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DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> on my way to Italy - lens advice
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 06/15/2010 11:18:16 AM · #1
Hi I'm about to go to Italy for a week - Rome Florence Venice by train - I'm bringing my G11 and the 40D - lens: 24-105. 70-300, and my monopod, cards,batteries,chargers. We are traveling extremely light. Will these 2 lens be enough or shouls I stick my 17-40L or my 100 macro in their too or make due with the first 2 mentioned above? Thanks for your advice.
Lyta
 06/15/2010 11:22:31 AM · #2
If you're bring the G11, it's 35mm film equivalent is 28-140mm. So perhaps the 24-105 can be replaced with the 17-40. So you can get some wide angle shots. Not having been to venice the narrow little streets and corridors, wide angle will come in handy. I'd go with the G11, 17-40 and 70-300. The G11 has macro just in case as well.

Have a fun and safe trip! :)
06/15/2010 11:22:46 AM · #3
In my personal opinion I would throw the widest angle lens you have into the mix. I doubt the 24mm is wide enough to do justice to the Colosseum in Rome. If you do not use it for anything else I think it would be good for that, unless you just use your G11, but I think I would want the 17-40. I spent hours with my 12-24 at the Colosseum. :)

ETA. If you have the time and patience and hang around the Colosseum to get the late evening sunlight, it's magical.

Message edited by author 2010-06-15 11:23:55.
 06/15/2010 11:23:27 AM · #4
Originally posted by lyta:
Hi I'm about to go to Italy for a week - Rome Florence Venice by train - I'm bringing my G11 and the 40D - lens: 24-105. 70-300, and my monopod, cards,batteries,chargers. We are traveling extremely light. Will these 2 lens be enough or shouls I stick my 17-40L or my 100 macro in their too or make due with the first 2 mentioned above? Thanks for your advice.
Lyta


I went to Spain last year and the 17-40 was great in the cities, I don't think you will need the macro...
 06/15/2010 11:23:57 AM · #5
I'd want to bring the widest lens I have for a trip like that. I'd suggest taking the 17-40. Sounds like fun!
 06/15/2010 11:38:57 AM · #6
yeah, I'd leave the 24-105 at home and put the wide angle in, so much fantastic architecture in Rome so I think it would be much more useful
 06/15/2010 11:49:39 AM · #7
Add the 17-40. For the range between 40 and 70 you can use your feet - either backup or move forward to get what you want. Or just use the G11 for that range.
 06/15/2010 11:50:16 AM · #8
Heck, what I'D do is run out and buy the 10-22mm for this trip, then take the 10-22mm and the 24-105mm. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that the 75-300 gets very little use compared with WA. Anyway by FAR my most-used lens on the 20D was 10-22mm, and now on the 5D it's 17-40mm. By FAR... And I know this statistic would be even more skewed if I were shooting Italian cities and towns.

I'm not sure why you even HAVE the 17-40mm for this camera, the 10-22mm is a much better fit.

R.
 06/15/2010 11:56:13 AM · #9
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Heck, what I'D do is run out and buy the 10-22mm for this trip, then take the 10-22mm and the 24-105mm. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that the 75-300 gets very little use compared with WA. Anyway by FAR my most-used lens on the 20D was 10-22mm, and now on the 5D it's 17-40mm. By FAR... And I know this statistic would be even more skewed if I were shooting Italian cities and towns.

I'm not sure why you even HAVE the 17-40mm for this camera, the 10-22mm is a much better fit.

R.


or if money is tight you can rent the 10-22 for probably around $50 .... it is an awesome lens, especially useful when space is limited and you want to get the whole building in
 06/15/2010 12:06:49 PM · #10
I don't have a lens suggestion, other than; hold on to your lens in public, along with your camera. I remember hearing about someone loosing their 24-105 there, when someone came up to her and was trying to sell them something. Apparently they came close enough to take the lens of the camera, while it was around the photogs neck. After she told the person that they where not interested and they had left, she noticed that the lens was gone, taken right off the camera that she was very diligently holding on to..
 06/15/2010 12:24:44 PM · #11
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Heck, what I'D do is run out and buy the 10-22mm for this trip, then take the 10-22mm and the 24-105mm. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that the 75-300 gets very little use compared with WA. Anyway by FAR my most-used lens on the 20D was 10-22mm, and now on the 5D it's 17-40mm. By FAR... And I know this statistic would be even more skewed if I were shooting Italian cities and towns.

