Lens Recommendations for Upcoming Vacation?

[chriznatch]

I'm headed to the south of France for vacation next month, and I could use some advice on lenses. My current lens line-up (on my a700) is:

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Sony 50 f/1.4
Sony 18-250

I expect to shoot a lot of landscapes, as well as the obligatory shots of my traveling companions standing in front of various monuments, interesting buildings, etc.

On prior trips, I've used the 18-250 almost exclusively, because it was the only zoom lens I had. But I've been looking to upgrade for awhile. I added the Tamron not too long ago, because I take a lot of pictures indoors in low light. I've also been looking at the Sony 70-300G lens, although truth be told, on past vacations most of my shots have not really required the long end of the zoom. This trip may well be different, because we're going to spend more time out in the countryside hiking through the hills.

If you were in my shoes, would you consider adding any lenses to fill out the line-up? Do you think a long zoom would be useful? Do you think the Tamron (with its short reach) will do ok as a walkaround lens? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Greg Beetham]

Well if it were me I think I'd just take the A700 and the Tamron too cut down on the bulk and fuss, but then I usually only do scenes at the 30 to 35 mm lens setting on APS-C so the perspective is as close too reality as possible, there are times when extra tele works really well in street/building type shots so a CZ16-80 might be better for example, or just take the 18-250, I took the earlier KM18-200 on a recent trip on one camera and used it 90% of the time and only used the backup camera with the KM24-105 (sharper than the 18-200) on a few occasions for scenic type shots, I thought the 18-200 was quite ok for general use as long as it was stopped down a tad...then it wasn't much good on motion shots as the shutter speed often wasn't high enough, (often not enough time too boost the ISO) so it really depends in the end if you want that extra touch of quality I guess, the 17-50 2.8 from what I've seen is a sharper lens than the 18-250.
Greg

[Philip]

As Greg begins his answer above, much depends on personal preference. If it were me going, I'd want something wider then your lineup currently gives you, in the 8/11-18/20 range, and pair it with the 18-250, leaving the 17-50 at home. I'd also take the 50 1.4 for those evening and twilight photo oppertunities. But that suits my prefered style of photography. When travelling do you find yourself taking loads of pictures at the widest setting of your current zooms? If so it would suggest you could use a wider angle lens.

Have a good trip whatever you take!

Philip

[David Kilpatrick]

10-20mm or 11-18mm. You can not for example get many good shots of some places without an extra wide angle - the Palace of the Popes at Avignon is an example, the amphitheatre at Arles is another, the Point du Gard - the list goes on. There are many interiors or churches, chateaux etc and many narrow streets.

If you are doing a lot of walking, be sure to visit Les Fontaines de Vaucluse and also the Ochre Trail at Roussillon (Avignon, there's another in a different region).

David

[Dusty]

I would agree with David. When traveling, I often find myself wishing for an ultra-wide to capture interiors, or buildings, etc. up close w/o interfering elements. That ancient building looks so much newer with the power lines in front!

I also find myself also wanting extra range, to get shots of what I can't or am not allowed to get close to. Since you already have the 18-250, maybe look into a lens a bit longer than the 70-300G.

Dusty

[bakubo]

I vote for the 11-18mm or 10-20mm too. Take it along with the 18-250mm and it will be a combo that will be fine for most things. I always take the 11-18mm and 18-250mm with me when I travel. I also take a 24mm f2.8 since it is small and I like to use it while out on the street at night. The new 35mm f1.8 would be good too. My 50mm f1.7 gets almost no use since I don't find the 75mm fov of much use while walking the streets.

[pakodominguez]

I think you are good with the lenses you already have. If you want to invest money on a ultra wide angle, buy the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 (http://www.adorama.com/TN1116MAX.html) so we'll have a good review of that lens (I haven't see any from the Minolta/Sony community)
Otherwise, stick to the Crozes Hermitage as an affordable red wine, and the Chateauneuf du Pape if you are going for a little pricey.

Avignon, Arles or Nimes are beautiful cities. Aix-en-Provence too, and you can visit Bossel, he can probably lend you his Zeiss lens

Regards

[David Kilpatrick]

Nah, nothing beats a rough red Rhone vin ordinaire du pays - foil cap and no label, from a village shop. The first time we went that far south we ended up having peaches and red wine for breakfast (and that was back when you could drink and drive and no-one thought twice about it).

