Rail Vacation--What lens?

I'll be taking a driving/rail vacation in Canada and am considering what

primes--only 2, I'm packing light--to bring along. Wide angle is a natural, but

which one? I imagine that many of my photos will be taken from the train, but

others will be of family hiking excursions. I'll be bringing either my autofocus

or manual cameras.

What are the choices??? Without knowing what you have I'll assume you have them all and out of everything I'd pick, 35mm F2 AIS and 24mm F2.8 AIS.

Have a great trip.

Choices are open, but I'll narrow down to 24, 28, or 35mm, ai or ais manuals,

as that is my preference. I don't have a wide prime; I have an all-purpose

zoom that I've found too big and slow for my shooting style.

45/2.8 (very compact) or 50/1.8 (very light) or 50/1.4 (if that's the one you have) and 85/1.8 (compact).

 

Why is wide angle a natural?

Id bring 3 as a minimum 24,50,105.Better yet bring the 24 and get a 35-70 zoomer.

I would strongly recommend a 24mm for wilderness areas, the Rockies and some urban and architectural photography. After that, 35mm or 50mm depending on preference. Personally, I would go with 35mm. If you want to take a third lens, I'd make it 85mm. These lenses can be conveniently used handheld at fairly low shutter speeds and they make for a light, compact package.

 

I assume that you're taking the Transcontinental for parts of your trip. If you have not already done so, you might want to ask VIA whether there is a way to take photographs without a window between you and the scenery. If you can't do it, I'd seriously consider driving rather than taking the train, especially in the Rockies.

Juan, My favorite lens for photographing from a train is the 85 1.8 with a rubber hood. Use the rubber hood to avoid reflections from the glass and a wide aperture will help with the dirt and grime on the windows. For a wide angle, probably 28mm would be fine and not vignette from the rubber hood. The 85mm and 28mm would also make a fine kit for hiking and if you can find the room, a close up diopter for the 85 would be really nice. Pete

If it's an Amtrak train I'd take the 20, if Canadian National I'd go with the 24.

Yes, a wide angle is a natural decision but don't forget to grab a mid telephoto as well...I'd recommend the 180mm or if you want something lighter a 105/135mm.

 

Personally, I'd consider 3 primes:

 

For an extremely light manual kit, consider a 20mm/24mm, the 45mm, and the 100mm Series E. All of these are incredibly light and compact.

 

For a heaver AF kit, consider a 24/28mm, a 50mm, and an 85mm.

 

And lastly, if you're not stuck on primes howabout the 18-35mm, the 85mm f1.8, and the 70-210mm...it's still a pretty light kit.

If you have them, I'd recommend the 35/f2 and the 85/f1.8. I know some people aren't that stuck on the 35 but I found that it made the ideal all day lens with the 85.

I love primes, but this seems the ideal time to have a zoom. You'll have no say at all as to where you are located when shooting; if you try to move, you'll lose the subject due to the train's motion.

 

You will be able to shoot wide shots in the mountains, but I found 28mm was lots. Assuming you don't want to shoot wildlife (and since you'll be in motion, this would be pretty tricky with long lenses), if you insist upon two primes I'd recommend a 24 or 28 and an 85.

 

If you are willing or able to use a zoom, this seems the perfect opportunity for a 28-105 or 24-85 / 24-120.

 

If you want to shoot people on the train, then I'm with you in having a prime. Here, you'll want to go on the wide side and fast, although a fast tele like an 85/1.8 or /1.4 might serve you well. A 35/2 seems perfect, although you could probably use any focal length lens from 16 to 105 mm and make nice shots.

You might like to try this system. Get a fanny pack. Not necessary one designed for photography. Have three spaces for three lenses (charcoal foam works well). You wear the pack in front and when you change lenses you take off a lens, cap it and put it way. Then you take out the next lens uncap it and put it on. The caps go back in the pack where the lens was. There is no need for a third hand. Extra film fits in the sides.

 

Take three lenses not two, a 50/1.8 AI or AIS and two others. It all depends on what you want to photograph. The 50/1.8 or 1.4 allows you to shoot without flash in the evening. A medium fast wide angle like a 24/2.8 or 20/3.5 allows this also.

 

I�d also take a 24/2.8 AI or AIS and 105/2.5 AIS. I might take a 25~50/4.0 AIS and a 20/3.5 AIS or a 24/2.8 and 75~150/3.5 E. A might take a AF 35~70/2.8D and a 20/2.8 AIS. The 24/2.8 is probably the most useful wide angle.

 

When hiking, shopping, eating or whatever the difference in weight between two and three small primes isn�t worth considering that�s why I would carry three not two lenses. I would also carry 3T and 4T close-up lenses.

If you have time, find a AF 24-50mm f3.5~4.5 Nikkor lens, and a AF 85mm f1.8 lens. Two lenses, good coverage, good glass. The photography part is up to you.

 

Travel safe!

24mm & 50mm.

Juan,<P>

 

I asked a similar question here a few weeks back (you might find that thread helpful: "<a href=http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=004Xj3>The Ideal Two-Lens Kit</a>") because I was thinking pretty much the same as you: minimum weight, maximum versatility. As you'll see, though, if you peruse that thread, while everyone had lots of ideas, no real consensus ever developed. I finally decided that there is no ideal two-lens solution for general SLR shooting; and that, as David Hartman and others have said, the perfect set of primes (again, for general shooting in the SLR world) is a minimum of three lenses: something on the order of 24/50/85 or 24/50/105.<P>

 

Around town I shoot using almost exclusively two lenses, 24/2.8 and 50/1.8. There are times, though, when I need (or could use) something longer (for this I own an 80-200/4.0 AIS zoom; but I'd gladly trade it for an 85/1.4 or 1.8 prime - as soon as I can get my hands on one). I think if I were traveling, I wouldn't want to depend only on the 24 and 50 (though I could get by with that combo if I had to).<P>

 

You'll definitely want the 24/2.8 (or 2.0) for interiors - especially the train; and also for landscapes and crowds. And the 50 of course will come in handy for a great deal (including its speed). While, for a further change in viewpoint; for headshots; for stacking perspective; and for reaching out somewhat: the 85 (or 100/105) would, it seems to me, be ideal - especially in occasional combo with a 2X convertor, which I can also recommend (weighs almost nothing).<P>

 

I second David's fanny pack/waistpack suggestion; I use that method and find that, especially in conjunction with a daypack, it works great (same concept as the Lowepro Orion AW - but cheaper and less bulky). Enjoy the ride, ey?

I had to make this choice a while back when I went to Zimbabwe. I decided to take the 24 and 85. Then, in the last minute, I just couldn't justify leaving the 50 at home. Took it too.

 

It all depends on your shooting style, but the above worked out fine for me. I'll create a folder with the shots over the holidays.

Don't forget a polarizing filter: to shoot through the glass windows or dome of the train and to capture those wide open blue Canadian skys.