Fall break in Saxony – and we’re heading to Italy for a good week. Of course, I want to take pictures, too. The only question is: what do I take along? Ideally, I’d have a small APS-C camera with a compact 28 or 35. A camera you simply take along without thinking about it much.
A while ago, I tried out a Nikon Z fc. Small, light and practical for vacation pictures, but the body didn’t really feel high-quality to me. So it went back. On top of that, as a photographer in Dresden, I don’t just want to take snapshots for the memories. I also need pictures for my website and my content. Photos that don’t just capture the moment but also carry a certain look.
Better a good picture than an analog compromise
For a while, I experimented with a manual lens on my Nikon Z6. That’s fun and can be interesting for individual, special pictures. For reportage or situations in which I want to work quickly and reliably, though, it also means more effort.
That’s why I’ve gone back to my Sigma lenses with an adapter. I get the image quality and the workflow I need and can then give the pictures an analog look with suitable presets if I want. For me, that’s the better way: first take a good picture, then decide what look it should get.
My choice: 35mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/1.8
The classic 24–70mm zoom would probably be the obvious choice for a vacation. This time, though, it’s not an option for me. I want to deliberately limit myself to certain focal lengths. Because too many options sometimes make me shoot less creatively. My main lens is therefore the 35mm f/1.4.
If I could only take one lens, it would be this one. For me, the focal length is incredibly versatile: I can photograph my kids in a restaurant, capture scenes indoors, shoot landscapes and mountains, or create exciting compositions with foreground elements and the wide-open aperture. The f/1.4 speed also gives me beautiful subject separation and works in low light, too. At the same time, the perspective feels pleasantly natural to my taste, without my having to worry too much about distortion at the edges of the frame.
A 50mm f/1.4 would also be a good option. In tight spaces, such as a restaurant, though, I often lack the necessary angle of view. A 35 simply gives me more freedom here.
As a complement, the 135mm f/1.8 comes along. It’s the counterpart to the 35: tight, close in and with pronounced subject separation. It’s ideal for portraits and situations in which I want to photograph something from a distance – something I also know from my work as a portrait photographer in Dresden. We also plan to spend time by the water. When I photograph water sports there, the 135mm brings me much closer to the action. That way I can capture details and dynamic moments without having to stand right next to them myself.
Two prime lenses instead of a zoom
With the 35, I have my versatile all-rounder, and with the 135, a complement for everything that’s farther away or should stand out more from the background. I don’t really need more for this trip. Of course, I have to change lenses now and then. But that doesn’t bother me. On the contrary: deliberately choosing a focal length helps me concentrate more on the subject and the composition.
And that’s exactly what vacation photography is about for me: not having as many technical options as possible with me, but taking deliberate pictures with the right tool. Now I’m looking forward to a week in Italy – to family outings, surfing, cooking, playing games, volleyball, basketball and all the little moments in between.
My vacation combo is set: 35mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/1.8. If you’re heading off on vacation too, have a great time. And of course, lots of beautiful pictures!