Off to Rome - Which lens?

Jheat

Jheat

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Hi all, my first post or thread ??

Im off to Rome with the familty for a few days, Photography is somthing Ive always wanted to get into and never really succeeded with so far but I've got a nice camera now a Cannon 60 D and two lenses a EFS 17-55 and a Sigma 18-200 OS. Which lens do you all think would be the better to take with me and its my birthday soon which would be better still?

Thanks for any help

john
 
Take them both.

If you're new to a DSLR it's too early to say which lens/lenses would be right for you, it's an individual choice that reflects what subjects you want to shoot,when you shoot them and how you shoot them. What's right for me is almost certainly not going to be right for you. It's far too easy to spend money with this hobby..

Just a word of experience though, when travelling - and particularly when travelling with family - don't spend the whole holiday behind the camera ;)
 
I'd be inclined to just take the sigma. It covers the same focal lengths your other lens as well. Enjoy the city
 
boyfalldown said:
I'd be inclined to just take the sigma. It covers the same focal lengths your other lens as well. Enjoy the city
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Well the Canon 17-55mm is a constant f/2.8 whilst the Sigma 18-200mm is a f/3.5-6.3 travel zoom.

So I'd take both, and have the 17-55 on the camera most of the time.
 
Agreed, take both then you'll be ok for most situations in taking Holiday related images

Les ;)
 
Alastair said:
Well the Canon 17-55mm is a constant f/2.8 whilst the Sigma 18-200mm is a f/3.5-6.3 travel zoom.

So I'd take both, and have the 17-55 on the camera most of the time.
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It is, but are is that important for a new photographer enjoying a city? Take the sigma, save the lens changes and enjoy the city
 
I went to Rome last year and only took a 18-50mm and didn't feel the need for anything else. Canon 17 55 all day long! :-)
 
If the images' end use is going to be Facebook or other computer based showings or just 6x4 inch prints, the Sigma will do you fine. The shorter zoom is marginally faster at the short end but not enough to make a massive difference and the 18-200 will allow a lot more zooming when footzooming isn't an option. Don't think you'll miss the 1mm of width the shorter zoom will give you. However, if you're likely to get any of the shots printed big (A4 or bigger), you might see a difference in the results - best bet would be to take the same shots with the 2 lenses and see if you can see the difference at the larger print size.
 
Nod said:
If the images' end use is going to be Facebook or other computer based showings or just 6x4 inch prints, the Sigma will do you fine. The shorter zoom is marginally faster at the short end but not enough to make a massive difference and the 18-200 will allow a lot more zooming when footzooming isn't an option. Don't think you'll miss the 1mm of width the shorter zoom will give you. However, if you're likely to get any of the shots printed big (A4 or bigger), you might see a difference in the results - best bet would be to take the same shots with the 2 lenses and see if you can see the difference at the larger print size.
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It's less a matter of lens speed, but that for a new photographer using a travel-zoom with an aperture slow enough to make autofocus unreliable at the long-end is tempting unnecessary frustration (like other ##D Canons the AF points are good to f/5.6 and a bit shakey beyond that). If you get an overcast day, or are out and about in the evening, the extra speed from the aperture can come in handy. So it seems daft to have the 17-55mm and not take it.


But.. I have to admit that I could happily do a city break with nothing other than a 30mm prime on a ##D Canon (or a short zoom like the 17-55), so whilst I realise that some people might like to have a long zoom available I don't personally feel that it's necessary on this type of occasion. It's horses for courses, and a bit of guesswork trying to work out what you might want to shoot and which of the available lenses will allow you to get those shots.
 
as your going to rome i would take one that your prepared to have stolen ,along with your camera ,credit cards ,money etc .not the place to flash expensive gear
 
Well thanks all a good variety of advice as I sit here now I think I'll go with the 17 55. With the kids in tow think changing lenses may be a bit stressful! Thanks

J
 
the black fox said:
as your going to rome i would take one that your prepared to have stolen ,along with your camera ,credit cards ,money etc .not the place to flash expensive gear
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You have to be careful but I can't say I even felt threatened at any point in Rome, I wandered about myself with my D600 and kit one night albeit in very busy tourist areas (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon)
 
In term of security I dont think Rome is different to any other big city. Just use common sense and be aware of your immediate surroundings (just like in any big city). Aside from that it's one of the most beautiful and photogenic cities in the world - enjoy yourself and have a great time!
 
I'd take both or if not the sigma I found a long lens really useful in Rome as there are lots of buildings to climb and take views from the roof and a decent telephoto lets you isolate things. There are also some great shots of St Peters to be had from the bridges over the river and the roof of Castel St Angelo. I'd say I used a telephoto more in Rome than any other city I've visited.
 
Get a bus 2 day travel card, comfy shoes (especially for the wife - uneven cobblestones everywhere play havoc with heels), pay someone to queue for you at most venues (pay them when you get in) and take the wide lens only. Have a great time, its a fabulous city.
PS I never felt at all threatened, no more than I would in London (where I was born/raised) but obviously take sensible precautions, seperate important documents into seperate bags etc, take a record of passport/credit card numbers, just in case, but as I said I never felt at all threatened or nervous.
Matt
 
the black fox said:
as your going to rome i would take one that your prepared to have stolen ,along with your camera ,credit cards ,money etc .not the place to flash expensive gear
Click to expand...

Never had any problems in my five visits to Rome, or any of the large cities I've visited in Europe. Always best to be careful though, as you would in any city with expensive camera gear.

On all my visits I used a Nikon 16-85mm, and for 95% of the time it was the perfect lens. :) Most of the rest of the time something wider would have been handy, rather than more zoom range. I always took my 70-300mm as it is my only other lens, but it was hardly ever used. I wouldn't use a wider lens enough to justify buying one though. I considered hiring a wider lens during my last visit to get some pics of the floor and the opening in the dome in the Pantheon in one pic, but never got it sorted before the trip.
 
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