![Getting Gear Packed For The Trip](https://i0.wp.com/blog.arnojenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20180125-Packed-Travel-Camera-Gear-9138.jpg?resize=1280%2C892)
Getting Gear Packed For Travel
Before taking an extended seven-week trip traveling around Europe I struggled with what camera gear I wanted to travel with. The dilemma of choosing between the flexibility of zoom lenses vs the weight of the smaller prime lenses was overwhelming. The one thing I knew was that on this trip I wanted to travel light.
Ultimately, I went with three prime lenses. The Fuji 16mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4, and the 56mm f/1.2. I also decided to bring only one Fuji X-T2 camera body. Being a cautious person at the last minute I dropped the Fuji X100S in my bag as a back-up/walk around camera.
![Photographing The Sunset In Split With The Fujifilm X-T2](https://i0.wp.com/blog.arnojenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20170929-Split-Croatia-1942.jpg?resize=1280%2C853)
Photographing The Sunset In Split With The Fujifilm X-T2
A couple of things helped me make my final decision. The big one was weight. A few years back I went on a nine-week trip with my Canon 5D Mark II and less than two weeks into the trip I was ready to send back my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Weighing a little under three pounds, it was just too big and heavy to carry around all day.
Do to the cost of shipping the lens back home I decided not to send it but I never ended up using it on the trip. Nope, not once! All the photos I took were with the Canon EF 17-40mm, Canon EF 24-70mm and my lightweight Fuji X100S 23mm fixed lens camera.
The other reason I chose prime lenses was I wanted to challenge myself. Shooting with prime lenses makes you think about your shot differently and slow down. Your composition changes when you’re working with a fixed focal length. That being said working with only prime lenses can be a bit problematic. Opportunities present themselves and you just don’t have time or space to get into your pack and make a lens change. Sometimes it’s the environment. For instance, while photographing the waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park I really wanted a tighter shot but the spray from the falls was constant and the risk of getting water inside my camera while changing lenses was extremely likely, so not worth the gamble.
![Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia](https://i0.wp.com/blog.arnojenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/20171004-Plitvice-Lakes-National-Park-Croatia-0563.jpg?resize=1280%2C853)
Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia
CONCLUSION
Not having the flexibility of zoom lenses on this trip at times was a bit challenging and I’m sure I missed a few shots along the way. Nevertheless, I’m pleased with the shots I returned home with. I did, however, find myself wishing that I had brought another camera body with me.
![Fujifilm Travel Gear](https://i0.wp.com/blog.arnojenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/20171103-Fuji-Travel-Gear-9106.jpg?resize=1280%2C727)
Fujifilm Travel Gear
Camera gear I used while traveling
Cameras: Fujifilm X-T2 | Fujifilm X100S
Lenses: Fujinon XF16mm f/1.4 R WR | Fujinon XF35mm f/1.4 R | Fujinon XF56mm f/1.2 R
Flash: Fujifilm EF-X500
How often did you use your 56mm compared to the other 16 and 35mm lenses?
Good question. I had to go back and look at the data, here are the results. I used the 16mm 56.42%, 35mm 22.11%, and the 56mm 21.47% of the time. The results don’t surprise me, I have found that the 16mm lens is the perfect lens for both street photography and landscapes so it’s on my XT2 a lot of the time.
I just returned from Italy and the two lenses I had with me where the Fuji XF10-24 f/4 & XF16-55mm f/2.8. I was curious as to what focal length I used most while traveling. For a majority of the images, the focal length hovered around 16mm (14mm-18mm). Coming in a close second was 24mm. I hope I answered your question, thanks for taking the time to check out my site.
Arno