Weekend in Rome, what do I take?

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stevebuk

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Hi all,

I'm going to Rome for the first time with my wife for our anniversary. We will only be there for the weekend and I'm trying to decide what kit to take. Photography will not be a major part of the trip if I want to reach my next anniversary, but I want to try to get some good pics of the iconic sites.

I'm trying to decide between taking:

50D with Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC and Canon 10-22 or Panasonic G3 with kit 14-42. The sensible side of me says the Panny for size and convenience but I worry I'll miss the faster Tamron and the wide angle.

Last question, would you try to take a tripod? I'm just not sure my wife will be pleased with me lugging it around lol..

Regards,
Steve
 
The G3 would seem a very good travel choice as it's easy to have it with you to hand the whole time, such as during the evenings. Might be worth grabbing one of the excellent pancakes (eg 14mm) to go with the G3 as well as the 14-42.
 
If it's not a photography trip then I'd take the Panasonic.

If you don't want to take a tripod, and for a weekend, unless you were planning taking pics at night, I wouldn't bother. Although maybe consider a Gorillapod as a compromise which may be strong enough to hold the Panasonic, but like I said if you don't think you'll take pics at night, don't bother.

All the pics here that I took at night could have been taken resting on the wall on a bean bag, or coat, though I did take a tripod, and rested that on the wall. I was there for a week though, and on my own. A Romantic weekend away is a totally different thing. ;) :lol:
 
Thanks guys. I think I'll take the Panny and some sort of "GorillaPod" or the like for night shots.

Regards,
Steve
 
No take your 50d with the 10-22mm, thats what photography is all about.

Its no hassle really to take around in a small bag surely???

I dont understand why people go to these lovely places and leave the dslr at home :bang:

(and it doesnt need to be a "photography holiday" in order to take a dslr, you can be just as casual with a dslr as you can with a compact, its about the attitude you take).
 
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Steve,
We went to Rome a couple of years ago and at the time I had a 450d and Tamron 17-50.
I've just looked back through all of my photos of the holiday and reminded myself just how many shots I took at the 17mm end. There were defintely times when 17mm was only just wide enough & other times when it was nowhere near wide enough for the type of photo I wanted- e.g. at the Trevi Fountain and in places, at the Colosseum.
I do not own nor have I ever used a 10-22, & so am reluctant to suggest what you should do if it is a straight choice between one and the other.
What I can say is that even with my recently acquired G12 (excellent camera in my opinion and which was the only one we took to Florence earlier this year), if we ever go back to Rome (or Venice), then I have made myself a promise that I will DEFINITELY take whatever SLR I have at the time together with my widest and best lens. (I'm sure that the G12 will also find a place in my bag!).
Hope the above is of some help. Let me know if you want any more info.
Regards
 
If you've got to ask, you shouldn't be going :D
 
Simmotino said:
You'll regret not taking the 10-20 IMO.
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A few years ago I took my 16-85mm, a 70-300 and a borrowed 10-20. I used the 1-85mm 95%+ of the time, the 10-20mm the rest, and never used the 70-300mm at all. :shrug: I could have done with the 10-20mm in July in the Pantheon to get the opening in the dome and the people below, but that was the only time I would have probably used it. :shrug:

It would be nice to have, but it wouldn't be the only lens I'd take. But that's just me. ;) :D
 
It depends what you want to photograph, as usual.

I just took a little Panasonic TZ9 the last time we went to Rome. It starts at 24mm equivalent, and wasn't really wide enough for a lot of street scenes and some of the major attractions. Something wider would have been better, and that means an UWA on a crop. I expect you'd be fine with a 17-50mm f2.8 though, if this is mainly a holiday and you're not planning any serious photography. The fast lens would be good for evening/night shots too - and there are plenty of opportunities for these. I suppose you have to take everything you might want to use, or make compromises and live with them. I am biased though. I enjoy travel, and the travel is more important to me than the photography. By and large, I try to take good "snaps".

I wouldn't take a tripod. There are lots of places where you could use it, with advantage, but Rome is busy most of the year and there are a lot of times when it's going to be a nuisance to carry and set up too. Again, you're going on holiday; and there are plenty of walls to lean on/rest the camera on.

Enjoy Rome. It's stunning.
 
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Take the G3.. if it's a couple break and not a photography break.

For the iconic sites there are 1001 postcards, you don't need to recreate them all. Take something small and fast-to-use to record the experience of travelling. For a city break I know from experience I won't miss any shots I want to take with just a 30mm prime (crop sensor). And I don't stretch the patience of my non-photographer partner with constant lens swaps.
 
