Rome, Italy

[Shawnajc]

I'm going to Rome, Italy next month and was wondering what lenses you all might use when out sightseeing? I don't want to lug around a bunch of lenses and might be in the market for a new one if I have to, though don't want to spend a ton on one at the moment.

thanks

[DesignerDigitals]

Originally Posted by Shawnajc

I'm going to Rome, Italy next month and was wondering what lenses you all might use when out sightseeing? I don't want to lug around a bunch of lenses and might be in the market for a new one if I have to, though don't want to spend a ton on one at the moment.

thanks

If I could only take one it would be my 24-70mm.

[anxela]

And when Randy says 24-70, remember that he's on a full-frame camera. Which camera do you have? And what do you want to photograph? Buildings, people..?

[iUma]

Funny I just ordered and will receive today the 24-70 2.8 for my Canon (full frame). Taking it to San Francisco for the weekend and will report on my return!!

[KerryMac]

Patricia, you're going to love that lens

I always have the 24-70 with me when I travel. Rome has so many large structures but also flowers in markets, artwork, architectural details, etc...the 24-70 would be pretty flexible.
If you have a wider angle, I'd stick that in your bag, too.
Have a great trip!!

[Shawnajc]

Thanks for your replies, I have a Canon Rebel XT, and I want to photograph everything

[anke]

the 24-70 is pricey but what an awesome lens! i am so jealous you are going to my second home country Have a ball!

[katrinak]

I'd take my 17-40 f/4 because it is what's in my bag and while there I'd pine for the 24-70

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by Shawnajc

Thanks for your replies, I have a Canon Rebel XT, and I want to photograph everything

Shawna... I've got a Rebel XTi and will be in Rome on April 9th-11th! And, yep... I want a good lens for my whole trip, too! I was thinking of a longer lens (is that the right use of the words?)... like the 28-200mm f/3.5. Not as fast as that 24-70, tho... don't Shawna and I need a ZOOM for our trips?

[katrinak]

Depends on what you want to photograph Debi.

If you want to get the big, story telling shots then a wide angle is what you are looking for (anything under 35mm falls into the wide angle family, lower the number the wider you go)

A long lens (anything over 70mm) will let you get in closer from a distance but you might just find yourself a bit frustrated that you can't get the entire building or person or statue in your frame.

[katrinak]

(oh and Debi, aren't you the one wanting to leave your dSLR behind, and now you are talking about a LONGER lens? lol )

[Shawnajc]

Debi, I'm going to be in Rome from April 10-16th. How funny!!! Where else in Europe are you going? I live in Germany.

[audrey77]

I went to Rome in 2002... definitely a WIDE lens! Everything is so BIG- you'll want to get it all in. A second lens? Something with a zoom to catch details.

[echogirl]

Can you take two lens?

(Sorry for the above post. Ugg I can't spell tonight to save my life.)

[Shawnajc]

I'm going to take all my lenses, our apt is right near Vatican city and since we'll be doing alot of walking and I have 3 kids, the youngest being 2, i wanted to pick just two to put in my bag to sightsee. I'm putting in my 50mm for sure so I can take beautiful outside portraits of my kids. I have the 18-55 kit lens of course and a 75-300.. which of those would get the best shots, or should I pick up something different? With such a huge trip planned I don't want to spend alot on a new lens right now but I want awesome pictures. I'm still reading Understanding Exposure to better understand all this technical stuff, because I mostly rely on instinct when photographing. I've never understood much about the technical stuff and not much time to learn it until recently. I've got some super amazing pictures but if I had to explain how I got them, I really couldn't tell you LOL!! Thanks for all the help.

Oh, and how do people get amazing pics inside cathedrals with the lighting and all?

[Starlite9711]

The advice you've gotten is wonderful, I just wanted to tell you Im jealous of your trip. I went to Rome 4 years ago and knew nothing about photography. I so so so wish I could go back now!

[Shawnajc]

Originally Posted by Starlite9711

The advice you've gotten is wonderful, I just wanted to tell you Im jealous of your trip. I went to Rome 4 years ago and knew nothing about photography. I so so so wish I could go back now!

I know just how you feel!! I lived in Hawaii for 3 years and knew nothing about photography then. I was amazed at pics I was getting with my first p&s there. I didn't get my canon until we moved from there to alabama, where I didn't really find much to take pictures of other than my kids. We were only there a year and then we moved over here to Europe and I'm so thankful I have a great camera now.

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by katrinak

Depends on what you want to photograph Debi.

If you want to get the big, story telling shots then a wide angle is what you are looking for (anything under 35mm falls into the wide angle family, lower the number the wider you go)

A long lens (anything over 70mm) will let you get in closer from a distance but you might just find yourself a bit frustrated that you can't get the entire building or person or statue in your frame.

So, then the 24-200 lens I rented is both my WIDE and my ZOOM? Geesh, I had no idea about the "wide" thing, other than seeing lens posted as "wide". The rental arrived last week (wanted to play w/it last weekend, just to make sure I new what it could do!) and the lens is already on my camera, snuggled next to my 50mm which is also making the trek... both are tucked inside my new and oh-so-stylish Epiphanie bag! I'm set! Oh, yeah... there are some clothes to be packed, aren't there? LOL

Thanks, Katrina and all you other ladies for your wise comments for this novice international traveller!

And, yes, Katrina... I have definitely eliminated that "small" camera from my bag. I think I might even SELL it! LOL

[carollee]

It sounds wonderful, I am really looking forward to seeing the scrap pages that come from this trip.

[DonnaNJ]

Have a wonderful trip

[botham]

Originally Posted by Randy Pertiet

If I could only take one it would be my 24-70mm.

Yap when i visit to the Disney world i opt for the 24-70mm (best choice for all)

[glassbird]

Whatever you take, keep it hidden as best you can and carry the most secure camera bag you can find...in front of you. Rome is full of professional pick-pockets looking for tourists with expensive toys, and many of them are children. They will distract you, and then cut the bottom (or the strap), and you will not know what happened just long enough for them to melt into the crowd.

My mother had a child try to sell her a newspaper with one hand, and reach into her fanny pack (worn to the front) with the other. But she was entirely aware of this trick, and whacked the newspaper out of the way just in time to see the hand in her bag. My mother is a lady in every sense of the word, but that day I heard her use actual cuss words...in Italian! (I was so impressed...seriously.)

CT

[beehive50]

Oh, my 'baby' was safe and sound and, while we saw pickpockets (one little kid actually spit on our tour director when he told him to leave us alone!)... no one attempted to snatch my 'baby'... nor did anyone try to take my DD!

Seriously... the BIG camera was the BEST! Thanks SO much for 'making' me take it! I'm loving all my pics... all 1,581 of them! Yes... I'm stunned I took so many. And, yes, I'm STILL going thru them... I have the first three days posted to my Shutterfly share site and am (too) SLOWLY going thru the rest.

And, one of these days, I'll actually get my Shutterfly book going!