Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hi, I use a Nikon DX body and I'd like some advice about upgrading my travel lens (Nikkor 18-200 IS) to something of higher optical quality, but still fairly compact.

I have a few primes that cover middle range (24, 35 and 50) and an unwieldy 105 macro as well as the aforementioned 18-200. I have been dissatisfied with softness and slowness of the lens for a while, but it's undeniably useful for travelling.

I'm thinking of getting the 135 f2 for the long range, it seems like it's comparatively light compact. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X seems like a good lens for the wide range.

Please let me know what you think!

I think people who carry multiple lenses on vacation are nuts. And I used to be one of them.

Sorry for the slight hijack - but with that said, what lens is your all purpose travel lens?

24-120 is my favourite travel lens.. mind you I am on nikon full frame so i benefit from not having the crop factor destroy my wide end... but even when on my DX body I still find it gets the job done like 70-80% of the time. with the constant f/4 and the VRII it is a winner in my books. and at a solid price.

and all of this is coming from a guy who still travels with his 14-24, 24-70, 80-200, and a whole host of primes and flashes, and a bunch ofbackup cameras..... and none of them ever come out of the bag except the 14-24.

Last time I travelled I took three zooms to cover 12-300mm on crop (12-24, 17-50, 70-300). I always had a reasonable expectation of what I wanted to get and never had more than two lenses on me at a time. After a week, I started to miss my primes.

My shooting preferences gravitate to my 17-50 and 105 macro (28 and 105 when shooting 35mm), so next time I go somewhere I might do that; or try to choose from a selection of film cameras.

Or just take the 35mm -- people have been shooting with the 'normal' lens for years. Maybe less trying to capture everything in the camera, enjoy the trip, and craft a photo with just what you've got every once in a while?

I am with Scott.. I travel with most of my gear -- because YOU NEVER KNOW! Even if I use the 24-70 90% of the time when I am out and about. But if you truly want a travel camera without the weight, and whatnot -- why not look at a mirrorless compact camera system?