Lens Philosophy

I HATE changing lenses. There are two reasons for this. First, in travel photography, by the time you stop and change lenses, the picture is almost certainly gone, and even if it isn't, when you have the wide angle on, something else comes up or along that wants a 60mm focal length. The second is that I am just plain lazy. That has led to my being tired and sore, because I end up carrying a second body for telephoto. In addition, I would never go on a trip without a backup body, and since I am carrying it, I might as well use it.

My primary lens (yes, it is a zoom) is the Sony 24-105 f4 IS. This lens was actually a significant factor in changing my primary camera from a Canon 20D/40D to a Canon 5D. Way back, before good zooms, I used to travel and shoot with two bodies, one with a 24mm (occasionally a 28mm or 35mm) and the other with a 105mm. They matched the way I saw the world, either focused in on something with the 105 or taking in the environment with the 24.

I almost always carry both Sony’s, one with the 24-105mm f4 and the other with either the 16-35mm or the 70-300mm. Sometimes I will go with the 16-35mm on one body and the 70-300 on the other. If I need a focal length in between, I can always crop a 35mm shot, and with the 60MP Sony, I still get a decent sized image.