Trip to Italy - equipment suggestions

[hunt4fun]

I'm taking the family to Rome, Florence & Venice over the holidays. Trying to decide what cameras and lenses to take that will actually get use and not just become extra weight for me to lug around.

I have a D700, D300 and the following lenses; 35 f2, 85 f1.4, 18-200, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 1.4TC - all Nikons.

I'm thinking the D300 w/18-200 and the D700 w/24-70 and leave the rest. Then again not sure it's worthwhile to bring D700 along at all. Or do I have things reversed - i.e, should I bring D700 and leave D300 at home. I've exhausted my photography budget for the year and will NOT be purchasing any other lenses for this trip. The USD:EURO conversion is already starting to hurt and we haven't headed to ariport yet!!! Ouch.

I'm looking to capture the moments with my family and not turn the vacation into work, it's a family vacation and for my kids their first time to Europe. So I want to armed to capture the moment without a lot of fuss. I'm also prepared to get a Gorillapod for portable camera support. Again, trying to keep things to a minimum.

I have a Lowepro Slingshot 300 and Thinktank UD60. The Slingshot will accomodate 1 body w/lense plus another couple lenses along with Sb600, cards and batteries. But can't get another body in there. The UD60 would work fine but looks a bit businesslike and I prefer to be more low-key. Bag/backpack suggestions?

Thoughts and suggestions on camera bodys, lenses, support and and bag? Other suggestions?

Thanks, Chris

 

[samjNC]

well you are lucky...I was in Italy in 1993...a very nice place. I was a kid back then and I was able to get good shots with just a little P&S 35mm camera.

I think you answered your question about the "family vacation" part. My experience is that tensions rise as soon as a lens gets changed etc... If I was in your shoes, I would take the 18-200. I dont really know what else to take. If you had an ultra wide, you should take that, but I dont think you mentioned that on your post.

The big 2.8's will be a hassle to carry.

 

[samjNC]

I would also bring the 85 too. You do need an ultra fast lens if you want night shots or indoor shots w/o flash

 

[David28]

Chris

Don't underestimate how much you "steal" from your family time when you are preoccupied behind the camera intent on capturing the best memories of family time(how noble we men are). Consider that from their perspective, the holiday was really just dad behind the lens trying to record the hoiday for posterity and not really with them on holiday at all for the most part.

I am sad to admit the above is in large parts a personal confession.

So, on to the camera and lens. What was it you were asking again?

Seriously, less is more. You will create wonderful memories, just make sure it is with as well as without the camera. I say take the d700 (the high iso capability will be appreciated at night) and just the 18-200. Your family will love you for it - surely that counts for something.

Enjoy. Italy is such a great destination for scenery, food and wine and of course her people.

David
Australia

 

[gutguido]

Hi. I just wanted to add to what David said re: photography vs. family time.

If you have control over the schedule and the iterinary, try to reserve blocks of time when it's serious photography time, and then for the rest of the day, it's just for the family and no heavy duty shooting other than some snaps. From personal experience, I plan my schedule so that I can get to places with good photographic opportunities at the crack of dawn. That's my time with the camera, and it doesn't eat into time I spend with my wife.

Re: what to bring. I think it's worth noting that what you bring to the TRIP as a whole is not necessarily what you chug along on a day to day basis. What I'm trying to say is you can bring more equipment, but just take what you need on a given day based on what you expect to shoot. So if your luggage space allows, and you don't mind the extra weight going from place to place, do you really absolutely have to restrict yourself?

To the extent you will have some serious photography time to yourself, allowing you to set up etc., bring ... your ... filters. You want to have those around for things like dusk and dawn shots of Venice, valleys of Tuscany a short way away from Florence, etc.

I would travel especially light in Rome. Flashing lots of expensive photo gear amounts to wearing a "Please pickpocket me" sign around your neck.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

I just got back from 16 days in Europe - mostly Spain. Have been to Italy before.

I decided to go 'whole hog', and took almost ALL my kit with me. While I used almost all of it, it got old carry 15kilos of gear on my back, plus a 25xx series Gitzo.

Here are my thoughts: The 24-70 is a must. The 18-200 is a must. The rest, I think, is optional. I took a D200, D300, 18-200, 12-24, 24-70, 80-200F2.8, 85F1.8, 35F2 and 10.5 fisheye. I never used the 85F1.8 and only used the 35F2 once for a few shots. Took an SB800 and never used it.

