UKC

I reckon I've found my optimal lens combinations so i can cut down on the amount of gear i carry to the crag and pretty much cover any shot/perspective .all the below on a full frame body;
17-40 f4.0
50mm f2.5 macro
70-200f4

all the above are canon but obviously can be whatever.

the f4.0 is much cheaper than the faster counterpart but for climbing and landscape stuff i hardly ever feel i need to shoot wider than f4.

add to that a flash and wireless trigger and we're rocking

any thoughts ?

In reply to Nadir khan:

My 'standard' canon bag:

16-35mm 2.8 II (for bouldering & climbing, not landscape)
24-105mm f4 IS (the walk about do everything, stitch for wide landscape)
70-200mm f4 IS (landscape & climbing) [The f2.8 is unnecessary for most people]

In reply to ChrisJD:

Chris, just for interest, what software do you use to stitch?
thanks, L

In reply to Nadir khan:

Definitely and each to their own thing - I've been through so many combos over the years and will probably never finally settle!

Currently on D7K DX

11-16 2.8 (landscapes and fun)
16-85 3.5-5.6 VR (for climbing stuff)
35 1.8 low light & enjoying a fixed length

Only thing I'd add is the 70-200, probably 2.8, as I've not seen anything optically as good on Nikon at that range. Costs a fair whack though!

In reply to ChrisJD: I find my 24-105 rarely gets out the house when i'm doing climbing stuff but agree its the ideal travel lens. but saying that , brett harkness uses a 50 1.2 as his 'stay on all the time' travel lens .

In reply to Nadir khan:

Yeah, good set up Nadir.

Standard Bouldering/crag day:-

24-70
70-200
14mm

Occasionally the 50mm gets an airing.

Speedlites and triggers

Nasty Clamps
Light stand/Monopod

Slings (for steadying of the 'photo-dong')

Depending on crag/access/walk in/multi pitch, I cut all of this down, sometimes just to the Small SLR and 50mm.Simplicity sometimes works

Nice gallery btw

In reply to SeanB: i think the 50 is a much underused lens , super sharp and fast though i've never used it as my sole lens on a long climb.

my little 50 macro is becoming a favourite for those small details like eyelashes , or reflections on pupils as well as ice and flowers etc .

i'm a newbie to multi OCF but went on a Brett harkness course (the guy is awesome)and have started using it more but nowhere like as well as you use it .

Thanks for the comments on the gallery, and really like the shots you do with the multi OCF.

In reply to Leonard Tedd:

AutopanoPro - lots of users on UKC

In reply to Nadir khan:

Thinking about it some more......

If it was 'just' bouldering and climbing: 16-35mm + 70-200mm
If it was just landscapes & people: 24-105 & 70-200mm (stitch for wide)

Often carry a 50mm f1.4. Rarely gets used.

In reply to ChrisJD: interestingly , I use the 17-40 or 70-200 for landscape , hardly ever the 24-105 , anyone want to buy a 24-105 ?

In reply to Nadir khan:

Maybe, mail me some details before the mods get a hold of this thread.

In reply to zebedoo:

I have just bought the 70-200 F2.8 VRII (secondhand) Previous to that I had the 80-200 AFS, (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80200afs.htm ) which you can pick up for £600-£700 secondhand.

In reply to ChrisJD: Also before the mods pull the thread, re Canon 50mm 1.4 - If it rarely gets used I'm in the market for one of them at the mo.

In reply to What Goes Up:

My 24-105 is not for sale!

Read the thread....

In reply to ChrisJD: Sorry, just re-edited while you were typing. Got the 24-105 already so yours is safe

It's the 50 I've got my eye on

In reply to What Goes Up:

You won't regret it. My 24-105 gets more than it's share of time though!

On my 7D for a day's climbing will be the 24-105.

If I'm bouldering, I'll throw in the 17-40 f4 too
If I'm being fancy, I'll hire something really wide and grow in the triggers, lighting stands and strobes too but there's am aweful lot to be said for simplicity.

In reply to What Goes Up:

Not having that either !

Don't use it much for landscape or climbing, but its great fun for indoor low light candid stuff.

In reply to What Goes Up:

But I do have a Canon 15mm Diagonal fisheye that I don't use much...

In reply to ChrisJD:

For climbing it must be something wide. I have a Olympus PEN with 9-18m on most of the summer multipitch. For general use I have Panasonic 20mm 1.7 on it 90% of the time. I really love the size of it, the sharpness of it and the DOF effect it generates. I also have 14-150mm superzoom for it and some day I'll probably buy the 40mm 1.8 for portrait use. If I ever have too much money I will also buy the 12mm 2.0.

For sub zero conditions with condensation problems I carry a waterproof point & shoot. The pack size is wondergull and all this weights around 1,2kg (250g EPM1 body, 100g 20mm, 260g 14-150mm, 280g 9-18mm and 300g for the cases perhaps.

In reply to ChrisJD: Hmmm

YHM

In reply to mike_uk82: Hi Mike , wasn't really serious about selling it , I just don't use it that much but where i have found it invaluable is in snowkiting photography or times when the subject is moving a lot from near to far , neither the 17-40 or the 70-200 would have done the job as well IMHO
http://www.nadirkhanphotography.co.uk/image/259
http://www.nadirkhanphotography.co.uk/image/257