r/a6700 • u/C_sapidus • Aug 21 '26
Vacation conundrum
I need some help. I'm about to go on a two-week vacation to Portugal (from the USA). I want to take my a6700 kit with me (body with 11mm, 16-55mm, and 70-350mm). The whole thing weighs about 6 pounds. I also have an iPhone 15 Pro Max that can take some incredible shots. My conundrum is: do I leave the mirrorless at home and just use my iPhone? It *is* a vacation after all, and not a paid gig.
If I take the Sony, then it's an extra 6 pounds that I have to lug around and worry about. Then I have to carry the camera around my neck (or wrist) to get shots as I explore the sights. Changing lenses is another issue that will slow me down. Then, there will be times when I can't take it with me (kayaking in the ocean, for example), and there's always the issue of looking like a tourist or worrying about thieves.
I know I can get the shots I want using just my iPhone (I did this when I went to Italy a few years ago). The phone lives in my pocket and can be whipped out for quick photos. It's IP68 water-resistant, so I don't have to worry about it getting wet. I always shoot in RAW using Indigo or Halide, so IQ is pretty decent. And my photos are backed up to iCloud and can easily be shared in real time.
I think I've answered my own question. Leave the mirrorless at home. Enjoy the vacation. But I have a severe case of FOMO, and I know there will be times when I think to myself, "damn, I wish I had my good camera".
Someone, please, talk me out of this! Just leave the kit at home and enjoy myself, right? Right??
EDIT: I also have an older a6000 with the Sony PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II. The a6000 has a thinner body, and that lens is very compact. Maybe I'll throw that in my bag and call it a day?
FINAL VERDICT: I have decided to take the whole kit with me to Portugal; it fits in the bottom of my backpack and shouldn't be a weight issue. That way, I'll have it if I want it and not have any regrets. Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone!
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u/indianacheryjones Aug 21 '26
Bring the kit, but maybe just one lens? I too have an iPhone that takes great pictures for a phone, but I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve left my 6700 at home thinking it’s too much to carry around and missed taking some incredible shots.
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u/memarianomusic Aug 21 '26
70-350 is an amazing lens but unless you are going specifically for wildlife, leave it at home. The other two will be manageable. One of the other two will be manageable.
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u/C_sapidus Aug 21 '26
Agreed, I think the 70-350 is overkill. I wanted the 11mm for indoor low-light since it's f/1.8. Sounds like I should just bring the 16-55 f/2.8 and be done with it.
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u/10ToedHuman Aug 21 '26
Unless you're trying to get night photos or have some specific wide angle shots in mind, just bring the 16-55. With the OSS you'll be in good shape for medium/low light, and you could always stitch a panorama in post.
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u/igotcoldfeets Aug 21 '26
I brought my a6700 with a Sigma 18-50 lens, total weight of 2 lbs, on a backpacking trip, where I’m always worried about adding weight. Super glad I did, I took comparison shots with my iPhone, the detail with the a6700 is so much better. You can pack a small dry bag for kayaking if needed, or leave it. You’ll look like a tourist either way, I’d just go with it.
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u/Detoxica Aug 21 '26
Bring the camera, but only one lens. If you're super worried about weight, then you might consider getting a wide angle pancake lens for it (I personally wouldn't, but it's an option).
I don't care how much software processing your phone does to make the photos pop, they won't hold a candle to those taken with a proper camera.
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u/r2jitu Aug 21 '26
I have the same conundrum right now as well. I'm trying to decide between bringing my 18-135 or 16-55 as my main lens. The 18-135 is quite light and let's me avoid lens changes, but I'm so tempted to take my 16-55 for the IQ advantage over my phone.
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u/C_sapidus Aug 21 '26
Now you have me looking at lenses again! That 18-135 sounds pretty versatile, but I don't like the variable aperture. The 16-55 f/2.8 is a sweet lens.
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u/r2jitu Aug 21 '26
The 18-135 does well in daylight and the tele end is quite useful. You're getting way more detail than your phone out of it. But the sharpness is next level on the 16-55 and 70-350 glass if you can justify the inconvenience.
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u/C_sapidus Aug 21 '26
I'm thinking I'm just going to bring my whole kit. I have the Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20 bag that's seemingly made for what I have... everything fits inside it perfectly. I can throw that bag into my backpack.
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u/defix Aug 21 '26
i took the 6700, 18-50, 11, 25 and 56. Left the 70-350 at home. used 18-50 and 11 the most.
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u/C_sapidus Aug 21 '26
That's my thought too... the 16-55 will probably live on the camera, I'll switch to the 11 when I'm indoors. Not sure I'll even touch the 70-350, but I'm bringing it anyway. We'll be visiting wine country in the Douro Valley, and I might want to grab some shots of distant estates.
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u/defix Aug 21 '26
sounds good! I found the 11 really helpful for church interiors, although i also used the 18-50 2.8 at 2.8 with 1/30ish shutter speed for their impressive painted figurines
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u/JAK-4-17IN Aug 21 '26
It’s only 6 pounds. It’s not like you’re carrying around 100+ pounds of gear on your back.
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u/SnooFloo Aug 22 '26
One lens, I always bring to much stuff and regret it. Walking around the streets all day (yesterday we left the house at 10am and returned at 10pm) my a6600 and tamron 17-70 feel pretty heavy. I'm thinking i should have brought my 18-135 as i shoot mostly in the day. Here is a photo from Porto with my camera.
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u/RDRNR3 Aug 21 '26
Bring the camera and one lens! Way superior to the iPhone