Lens for Rome trip

Peter3579 said:

24-120 and 20mm 1.8 for all those interior shots.

thats all you need.

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I don't consider 20mm very wide in these days with 12-24mm and 14-24mm zooms. In my travel photography about 12% of my shots are with one of the two mentioned zooms. Superwide is needed when you just can't back up and when slow moving groups are between you and what you want to shoot. Jump in front of them and take the shot you were waiting to take.

After reading about mobs of tourists, etc. in other posts, I'd like to recommend Rick Steves' Europe Through The Backdoor and his Rome 2018 Guidebook.

Lots of great info about avoiding "mobs" at popular spots (not that it is always possible but it is more often than one might think. . .), skipping tourist queues and security in Europe, to mention only a few. My wife and I have been to Europe 4 times for a total of three months there. Steves' tips have saved us a ton of time, money and frustration. I credit his Europe Through The Backdoor with being a big reason all of our trips have been 110% successful. . . And I always have camera gear with me.

+1 using a PacSafe to secure camera gear in hotel rooms (though we prefer renting private flats. . .) and elsewhere such as trains, particularly if you use the luggage rack. We travel light (one carry-on and daypack each) but there is always room for a PacSafe.

Regarding a lens: My fave travel lens is a wide-angle zoom. As others have mentioned, streets can be crowded (but not nearly as much if you get away from the tourist traps and venture into neighborhoods where the locals live), interiors tend to be tiny and who wants to be changing lenses anyway? A lens around 18-35mm FX-equivalent suits me just fine. I love the 24mm focal length but it just isn't wide enough in Europe. A mid-range zoom rounds out my basic kit.

Happy Trails!

Do you guys think getting a sigma/tamron 24-70 f2.8 would be better than the 24-120?

On a recent trip to Rome my most used lens was Nikon 20mm/1.8g. It is a compact, wide lens good for vistas, buildings, ruins and city shots. The low light capability makes it a great choice for indoor shots. Other useful lens were Nikon 28mm/1.8G and 70-200/4.0.

Buon viaggio.

Roberto

Thank you. I have the 20 1.8, 28 1.8G and a 70-200 f2.8. But the 70-200 is staying home. too heavy. Don't have the f4 version.

A D750 paired with a Tamron 15-30/2.8 VC will be a killer combination, especially for indoor architecture. My 24-70/2.8 was not wide enough.

I once had this combination, and, you are right, it is working well. However, it is heavy ...

Went to Rome / Florence in 2016 Xmas.

Took Nikon D750, 16-35 f/4 VR, Sigma 24-105 f/4 OS, 50mm 1.8g

Used 16-35mm w/ VR for indoor museum. 24-105 f/4 for outdoor scenic and environmental portrait. Only used 50mm 1.8g rarely.

Lots of place do not allow flash. VR is very helpful to keep ISO <=6400. Weight of the system also matters a lot since we were walking so much each day.

Did have 10-20% of shots at 105mm. So having a short tele is a good idea but I think nothing longer than 200mm. So maybe 70-200mm f/4 lens if I were to add a lens.

was that 16-35 too heavy for all day walking? I have the lighter 18-35 but no VR.

joemama10 said:

was that 16-35 too heavy for all day walking? I have the lighter 18-35 but no VR.

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No. I Carried a shoulder bag w the entire kit plus a double shoulder sling strap. Not bad at all.

Wide angle VR lens in very helpful in indoor church and evening. Shot. Can’t use tripod indoor.

Thanks. I just ordered a Tamron 24-70 2.8 version 1 on sale. Might bring that instead of 24-120. Then maybe 20 1.8g or 18-35g

A couple of years back, was in Rome while visiting my daughter. Used an NEX-6 with 16-50. APS-C so 24-75 in ff terms. I just skimmed over some of my on-line albums to refresh my memory. I don't recall any major problems in "streets" with lens not wide enough/streets too narrow. Except maybe the Trevi Fountain. There's not a lot of room in front of it and usually crowded. Just checked it on Google and the current satellite view was taken while under restoration. Different, drained, scaffolding, much of the building covered up, etc.

OTOH, I found I would have liked something wider quite often in interiors of some of the churches we visited, even St. Peter's and the Vatican Museum.

Also, interiors may not be very well lit so a faster lens might be a consideration, too.

Thanks for help. I am now planning on taking a Tamron 24-70 f2.8 V1 and a Nikon 20 1.8G for interiors. Not sure if I need anything else. I am hoping that the Tamron is sharper than my 24-120 F4.

I was in Rome in October. Excellent. Not too crowded -- actually quite pleasant in that regard. Great weather. Obviously a lot to see and do. It was a family trip, so my picture taking was pretty casual. I have a D7100 and I took the 12-24 DX and 17-55 DX along with the 85/1.8 for short telephoto (127 FF). Used the 12-24 a bit more than the 17-55 but of course sometimes you need 12 (18 FF) and sometimes you need 55 (82 FF). Did not use the 85 very much. If I was going by myself and was doing more dedicated shooting, I'd bring a travel tripod for night shots (didn't take any this time). One of those little mini-tripods is helpful for interior pics as you can set it on a rail or a bench or brace it against a wall/column, etc. The WA lenses always seem to get the most use when you're in the urban tourist mode. Bring the 20, 35 and 50. I'll bet you have the 20 mounted most of the time. HAVE FUN!

I think that fall is the best season for Europe. Far fewer tourists, off-season prices and, with any luck, good weather. The one trip that we encountered cold and wet weather (late fall) we just did what the locals do and moved inside. We had a fine time.

At the city nearest where you live, what focal lengths would you want to have to photograph it from the outside and which focal lengths and apertures to photograph hand held indoors? No different for any other city in the world.

I want an ultra wide angle zoom like the 18-35mm and a wide to normal like the 24-70mm with f/2.8 so it is usable at night and indoors. A moderate telephoto would be nice but the only lens that is not huge and off-putting is the 28-300mm f/5.6 which is very slow and requires high ISO settings. For a full kit I would take a fisheye lens for interiors and a speedlight to fill in areas in shadows (go to a local catholic church and you can experiment).

You can leave a lens or two in your hotel room and do not need to carry everything at all times.

Yes, I have the Tamron 24-70 f2.8, the Nikon 18-35 and Nikon 20 f1.8G. I will do test shots around town before I leave in a few months for my trip. Thanks for the suggestions.

I would take the Nikon 20 and the Tamron 24-70 for a light kit. You will be fine.

I have since upgraded my camera to a nice used D810. will be taking that instead of the D750 or take both as backups to each other. still debating a wide angle. Maybe a refurbished 16-35 or 20 1.8 G & 18-35 G that I already have. leaving soon for trip.

I returned from Rome trip. I got a used Tamron 15-30 before I left for the trip. Glad that I did. It was very useful inside. Also brought the Tamron 24-70 and a Sigma 35 Art for lighter walk around and night pics. I never carried them all. Just took one lens at a time for excursions.

Thanks.