bennison@clt.DEC (02/12/86)
----- Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure someone will), but I thought that the KIRON 28-85 and the VIVITAR 28-85 were essentially the same lens. I've taken the KIRON on several trips with good results. I find, however, that I use it almost exclusively at one of three settings (approximately) : 28mm, 55mm, 85mm. Having noticed this, I am switching to using fixed length lenses - Vick Bennison
hagerman@friday.DEC (02/12/86)
x I think that before going on a vacation, you need to decide whether it is to be a "photography" vacation or a "vacation" vacation. If you are going to Europe (or anywhere else) with the idea of primarily taking pictures, then you can justify the effort of taking all your lenses, tripods, bodies, etc. But for a regular vacation where you just want to come back with some good pictures, I agree with the idea of taking just one lens. I would choose a fast normal lens instead of a zoom, because I want to take existing light pictures in museums, but that is a personal prejudice. On my last trip to France I took two lenses, a normal and a medium telephoto, but almost never used the telephoto and spent a lot of time worrying about whether it was being stolen while I was out of the hotel room. For film, I would buy all my film here. Take lots and bring the extra back--you can always use it later. Decide in advance on one film and stick to it. I would say either Kodachrome 64 or Kodacolor 100. I was in an airplane once with a guy who was taking pictures out the window (which is usually a waste of time anyway), and doing the "rewind the film when you're only half done and change to another speed for some unknown reason" routine. It was pitiful. Although the original question was in reference to Spain where this doesn't apply so much, if you're from the Western U.S. you probably don't have much experience in shooting in the rain. In Europe (and in the Eastern U.S.) it rains a lot. Take pictures anyway-- they will turn out better than you expect. (I guess because the contrast is lower?) Don't let a rainy European vacation stop you from coming back with pictures.