Lenses to take for trip to Venice

I might be Be able to fit three of them in the bag, which would you leave behind?

1.4d 50 mm
35-70 2.8
18-55 3.5-5.6 d40 kit lens
55-200 4-5.6 VR

Also may want to take a hot shoe flash. Thatay leave room for two. In order of preference for such a location, what should I pack? Am I more likely to need the wide end 18-55 or the long end 55-200?

I forgot to mention I might also want to take my small p&s for backup. Would you, or is that just extra weight to carry?

Probably the 35-70mm

You want to take a real wide angle for the huge plazas and churches, you probably want to take the 1.4 for interior shots in churches and stuff, and a tele zoom is something I never leave home.

Take whatever lenses/equipment you take when visiting other cities/locations around the world.

The proportions of the buildings are going to be the same.

I took the 18-135 and the 55-300, except for a few "compression" shots down the canals the 18-135 was all I needed.

I visit Venice almost every year for a week , never used anything else than a 50 mm and the 18-55, this year I will take the (new) 16-85 and a 50 mm.

Have fun , do not forget to visit Dorsoduro !

I've always found the 17-55mm to be the ideal lens. Things are very close together in Venice and wide angles are most useful. Photography isn't permitted inside most buildings, so the flash might not be as useful as another lens.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with the 8mm Samyang on my NEX-7 this year...

Thanks all! I think I will probably leave the 55-200 home then. I rarely use it. I ten to shoot mid range and wider. I think I will take the 18-55 and the 50 (my favorite). I will also take the 35-70 just because the IQ is Sharper and better than the 18-55 even though that overlaps some. Thinking of doing one of those photo walk tours with a pro photig who takes u into the "hidden" venice-are they worth the $$?

This also applies to Venice, Cairo,Sydney,London,Paris and Timbuktoo.

Cheers

lovenikonandflute said:

Thinking of doing one of those photo walk tours with a pro photig who takes u into the "hidden" venice-are they worth the $$?

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That would depend on how much they charge and where they take you!

We had a few days there a few years ago. Brilliant location, the total lack of cars sooooo enjoyable. Also, the friendliness of the locals - I'd be setting up for a shot at 6am and a local pushing a trolley load of water would stop and wait for me to finish. I wave him through, he shakes his head and waits.

The street plan is unfathomable. I like to think I have a good sense of direction, but after three days I'd still get lost wandering around. A compass would have been very useful, though I suppose these days most people have a gps in their phone. The back streets are all worth a roam, any time of day or night.

Top accessory - a decent tripod. I personally would not go back without one (obviously lying there, I'd happily go back without a camera). I took my tripod and could likely have hired it out to other photographers - several commented saying they wish they'd had one. Second top accessory, a decent alarm clock - getting up before sunrise is essential for at least one day. The busy parts get so busy once the day starts, but watching the workers clear up the previous nights mess with their birch brooms, and the trolley pushing workers restocking the shops was one of the highlights for me.









If I go again, the big one is whether I'd go to the other islands again. We did a good round trip taking in Murano, the next one(?) and Lido - the boat trip being a great way to get a feel for the overall environment, the islands being interesting, Lido being pretty much a waste of time from my point of view. So worth doing, but another time I'd skip those islands, maybe go out to the island seen from the main landing stage near St Marks.



--
UK wedding photographer in the Lake District
For my landscapes and fine art photography:

He is charging 180 Euro for 3 hours, so about 60 euro (75ish dollars) an hour. HE gets not a single negative review on tripadvisor. I was interested in going "off the beaten path" and he said that was alright. We would go in the wee hours of the morning to get the best light. I'm going back and forth on it. It'd be such a good opportunity but it's darn expensive.

Wowee, I'm in the wrong job. I'm sure some people would say that's good value.

I'd settle for checking the sunrise/set angles, study a map and enjoy a free roam. I don't know if security is an issue in Venice, that could be a reason to team up, but I was solo and didn't feel any kind of threat anywhere, didn't even think about it.

Venice is the most concentrated area of urban wonder I've ever visited.

Oh, Peggy Guggenheim, worth a look. Nice area and outlook from the gallery.