I'm not sure why you even HAVE the 17-40mm for this camera, the 10-22mm is a much better fit.

R.


Oh well I forgot about my Sigma! I have a 10-20 Sigma I'll take! Not much room or weight to it either!
Thanks
 06/15/2010 12:39:01 PM · #12
If you're going to Venice, go with the 17-40. You will find very little use with the others mentioned. However, with that being said, I used an 85 almost exclusivly when I was there. That was during the first day of Canivale and I was going for people not the city itself. The streets are very narrow as are the canals. I agree with Bear, your long lens probably won't get much use if any. Enjoy the scenery, the people , the food, and most especialy the WINE.
 06/15/2010 12:43:04 PM · #13
I loved having my long lens in Italy, because I enjoyed doing people shots, and it allowed me to take them from a distance.

The funny thing is, I rarely use my 24-105 anymore. I carry my 10-22, 100-44 and 100mm macro, and rarely use a mid-length lens.
06/15/2010 01:08:46 PM · #14
Other than maybe for candid people shots like Wendy mentioned I doubt you will use your long lens much. I have traveled to those cities a couple of times and wide to mid range is your friend. Also the fastest glass is always great because you will be taking lots of indoor shots. If it was me I would leave the 70-300 at home and take the other three mentioned, maybe only the 17-40 f4L and the 24-105 f4L IS to save weight and space. Changing lenses is always a pain out in the crowded streets of those old cities. That is why I don't think you will use the long lens much, unless it is on your camera when you see a candid people shot it is unlikely you will get it changed for the shot.

In any case have fun, those are great destinations that will fill up your cards fast.
 06/15/2010 01:13:35 PM · #15
Originally posted by lyta:
Oh well I forgot about my Sigma! I have a 10-20 Sigma I'll take! Not much room or weight to it either!
Thanks


Ah, there ya go. You're all set then. Leave the 17-40mm behind, take the 10-20mm and the 24-105mm. If you have the room, take also the 75-300mm, but that would be the first one I'd sacrifice if I were cutting back.

R.
 06/15/2010 01:24:04 PM · #16
The G11 will get the most use ... not too many people like lugging equipment around on vacation. The G11 has excellent image quality, shoots in RAW, the focal length is perfect, and it's more or less pocket-able.
 06/15/2010 05:43:29 PM · #17
Originally posted by hopper:
The G11 will get the most use ... not too many people like lugging equipment around on vacation. The G11 has excellent image quality, shoots in RAW, the focal length is perfect, and it's more or less pocket-able.


Agreed.

I took my DSLR on my 1st trip to Europe, and while I got some great shots, it was a complete PITA. When I went back, I took my G7, it was perfect...if you're traveling light as you say, you don't need anything more. I was there on business (mostly).
 06/15/2010 07:35:33 PM · #18
You said you are going to travel light. Are you going for the sole purpose of taking photos or to enjoy the scenery and want good shots to take back with you?

I would suggest packing light, one lens, the Tamron 18-270. It is a fantastic lens.

Its not perfect, no lens with that range is, but if you want a very decent lens for travel, that is the way to go.

I was on business in Freiburg Germany. Went to Switzerland, France, and took a few hundred photos. I was lucky to have borrowed that lens.

Pack light. Take one lens.

ETA: If you want examples of what the lens can do, let me know, I'll send you links more links than the ones here:


This is only a small collection of what I have. The last is not very good for the sole purpose of showing what it can do in a bad situation.


Message edited by author 2010-06-15 19:37:50.
 06/15/2010 07:50:32 PM · #19
Pin Hole all the way. You won't need anything else. Light, easy to carry and you won't be bumping a clumsy ole lens into your fellow travelers.
 06/15/2010 10:07:12 PM · #20
Don't forget to bring an adaptor for you charger and other electronic apparatus you might bring with you as the electrical plugs and output in Europe is quite different than that in Canada.