I found lots of uses for the wider lenses in the cities. Venice would be a natural for having wide angle. I would take the 24-70 and the d700 to handle the majority of the shots.

Have 2 weeks of carrying stuff around, I decided to go lighter for my last day (Lisbon). One camera (D300), 10.5 fish, 12-24, 24-70 and 18-200. The primes and D200 didn't get used enough to carry. While I love the 80-200, it was just too big and heavy, so I opted to use the 18-200 to cover the 71-200 focal length and save weight (shooting it mostly at F8).

The 24-70 isn't wide enough on a DX camera quite often, but if I had a d700, I probably would not have missed having the 12-24 capability. The fisheye was surprisingly handy though.

The 24-70 was used most of the time, except in Lisbon. In Lisbon I happened to take an open top tour bus, and I just used the 18-200vr. Finally I found a good niche for that lens - the flexbility and VR were extremely useful in a situation where you were shooting from a moving bus!

 

[burkm]

Having done such excursions quite often in the past and not knowing Your personal preferences, I would take an ultra wide (i.e. 12-24 or close) with me for all hose crowded historical places and great landscapes plus a medium rang zoom like the 16-85 / 18-105. This will keep You from changing lenses to often thus missing shots and carrying a lot of gear with You, making such a holiday a strain on the back and missing a lot of opportunities being "stressed" all day.

.. and I would take the D300 just for lowering weight to a minimum.
IQ is really more than enough.

 

[REBlue]

I was in Rome last November. I found that my 17-55 and my 12-24 pretty much covered all my needs. Your 24-70 on the D700 body would be the same angle of view as my 17-55 on the D50, and will make a great walkaround. The problem that I see is that you need wider as opposed to longer, especially for all the beautiful churches and cathedrals. I don't know that your 18-200 will be fast enough or wide enough. I would not bother to drag along the 70-200, the 85 or the TC.
--



http://www.flickr.com/photos/reblue/sets/
http://community.webshots.com/user/REBlue01

 

[Markogts]

D700 with the 24-70 for the wide and low light, D300 with the 70-200 VR for the details. Two cameras, two lenses, eventually the TC and of course polariser and some other filters you may have. If you don't want to be that heavy, 18-200 is the answer, you decide between D300 and D700 considering pixel density (5M on the D700 in crop mode) vs noise.

Remember to ask for safes in hotels, never leave gear unattended, especially in Rome. There is nothing to be worried about, just to pay some attention.
--
Overexposure happens.

 

[Alex Leach]

Width and speed are more important than reach, so I would take the D700 only, with the first two lenses you mentioned - though something wider would be better.

Don't take the 24-70 or 70-200 as they're too heavy and you'll be doing a lot of walking.

--
Alex

http://alexandjustine.smugmug.com/

 

[Rune Nielsen]

I went to Italy this summer with my Sigma 10-20, Nikon 17-55 and 70-200 VR. I used the 10-20 about 20-30% of the time, 17-55 about 60-70% and the 70-200 for less than 5%. If I went again the 70-200 would stay home.

I don't know how you like to take your pictures, but in your place, I would bring the D700 with the 24-70 + flash and use the Slingshot. This should be plenty of gear if you don't want to spend to much time taking pictures.

You could also bring the 18-200 just in case you need the reach. For holliday pictures 5 MP should be plenty (DX crop).

Have a nice trip!

 

[Chris911]

I have just come back from a trip to Venice.

I took:
D300, MB-D10, Nikon 10.5, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, Sigma 10-20.

I used the 24-70 for the great majority of the time, and the 10-20 hardly at all.I really regretted not taking my 70-200 - I simply couldn't get in close enough for detail shots and candids.

HTH.

 

[Xadius]

If you've spent the money on the quality lenses I guess I would feel the need to bring them. It's not like you go to Italy every day (or maybe you do I dunno) I would bring the good stuff since you have it.

the 2.8 zooms should go with you, imo. Otherwise why have them?

 

[Colin Sturges]

Difficult eh? You're right about the family, also, what do you like taking? Wide stuff (all those fantastic buildings), or picking out the details?

I was in Tuscany (with the family) in August, also along for the ride were the D300, Sigma 12-24 and the 18-200. Some of my favourite memory joggers here http://www.okewoodimagery.com/tuscany2008/ (and yes, two are of paintings - a long story!)

If you can get to Lucca, do - fantastic place - but mostly, enjoy!

