Visiting Palestine - which lens?

snappea

Going to Palestine. Need to be discreet but also want distance option. Which lens or lenses best to take?

Fat_Fingers

first post! Welcome.
I would say you didn't get any response coz you haven't given any meaningful information.

You could mention what type of photography are you interested in taking on your trip (street, wildlife, nature, landscape, portrait..). It would also help if you mentioned what camera you have.

Effects

You need the Canon EF 500 L. I would get a lens cover to change it from white to something less noticeable.

Tiriel

snappea wrote: »

Going to Palestine. Need to be discreet but also want distance option. Which lens or lenses best to take?

Which lenses do you own?

TheQuietFella

https://www.google.ie/search?q=sniper+lenses&rlz=1C1GKLB_enIE647IE647&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=S0CdVdOVMuHY7Aawjr-oCQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ

Don't you just love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mdebets

whatever you bring, don't bring one of those

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/554858/cameragun

http://www.sharpshooterindustries.com/index.php/faq-s/mounting-a-stock

https://www.flickr.com/photos/enkaytee/60930882/in/pool-zenit/

http://raoulpop.com/2009/10/11/are-camera-guns-a-lost-art/

Nforce

Effects wrote: »

You need the Canon EF 500 L. I would get a lens cover to change it from white to something less noticeable.

Or maybe the EF 1200mm...light should be decent if shooting in daylight so stick a 2x on it

dinneenp

I don't think you really need to be discreet, I was there years ago and didn't find it intimidating. Granted I had a compact but even the soldiers didn't mind me photographing them (apologies for the awful colour applied in PP).

I'd recommend a wide angle lens, maybe 17-50 f2.8 if you don't have 10-20mm lens. Jerusalem old town (within the walls) is all narrow streets, full of stalls etc.

aidanic

A wide angle would be a good idea - you're not clear why you're in the region - holiday, work, tourism, journalism, volunteering...

The Middle East is a tricky place to take photographs, and as a tourist, I would suggest trying to keep the numbers of random strangers in your photographs to a minimum.

Beirut 2001


Dubai 2008


All of the nations in the region take military security seriously, and even if dinneenp managed some pictures of soldiers, I'd expect that to be easier in main tourist areas like Jerusalem old town.

dinneenp

I asked them first and they didn't mind. they seemed indifferent, bored.
Taking photos of strangers could draw attention but then again pictures of locals could make for great photos....

AnimalRights

For intimate unposed/candid portraits the 135 2.0L is superb and razor sharp, for wide I'd go for 24-70L.

mdebets

That's an interesting question, and one that is often asked in all photography forums: I'm visiting country x. What lenses do I need to take?
Often, this question is answered very unsatisfactory, with people putting forward all types of lenses, based on their personal preferences (very unscientifically).

You now get a scientifically proven answer that can be applied to all possible countries.

First, you have to get the full proper name of the country you are visiting. In your case it's
State of Palestine

Then you have to calculate the numerological number of this state (I normally use http://www.sanatansociety.org/vedic_astrology_and_numerology/calculate_your_name_numbers.htm#.VZ7rGUVrWwI, but there are other calculators out there as well).
For your country the number is 4.
Now you just have to select all lenses that have this number in their focal length.
If you are using Canon, you have to bring the following lenses with you to Palestine, to make the best (scientifically prooven) pictures:
EF 11–24 mm f4
EF 17–40 mm f4
EF 24–70 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24–70 mm f4
EF 24–85 mm f3.5-4.5
EF 24–105 mm f4
EF 24–105 mm STM f/.5-5.6
EF 100–400 mm f4.5-5.6 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 200–400 mm f4
EF 14 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24 mm f1.4 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24 mm f2.8
EF 24 mm f2.8 IS (with this one you need to be careful and bring some documentation, to prevent being taken for a terrorist)
EF 40 mm f2.8
EF 400 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 400 mm IS f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II) (with this one you need to be careful and bring some documentation, to prevent being taken for a terrorist)
EF 400 mm f4 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 400 mm f5.6

If you have a crop body, you also need
EF-S 24mm f2.8

If you shoot with any other make, you need to find the lenses yourself.

Just be aware, that if you talk with others about this, there is also the thought, that you need to take the aperture into account (take all f4, f4.5 and f1.4 as well), while others think that the equivalent focal length needs to be taken into account as well for crop lenses, but I don't think there is any proof that that's the case.

I hope that helped you with your question and good luck with your trip.

P.s. To transport all your gear, I recommend one of these http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=0550

sheesh

25-200 as a walk around lens would get you wide as well as some distance.

a fast prime for low light conditions ie 50mm f1.8 if money is short or if you are afraid of it getting confiscated or damaged. If you have the cash an f1.2 30 mm lens would be handy ans small


Distance wise I would not go beyond 300mm the reason being people have mistaken a 500mm lens for a rocket launcher.

Nerro

mdebets wrote: »

That's an interesting question, and one that is often asked in all photography forums: I'm visiting country x. What lenses do I need to take?
Often, this question is answered very unsatisfactory, with people putting forward all types of lenses, based on their personal preferences (very unscientifically).

You now get a scientifically proven answer that can be applied to all possible countries.

First, you have to get the full proper name of the country you are visiting. In your case it's
State of Palestine

Then you have to calculate the numerological number of this state (I normally use http://www.sanatansociety.org/vedic_astrology_and_numerology/calculate_your_name_numbers.htm#.VZ7rGUVrWwI, but there are other calculators out there as well).
For your country the number is 4.
Now you just have to select all lenses that have this number in their focal length.
If you are using Canon, you have to bring the following lenses with you to Palestine, to make the best (scientifically prooven) pictures:
EF 11–24 mm f4
EF 17–40 mm f4
EF 24–70 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24–70 mm f4
EF 24–85 mm f3.5-4.5
EF 24–105 mm f4
EF 24–105 mm STM f/.5-5.6
EF 100–400 mm f4.5-5.6 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 200–400 mm f4
EF 14 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24 mm f1.4 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 24 mm f2.8
EF 24 mm f2.8 IS (with this one you need to be careful and bring some documentation, to prevent being taken for a terrorist)
EF 40 mm f2.8
EF 400 mm f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 400 mm IS f2.8 (for best results bring mk I and II) (with this one you need to be careful and bring some documentation, to prevent being taken for a terrorist)
EF 400 mm f4 (for best results bring mk I and II)
EF 400 mm f5.6

If you have a crop body, you also need
EF-S 24mm f2.8

If you shoot with any other make, you need to find the lenses yourself.

Just be aware, that if you talk with others about this, there is also the thought, that you need to take the aperture into account (take all f4, f4.5 and f1.4 as well), while others think that the equivalent focal length needs to be taken into account as well for crop lenses, but I don't think there is any proof that that's the case.

I hope that helped you with your question and good luck with your trip.

P.s. To transport all your gear, I recommend one of these http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=0550

Best answer ever