I suppose there is another option, and I've been - sort of - thinking about it. A DSLR and one or two good lenses for "serious" photography, providing you have somewhere safe to park it at times, and a decent compact (Canon S95/S100 or Panasonic LX5?) that will fit into your pocket if you're going out for the evening or whatever, and just want a capable camera for personal stuff, without the inconvenience of the bulk/weight and security issues? Might be an option for your wife too, if she's not interested in the "big" cameras?
 
I think if I was wanting to take a compact camera (ie not have to lug my D700 around) then I'd probably get something like the Ricoh GRD3 (or the Ricoh GRD4 which is due out next month) as this is one of the few compacts that has a prime instead of a zoom and it's a true "photographer's compact" in that it's not even remotely aimed at the mass market.
 
Alastair said:
Take the G3.. if it's a couple break and not a photography break.

For the iconic sites there are 1001 postcards, you don't need to recreate them all. Take something small and fast-to-use to record the experience of travelling. For a city break I know from experience I won't miss any shots I want to take with just a 30mm prime (crop sensor). And I don't stretch the patience of my non-photographer partner with constant lens swaps.
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Taking a dslr does automatically make it a photography holiday - why do people think this?

Using a dslr requires no more commitment than using a compact, and with one lens, really isn't much to carry about.

I always take my dslr on holiday. When I want to take a pic, I take it out the bag, shoot and back it goes. The same as I would with a compact.

The only difference is the photos are a million times better.
 
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odd jim said:
Taking a dslr does automatically make it a photography holiday - why do people think this?

Using a dslr requires no more commitment than using a compact, and with one lens, really isn't much to carry about.

I always take my dslr on holiday. When I want to take a pic, I take it out the bag, shoot and back it goes. The same as I would with a compact.

The only difference is the photos are a million times better.
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That works for you, and it's cool; but I don't want to carry any sort of bag when I'm travelling or on holiday. I want a camera that slips into my pocket unobtrusively. My TZ9 is on the upper limit for this.
 
I am with Jim. Ok, a bit different now as we have 2 kids, but I always take my Lowepro rucksack with me with my D300 and normally at least 1 lens and a camcorder, then shove a few nappies, wipes, snacks etc... in so that I only take 1 bag!!

Without kids I would go for as small a bag as possible as you often could do with water or a few bits and pieces (like the wifes makeup and general rubbish) too!!
 
odd jim said:
Taking a dslr does automatically make it a photography holiday - why do people think this?
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Jim.. I take my DSLR with a 30mm lens and essentially use it as a compact (I think I mentioned this, to easy to automatically reply, maybe? ;)). But if a I had a good quality compact I would probably take that instead, simply because it would be smaller to carry and more discreet to use for street shots. The difference in photo quality between a good compact and a DSLR isn't as much as you suggest.

And the G3 is hardly your average compact.. it's just a bit smaller and lighter than carrying a 50D. I'm quite liking the look of the new Fuji X10 as a travel camera when I want to leave the 40D or RB67 at home. Depends what the street price will be.
 
Alastair said:
Jim.. I take my DSLR with a 30mm lens and essentially use it as a compact (I think I mentioned this, to easy to automatically reply, maybe? ;)). But if a I had a good quality compact I would probably take that instead, simply because it would be smaller to carry and more discreet to use for street shots. The difference in photo quality between a good compact and a DSLR isn't as much as you suggest.

And the G3 is hardly your average compact.. it's just a bit smaller and lighter than carrying a 50D. I'm quite liking the look of the new Fuji X10 as a travel camera when I want to leave the 40D or RB67 at home. Depends what the street price will be.
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I must admit I didn't fully read the part about your dslr and the 30mm, my bad!

That said I disagree with what you say about there not being a great difference in the shots you get from a compact... With the 50d and 10-22mm (specifically) you simply can't achieve these shots on a compact, and this is the combo I always have with me when I travel.
 
Im taking in November my 500D, Tamron 17-55mm f/2.8 and Canon 50mm 1.4.
 
Lots of good points.... I do fancy the 50D, 10-22 and 17-50, but I hate carrying a bag on holiday so may have one day 17-50 and one day 10-22.. G3 may be edged out!
 
stevebuk said:
Lots of good points.... I do fancy the 50D, 10-22 and 17-50, but I hate carrying a bag on holiday so may have one day 17-50 and one day 10-22.. G3 may be edged out!
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That's pretty much what I do, and put the 10-22 away in the evening and put on a fast prime for some nice low light stuff should I feel like it.
 
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