Italy Trip in June

[rickp1]

Heading to Italy at the end of June. Will be hitting Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome and some smaller cities like Padua, Asis and Siena in between.

Any recommendations like must photog, and stuff to bring would be really appreciated.

What I'm planning on bringing is my widest lens (i know not very wide) a 24-105mm and my 70-200 2.8, 580II, 2 batteries, 3 mem cards, also a CPL, a ND filter, my tripod and monopod. Laptop too.

My only concern is that my 24-105 is not wide enough so I was thinking of renting one for the 8 days we'll be there, or should I just stitch??

Also, any knows issues for using a tripod in places??

Lastly, I LOVE experiencing the local culture so if you have any must eat places or secret little spots I would love to hear about it. You can PM me if its that much of a secret squirrel place. LOL

Thanks
R.

[AnonymousKiwi1]

HI Rick. Colour me envious!

Of the places your're going, I've only spent one afternoon in Venice. And back then I only had a point and shoot, so I can't really comment on equipment. Seriously, every where you look there's a photo opportunity

Panoramio - Photos by AnonymousKiwi > Venice


I will say though, try to stay out of the sun. We were there in August. I think we may have been the only two people wearing a hat (we Kiwi's always wear hats when out in the sun, it's an ingrained habit), and we survived ok. Man, were there some sick looking people riding on the ferry back to the main land when we left in the evening. Too much sun and lack of water makes for some ill tourists.

[RichardTaylor]

It's been 12 years since we been to Italy (on a tour).
From memory
Inside churches, museums etc forget using a tripod and a flash gun.
You will be travelling in peak season so it will be crowded so you may find problems using a tripod in cities, especially if it is busy.

I would rent an ultra wide zoom (a F2.8 one if possible).

Personally I would travel light
Just take two bodies (that both use the same batteries) two lenses (ultrawide zoom and standard zoom), enough memory cards for the trip and a CP filter along with two battery chargers as well as power adaptors (just in case).
I believe you have a 5DII and I would be relying on it's high ISO performance for those low light shots (hand held).

Practice you hand held low light photogrpahy before you leve.

I would not take a laptop.

Are you travelling independently or on a tour?

[rickp1]

Richard,
It's a tour, my first to be honest, I've always traveled independently, so I really don't know what to expect.
Also I was thinking of leaving the 70-200mm lens home. I agree I want to travel light and I really only want to take 2 lenses. I have the 24-105mm and I'm considering the 14mm 2.8 II prime as my ultra wide.

Let me ask you, I know I can;t use a tripod in museums and churches, but can I at least carry it in. I'm planning on having it strapped to my backpack.

R.

[sk66]

Personally, these types of trips are exactly what ultra zooms are made for. With my Nikon D3 I would be planning on primarily using my 28-300mm lens. I would also bring an ultra wide and a fast lens. I'd also probably bring my P&S (Canon G10).

I would probably also bring other stuff (flashes/lenses/mini-pod etc) and not ever use them.

IMO the key to getting the most out of a trip like this is determining what you know you'll NEED and bringing only that. Everything you bring and don't use is just a burden, a risk, and an expense.

[RichardTaylor]

We have had 5 vacations in Europe and North America since 1999, they have included two bus tours in Europe (one London to Athens in 19 days - the other was based in London and we did day trips to the country).

They are good for a first visit to find out where you may want to visit again and you have absolutely no worries.

The big bus tours can be very intensive.
Your itinerary will give you an idea.
If most of your stops are one night only you will need to have you bag ready for pickup before breakfast and you will mostlike need to be on the bus by 7:15/30am.
Also take note of the language used in your tour company brochures.
"See" means exactly that (you may not even get out of the bus).
Visit means you will do a (guided?) walking tour or enter a building..
Take note of where your hotels are located. Are they located in the city our out a bit where it is a lot cheaper and not so interesting.

You may have very little free time especially if you take the optional excursions/evenings out. Quite often you will have an hour or two in the middle of the day and that is to have lunch and and an hour or two late in the afternoon before going out to an evening meal and/or show/tour..
---------------
To give you an idea (and this from my 1999 diary) of our visit to Venice.
Friday 15 Oct 1999
4PM arrive hotel at Mestre - on the mainlaind (It is semi industrialised area) and check in etc.
6PM Venice - Gondaloa ride for approx 1 hour (this was an optional excursion) Singing gondaliers and around sunset (the "blue hour"). This was magical and I fell in love with Venice.
approx 7PM back to the hotel for our evening meal (didn't go out that night)

Sat 16 Oct 1999
7:30 at the dock to catch the ferry to Venice from the mainland
(We have had breakfast and and all our bags were on the bus)
Guided walking tour in the St Marks area, Visited St Marks Basilica(inside), then toured visited a nearby glass factory. Free time from 11am, to have lunch and do a little exploring, however we had to be back at St Marks square at 12:30 for our departure to Florence for another one night stop.

