Traveling light - 16-35 F/4 enough for Tokyo and Kamakura?

[West Coast Birder]

@Mr Roboto, @Skygod44, your inputs welcome!

Thinking of leaving the 24-70 and 70-200 at home and traveling with just the R5 and the 16-35. This is a business trip, so I may not even have time to do any photography at all but hoping we have some time to sneak off to Kamakura.

 

[Terrycanon]

@Mr Roboto, @Skygod44, your inputs welcome!

Thinking of leaving the 24-70 and 70-200 at home and traveling with just the R5 and the 16-35. This is a business trip, so I may not even have time to do any photography at all but hoping we have some time to sneak off to Kamakura.

I've never been to Japan, but I now take only my RF24-105L with me on trips, if I can't take a lot of gear. It covers everything - almost - for me. Have a good trip!

 

[West Coast Birder]

I've never been to Japan, but I now take only my RF24-105L with me on trips, if I can't take a lot of gear. It covers everything - almost - for me. Have a good trip!

I hear ya.... unfortunately, I don't have a 24-105, so it's either the 16-35 or the 24-70 (or both). Between the two, I'm inclined to choose the wider 16-23 range over the 36-70 range as being more useful in the streets of Tokyo and temples of Kamakura.

 

[Mr Roboto]

With the R5 I'd take the 24-70 over the 16-35 for the purpose that you describe (definitely not the 70-200).

The 24-70 (and the 24-105 as Terry mentioned) offers enough on the wide end for most outdoor scenes and interiors and environmentals. The 70mm end makes it great for singling out specific people and sights.

The 16-35 is too wide on a full-frame as a single carry if you want the ability to capture people. The Japanese are extremely camera-shy (private in general) and it is considered rude if you get too close with a camera.

Can you swing getting the RF24-105 STM version? Your lenses are EF and will need adapters, right? The RF is a good performer, lightweight, and compact lens. Might be worth it for this trip alone. It has IS for those night and dark interior shots. Or just take your 5DmkIV with the 24-70 - that's a great combo.

 

[3Rotor]

With the R5 I'd take the 24-70 over the 16-35 for the purpose that you describe (definitely not the 70-200).

The 24-70 (and the 24-105 as Terry mentioned) offers enough on the wide end for most outdoor scenes and interiors and environmentals. The 70mm end makes it great for singling out specific people and sights.

The 16-35 is too wide on a full-frame as a single carry if you want the ability to capture people. The Japanese are extremely camera-shy (private in general) and it is considered rude if you get too close with a camera.

Can you swing getting the RF24-105 STM version? Your lenses are EF and will need adapters, right? The RF is a good performer, lightweight, and compact lens. Might be worth it for this trip alone. It has IS for those night and dark interior shots. Or just take your 5DmkIV with the 24-70 - that's a great combo.

Solid recommendation. I would say the same. You will get much more flexibility with the 24-70 over the 16-35.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Thanks, guys. 24-70 it is. I don’t want to spend any more money acquiring gear. I’m going to focus on better utilizing the lenses I already have. Lord knows I’m overgeared already!

 

[Mr Roboto]

Hope you have enough time to take in some sights, eat loads of delicious food, and drink some premium saké

 

[Skygod44]

Good morning Sam
Late to the party due to time zones, but yes! , to the previous suggestions.

My M.Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 pro (24-80 FF equiv. FoV) is ALMOST ALWAYS on my main Oly camera these days...
...because it's pretty-much wide enough, and pretty-much long enough for most scenes.

Extra advice is,
"Don't even look for scenes which need a wider or longer lens, because you'll kick yourself".

Oh, and are you coming here soon?
If "yes", be prepared for >110°F Real feel™ temperatures, due to hideous humidity now.
If "no, not until the autumn", thank your lucky stars.

Cheers mate,
Simon

 

[West Coast Birder]

Good morning Sam
Late to the party due to time zones, but yes! , to the previous suggestions.

My M.Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 pro (24-80 FF equiv. FoV) is ALMOST ALWAYS on my main Oly camera these days...
...because it's pretty-much wide enough, and pretty-much long enough for most scenes.

Extra advice is,
"Don't even look for scenes which need a wider or longer lens, because you'll kick yourself".

Oh, and are you coming here soon?
If "yes", be prepared for >110°F Real feel™ temperatures, due to hideous humidity now.
If "no, not until the autumn", thank your lucky stars.

Cheers mate,
Simon

Thanks, Simon! Unfortunately, work dictates my travel and I fly there tonorrow and will spend about a week in and around Tokyo. I know the weather is going to be brutal.

 

[Skygod44]

Thanks, Simon! Unfortunately, work dictates my travel and I fly there tonorrow and will spend about a week in and around Tokyo. I know the weather is going to be brutal.

"Brutal"...?
You can say that again.

An extra, odd-sounding bit of advice then:
Although it sounds contra-intuitive, wear a thin, tanktop-style vest under your shirts/T-shirts.

They catch the sweat, and stop a river forming down your spine, into the pants belt area.

And ALWAYS carry & drink water.

Recently, even men use a sun umbrella too. Pick one up at the airport, and use it! Tiny, ultra-light folding ones are cheap, pocketable, and make a huge difference when outside.

Take care, and I'm sure everyone is excited to see your photos...
...if you get the chance to take any!

Safe trip,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

There you go.
A man.
Today.
Using a sun umbrella.


Called "hi-gasa" (日傘) in Japanese.
Pronounced "he" "ga" "sa".

