Which Lens Would You Take to S.F.?
 

We're planning a short trip to San Francisco and I'm going to take my DSLR camera (Nikon D70). I want to bring only one lens, and I have three to choose from: an AF Micro Nikkor fixed 60 mm (1:2.8 D), a DX AF-S Nikkor 18-70 (1:3.5-4.5 ED), and a Tamron XR Di 28-300 (1:3.5 - 6.3 Macro).

Any suggestions? They're all roughly the same physical size - the Tamron is only about a half-inch longer than the other two.

We're not renting a car, but we plan to do a lot of walking and picture taking.

I think our hotel is near China Town.

Wouldn't the 28-300 be more flexible?

Yes, but I don't think the quality of the Tamron is as good as the Nikkors.

The 60mm is probably the best lens, and would force me to think about composition more.

The 18-70 is specifically for Nikon DSLRs and is a pretty good lens. This is the one that's currently at the top of my list.

I'd take my left lens and my right lens. And a spare pair.

If you're okay with not coming back with any very traditional travel photos, take the prime lens. It's on the telephoto end, but it's more fun that way.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of primes, but I have really become dependent on my 24-105.

I think it really depends on what your personal style is. The 300 is pretty slow, are you going to be shooting in a lot of light? Do you like compressed foreground and background and isolated subjects? Are you on a macro jag? The Micro Nikkor is a nice lens.

Why don't either of you ever enter the photos comps? too flaming good for us won't do nothing for free? Or scared of being beaten by point and shoot with a freebie from Walmart amateurs?

:p:

Yeah !!

No, just too busy. If I could mine the archives that would be different. Also, I wonder if we had a scale repairing competition or a swim coaching competition if you'd both be so hot to trot after doing it all day.

And as far as the cameras are concerned it ain't the wand, it's the magician.
There are plenty of great photos by dwellars, that's what is great about digital photography, it is more egalitarian. Now the medium is accessible to nearly everyone everywhere. It's awesome.

If I am probably going to travel to a specific location only once (or very rarely), I'd go with the 28-300 to cover all bases. If you're sticking with shots within the city, you would probably be safe with the 60 or 18-70.

18-70 hands down. The difference on the wide end is dramatic between 26 and 18. I used to have a Nikkor 24-120 which was a great walk around lens, but I ended up always swapping it out for the kit 18-55 lens for wide shots because it made that much of a difference. You can always crop and enlarge to zero in on more distant objects, but you can't make up for that lost wide-angle.

You mentioned "we" are going to SF. How's your traveling companion with you taking lots of pictures? Do they stand there impatiently while you spend several minutes moving around looking for a good composition with the prime lens? Or are they patient and supportive of your hobby?

If it's the former, then having a zoom lens can be handy. Just shoot and go. Keeps everyone happy and you have a better trip. The 18-70 is probably the best range.

Don't forget to wear some flowers in your hair.

The 18-70mm. It's a terrific Nikkor lens. You can crop shots that you didn't have enough reach for, but you can't go the other way. As Bullitt said, 18-28mm is critical. I use my 17-55mm all the time in the short end. Use the lens hood and pick up a circular polarizer if you can, trust me...

Why can't you also bring the 28-300mm and leave it in the hotel in case you need it? Go to Alcatraz if you can...

Take all of them. You will regret not having the ones you leave behind.

JeepGirl, who should probably be called CameraGirl, brought along an honest-to-goodness film camera with an auto drive or whatever you call it, with four different lenses. Her camera bag weighed about 50 pounds. She was swapping those lenses all over the place, depending on what we were encountering ... whales, flowers, birch trees, and she did a portrait session with our last B&B owners' dog.

Yes, really.