Minolta 35, 50 and 100 (f/2-1.4 not macro), 28-135 and big Sigma - get a 2X converter for the Sigma when you are in China.

I've seen amazing street photography from Beijing because the spirit of Cartier-Bresson is still alive and well in China, however trampled on in Europe. You will be able to shoot amazing people pix with the 35/50/100 fast lenses.

David

[pooschey]

Sounds like a good combo, David. I already have the Kenko 300 Pro DG 1.4. Yea, the fast primes will really come in handy for the streets.

[motor]

Will the kenko 300 pro fit "physically" on the 35, 50 and 10-20? I was told that the flange is to small to accept the 50 and 35? If it does that would really be a plus! I know Walt will be watching this reply then. I thought only the MC4 and MC7 could be used on the 50mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4? Has anyone ever tried to use the 300 pro on these lenses and have it fit and work AF?

To answer your question I would take the sig 10-20 for wide, Tamron 17-50 general, 35, 50 and 70-200! That gives you a small set of primes for close streets but a general carry around because it is busy in those streets and you don't want to be changing lenses all the time. You are sure to bet bumped. Once you get there you can leave the 70-200 in your room if it is to heavy. If the 300 pro does fit?????? and you buy one the you would have the 35,50,70,100 primes that would shoot very nice @2.8!


Motor

[pooschey]

The TC will fit the 100/2 & 100/2.8 M, but not the 35 & 50 as their rear elements protrude more.

I just tried David's suggestion and I can fit all the lenses he suggested in the Flipside 300 with the body w/o lens mounted.

BTW, is it necessary to have a dry cabinet? I know except for summer when humidity does get a bit into the 60% the rest of the year it's relatively low, as low as 30%. Here in sunny and humid Singapore, anyone with more than a kit lens will almost get a dry cabinet.

[WaltKnapp]

Will the kenko 300 pro fit "physically" on the 35, 50 and 10-20? I was told that the flange is to small to accept the 50 and 35? If it does that would really be a plus! I know Walt will be watching this reply then. I thought only the MC4 and MC7 could be used on the 50mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4? Has anyone ever tried to use the 300 pro on these lenses and have it fit and work AF?


Motor

I don't use such short lenses with TC. But I just checked my Sony 50 1.4 vs the Kenko 300 pros. The 1.4x won't fit by a good mm too little clearance but the 2x does fit.

Walt

[David Kilpatrick]

I do use my 2X with a couple of shorter lenses. It's excellent with the 50mm f/1.4 and the 100mm f/2.8 SF. I have sold my 300DG type 1.4X Kenko because of the issue with fitting certain lenses.

But - my favourite combo is the 28-75mm KM with the 2X MC7. The 28-75mm already has very close focus for a lens of its type, and of course with the 2X this is even more effective.

David

[pakodominguez]

Sigma 10-20, Minolta 35, 50 and 100 (f/2-1.4 not macro), 28-135 and big Sigma - get a 2X converter for the Sigma when you are in China.

I vote for David's sugestion but the 28-135 (take the Tamron 17-50/2.8 or the Sony 16-105/4-5.6 instead). And depending on your style, I'll probably leave the 70-200 at home.

How long will you stay in Bejing?

[pooschey]

Looks like a line-up forming...

I'm moving over there to join my other half, who's working there. So this is not the 2mth thingy, that's why I gotta get the "right" lenses there, or else I've gotta wait till at least the end of the year when I come home for Christmas.

Sigma 10-20, Minolta 35, 50 and 100 (f/2-1.4 not macro), 28-135 and big Sigma - get a 2X converter for the Sigma when you are in China.

I vote for David's sugestion but the 28-135 (take the Tamron 17-50/2.8 or the Sony 16-105/4-5.6 instead). And depending on your style, I'll probably leave the 70-200 at home.

How long will you stay in Bejing?