[Klaus]

... so back to work ...

Spent 2 weeks in Japan again exploring some temples on Shikoku island.

Took the Sony 20-70mm G and 70-200mm f4 G II. I didn't really use the latter much to be honest - so I reckon I'll sell it soonish.
I was quite happy with the 20-70mm G.

[Rover]

... So, no new gear given a grinding field test this time? Anyway, I'm happy to hear about your vacation; it's necessary to get recharged at times, and give the gear some nice things to shoot. I've been to China this past August, and the Z9 saw lots of shooting; less pleasant was the frequent misfocusing I've found when sorting photos from the adapted lenses, especially the 24-85. The price differential does show. Or my less than stellar skills anyway.

[Klaus]

I was quite burned out to be honest - my primary job PLUS OL can be a bit much at times.

Shikoku was nice, but the cities that we visited (Hiroshima & Kanazawa) were packed with tourists. Quite a difference compared to 2y ago.

I considered taking test gear, but then taking my own stuff once in a while felt the right thing to do this time.

A Z9, but then only an adapted lens for it? ;-)

[Rover]

I have precisely one native Z-mount lens, the 16-50 kit zoom. Maybe I will get more someday (the two that immediately attract attention are the Laowa 10mm and the Nikon 24-120), but since I'm using a Canon camera concurrently, it seems logical to just keep going with the Canons. Though I have to admit that IQ-wise the Nikon is a huge leap ahead.

Besides, I much prefer putting money into travelling rather than into gear I won't be using quite so often... A next trip is already scheduled, though it's bound to be fairly uneventful photography-wise (unlike the one I took to China, this past August).

[mike]

I was quite burned out to be honest - my primary job PLUS OL can be a bit much at times.

Shikoku was nice, but the cities that we visited (Hiroshima & Kanazawa) were packed with tourists. Quite a difference compared to 2y ago.

I considered taking test gear, but then taking my own stuff once in a while felt the right thing to do this time.

A Z9, but then only an adapted lens for it? ;-)

It does seem like the post covid travel boom is still on the rise. Getting into museums can be hard now. Some are booked out farther than I ever planned ahead for a vacation! Their standby lists are a km long to boot.

You seem to go to Japan quite a bit. Is there a reason you like going back as opposed to exploring other countries? I've been twice. While I wouldn't mind going back, there are other countries in that part of the world I haven't been to and would like to explore.

[Klaus]

I was quite burned out to be honest - my primary job PLUS OL can be a bit much at times.

Shikoku was nice, but the cities that we visited (Hiroshima & Kanazawa) were packed with tourists. Quite a difference compared to 2y ago.

I considered taking test gear, but then taking my own stuff once in a while felt the right thing to do this time.

A Z9, but then only an adapted lens for it? ;-)

It does seem like the post covid travel boom is still on the rise. Getting into museums can be hard now. Some are booked out farther than I ever planned ahead for a vacation! Their standby lists are a km long to boot.

You seem to go to Japan quite a bit. Is there a reason you like going back as opposed to exploring other countries? I've been twice. While I wouldn't mind going back, there are other countries in that part of the world I haven't been to and would like to explore.

Well, I do have a bucket list with other destinations, but I also do have constraints - namely, my girlfriend. LOL

It has been our 3rd vacation trip to JP. While we also visit the usual suspects, these trips are primarily centered around multi-day walks - and they combine culture, great food, and still an exotic touch or two - while still having the comforts and security of a 1st world country - in the same timezone basically. Could be worse, really. ;-)

FWIW, I'm keen on visiting Madagascar, Palau, Taiwan, and Raja Ampat at would be nice.

[mike]

Well, I do have a bucket list with other destinations, but I also do have constraints - namely, my girlfriend. LOL

It has been our 3rd vacation trip to JP. While we also visit the usual suspects, these trips are primarily centered around multi-day walks - and they combine culture, great food, and still an exotic touch or two - while still having the comforts and security of a 1st world country - in the same timezone basically. Could be worse, really. ;-)

FWIW, I'm keen on visiting Madagascar, Palau, Taiwan, and Raja Ampat at would be nice.

If I was a gambling man, I would have bet on there was a GF involved!

I love Japan. Spent a couple of weeks there on vacation but also visited for business. In that part of the world (I'm in the US) I've been to China (12x) for business and pleasure, Hong Kong (2x), Taiwan(2x), Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and right about this time last year I was in the Philippines. My GF just spent 3 weeks in Australia. She was visiting a friend between jobs and loved it. Unfortunately, I couldn't go. 

I'm thinking of South Korea for my next trip.

[Rover]

My list is kinda all over the place (okay, nothing in the Americas, although I'm sure Latin America has lots of interesting stuff to see... it's just really far from where I live, and I have problems even visualizing it). I'm usually interested in China, Central Asia and Southeastern Asia to the exclusion of almost anything else. Out of Europe, only Hungary is anywhere on the list, then of course Tajikistan in Central Asia, and I'd like to keep exploring China, mostly southern parts of it this time. But I've been remembering the trip to Malaysia and Singapore 10 years ago, and I keep thinking it was awesome as well. Since I'm not likely to repeat trips to just about anywhere - life is short and the globe is huge - I probably won't return there, but Burma or Indonesia would likely be the next destination of all countries in those parts.

I'm already gearing up for the next vacation. Will do with the minimal kit most likely - 16-35 and 100-400 lenses. Though I probably should be plugging that hole in the middle with... something (Tamron 45 this time?)

[toni-a]

Welcome back
Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you....Not having enough motivation to swap lenses and staying on a single lens all the time, is a sign you're advancing in age....
if you're complaining of the constraints for travel because of  GF, wait till you have a daughter

[Klaus]

Welcome back
Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you....Not having enough motivation to swap lenses and staying on a single lens all the time, is a sign you're advancing in age....
if you're complaining of the constraints for travel because of  GF, wait till you have a daughter

It wasn't about motivation, really, but I never really felt the need to go beyond 70mm.
Maybe it would have been different if I didn't have the 70-200mm f/4 but a 90mm f/2.8 or so. Having not taken the Sigma 90mm f/2.8 was probably not the right thing to do.  However, it taught me - again - that a 70-200mm f/4 is somewhere in no-man's land. 

And yes, getting older may also be part of the problem ;-)

Having said that - I'm fairly pleased by what the 20-70mm f/4 gave me.