Photography and Cameras

[NM]

really great trip photos don't use zoom..

This is a loaded statement.. perhaps designed to light up a quiet list..
I beg to differ.. for me there is never enough gain/focal length /zoom..BUT powerful magnification mostly involves a loss of brightness so it's all a compromise.

If you need to zoom, then just start with a longer lens .

Surely someone make a 400mm prime lens

 

[Quickstatus]

loaded statement.. perhaps designed to light up a quiet list..

No, the more I see really good photos of landscapes, buildings etc, the more I realise that zoom is not the answer. A lot of photos are spur of the moment which require quick composition. Small lens are ideal. Zoom lenses are heavy, often require tripods and excellent light. Not necessarily the equipment if travelling.

 

[jb747]

95% of my shots are with one of my zoom lenses. I have the Nikon range, from 14mm up to 500mm. The only prime that gets serious use is the 105mm macro.

Out by Lake Hume the other night... 16-35mm.

 

[Daver6]

I beg to differ.. for me there is never enough gain/focal length /zoom..BUT powerful magnification mostly involves a loss of brightness so it's all a compromise.

You just need this Slips into your pocket

 

[tgh]

It's only f/4 wide open… slow as...

 

[Daver6]

It's only f/4 wide open… slow as...

Just use a flash

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just use a flash

Don’t laugh! Many do at footy matches and concerts and for fireworks.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just use a flash

Flash does not work well with zoom. Tripod better.
Zoom lens, tripods, primes DSLR. That’s a lot to carry around. Too much setting up when on a trip. They have their place but not when travelling.

 

[Quickstatus]

Slips into your pocket

My zoom lens f2.8 is a quick as you can get
Great for sports stuff when my position was not ideal

All about weight. Compromise. Small zooms over large ones. The above took these shots but the setup was not conducive to travelling or spur of moment photography

Basically phone cameras have vastly improved photography when on the road and the travelling experience. Less setup, less weight to carry but still great shots without detracting from the reason for travelling


(My watermark obscured)

 

[kookaburra75]

No, the more I see really good photos of landscapes, buildings etc, the more I realise that zoom is not the answer. A lot of photos are spur of the moment which require quick composition. Small lens are ideal. Zoom lenses are heavy, often require tripods and excellent light. Not necessarily the equipment if travelling.

When I decided to finally bite the bullet and retire my trusty Canon A1 several years ago (I couldn't even give it away or my darkroom gear), I went for a mirror-less digital camera, to get something light weight. I ended up with a Samsung NX300, with two zooms (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 & 50-200mm f/4-5.6) and a short lens (30mm f/2) meaning I can use it as a point and shoot camera. I tend to use that for a lot of my photos, as it's a small-ish camera with a quick lens. It does mean having to get into the thick of the action though.

But I couldn't resist getting something to keep my link with film - and drag this out when I want to do something different

The Samsung NX300 and my Zeiss Ikon Nettar (taken with my Motorola G30 phone)

 

[tgh]

In many situations the more capable camera does not get used while the happy snapper bags all the fun.
I galloped across the Mara with an FZ200 hanging around my neck , bouncing everywhere and driving me nuts
Otoh it was mostly always grabbable and I got some OK images.
I didn't learn though and took a new FZ200 ( I had trashed the other one) on a motorcycle expedition from Chile to Peru.
One rider used an iphone to good effect, I managed some ok stuff when time was on my side but the camera was never ready to hand.
One rider used a simple small format travel camera that was always ready right there in his jacket pocket.
He was thoughtful , inventive and produced some super shots..coughpy camera notwithstanding.
I was happy with the combination of size, weight, reach and brightness in the FZ200, small sensor notwithstanding.. but there are now better camera's about .

 

[RooFlyer]

No, the more I see really good photos of landscapes, buildings etc, the more I realise that zoom is not the answer. A lot of photos are spur of the moment which require quick composition. Small lens are ideal. Zoom lenses are heavy, often require tripods and excellent light. Not necessarily the equipment if travelling.

Ah, I see we are talking about different classes of zoom. I haven't carried SLR wide or telephoto lenses since the ...about 2010s; I agree, too bulky and finnicky to use (properly).

By zoom I mean a pocket camera with optical zoom. Like the Sony DSC-HX90V that many of us have (after an AFF publicised sale a few years ago). Zoom via lenses mechanically extended. Unzoomed it fits in my pants pocket. Sure, not for the purists, but handy enough for me.
https://www.sony.com.au/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-hx90v



Although sometimes I feel manifestly inadequate ...

 

[Quickstatus]

different classes of zoom

Apologies. I should have been more precise. It’s those bulky ones like my 70-200 (pic above). Additionally the context of my comment is travel photography

16-35 or the ubiquitous 24-70 are less problematic but overall I’m thinking a prime 50mm is the ideal for travel photography - or maybe just the smartphone. I remember carrying 3 lenses a tripod and a DSLR when we were travelling Monument Valley. The whole day I was anxious about getting the sun in the glove photo I was more focused on getting the right settings with all that gear, fussing over the details that I did not just relax and take in the view.. The guy in the photo with all that gear had way more gear than me but I sure did feel like him.

Is it more about the photo or the experience?

By the way. YouTube has many videos about the 50mm prime for travel photography.

 

[smckay]

I rock out with a 7DII, 24-105, 70-200 and 150-600 on travel trips. About 12Kg all done in a backpack with batteries, flash, pole, blah blah. Try making that look light when stuffing it into the overhead locker.
I got my wife a HX90V due to the zoom and overall package.
We both get good shots that please us. But she blends into the crowd and I am That Guy with a 2 foot long lens at the front of the boat.
Who's right and who's wrong?

 

[Quickstatus]

Who's right and who's wrong?

Neither. Great shots can be had with both. With that in mind, less is often better when travelling.

 

[jb747]

When I did a Europe holiday, just before covid, I took a D800, and 16-35 and 24-70 lenses. Two thirds of the shots were done with the wide lens.

 

[Quickstatus]

Great photos are often captured when the photographer is invisible because people are not reacting to the photographer.

 

[jb747]

Great photos are often captured when the photographer is invisible because people are not reacting to the photographer.

I spend a fair bit of time editing people out of my pictures!

 

[Buzzard]

I spend a fair bit of time editing people out of my pictures!

On a recent trip, a lady was constantly taking selfies or asking (mostly me) to take photos with her in the picture.
I like taking photos of "things" on my travels but I am not one of those things.

 

[jb747]

I don't understand selfies. Mostly they ruin good scenery.