 

[pktoronto]

Chris,

I brought along my D3, the 50 1.4, and the 14-24 to Portugal. I wanted to travel "light".

You can see my photos here:

http://qdiem4sc.zenfolio.com/p1034938869/h2f8ee617#h2f8ee617

I think, if I was in your situation, and limited to your equipment, I would bring the D700 and the 24-70. That's it. This range will work for 95% of your shots and will allow you the freedom to take photos without having to change lenses--that just gets in the way.

More is less.

When I go anywhere to Europe next time, it will be the D3 and the 50 1.4 only.

PK.

--
Banned from the dpreview D-3/D-7-0-0 forum...

 

[Riccardo Polini]

I'm taking the family to Rome, Florence & Venice over the holidays.
I have a D700, D300 and the following lenses; 35 f2, 85 f1.4, 18-200,
24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 1.4TC - all Nikons.

In my website you can see several pictures of Rome I took with my italian eyes
;-)
Fields of view ranging from 28 mm to 300 mm (35 mm) are enough.
If you're satisfied with the IQ of your 18-200VR, take it and D300.

Another option could be D700+24-70 and 18-200. You can use the 18-200 (D700 crop mode) when you need a telephoto (with 5 Mpix you can safely print 8x10 in). However this set up weighs more ...
A good table tripod (i.e. Manfrotto) could be also useful.
Have a nice trip to Italy!

Riccardo

 

[pktoronto]

Rember, if you are concerned about not having enough reach with the 24-70, that 12 MP gives you plenty of latitude for cropping, and--should you need to have more telephoto reach--you can crop half of the image and still have 6 MP left. 6 MP used to be plenty for me back in my D70 days.

Here is an example:

This Christ statue in Lisbon is way up there (taken at 24 mm):
http://qdiem4sc.zenfolio.com/p1034938869/e2e7b973e

Here is the same statue (front view), taken at 50 mm and cropped after I arrived home:
http://qdiem4sc.zenfolio.com/p1034938869/e2ef3d4a2

PK.

--
Banned from the dpreview D-3/D-7-0-0 forum...

 

[[email protected]]

I went to Rome and used one body
and a 28-70/2.8 mostly and occasionally
a 35/2 for museums.

I would suggest the D700 and 24-70 zoom.
Add a 50/1.4 or 35/2 for indoors museums and
churches.

Leave everything else at home.

maljo
http://homepage.mac.com/jmallery/PhotoAlbum15.html

 

[rapick]

I'm taking the family to Rome, Florence & Venice over the holidays.
...
I'm thinking the D300 w/18-200 and ....
...
I'm looking to capture the moments with my family ...
...
Thoughts and suggestions on camera bodys, lenses, support and and
bag? Other suggestions?
---

To capture the moments with your family is IMHO the best use you can make of a camera in such locations, where each single square, palace, monument, bridge, arch, piece of stone or brickwork has been already captured from any possible perspective by a few millions snapshooters, but also by the most renowned professional photographers carrying the most sophisticated pro gear.

I mean: the time you spend with your family is the best value you can get from a vacation. If you want perfect archtecture / landscape photographs, the best choice is to buy a good quality photo book.

So, I will just tell you what I decided to carry on a 4 weeks tour in Vietnam with my wife (starting next week): on camera, one lens. In my case: D200 and 18-200 VR. Accessories: SB-400, 3x2GB CF, 80GB Xs-Drive 6900.

I know rhat each of the six nikkor primes I leave at home could give some better results in some specific circumstances. Bot does it matter? To me, no.
Enjoy Italy!

--
Rapick
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick

 

[hunt4fun]

A BIG thanks to everyone that posted suggestions!!! My wife got a big giggle out of many responses especially related to my/your concern of balancing photo and family time with the focus on the latter. My 4 kids aged 11- 20 are going to have a blast with us on this trip - they wanted this more than the normal "consumer stuff" Christmas.

I'm now thinking I may take both the D300 & D700 and give my #2 son - 16 yr old a quick tour of the D300 w/18-200 and have him carry and shoot with it -albeit mostly in "P" mode. I will likely carry the D700 w/24-70 and probably the 35 f/2 along with SB600.

Haven't decided on camera support yet but I will bring along some B&W filters & Cokin P filter set to capture those sunrise/sunset moments. Steel a little time before they rise in the morning - I'm the morning person anyway.

We're all getting more excited by the day.

Thanks again for the great suggestions and sample pics!!! We'll definitely worked time in Tuscany into the trip.

Chris