Ray
 06/15/2010 10:19:38 PM · #21
Most of all, enjoy yourself and take lots of pictures.
 06/16/2010 01:36:56 AM · #22
Originally posted by RayEthier:
Don't forget to bring an adaptor for you charger and other electronic apparatus you might bring with you as the electrical plugs and output in Europe is quite different than that in Canada.

Ray


Good point.

You can get a set that covers almost any socket you might find throughout the world.

Another important consideration is to make sure that whatever you plug into the adapter is "dual voltage". That is to say the 220 50Hz power that's prevalent in Europe.

On the label, it will say something like: "100-240V, 50-60Hz" and that's what you want to see. Otherwise, you might let the magic smoke out of your charger.
 06/29/2010 11:02:41 PM · #23
So I am leaving for Italy and am also trying to decide which lenses to take. I have the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR which is a beast. On one hand it is by far the best lens I own, but it weighs a couple of pounds and would hurt the most if stolen.
Also I am deciding if I should take my tripod, which is manfrotto 190 cxpro3 carbon fiber my tripod as I take a lot of long exposure shots and want something sturdy. I am traveling to Genoa, CinqueTerra, Venice and Rome. Is the 70-200 just not smart to take? I looked through LevT's Gallery and saw many shots that looked liked long zoom'ed candids. I enjoy long exposures but am not sure if it is safe or wise to take my tripod but I think I will.

Here is what is in the bag:
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Sigma 10-20
Nikon D300s
Tripod,
B+W ND 110 10 stop ND filter for long exposures
4 batteries.

Two other options to add:
Tamron 17-50 or 50 mm 1.8
70-200
or all of them and take my regular large camera bag, but pick and choose gear for different day trips.

I could take
17-50 or 50 mm and take a smaller camera bag. but would keep other gear like tripod in my room most of the time until I decide I am going to use it.

Any thoughts?
 06/29/2010 11:46:00 PM · #24
Joe - I've been to Italy a couple of times and would have loved a tripod for long exposures but I can tell you it would likley be a pain to try and carry around Italy. You will get quite a bit of use out of your wide lenses that you intend to take and the Sigma 30 1.4 should enable you to shoot inside fairly well. The 70-200 would be great but I think your instincts are correct about not bringing it, you would be worried about it all the time and the weight would become an issue with all the walking on stone you will be doing. I've used the Nikon 18-200 with pretty good success but it is not nearly as sharp or fast.

In any case you can't go wrong no matter what you bring and will be in heaven as to subjects. Have fun!

06/29/2010 11:48:12 PM · #25
Originally posted by jdannels:
So I am leaving for Italy and am also trying to decide which lenses to take. I have the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR which is a beast. On one hand it is by far the best lens I own, but it weighs a couple of pounds and would hurt the most if stolen.
Also I am deciding if I should take my tripod, which is manfrotto 190 cxpro3 carbon fiber my tripod as I take a lot of long exposure shots and want something sturdy. I am traveling to Genoa, CinqueTerra, Venice and Rome. Is the 70-200 just not smart to take? I looked through LevT's Gallery and saw many shots that looked liked long zoom'ed candids. I enjoy long exposures but am not sure if it is safe or wise to take my tripod but I think I will.

Here is what is in the bag:
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Sigma 10-20
Nikon D300s
Tripod,
B+W ND 110 10 stop ND filter for long exposures
4 batteries.

Two other options to add:
Tamron 17-50 or 50 mm 1.8
70-200
or all of them and take my regular large camera bag, but pick and choose gear for different day trips.

I could take
17-50 or 50 mm and take a smaller camera bag. but would keep other gear like tripod in my room most of the time until I decide I am going to use it.

Any thoughts?


When I went to Italy, I think I used my 70-200 maybe once or twice, I left it at home on subsequent trips. Mostly I used my 50 and 28mm primes and my 12-24 most of all. I was mostly in Northern Italy in the Piemonte region.

ETA: I didn't take a tripod either, save a small gorillapod for my P&S, I think it wold be a tremendous PITA trying to use it there.

Message edited by author 2010-06-29 23:49:59.
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