Everytime when I go away on any trip, no matter how long or how short, there is the ultimate question to be answered; what camera gear do I bring along? It’s impossible to bring it all, as I have too many lenses really but I am always afraid I am taking the wrong ones. So I need your help in answering this for the upcoming trip to Cambodia and Laos. I’m thinking it is not gonna be a wildlife trip, so my heaviest lens (100-400mm) can stay at home. But then comes the difficult part; which of the allrounders to bring? 24-105 f4.0 or the 24-70 2.8? I have been browsing through my photos taken when we were in Indonesia a couple of years ago and checked which lens I actually used the most.
Taken with the 24-105 at 105mm
Ofcourse I did not have the 24-70 at the time so I cannot really compare it but I can safely say that I used the 24-105 most. Out of the 1000 images I checked I shot 732 images with this lens and only 265 with the 70-200mm 2.8 IS. I looooove that lens but it is heavy and bulky and so I think that is gonna be a no go. I would bring it if I new there was going to be a lot of wildlife in either of the countries but my guess is not..
This would not have been possible without the use of the 70-200!!
For markets and general scenes the 24-105 is fine. The only drawback is that it is a F4.0 and not an 2.8 but it seems silly to bring both as they have the same range. The plus for the 24-70mm is the fact that you can get in much closer. It focusses at a closer range then the 24-105 plus it is a f2.8. But for now… I think it makes no sense to bring both just for that.
Wow, so that is only one lens sofar…. Then a definite yes is the 50mm 1.4. This will be perfect for late at night stuff without flash. So that is a ticked box. I could bring also the 85mm 1.8, but not sure yet. I guess it depends on what else I will bring (but if I take the 50mm 1.4 then the 85mm will stay home). The 100mm macro will definitely stay home. I brought it with me to Indonesia and used it for the grand total of one image, so that is not worth the carrying around!
For the first time I am only bringing memorycards with me and nothing to download them to. I used to bring a tiny laptop to save all the images I’d taken but since the cost of memory cards has gone down considerably I got a few 32Gb SD cards which will last me for three weeks for sure. So that saves a lot in weight as well. No extra chargers needed etc. Just a tiny memory card box… 
So I guess the conclusion is I am taking the 24-105 f4.0 and the 50 mm1.4.
What would you bring??
Hey – just saw your post, just after scrolling through my friend’s photoshoot in Cambodia from her trip few weeks ago. Maybe I could put you in touch with her – I am sure she would not mind that as she is very passionate about her photography and take stunning photos. So, she might have an idea. I will perhaps send her a link on facebook about your blog and if she finds time she can hop over she could comment here with her opinion. HAve a fabulous time – her pics were great !!!!!
Thanks Ilze. I guess in the end it comes down to the photos I like to shoot but since the range of subjects I want to be able to shoot is always bigger then the amount of space in my photo backpack, it involves choices…
Hard choices. But yes, it’s always good to hear from someone who has just been there!
Hi Simone, oh yes, these questions sound somehow familair to me. When I went last year to Guernsey for hiking/walking I took following lenses with me: 50mm f1.4 , 17-40 mm f 4.0 and the 70-200mm f4.0 without IS (so that this has a very handy size in contrast to the f2.8) and I was very satisfied with this combination.
But maybe it is aso an idea for you to bring a 1.4 converter with you as well??
I checked yesterday on the 1.4 converter hoping it would fit on my 24-105 or even the 24-70 but it doesn’t. It will go on the 70-200 or my 100-400 but then again that is just not so very useful.
Since I do love portraits I might still take the 70-200 but you’re right the f4.0 is a lot lighter. I just want to not carry too much gear around for a change… !
Hi Simone,this is Ilze’s friend, Pelin. I sometimes wish i could have this apparatus installed on my eyes that could change to whatever lens and to whatever f stop and to whatever zoom I need -in that particular situation in an instant!:) Well, very good to meet you! I would take exactly those both lenses you’ve decided to take. My 50mm 1.4 and I are inseparable…A wide lens is great for the magical architecture of temples.. Before I take any trip my dilemma has always been whether to take my bulky manfrotto tripod or not..Unless I want to take night shots with long exposure, in the end I leave it home..I wish you have a wonderful time photographing! Bon voyage!
Thanks so much Pelin..
I never take my tripod as it is just too heavy and bulky and the smaller ones tend to be pretty useless I always think… Good to know you’re choice of lens is mine too!
Oh, that’s a pity. I just double checked with my Kenko converter (http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B003VN781M/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00) and this works as well with the 24-105 as with the 24-70. Of course, you loose one aperture but autofocus is still fine. My boyfriend just bought the 24-70 via ebay so that I am now the happy tester
….. lol
Ooooo, now i just have to get one of those kenko converters! I was looking for something like that but couldn’t find it so thanks for the tip! That will solve all issues! And save on packing too…:) I already located where to buy it!