Traveling to Europe Soon.

The 16-35 is a must

I don't think you'll find enough use for the 300 to justify bringing it

You'll certainly find use for the 70-200, if you don't mind the weight, bring it.
However you could get by without it.

It probably take the 50 too, though, again you could get by without, unless of course you don't bring the 70-200

I wouldn't bring the flash myself, though I would bring a tripod
it depends on what (and how) you want to photograph.

20GB Compact sounds enough, that's what I have too.
I also bring an Epson P2000 to make a copy of my photos.

Also, is it safe to walk around with these equipment?

In my experience European cities are no less safe than American or Asian cities. Be careful wherever you go.

have a great trip

cheers

Vin

The sling bags I described have a zipper and plastic latches. You would have to be either asleep or passed-out to let a thief get them. The slign bags fit over your head and you can use one of your hands to "hold" the bag if you wish. In recent years I've only been to Athens and Istanbul and didn't have a have a problem or "feel" like I may have a problem at either place. I've always heard Rome was a place to be aware.

Also as "vin 13" says (above), be careful where you go. I would think almost anywhere in the daytime where there are other people would be OK. If it's 2:00 AM and the streets are deserted, you could have a problem.

Kent

I ALWAYS have a Slik table top tripod in my bag, it's solid, cheap, light, and about the length of a std. zoom lens.

A little OT:, but you guys think a 135L is travel friendly considering weight and size? This could be a great alternative to a heavy 70-200

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Also, I think Crumpler bags are the most 'incog'...even if well known in the photo community for being a "photo bag", not many theives know that.

Also, Crumplers have velcro for the flap (as well as a QR buckle). So it would be much harder for a thief to pull a "sneaky pete" as it would make lots of noise as compared to zippers and QR buckles.

fooddude said:

A little OT:, but you guys think a 135L is travel friendly
considering weight and size? This could be a great alternative to a
heavy 70-200

Click to expand...

The versatility of the 70-200 is comparatively huge, IMO.

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A few Markuson Images...
Look-see at:
http://www.pbase.com/markuson

Hi all,

Thanks for all your help.

I just came back from my Europe excursion and brought a long these equipment.

Canon 1D Mark IIN
Canon 16-35 F2.8 L
Canon 50 - F1.4

Will post pictures soon.

For the most part, I was fine except that I missed my 70-200 when I had the audience with the Pope.

For all the time I was in Europe (Paris & Rome & London), I never once felt threatened by anybody for carrying and using the 1D at anytime. A lot of time, I was out early in the morning or late at nite and I also did a lot of walking. I was more scare of getting hit by a car / motorcycle then being robbed.

Hope this will help others planning to travel in Europe.

You'll have a blast!
Those cities are all so photogenic.

maljo

Many great tips here. My personal choice would also be to travel light. The wide 16-35 and 50mm should be sufficient for most days. But don’t fully discount the 70-200mm, there are plenty of opportunities where this lens just takes the cake, even in the narrow streets of most European cities.

One problem with the 16-35 is actually the narrow streets. These can be quite dark, and the bright sky which often finds it’s way into the scene can become easily blown out. This is where the 50mm can come in handy.

Take a tripod for those night shots, something well worth enjoying in European cities. Especially in that magical twilight hour.

Hopefully you have booked rooms or hotels with safes. This will be a real piece of mind, when relaxing in restaurants or bars after dark. You don’t want to lug your kit around when dining, and it’s a lot safer in the safe. Also, if the safe is broken into, at least your insurance company will keep that in mind. If you are staying in a hostel, don’t leave them in lockers. These are very likely to get broken into. Hostels are very unsafe places for camera’s.

You seem to be traveling in winter, so keep in mind it will be cold and in many places wet. Don’t worry so much about theft and crime. Europe is a safe place, and London/Paris in particular are very safe for such large cities. But do take common sense. On subways, especially at night, hold onto your bag. When traveling in trains, make sure the bag is on your lap or above you on the rack, and don’t fall asleep whilst leaving it. You will see loads of other Europeans walking casually around with their DSLR’s, so it’s not like you will look unique or out of place.

Just be particularly weary in Rome of con artists. Those who may offer to take your picture, or hold your bag for some reason etc. Otherwise it is also a safe place. No less so than a European tourist in a big American city.

Try the different foods there, and if you get a chance, visit food markets. Try some local salami’s, hams, cheeses etc. They are also great places to take photos. Maybe grab a time out guide for the major cities (there are cheaper, short versions) and these will guide you to good restaurants, bars etc. The food is great (even in London!) but don’t resort to things you know from back home. Sometimes these are made quite different to what you are used to and so the difference may disappoint.

For a great photo tip in Paris, go up Tour Montparnasse. Nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower, but without the crowds, long lines and you actually get the view to the tower. You may even be able to set up your tripod for great night shots (not sure about that though) and it has an outdoor deck.

Above all, enjoy.

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Many European urban photos can be found here:
http://www.pbase.com/jchambers

That will keep you covered and fairly light packed most of the time.

Look, it's better to take one lens too many than to stand somewhere and miss a shot, especially when you undertake a longer trip which cost a lot of money and planning. When I went to Japan this fall, i brought my 17-40, my 24-105 and my 70-200. I used them all, for the most part, i used the 17-40 and the 24-105. (I have an 1ds mk II). For people shots, I used the 70-200 a lot (also for compression shots of architecture/landscape).

