Best lens for an Everest expedition

<p>Good day all and (somewhat belated) best wishes for 2010.<br>

One of my students is off to the Himalayas next month to climb up to base camp one. He has a 50D and would like to know what lens he should take with. Obviously the first and most important priority is reliability, followed by convenience - light weight and preferably one, maximum two lenses. Lastly there is the image quality consideration.<br>

The convenience and image quality aspects are a difficult trade-off.<br>

So, we are calling on the vast experience of all the photo.net community for advice<br>

Keep well all<br>

David</p>

<p>My vote would be the EF-S 10-22mm & 24-105mm F/4 L.<br>

for a one lens solution with lower IQ and less width for those must have panoramic shots, the 18-200mm might be worth looking at.</p>

<p>For going with one lens, the EF-S 15-85mm. It has most of the range of the two above. For reliability, I would take a good quality P&S camera, just in case.</p>

<p>+1 to 15-85.</p>

<p>I recently played with one and was greatly impressed.</p>

<p>The only thing it doesn't too wel is straight lines. But no wide zoom does that perfectly.</p>

<p>I would highly recommend sticking with one lens, the 15-85. In those climates, I would avoid changing lenses if at all possible.<br>

<br /> Some recommendations.....</p>

<ul>

<li>Cold will deplete a battery more quickly. Keep the batteries in your shirt pocket to keep them warm. Even when you sleep</li>

<li>Keep the camera itself at a steady temp as much as possible. Don't bring it in and out of severe cold weather a lot - it will build up condensation in the camera</li>

</ul>

<p>Tudor ApMadoc<br>

http://photos.apmadoc.net</p>

 

<p>I spent 3 weeks in Nepal last year, trekking to Everest & points thereabouts. I took a 5D with 17-40 and 24-105, plus the plastic 50/1.8. That was a great lightweight combo for me on that trip, but sacrificed a bit on the telephoto end. With a 50D, for my style of photography, I'd take a superwide like the 10-22 and pair it with something in the wide-short telephoto range like the 24-70 or 24-105. The old 28-105 is a pretty decent lens and small and lightweight. The 50/1.8 comes along regardless since it doesn't weight anything...</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>This essay seems to fit your request 100% (and thanks to Michael Reichman of the Luminous Landscape for publishing it!):</p>

<p>http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/mountain-climbing.shtml</p>

<p>

 

<p>I was treking around Annapurna (Jomson Trek) november last year. My equipment was Canon 5D Mark II, EF17-40F4L, EF24-105F4LIS and EF70-200F4LIS. Everything in my backpack - Lowepro CompuPrimus. Notebook and 10D body as backup was in sherpas backpack. For the next trip I will probably exchange the EF24-105F4LIS for EF50F1.4. (or take both:). Do not forget CPL filters and UV filters for protection. Pics from the trek are here <a href="http://caba.sk/?p=408#more-408">http://caba.sk/?p=408#more-408</a> </p>

 

</p>

<p>I travelled to Everest base camp with a 28mm lens for my film camera and was perfectly happy with the scenic shots I got; 17mm on APS-C camera is about the same field of view so I think that would be perfectly adequate. He could by all means get the 10-22 but you need good compositional skills and using that on a mountain scene risks some very ordinary shots. Overall I would agree with the 15-85 and If money is tight the 18-55 IS (must be the IS version) would still be a very good alternative. For alonger lens I would take the 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM but that is because I like taking pictures of elements of the landscape as much as (if not more than) wide landscapes themselves.</p>

<p> </p>

I would favour a canon 17-40L if on a crop sensor like the 50D. Good focal length range, superb IQ (especially stopped down a little on a crop-sensor) It's internally-focusing lens groups also allow it to remain well-sealed against the elements. Finally, it is relatively light. His second lens would be predicated on what he wishes to shoot. Panoramics or tighter shots. But as a walkaround, he wouldn't go far wrong with the 17-40L.

<p>Just a few notes, based on several treks in the Himalayas: The above advise in in general right, whether you want to bring wide angle or tele lenses is a matter of a personal choice. The Luminous Landscape article is good but aimed at climbing; circumstances won't be so bad when trekking to the basecamp. I have seen lots of cameras fail (mostly in the film era though - digital seems to be more reliable)so taking a 2nd body or p/s makes sense.<br>

My outfit (nowadays): EOS 5D with 10D as backup, 24-105/f4 + 35/f2.0 +135/f2.0 lenses, Speedlite 580 EX flash, Powershot G7 for quick shots. (Too) heavy perhaps but next time I'll use the same or a similar outfit.</p>

<p>Having hiked Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya, lots of 15,000 foot and higher passes in the Andes, etc. I would recommend the 24-105 and a wide angle lens like a 10-22. I use the 24-105 a lot, even for landscape work and like the results. I use the 10-22 for tight spaces and for some landscape work with the 24-105 on the camera about 80-85% of the time. A 50mm f/1.8 is a nice addition as is a small shoe mount flash. A tripod is great if you can swing it.</p>

<p>Thanks guys, you are the best.<br>

Watch this space for some great pictures around the end of May</p>

 

<p>I've been to Base Camp on both sides several times. I'd bring the EF17-40F4L, EF24-105F4LIS and EF70-200F4LIS. Since he's shooting with a cropped sensor he might replace the 17-40 with the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5. It's just a bummer to loose the constant aperture, when shooting in tricky low light areas like monasteries... Leave the 70-200 at home if that sounds too heavy! If that is still too heavy leave the 17-40 at home. If he needs wider angle than 24mm provides, he can stitch files when he gets home. Have a great trip!</p>