Honestly! Take care in the heat.
Today's peak was Real Feel™ 114°F where I am, and it was supposed to be a tad hotter in Tokyo due to the inner-city heat effect.

Cheers,
Simon

 

[Nick5]

Returned from Tokyo and Kyoto in June.
I walked around with a 16-35 f/4 L IS and a 70-200 f/4 L IS Mark II attached to a pair of brand new 5D Mark IV’s with Grips. Yes heavy, but it is why I go to the gym…..
However if I could only take one lens…….ohhh the pain, it would be the 24-70 f/4 L IS for the reasons the guys mentioned above.
Maybe the EF 24-105 f/4 L IS Mark II is in my future as sometimes later in day I’ll take only one camera and lens and the 24-70 leaves me a bit short on long end.
No matter which lens you take, you will come home with great images from a great time.
One of my favorite places in the world and the people are simply wonderful.

 

[Lester Wareham]

Bit late to this Sam, I use the f/4 zooms (17-40 & 24-105) for travel and these cover 95 % of general pgotography, even lowlight with modern camera sensitivity.

Been on a few city trips recently and found the 24-105 range was more useful than the 17-40, the latter for interiors more.

So I would suggest your 24-70 would be the best bet unless you plan to concentrate exclusively on architecture.

I know from experience that business trips don't often leave much spare time; I used to get up early for an hours walk before breakfast; because evenings is late meetings or meals/entertainment!

Hope you enjoy.

 

[joayne]

I don't think my 24-105mm ever leaves my 5D3.. When I bought my R6, it came with a 24-105mm

 

[Terrycanon]

I don't think my 24-105mm ever leaves my 5D3.. When I bought my R6, it came with a 24-105mm

Yes, as I said earlier, it is such a versatile lens. I use mine so much more than all the time other lenses I have. Also, of course, you can apply a x1.6 crop on the R5, which makes the lens a 38-168, giving even more reach. I think West Coast Birder Sam should buy one. I love spending other people's money for them.

 

[Mr Roboto]

...
Maybe the EF 24-105 f/4 L IS Mark II is in my future as sometimes later in day I’ll take only one camera and lens and the 24-70 leaves me a bit short on long end.
...

I used the v1 of the EF24-105L for over a decade and loved it. It finally died several years ago and the EF24-70f/2.8mk2 took over its role for me. But I was never as happy with it as a walk-about as I was with the 24-105.

So I recently purchased the v2 of the EF24-105f/4L. It's just a great focal range.

 

[ShipleyNW]

Back in the '80s and '90s I probably shot 60-70% of my work with a 24/2 prime or a 105/2.5 prime. Zooms stunk back then. When I got into digital photography a while back and found out that zooms were a real thing now, lo and behold, they make a 24-105/4. How cool is that? Since then I've owned both EF versions and now the RF version.

 

[KD_Reno]

I’m mostly a bird and bug guy, and I don’t have much of an eye for really wide shots. So if I had to take one lens I’d much rather have 105mm than 16-24. But that’s just me.

I believe there are trips where opportunities for bird photography might be very limited. But when traveling far from home there’s no such thing as “no birding”. Even a quick trip to a city park, or the trees around a shrine, can easily produce a couple of lifers. That’s why I also believe that everyone with an interest in wildlife should own the RF 100-400. It weighs less than the RF 24-105/4, and will slip into a small bag, so it’s not much extra to carry. If you can grab one during a refurb sale, even throwing it in a checked bag is not a huge risk.

 

[MatthewK]

Good morning Sam
Late to the party due to time zones, but yes! , to the previous suggestions.

My M.Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 pro (24-80 FF equiv. FoV) is ALMOST ALWAYS on my main Oly camera these days...
...because it's pretty-much wide enough, and pretty-much long enough for most scenes.

Extra advice is,
"Don't even look for scenes which need a wider or longer lens, because you'll kick yourself".

Oh, and are you coming here soon?
If "yes", be prepared for >110°F Real feel™ temperatures, due to hideous humidity now.
If "no, not until the autumn", thank your lucky stars.

Cheers mate,
Simon

I've been a staunch "primes only" advocate for a decade or two, and have always hated standard 24-70 lenses. Boring, right?! But on my recent trip to Paris from which I just returned, I decided to take a Fuji 16-55 II f/2.8, which is a ~24-83mm in FF, and wow PHENOMENAL. I had a blast with this lens, not having to juggle primes, the range is just about perfect for urban cityscapes and street photography. I'm a born-again zoom shooter now, it'll be my default travel lens from here on out.

I’m mostly a bird and bug guy, and I don’t have much of an eye for really wide shots. So if I had to take one lens I’d much rather have 105mm than 16-24. But that’s just me.

I believe there are trips where opportunities for bird photography might be very limited. But when traveling far from home there’s no such thing as “no birding”. Even a quick trip to a city park, or the trees around a shrine, can easily produce a couple of lifers. That’s why I also believe that everyone with an interest in wildlife should own the RF 100-400. It weighs less than the RF 24-105/4, and will slip into a small bag, so it’s not much extra to carry. If you can grab one during a refurb sale, even throwing it in a checked bag is not a huge risk.

Cut from the same cloth, you and I No matter where I travel, I'm always factoring in time for birding, and will have some manner of birding super-tele with me.

 

[tony-s]

Thanks, Simon! Unfortunately, work dictates my travel and I fly there tonorrow and will spend about a week in and around Tokyo. I know the weather is going to be brutal.

How did it go?