One day we bought just three handmade chocolates from a little shop miles from anywhere, they were expensive and we had no money (the peaches and wine were cheaper than croissants!) but they looked so good we got one each - me, Shirley and Richard who was 20 months old. We popped the chocolate in his mouth, and then ate ours - and we both looked at him the moment we bit into them. They were pure liqueur alcohol, not even diluted with suger - a straight shot of brandy in each one... never seen a baby look so surprised!

David

[Harpooner]

We're a big fan of the Cote du Rhone (yellow label, red font IIRC) that the ED Supermarkets in Provence sell. About 1 euro a bottle and is magic - you don't get a hangover from it.

Bonnieux and Lourmarin are nice little villages. We visited them in March and Bonnieux was deserted.

I'm trying to remember the name of a great drive through a gorge. It's not the Verdon (this one was also deserted) - oh for GPS in my camera

[chriznatch]

Thanks everyone for all the great recommendations -- for lenses, places to see, and vino! I'm looking forward to the trip more than ever now. We're going to stay a couple of nights in Avignon and the rest of the time in the countryside in the Luberon. I'm going to try to hit most of the places mentioned in the various postings in this thread, but I suspect we'll get short on time and have to make some tough choices. Oh well, just an excuse to go back again someday.

For some reason I hadn't thought of an ultra wide angle, but there have been plenty of times in the past when I could've used one. Pako, the Tokina is an interesting idea. If I wind up getting it, I'll post some pictures so you can see what it can do (if I manage to take any halfway decent shots, that is).

[David Kilpatrick]

If it's of any interest, the Roussillon red rocks and ochre trail were something we thought we had failed to get to. The last day we were due to fly back from Avignon, and it was 10am, not due to the airport until I think 3pm. Roussillon was only 30 minutes away; we had time to explore the village, the short ochre trail took under an hour, time for something to eat, and I think we stopped at another spot on the way to the airport. The distances are much smaller than you imagine round Avignon, 15 minutes can get you from one 'hotspot' for photography to another.

http://www.yudu.com/item/details/51366/ ... efid=14917

2007 Photoworld issue contains a spread of the Roussillon trail and the cover is a wonderful old house in the centre square of the town - light and colour no problem here even at mid-day!

It's well worth crossing (walk or bike friendly, just) for the Bercail restaurant on Barthelasse island opposite Avignon itself; hard to find, mainly local customers (always a good sign in France) and you can sit by the river and watch the city light up at dusk.

David

[Dr. Harout]

Chriznatch, have a nice trip and a very very nice and enjoyable holiday.

[chriznatch]

David, we'll definitely hit Rousillon and the ochre trail. If I have to skip anything, it will likely be some of the bigger towns -- maybe Nimes or Orange (although I really want to see those places too). It's just a matter of trying to see as much I can without coming home more exhausted than I was when I left for vacation. I hadn't heard of the Bercail restaurant, but it sounds like a great place to spend an evening. I'll make a point of getting there. Thanks for the tip!

[Wes Gibbon]

I believe the ochre trail ('sentier' I think it's called in French) is best when there is early morning sun. I was there some years ago but it was midsummer and very hot in late afternoon, and was strongly advised that with a ridiculously heavy camera bag (I was using mamiya 645 at the time) I might suffer heatstroke. Those that went on the trail enjoyed it but didn't get too many shots because the sun was in the wrong direction.

I consoled myself with an Orange Sanguine sorbet (not as good as on Ile St Louis in Paris), taking a few nice shots round the village, and chatting to a local photographer. He told me that the authorities had recently introduced opening hours for the trail, and getting the morning sun before they opened was difficult unless you ducked under the barrieir when no one was looking(!). This time of the year you might get better morning light during legal opening hours. At any rate, DK seems satisfied. It may be they have changed the rules since then.

DK is right about the colours in the village. Almost any village in S France seems to be picturesque, but in Roussillon they have used the ochre to decorate the buildings (seventeen different shades, apparently). If I find the time, I'll dig out a couple of my shots, but not the one that is almost identical the the one DK included!

We also visited Gordes. Full of tourists, but there is a nice evening shot from across the valley; you have to park in someone's drive and hope they don't chase you away. We arrived a few minutes too late for the full effect - parts of the hillside were in shadow.

[David Kilpatrick]

Mid-day sun seemed fine to me, it skims down the vertical cliff walls and gets into the pine forest. Morning or evening sun could be a problem depending on the time of year, whole areas of the canyons could be in deep shade. Obviously a whole day from dawn to dusk would be perfect... but it has plenty of potential in any reasonable lighting condition.







It's hot but there is plenty of shade with several paths through woodlands, only the old quarrying areas are fully exposed. More worry is that your shoes, clothes and camera turn orange.

David