Best walk around lens for NYC?

[WCKSer]

I think the 18-200mm lens may be the one you need to bring since it covers what the 18-55mm can and plus more. The longer range may enable you to catch a picture of a pretty woman walking by.

[Quadna71]

Originally Posted by WCKSer

The longer range may enable you to catch a picture of a pretty woman walking by.

I'll have a pretty woman walking by me the entire weekend.

[KCook]

With such tall buildings I'd want a wider angle than 18mm.

Kelly Cook
(Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6)

[shoturtle]

It really depends on what you want to shoot. There is such a vast variety of thing to see and photograph. I shoot allot of the tall buildings in NYC. But you really can get away with 18mm. For a tourist I would go with the 18-200 as the walk around lens. There are times you want to reach out some to get things you can not get close to on buildings. I do see people walking around with 70-200 as a walk around lens at times. It is all about what you like to shoot and how you like to capture it.

Bring a fast prime for st paddy and the indoor stuff. Flash are not really liked.

[peterbj7]

TCav has it. For crop I'd use my 15-85 as I have it, but the 18-55 will do pretty well. On FF I'd use 24-105. But don't underestimate the risk of being mugged - try never to be alone and not to go to isolated areas. That said, I've wandered NYC and Boston with a camera and never felt uncomfortable - but there were places I made sure no-one knew I had a camera. Don't carry a camera bag - use an ordinary day bag and a laptop neoprene sleeve for physical protection.

[shoturtle]

manhattan is a vertical city, and 85mm even on a crop would cause you not to be able to capture the some of the hidden things the vertical city hides. That is form being a native new yorker. There are allot of fine detail if you really look around, and the 18-200 will let you get to some. Just the steeples of St. Paddy has allot of details, where a longer lens will let you capture.
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[Quadna71]

It looks like my lens options are changing. Two days ago I traded my 18-200 in for an EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. I just wasn't happy with the 18-200 when anywhere near 200mm so luckily I was able to return it. I found the 15-85 deep enough on sale that the lens, factory hood, and 3-yr warranty still only added up to the normal price for it. The new lens will be here on Monday and I'll be messing around with it during the week. Based upon the specs listed and a good majority of the replies in this thread, it seems a good probability that it'll be the lens I use in the city that weekend. If anyone has new input with the new lens please let me know. Thanks for all the replies!

[shoturtle]

With with you have now, that would be the best option.

[Photo 5]

Also I'd make sure to have a good 32GB card in the camera (especially for the 911 memorial site) and couple of the 8GB card you mentioned as back-ups. Also if it was me going to NYC I'd take something longer than 55mm as my walk around lens as their will be times you'll want details etc. Also if you have the chance visit on of the NYC firehouses along the way they have some great memorials inside and great looking trucks. 10 Engine and 10Truck on Liberty Street comes to mind as does 54Engine near Time Square.......

as for a camera strap if budget allows the black rapid straps that go across your body and under one of your arms will provide good protection for the camera as it is hard to rip the camera off that strap or the strap off of a person.

dave

[Quadna71]

Will 32gb be a little overkill? I already have two 8gb cards and will be emptying them onto my laptop each night. I think the lens will be 15-85, not 55. Maybe my 50 f/1.4 in her bag if she's up for it. Doubtful that we'll be hitting any FDs while there though. Good call on the strap mount and I have that in the works.