A zoom is more handy than a prime in most situations.

One low light prime can be good to have, but if you alread have the 16-35, most low light shots can be done ok.

You can leave a zoom/heavy lens in the lobby safe or hotel room safe whenever you feel that a particular item is not required for that day.

A portable harddrive like the epson p-2000 is a really practical gadget to have with you, it's small, light and have great capacity for file dumping.

Anything made in Japan will work in Europe as far as currrent and voltage goes (but make sure you buy a travel socket that will fit the various euro wall socket types)

A small tripod can be a life saver, even for an oversized 1 series body.

Drop the silly american baseball cap

Drop the silly money belt/belly pouch.

Don't go about as the "loud mouthed american", be relaxed and polite, smile and you'll be fine.

Watch out for the pick pockets, romanian/albanian style, they oprerate in groups and inside crowds, always prepare when going into a crowd; Keep your wallet inside a locked pocket inside your jacket with your jacket zipped. (it's cold here anyways)

If you have a sling bag, sling it over to the front side when appriaching crowds, so you have your eyes on it (plus, you will be ready to shoot pictures too). Always check casually your left and right (as if you were admiring the scene), using your side vision to actually check your 6 o'clock for anyone creeping up on you).

99,9 times of a houndred you will be fine, no reason to fear anything really, but keep your wits about you.

Leave most credit cards, passport and cash in a hotel safe (lobby safe is usually the safest place), do not confuse that with a lobby locker service.

Have a nice trips and enjoy yourself, that's what a trip is for. \o/

K

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http://znapper.ath.cx/

As you mentioned no, it's not. You can pass through problems just being smart and non conspicuous, paying attention to your goods and avoiding the most unsafe places and timings. I guess the same rules apply to the US.

I go every spring to LA carrying my photo backpack and never ever had a problem. One day maybe I will. Should I state that the US are unsafe ?? I don't think so. Me unlucky ?? Most likely ;0)

That said I'm happy everything was fine to you and I look forward to seeing your shots.

How was the weather in Paris ?? I guess not so good

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Ludo from Paris
Tankers of tools, thimbels of talent
BestOf http://ludo.smugmug.com/gallery/1158249

Andrew Booth said:

• Don't look like a tourist. Don't wear shorts, a photo vest and a

baseball cap

Click to expand...

LOL .... no ... do this ... then you'll be able to take lots of photos of the inside of hospitals when you're recovering from extreme exposure!!

Europe .... in Dec/Jan ??

Apart from the 'travel light' advice which has already been given, right next to it on the list of things to bring is an extra pair of socks, a thick fleece and waterproofs (and get yourself a hat and some lowepro thermal photo gloves)!

When you've got great photo gear, its always a temptation to take the best, but sometimes less is more. On holiday earlier this year I got so fed up of lugging a heavy bag of f2.8 lenses around, I went and bought an Oly E400 twin lens kit as well. What a revelation! I got more pictures with this simply because it was so small and light I took it EVERYWHERE. Doing it again I'd probably get an E510 now because of the in body IS to help compensate for the slightly slower lenses, but if you're a canon guy, have you thought about doing something similar with getting a 400D or similar? they do take great pics if you're careful and you'll enjoy the trip more.
Just a thought.

G.

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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries

Canon FiveDee, Canon 4oD, Canon Gee 9, Canon S7o, Fuji Eff3o, Canon Ess Three IS.

my bag for Europe trips, and yes, the 70-200 2.8 is very useful in Europe!



70-200 f/2.8 is shots:



Brussels



Florence



Florence
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thank Canon for L and BMW for M

If you walk around taking pictures with a large pro DSLR and a 70-200mm lens anyone can figure out that the bag at your side or on your back contains camera gear. I want a bag that keeps dust and dirt and rain and prying hands out when I am shooting, especially with digital gear and sensors to keep dust free.

Many places there is not enough light for a WA zoom and there may be either restrictions on the use of a tripod or no time to set one up. This is when any external flash unit is a much have item. Even with landscape photography and street photography there are times when flash will greatly help an image.

What works especially well is being able to have the flash off camera and in the case of Canon cameras, using the ST-E2 to trigger the "remote" strobe.

dust? dirt? rain? I worry about that in Vietnam, not Europe (coffee shop every 15 feet to duck into if it rains, snows) What sticks out like a tourist is a guy worried about keeping his camera nice and clean, in a dedicated camera bag! Its attitude, that keeps your equipment in your hands, you don't walk around anal about your equipment, that reads as out of place. Wear sneakers, blue jeans and a tea shirt, with a camera bag, and you wont come home with your gear, you have tourist painted all over you. Ive spent a few months in Europe, mostly by myself, without the slightest problem, including being out at night, in Rome, Florence, Venice, Amsterdam, Brussels, etc. with said equipment. Dressing like a respectable local is a must. I also ditched the Canon Digital strap that came with the camera, and when a large lens is on the camera, I often carry it at my side in my hand by the lens, a passer by would be hard pressed to recognize it from the back side. I am also aware of people around me, if someone follows me, I keep my distance and make eye contact. Thats why I still have my equipment.

thank Canon for L and BMW for M