--
UK wedding photographer in the Lake District
http://www.johnleech-weddingphotography.co.uk
For my landscapes and fine art photography:
http://www.johnleechstudio.co.uk

I would think twice about that guided photo walk. You can do it all on your own. With a good map and keeping in mind the Sun's position, you should be able to plan a couple of days of good photo ops.
I would never forget my first impression when I arrived and walked out of the Santa Lucia train station. It was late afternoon and the sunlight was behind making all those buildings glow in red and gold. I regret not taking that shot. I was more worried about finding the right vaporeto to transfer into my hotel and was not about to take out camera and tripod and set up for a shot in such a busy spot. I should have returned to this spot at the same time while I was there but never did.

Ciao...

Eduardo
www.andaremos.com

I'm about to go to Venice for my 5th time next week. :-D This time next week I'll be on my usual wander. ;-) (You can see some of my Venice pics via the 500px link in my signature)

On my trips I take both my lenses, the 16-85mm and the 70-300mm. The 16-85mm is the perfect lens for me, and is used 95% of the time. The 70-300mm came in useful on my last trip when the Venice Marathon was happening, and on a previous visit when the Regatta was one too, but otherwise is hardly used. I'm determined to try and use it more next time. The alleyways are quite narrow, and wider is better. Even some of the open spaces are quite tight too. I always take my tripod, but only use it when it starts to get dark, and don't carry it around all day.

I've never been tempted to do any tours, because I'm always trying to do it as cheap as I can. ;-) It depends where the tour is going though, and if they can get you lots of popular views with some tips thrown in, then it may be worth it. Once you have a couple of good pics you'll not have the pressure of trying to get 'something'. I enjoy just walking around and getting lost, which is extremely easy to do. lol

Most tourists gather around St Mark's Square, and the Rialto Bridge, and the main route from the Train Station to St Mark's Square through the city is busy, and gets busier the closer you get to St Mark's Square. Burano is beautiful and very colourful, and although busy, most people stick to the central area where the shops are, and you can find some nice views wandering off the beaten track. Murano is nice, but eclipsed by Burano. If you plan on going to both, go to Murano first, as it could be a let down if visited after Burano. :-( ;-) Murano is good to see a glass making demonstration. Seeing a prancing horse made out of a blob of molten glass in a minute or two makes your jaw drop. Generally you find some things that you haven't seen before just by wandering about and getting lost in Venice.

Make sure you go up the Campanile's in St Mark's Square and San Giorgio Maggiore. I didn't until a couple of trips in, and wished I'd done it on the first trip. Lovely views over the city and the whole Lagoon.

And get yourself a travel pass too, they may be expensive, but when you find yourself emerging from the wrong side of the island with your feet aching, a nice gentle boat trip is a relief, and you may get some good views of the city, and other boats from on the water. Getting on at stop away from the more touristy places may get you a seat at the back or front too, rather than not getting a seat, or being stuck inside, especially on a trip along the Grand Canal.

Have a good trip.

Bring a lens with an air freshener attached, as the citizens flush their toilets directly into the canals!

DaveOl said:

DaveOl wrote:

Bring a lens with an air freshener attached, as the citizens flush their toilets directly into the canals!

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The repetition of this tired rubbish does the poster no credit. It's complete nonsense. Venice is no smellier than any other European city after a long dry spell (try Barcelona!). I know only one part of the city which is a bit smelly in very hot weather and that's the smell of mud and seaweed. There's no sewage in the canals of Venice!

Oh - and then there's the fish market!

--
Best wishes,
Alan J

Looks like you may be wrong about the sewage not being flushed into the canals. I just took a few minutes and looked it up on the internet. There was a 2012 report that it is still being flushed into the canals. When old buildings are razed, septic tanks are built under the new buildings though thus cleaning it a little.

I f you've never been yhere it's worth it .not only the tour but the photo lessons you will get.

[email protected] I just got back from Carnevale and took a photo walk with him .He's a nice guy knowledgeable speaks perfect english.Knows some good chichetti places.

And will show you backstreets while giving you some instruction. He is a working pro

also is Marco Secchi another working pro

you can purchase for a few hrs or a whole day.

Remember there are no cars it's walk or take very expensive vaporetto 7 euro per ticket.I strongly suggest a pass .7 euro is about 10 dollars each every time .It's expensive because it's a boat three person staff. Don't forget to "SPRITZ" It' a beautiful place .You need comfy shoes and a light camera bag.You will walk and walk and walk ,up stairs down stairs .

Enjoy

DaveOl said:

DaveOl wrote:

Bring a lens with an air freshener attached, as the citizens flush their toilets directly into the canals!

Click to expand...

On my four previous trips I've never had the famed 'smelly Venice'. Granted I haven't been at the height of Summer, but it has bee pretty hot on a couple of visits.