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Thread: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

  1. #1
    Land-Scapegrace Heroique's Avatar
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    “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    “I’m traveling to [any destination here]. What lens is best?”

    If I could eliminate one type of thread from the universe, this would be it.

    If it never existed, Oh, what a wonderful online world it would be.

    Never do I click-in anymore – but what’s still unavoidable is sacrificing a few split seconds reading & passing over this type of subject line. And I always want those split seconds back. The lost time might add-up to, say, an hour or so per year, but who knows for sure? Maybe it’s more.

    Straight to the point – how has this type of thread ever helped anyone?

    I mean, come on – what LF lens (or lens kit) would you advise someone to take to Yosemite? Even if they shared their itinerary & a detailed set of photographic objectives, could you ever offer more than the illusion of help?

    Okay, I’m overstating the case – but I don’t think by much. Not by much at all. Let’s just say it’s the type of thread that, I suspect, misleads photographers more often than it helps. (And that’s being very generous, for I’m trying to remember if it has ever informed me.)

    Have exceptions already come to mind? If so, please share them with us...

  2. #2
    funkadelic
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    Agreed.
    GPS coordinates of photogenic places and views would be of more value.

  3. #3
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    Quote Originally Posted by cdholden View Post
    GPS coordinates of photogenic places and views would be of more value.
    Generally speaking "popular" photogenic places are what I avoid.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  4. #4
    Robert Hall's Avatar
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    That's why I've never seen you Kirk!

  5. #5

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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    I loath threads that ask:
    "What is the best....(camera, film, developer, lens, shutter, flavor of ice cream, etc....you name it) ".

    It is the dumbest question anybody could ever ask and generally leads to everybody pridefully chiming in with whatever they have in the category...all are a useless waste of time and space.

  6. #6
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    Pinhole.
    When someone asks, just answer, "pinhole." Then suggest that they sell all of their spare lenses to you for $1. They have more than they can use, and they don't know what to do with them.
    "It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

  7. #7
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    "What lens should I bring?”

    All of them.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  8. #8
    Drew Wiley
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    I'd love to operate a very popular photographic destination website linked to GPS.
    That way I could send everyone a different direction than I am going.

  9. #9
    Richard M. Coda
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    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    Actually I think it can be helpful... if the right questions are asked. For instance, I'm going to Chicago soon and plan on bringing my 4x5. I'm flying so I would prefer to keep the kit small. It will be winter and I will only have a day, maybe a day and a half in between college visits with my daughter. I have never been to Chicago and I would like to do some building shots, It's hard to judge (from TV, from other photographs) how much distance I would actually have. I have a 75, 150, 210, 240, 300, 450 and 600. If I could bring just two, which would they be? I think that's a fair question.
    Photographs by Richard M. Coda
    my blog
    Primordial: 2010 - Photographs of the Arizona Monsoon
    "Speak softly and carry an 8x10"
    "I shoot a HYBRID - Arca/Canham 11x14"

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    295

    Re: “I’m going to visit [X]. What lens should I bring?”

    direct them to Photo.net, or, increasingly, APUG...

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