Travel Photography - Lens/Bag Recommendations for India

I will be going to India (Kerala) during Monsoon season in August. I plan to do the typical sightseeing as well as attend a wedding.

I will be bringing a D60, as well as a Sigma 10-20, Nikon 55-200VR and an SB600.
I was contemplating what else to bring. Maybe I can benefit from a low-light lens for the wedding, like the 35mm 1.4, or maybe I can get something in the 24-70 2.8 range for both the wedding and some street photography. I just don't want to carry too much, nor spend a ton of money on a new lens.

Also, I am not sure what to expect during monsoon season, but I have a feeling my current Kata with rain cover might not be suitable for that type of weather?

I will be bringing a D60, as well as a Sigma 10-200, Nikon 55-200VR and an SB600.

I was contemplating what else to bring. Maybe I can benefit from a low-light lens for the wedding, like the 35mm 1.4, or maybe I can get something in the 24-70 2.8 range for both the wedding and some street photography. I just don't want to carry too much, nor spend a ton of money on a new lens.

Whoa! A "Sigma 10-200", a 1:20 zoom lens. I bet that thing is just lovely in the corners and at the extremes on both ends. :D

Depends on what you are willing to spend. Even a Tamron or Tokina 24/28-70 f/2.8 is going to be $1K, the Nikon closer to $2K.

The Nikkor 16-85DX VR [24-120 on your D60] is a great 'walking around' lens, though not as fast as a 2.8 but it goes for ~$400 less at about $650 and the VR will give you a good two stops more of working speed, though it won't give you a really shallow DoF option that faster lenses offer.

You could keep your Sigma 10-20, add the 16-85, and keep the 55-200 [or replace it with a 70-300] and have everything covered in a pretty light three-lens package.

Also, I am not sure what to expect during monsoon season, but I have a feeling my current Kata with rain cover might not be suitable for that type of weather?

I have several Tamrac bags but this was my first Tamrac bag [minus a few updates the current model has] (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/168263-REG/Tamrac_60301_603_Zoom_Traveler_3.html) and I have had it for nearly 20-years.

Tamrac USA/Tamrac 603 (http://www.tamrac.com/welcome.htm)

It has been all over the world, in all sorts of inclement weather and still looks essentially new. Maintenance consists of nothing more than wiping the cordura with a damp cloth.

The bag is lightweight and fully customizable and the cordura material is weather/water proof and the flaps all fully cover the zippers. The wide, padded chamois-like leather pad on the strap also makes carrying the bag very comfortable. The sides and bottom are padded but the bag isn't rigid and is very easy to shove under a seat or in an overhead bin.

It is available in black, gray, and navy, and at $100 US is a freaking bargain. The bag is made in the U.S. and has a 5-year warranty.

I will be bringing a D60, as well as a Sigma 10-200, Nikon 55-200VR and an SB600.
I was contemplating what else to bring. Maybe I can benefit from a low-light lens for the wedding, like the 35mm 1.4, or maybe I can get something in the 24-70 2.8 range for both the wedding and some street photography. I just don't want to carry too much, nor spend a ton of money on a new lens.


I don't know if it's supposed to be the Sigma 18-200 or the 10-20. If it's the first then it seems like you've got quite a of overlap with the 55-200, and I'd leave the 55-200 at home (IMO it's not a stellar lens). If it's the 10-20 then you need something in between.

You could look at a f/2.8 zoom lens but along with money you're also adding a LOT of weight to your kit. I have the 17-55 f/2.8 it's hefty, and the 24-70 is heavier.

Depending on your skill, interest and willingness in photography you might really like the 35 f/1.8 (the 1.4 is an option too but that's much more money that an amateur doesn't need to spend until he realizes he does. IMO) Be prepared to miss shots with that lens though; you have to zoom with your feet and the limited depth of field allowed is both a blessing and a curse (after you've taken a bunch of pictures of your kids only to realize that the tip of their nose is in focus but not the rest of them you'll curse the lens.)

As someone else has mention the 16-85 might be a good walk around option, though the 18-200 (if that's what you have) is probably the most versatile.

For the low light shooting... well, the 35 can help you out there, but realize that you'll have to get up and move to get close up pictures. Another way you can go is to explore the ISO range of the camera; ISO1600 on my D40 was decent, you could push it up to 3200 to see if the pictures are acceptable.

Weddings are tough, especially to get shots of the bride and groom in a dimly lit hall. Even a fast zoom really requires flash and proximity to get good pictures.

Clarification: I have the Sigma 10-20 :)

I would guess your Kata bag will be OK. It's not like you are going to be standing in the rain, right? You can also get a rain cover for the bag if you like it otherwise.

I have a ThinkTank Shapeshifter bag that I really like. It comes with a rain cover as an included accessory.

For the low light situation rather than going for the 1.4 you might want to do either the 35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.8. Both are quite inexpensive but nice little lenses. Their 85mm 1.8 is quite good too if you think you will need more reach, but probably too much for street photography.

Clarification: I have the Sigma 10-20 :)

Hrm. Interesting lens selection...

See about renting some lenses to try out; the range and type of lens is often largely influenced by personal taste; a lot of people would not consider my setup (D90+grip+17-55 f/2.8 DX lens) as a everyday setup, but it works for me.

In addition to the ones I've suggested above try something like the 18-70 if you can get your hands on it; it can be purchased in-expensively used.

Since this is primarily a lens selection thread, I'll throw in my two cents. I just spent two months in India and took 97%+ of my pictures with the following four lenses:
10-22mm
17-55mm f/2.8 IS
50mm f/1.2
70-200mm f/2.8 IS

I've owned probably 20-30 lenses in my life and have through lots of trial and error winnowed it down to these primary ones.

That's some nice gear! I long for a 70-200 f/2.8.

That's some nice gear! I long for a 70-200 f/2.8.

Gorgeous lens! ^

Get a 35/1.8 AF-S DX and leave the rest of your crap at home. Toss it in a Think Tank retrospective bag and be done with it.

I will be going to India (Kerala) during Monsoon season in August. I plan to do the typical sightseeing as well as attend a wedding.

I will be bringing a D60, as well as a Sigma 10-20, Nikon 55-200VR and an SB600.
I was contemplating what else to bring. Maybe I can benefit from a low-light lens for the wedding, like the 35mm 1.4, or maybe I can get something in the 24-70 2.8 range for both the wedding and some street photography. I just don't want to carry too much, nor spend a ton of money on a new lens.

Also, I am not sure what to expect during monsoon season, but I have a feeling my current Kata with rain cover might not be suitable for that type of weather?

Depends, what you will be photographing mostly.

Landscape scenery: sigma 10-20
Environmental portraites or capturing details: 55-200VR
Street photography & low light: 35/1.8 AF-S DX. Cheap and good glass
Since you have DX body , the field of view is multiplied by 1.5x crop factor. 35 is like 50mm

24-70mm ok on DX body, but slightly awkard range due to crop factor. More useful range on full frame.

If you have $$$ to splurge:

16-35mm f4. Very useful since it covers ultra wide to std.
70-200mmf2.8. Beautiful glass. Portraites to capturing detail

Don't wanna spend nor carry. Get 35 1.8. Cheap & light.