chinckley

Walking around Durban with a camera is probably asking for trouble. Having said that, there are still lots of good

street photo ops: consider walking along the beaches and photographing the vendor stalls. Going north along the

coast, Stanger has a wonderful downtown for street shooting and it is generally safe. And there is often good

shooting from the car - one of my favorite photos is a group of schoolchildren walking home from the bus stop along

a dirt road near Stanger.

 

If you have a friend who lives in a township, visiting them can provide some geat photo ops. But to wander around the

townships on your own is asking for trouble.

 

If you go all the way to Swaziland, there are wonderful opportunities in the cities and it is much safer. The Manzini

Market is a great place to take photos - very lively and colorful!

 

Happy shooting!

I frequently pack a tripod but leave it in my hotel during the day and bring it out at night for a few shots. And I've never regretted having it - those night shots are some of my favorites.

There is only one Grand Canyon, and it has no equal. It will test your physical endurance, it will challenge your photographic skills, and it will change your life. In five days you could do a long and wonderful stretch of the inner-canyon Tonto Trail if you can get permits. Most hikes are not loops, but shuttle service is available. And November is perfect weather for hiking from the South Rim.

Zions Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands are all hours south of Salt Lake City - considerably beyond the mark.

 

You have a couple of great basic route options:

 

Go south all the way to Tahoe, then across I-80 and the Bonneville Salt Flats to SLC. A great mixture of mountains and desert.

 

Or stay North through the Idaho panhandle, then down to Southeastern Idaho and over to Star Valley, Wyoming.

 

There are numerous variations along either route - no matter what you do you will see some great scenery!

If you stay on I-70 to Salina, UT, you will drive through the heart of the San Rafael Swell, one of the most remarkable landscapes on the planet.

 

From Salt Lake City to Tahoe stay on I-80, which takes you across the Bonneville Salt Flats, perhaps the most un-earthlike landscape on the planet.

 

Happy motoring!

I bought the 24-105 about six months ago and use it with my aging 300D. Before buying, I checked a large sample of my photographs over the past few years to see how often I shot wider than 24mm - and found that it was almost never! So the lack of a very wide angle is not a problem for me. Your situation may be different - check your photos and see if you really use the wider angle.

 

This lens rarely comes off my 300D (I do use a simple 50mm 1.8 for low light situations and a 70-300 IS for longer), but the 24-105 is on the camera 95% of the time.

 

It's only money... and you'll get over the price in a few months!

I was dealing with this same question some months ago. Ultimately, I went back through a long history of photos I had taken to determine how often I shot wider than 24mm - and found it was very seldom. I ended up purchasing the 24-105mm F4, and it has rarely come off my 1.6-crop camera since! Reviewing your shooting history may help in your decision.

I use the 24-105 F4 on my old 300D, and rarely take it off. It is a great walk-around lens with a broad range. I think the only issue you might have with the 24-105 on a 1.6 camera is that it won't go wide enough. Before buying it, I went back through my photos to see how often I shot with something wider than 24mm, and discovered it was a very rare occurance. IQ is great, the lens is relatively light weight. If you are OK with the 24mm (=38 on a 40D), it is hard to go wrong with this lens.

Another vote for the 50 1.8. It is the best value in the Canon lineup - great IQ, relatively fast, and inexpensive. I can't think of a better way to start a lens collection. Using a prime also has the advantage of requiring you to move around a little more, which often results in better photos. And if you don't like it (although I have never met anyone who doesn't), you're only out $80!

I have had a 24-105 for about six months and it has rarely come off my camera. For me it is the ideal "walking around" lens - good range, excellent IQ (if not quite as superb as the 24-70), and relatively light weight. What's not to like about this lens!

24-105 F4 on my aging 300D. It stays on the camera 90% of the time, provides a broad range with excellent IQ, with IS as a bonus!