Camera Labs

I am planning to do some travel through Europe and was wondering what the best lens, or combination of lenses would be.

The first question we have to ask is "what's your budget?" How much you can or are willing to spend will impact hugely on the lenses you can get.

The second question is "what will you be or are likely to be shooting?"

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Hi thanks for your reply. I will be doing the tourist thing and visiting the main sights. Budget wise about $500 depending on the lens. I already have a 55mm prime and the standard 18-55mm but was also thinking about a wideangle for the buildings and lndscape.

If you don't want to be swaping your lens a bunch 2 good "walk around" lenses are the 18-135 and the 15-85. The 18-135 will be more in your budget but the 15-85 will give you a wider shot and has much better optics, so if you can spare the extra cost. It will be my next purchase.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

For a wide-angle lens, you may struggle with that budget - the second-hand market would be your best hope of getting a lens within that budget.

As HikingMike suggested, the 15-85mm offers a decent compromise to get a wider angle (the extra 3mm at the wide angle gives you more coverage than you'd guess) although you'd probably be looking at close to $600 for a used one.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

I like the look and idea of the 15-85mm. I could stretch the budget to get there, but do you think the 15mm is wide enough for architecture shots, church steeples, bridges, landscapes and the like? Otherwise I have been looking at the 10-22mm wide angle to suppliment my standard 18-55mm. Although changing lenses while on the move sounds like it could be inconvenient.

It could be. Like I said before, it's a compromise but not a replacement for what most would consider to be a true wide-angle lens on a crop-frame body such as the 10-22mm. The 15mm wide angle is the equivalent to the 24mm full-frame focal length, which is a traditional focal length.

The Canon 10-22mm would be a great choice for architecture. Tokina has an 11-16mm f/2.8, which is pin sharp but it is very pricey.


Your mileage may vary. If you have a suitable bag, I don't think it's much of a hassle but some would regardless.

Unfortunately, convenience (in the context of having a wide focal range, i.e. not having to change lenses) and image quality are usually mutually exclusive.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Thanks all. I was thinking of the sigma 17-50mm f2.8 but am now moving towards the canon 15-85mm as it has a greater range and may offer more flexability (although a little slow I also have a 50mm f1.. I will also look at the sigma or canon 10-20mm. Are these good choices for travel lenses or are there anyother reccomendations?