Prime.vs.Zoom for traveling to NY

[alireza_r]

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I am traveling to NY city in two weeks for the first time and I am thinking of taking zoom or prime lenses with me. The camera is 5D and the prime rig is the 35f2+85f1.8 and the zoom rig is Sigma12-24+24-105. Recently I travelled to Andalusia, Spain, with the zoom lenses and boy was I content about having the two of them (especially the 12mm!). So why should I even think of taking primes instead? The reason is that I think my photos are becoming more and more repetitive using the same technique of shooting with these two lenses (Here is the link to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8413680@N08/sets/72157623344469855/">gallery</a>. You can see what I mean). So I thought by taking fast primes, I can work on shooting wide open, low light, shallow DOF, and candid people shots instead. The bonus is carrying less weight as well.<br>

So the question is, do you think I'll miss the wide and ultra-wide end "a lot" in NY? Any experience about shooting in NY? Or more generally, do you prefer primes for traveling? If yes, why? <br>

BTW, carrying all of them is out of question, as I don't have a bag to have them all together and I really don't want to get into the hassle of changing lenses even more.</p>

[hstelljes]

<p>Thats an excellent kit you have there. You will need the primes for those low light situations. I would take at least one prime, the 35mm is very small.</p>

[g dan mitchell]

<p>It is a tradeoff. Yes, you can get narrower DOF from the primes, and those two fine primes are lighter and smaller than the combination of the two zooms. (I have both of the primes and the 24-105 zoom) On the other hand, you'll be hard pressed to respond as quickly to changing situations and you won't be able to cover as wide a range of focal length.</p>

<p>I often shoot street/urban subjects. Sometimes I go with primes and sometimes with zooms. If I had to pick one and only one... I would go with zooms.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

[jim r]

<p>Get a 24mm prime and you're good to go in NYC.</p>

[david_henderson]

<p>Why would you not be able to create more variety with 2 zooms than with 2 prime lenses?</p>

[g dan mitchell]

<blockquote>

<p><em>Get a 24mm prime and you're good to go in NYC.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Totally depends on what and how you shoot.</p>

[tdigi]

<p>Why not 1 zoom 1 prime. I would do either the 12-24 + the 85 or the 24-105 + 35. </p>

[mendel_leisk]

<p>Hedge your bets, take them all. You can then do primes one day, zoom(s) the next.</p>

[luis_g]

<p>I'd take the 24-105 and the 35/2, but that's for my own style and subjects.</p>

[sbp]

<p>Another vote for the 24-105 + 35. Covers a wide range and gives you low light capability. That said, NYC has some tight little spaces that might be fun with the 12-24.</p>

[robert_edelman1]

<p>I would definitely take the 24-105. The others are optional. </p>

[david_henderson]

<p>On my last visit with a 5D , 65% of my keepers were made with a 70-200 lens, the rest with a 24-105. </p>

[jdebever]

<p>I would take them all.. take the zooms in your photo carry on, and the primes in your suitcase. Just take 1 or 2 lens(es) on daytrips, leave the rest in your hotel.. if you find you miss a shot, you can pop back the next day with a different lens..<br>

And take at least one day to visit B&H and Adorama :-) They might just sell the bag you need. A little powershot might be handy as well. I use mine a lot in city's, where i don't want to walk around with 5dII and 24-70 2.8/70-200 2.8 is.</p>

<p> </p>