------------------------------

You may not be allowed to take a backpack or large bag into some locations.
You will need to have it checked in (St Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace, Venice)

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy

or have it scanned/x rayed at St Peters in Rome.
In the National Museum in Athens( Greece) definately no large bags and that was in 1999.

If your tour is bus based I would only take a small shoulder bag (containing the other lens + battery etc) and an umbrella/hat & water bottle (if possible) and have the camera in my hand ready to go with the strap wrapped around my wrist. Normally people do not take a lot of gear into the cabin of the bus, just a jacket & umbrella and a smallish shoulder bag for some personal stuff.

I have found a long zoom (70-200/300) is almost a total waste of time in Europe (unless you want to shoot a bird etc in a park)

Who are you going with? - we travelled with Globus.

[mosgood]

Hi Rick,

Well, I've only been on one tour in Europe back in the dark ages of film canisters & mostly 35mm cameras. Sadly, at that time, I didn't have one of my own. I did see Rome & Florence, as well as a cameo making shop close to Pompeii. It was breath-taking & my only regret was no way to personally record what I remember.

As others were saying, I'd travel as light as possible with as few lenses as you can get away with, & carry as small a bag as you can. I'd also leave the tripod & laptop at home. Those buses tend to be really crowded & cramped (narrow aisles), & carrying a bag with a tripod attached may make you enemies if you accidently poke or hit someone while trying to maneuver down the narrow isle. If you must bring a support, a monopod would be the better choice.

Watch your stuff rather closely as tourists are considered easy picking for thieves. Never set your camera down anywhere, even for a second. All it takes is one minor distraction, & your camera is gone! Along with it, all your photos too! One thing to consider might be to bring a nice p&s or maybe one of the newer p&s systems with interchangeable lenses. There are photo bags that also don't scream expensive gear that might be worth checking out too. Also make sure you have plenty of memory cards, & at least one extra battery fully charged & ready to go.

That said enjoy your time in Italy! I hope you have a wonderful time. I really loved Florence. Authentic Italian food is the best!

Marla

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by rickp1

Richard,
It's a tour, my first to be honest, I've always traveled independently, so I really don't know what to expect.
Also I was thinking of leaving the 70-200mm lens home. I agree I want to travel light and I really only want to take 2 lenses. I have the 24-105mm and I'm considering the 14mm 2.8 II prime as my ultra wide.

Let me ask you, I know I can;t use a tripod in museums and churches, but can I at least carry it in. I'm planning on having it strapped to my backpack.

R.

You can deviate from the tour, European tour guides are usually more than willing to provide a link up plan at a later time, be it hours or days. Be wary of excursions that deviate away from your points of interest.

Your 24-105 will cover 80% of your shots, hopefully its 2.8 or better. The 70-200 would be less handy than a wide angle, the 14mm mentioned will work but a wide zoom (such as a 10-24) is more effective in Europe.

I'd recommend a 3rd battery, one in the camera, one in the bag and one on the charger is a good rule of thumb. Make sure you have adapters for the sockets. You'll either need plenty of memory cards or the laptop, rour itinerary is pretty sweet so count on a lot of photos.

The CPL will be handy, the ND less so. A high quality UV filter is valuable if you expect to be in big crowds, such as with a special event or holiday.

There are some places where a backpack and tripod aren't allowed, I'm sure the Vatican (mentioned earlier) is one, but in most places both are acceptable. Your main problem with the tripod is the pace of the tour, there's usually not enough time to follow a tour guide and use a tripod. I've carried a mono in Europe and never used it. The opportunities seem to be either hand held or tripod, nothing in between.

In Sienna, the Scrafitti floors and the piazza are must see.

The leaning tower in Pisa no longer has architectural support and can be climbed, and don't miss the Bapistry.

In Rome see the Vatican, if nothing else. Simply amazing. I'd also suggest the Pantheon, amazing history in the architecture. Go to the Jewish quarter for the best food.

Otherwise both Rome and Florence have much to offer, do some research and find what interests you.

Venice is where you'll want a tripod, the light is a pain because of all the shadows. Tripods are common there. If you have time, turn left or right and get away from the tourists, but don't miss the Bridge of Sighs (from the inside).

Flickr: LenDog64's Photostream