Should I carry around my 18-135mm lens or 50mm 1.8 lens on my New York Trip?

<p>I have my New York trip coming up this weekend... I have both the 18-135mm and 50mm 1.8 lenses. I would like to travel light with my 50mm but I'm not sure if I will miss out of the zoom if I don't carry the 18-135mm lens which is kind of heavy.<br>

Any suggestions?<br>

Thanks!<br /><br /></p>

<p>On what camera? Film? Digital? What size sensor? Before we can help you we need more information.</p>

<p>What will you be taking pictures of in NYC?</p>

<p>I have a canon eos 550<br>

it will be for travel photography -- attraction sights and people.<br>

thanks!</p>

<p>I'd take both, if it were me going. The 50mm for low light, the other for the range of more-or-less wide-angle to telephoto opportunities. The fifty is small and light enough to not be a burden, and the 18-135 only is about 455g (1 lb). That ain't heavy, that's your lens, as they used to say out in Boy's Town--especially if it is on a "Rebel" body which is light weight on its own.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>IIRC The Eos 550D has an APS-C CMOS sensor which has a crop factor of 1.6. Your 18-135 is like a 29mm to 216 lens on a FF 35mm SLR. The 50mm compares to an 80mm lens.</p>

<p> In the city you will want somthing a bit wider like a 15mm (24mm FF equivilant) as the 18mm will not be wide enough for some building shots. If you can not get a 15mm then bring what you have and enjoy your trip!</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

 

<p>50 is not wide enough - by a long shot!</p>

<p>The 50 would be good for candid shots or indoor work. If those aren't your prime targets the other sounds like a better option to me.</p>

<p>Not wide enough for what?</p>

<p>The 50mm is a very nice short telephoto for an APS-C --right in the range for street photography, especially down in the dark canyons of the city.</p>

<p>I personally would want a wider lens than the 18mm minimum here, but whole generations of pre-1970s photographers would have been delighted with a lens as wide as a 29mm equivalent on their full 35mm cameras. For a long time, anything wider than 35mm was considered ultra-wide.</p>

<p>I would definitely carry the zoom - especially if you aren't exactly sure what or where you'll be shooting. I spent a fair amount of time over the past year in NYC, and I'm still sorting out what I'll shoot this weekend when I'm there. I think you'll be happier with the options the 18-135 gives.</p>

<p>I agree with JDM about the wide-angle. I ended up using my 10-22mm a lot (on a 50D) and really got some nice shots of buildings, monuments, parks. The 24-105mm was used about the same amount - great for those compression telephoto shots down the "canyons" of the streets, and for street activity shots.</p>

<p>If I could only take one of those two lenses, it'd be the zoom. Otherwise, I'd take both.</p>

<p>Which one do you use most? What you will want to take in NY probably will be much the same as you photograph elsewhere ... different things appeal to different people. There are editing tools to cope with narrow angle of view and small aperture, if at some cost. When I visited I had a 35-78 zoom and so I limited myself to things that interested me and could be done by the camera in question, I didn't know what I do now about editing..</p>

<p>I cant see any reason not to take both , the fifty mm is so small and light it will fit in a pocket<br>

since im assuming you have weight and packing issues you will most likely be shooting HH and the 50 mm 1.8 could come in handy on cloudy days and in some darker areas<br>

put the zoom on the camera<br>

toss the 50 in a coat pocket<br>

its still winter here you will be wearing a coat or atl least a jacket everyday<br>

Good luck and enjoy your trip</p>

<p>Yes, not wide enough for what? Anthony, above, stole my comments, but he is right. Take both, and put one in your pocket. Here's another thought. I like to put a lens on my camera, strike out on a walk, shooting with only that lens. When I get to the end of my walk, I switch to the other lens, and walk back. This process does a couple of things. One, I get different images. Secondly, it forces me to frame and compose images according to the lens I have mounted. I think there is value in that. I could take the easy way out and simply use a wide range zoom, but that would be no fun. Oh, the 50 1.8 is a great walk-around lens at night.</p>

<p>On another note, make sure you take in the Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand exhibit at the metropolitan museum of art. I was just there two weeks ago and it was a very nice exhibit. And the met is a beautiful place. Fine to bring your camera in too as long as you turn off the flash!<br>

Also check out the international center of photography exhibits.<br>

CG</p>

 

<p>'Cos quality of pictures of both lens is comparable and you can not to take both I would recommend to consider 2 things:<br>

1.Image Stab - important to make street pics without tripod<br>

2. How wide the lens a specially in NY. Building are tall</p>