Going to Italy

I've been lurking her for a while now. But, I need some help I am leaving for Italy next week and I will be traveling pretty light. I am going to take a Rebel XT with grip, 50 1.8 for low light, 24-105L if I need reach so what I need help with is which wide angle to many to choose from? I thought about a Canon 10-22, Tokina 12-24, canon 17-40L... To many choices what suggestions do you all have for me? I may leave the 24-105 at home just depends on what everyone thinks.


Thank you,

kyounge

Typically,Fred Miranda Canon Gear Forum specialize on travelling advice of that nature. However, I am sure there are well travelled folks here who can help as well.

My only suggestion is as follows. Streets in Italian towns are generally very narrow. Therefore, WA lenses are not needed.
I think a narrow FOV lens would do much better. Therefore, I'd suggest you take the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM.
Furthermore, there are many tall churches there. Thus, a tilt-shift lens is almost mandatory, such as 24 or 45 mm TS- E.

i just came back from 3 weeks in barcelona. my advice is to take the 24-105, a wide angle and the nifty.

wide angle and narrow streets make for an interesting combination

I too would suggest a good wide angle. Sigma 10-20 or one of the others in this range would serve you well.

For example, the Duomo in Florence can be a nightmare to photograph. Its a massive church packed into a not-so-massive square. A UWA would give you the ability to get some impressive pictures that otherwise you wouldn't be able to take (at least not without a lot of compositional creativity and a lot of stitching). A UWA would also let you get some spectacular shots of small hilltop walled towns such as Montereggioni if you decided to go to any of them, or a sweeping picture of the Piazza Del Campo in Siena, or a bottom-up view of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Next time I head back to Europe, my 10-20 will be the first lens I pack.

I would definitely take the 24-105L, which should cover most of your shots. If you need something wider, I would go for the Tokina. It's cheaper. Enjoy the trip.

I find the 24-105 to be my most used lens, so I would definitely take it. For WA the Sigma 12-24 complements it well. You don't mention where you are going in Italy, but for things like Pompeii/Mt. Vesuvius or landscapes in Tuscany a WA is nice.

lol...Id hardly call the 400 f/5.6 a light "travel lens". Its very long and weighs like 3 pounds. I think a super wide 10-22 would work well, but cant comment about the T/S lens. Yeah you'll get accurate photos of large buildings, but its a one use lens. IDK about you but I travel with the least amount possible. I don't wanna be walking around italy with a huge case full of one use lenses.

If I had to bring two of my lenses it would be the 35mm f/2 and 70-300mm f4/5.6 IS. I would also bring a pocket P&S...somethine like a pentax optio. You can't always be wearing a rebel xt... so its nice to have a backup for more formal events or when you really want to go light.

I'm taking:

Sigma 10-20
Tamron 17-50
Sigma 70-200
2x TC

To me, that's traveling light on the camera gear. But, I used to travel with a 4x5... All this gear fits in a Pelican 1400 case, which fits in my travel bag (though I'm not sure if I'll manage to fit it AND all my clothes... I travel pretty light, so I might pull it off.) I trek with everything on my back at times, so this is a must.

I anticipate very little use for the 2x, but it's small and will be nice to have for detail work. 70-200 will get hauled out on occasion. The 17-50 should see the most camera time, with the 10-20 wandering onto the camera now and again - we'll see how much. Future trips may see a different collection.

I leave on Saturday.

C

I have the 10-22 & 24-105 combo and am very pleased with it. If you get the UWA take some time to get used to it before heading to Europe, especially in the 10-12mm range. Its a great lens though.

I am starting in Venice, and then going to Florence/and surrounding areas(Tuscany region) and ending in Rome.

kyounge wrote in post #2167128
I am starting in Venice, and then going to Florence/and surrounding areas(Tuscany region) and ending in Rome.

Hmm, that itinerary is scarily familiar... you with a group? What are the odds it's the same one I'm with...

Nope just my wife and I........ I leave on Tuesday....

kyounge wrote in post #2167139
Nope just my wife and I........

That would have been my preference. But it's actually cheaper, and a whole lot less headache, so I won't complain. Mostly my wife's trip anyhow.

Have a great time! If you see some poor sap with too many lenses you know who it is...

Leave the 28th. Find our way back state-side Nov 11 I think. We're grabbing a couple days in London on the way back too (was another $30 to the flights so couldn't pass it up). Will be my wife's first time out of the country (since Canada barely counts)

C

I don't know how the weather will be this time of year, but if you have time, make the effort to visit Cinque Terra. It is WELL worth the trip.

The pics in the gallery below are from there. They were taken with a fairly cheap film P&S before I really got into photography, and then scanned. But it should give you an idea of how beautiful that area is.

http://temp.thorpic.co​m/images/italy/

I leave the 31st and come back on the 16th.. I hope you all have a great time! I will keep a look out for you!