Going to Rome, Florence, Venice - which one lens?

Great pics! I can't wait to go there one day!

My wife and I are planning this same trip in November!! Can't wait... to the OP - in Europe wider is better, especially if you want to take in the architecture!! I have a 17-40 and have been more than happy with its "wideness" and never missed a shot with my 17-40 that i can recall and here in Ukraine, as with most of Europe, most buildings are very large, and the streets are not very wide... borrow your friends 17-40 for sure!

If you can only bring 1 lens, I'd recommend the 17-55 IS or the Tamron 17-50, depending on budget. You may want something longer or shorter at times, but that range should get you most of your shots.

I went to Venice in mid July, I took with me all my lenses (EF-s 17-85mm IS, EF 75-300mm, EF 50mm F1.8, and I borrowed an EF-s 10-22mm) I never took my 75-300mm outside with me, I never used the 50mm as photography wasn't allowed inside the Basillica or the Doge's Palace, though people were using cell phone cams and small point and shoots.

I did take a tripod, but only took it out with me the day I toured the islands of Murano, Burano and Lido. I also took it out one night to take some night shots of the Basillica.

When I was actually in Venice, I kept the 10-22 on, apart from the first evening, and when I went to the other islands I used the kit 17-85mm lens.

Here's a few I took, the first two the camera was balanced on the bridge parapet / balustrade thing, these were taken on the same bridge, just opposite views - the first one is before dinner, the second is after:

17-85mm @ 17mm:

consider the following

a. you can't take pics in most museums (no need for indoor lens)
b. that leaves limits you to taking pictures of architecture mostly

So, 10-22 is your best bet for a single lens. For vacation photos bring a small point and shoot.

Sigma 18-200 OS if you can get it. When I travel overseas, it's the lens that's on my camera the great majority of time.

TheHoff wrote in post #6218755
Tripods impede other people walking.

Florence:

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that corner looks very familar. is that the main road into downtown florence and the other end leads to the train station. i believe its by conte. but i cant remember since its been so long. was abroad there for a month. beautiful city. hot as hell in july tho.

17-55/2.8 IS if your budget will stretch that far; 18-55 IS if not.

sdsviet wrote in post #6223126
that corner looks very familar. is that the main road into downtown florence and the other end leads to the train station. i believe its by conte. but i cant remember since its been so long. was abroad there for a month. beautiful city. hot as hell in july tho.

I believe you're right. I didn't map my shots in Florence and unfortunately my $2k camera doesn't have a GPS in it like a $200 phone.

yea i live right at that corner by the light.

I say go wide! I was there in April (all 3 cities) and used a 28-75 on my 5D. A little extra width would have been nice but it did okay but the 2.8 aperture was really great in the dark museums and Basillicas where flash and tripods were not allowed..

I LOVE Italy...enjoy!

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I specifically remember that there are to be NO PICTURES taken in the Accademia

TheHoff wrote in post #6223243
I specifically remember that there are to be NO PICTURES taken in the Accademia

Or the Sistine Chapel!

If just one lens, then either the Canon 17-85mm or Sigma 17-70mm for a 2.8 aperture at the wider 17mm side with the f/2.8 for interior churches and such. But yeah, if budget can stretch, I'd stick with the Rebel series camera for weight and being able to quickly take a picture and keep on moving and use the money towards a 17-55mm, you would lose some telephoto, but in my experiences in Italy, the f/2.8 with IS as well as 17mm would be fantastic.

If you can do two lenses, 10-22 paired with a 24-105 would be great for walkaround, IS on the 24-105 would be good for street shots with buildings and such, while the wider side on the 10-22 is amazing.

isnt the sistine chapel just no flash. i definitely do remember hearing the phrase "no photos" constantly while i was trying to take a snap of the david. hehe