Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Not sure if this should be the thread or not...but I'm headed for vacation to Europe (Paris, Rome, Venice) and we're also including a Mediterranean cruise in between. With all the travelling in mind, I want to be as light as possible and thought what gear to really bring. I've always in the past brought a handful of lenses when going to the US, but we always had a rental car or had more limits on our flights, versus the European no-frills airlines and trains we'll be taking.

For those who have gone abroad to Europe, what gear did you bring? Currently have my Canon 5DmkII, 50mm, 24-105, 70-200mm and a 70-300mm, plus a carbon fibre tripod. I figured I'd get away with just the 24-105, but I would like the chance to take some nice closeups of building architecture and what not. I also heard that there are places were tripods are not allowed, such as the Vatican? Can anyone confirm this? If so, I may decide to leave this as well and make do with a Gorillapod...

Also, I'm curious as to how people felt about their safety and their gear? I've heard lots of purse/wallet snatching in Europe...so any advice to deter this would be welcomed!

Any advice would be appreciated!

You didn't really provide enough information to get a useful answer. Essentially, it depends. It depends on what type of photography you like to do, how much photography you're going to do, how important a part will photography play in your trip, how comfortable you are carrying a lot of gear, etc. As far as tripods are concerned, of course there are places where tripods are not allowed, the same way there are places in Toronto that don't allow tripods. However, you can't really generalize.

Purse/wallet snatchings are generally overblown in Europe, especially the parts that you've listed. If you have your wits about you and use a bit of common sense you'll be perfectly safe, as will your wallet/purse, and all your photo gear.

Personally, when I travel to Europe I only take a 24-70 and a tripod. However, that's because I'm ok losing a few shots where a longer lens might be useful in favour of travelling lighter.

You are correct about the Vatican, you can shoot anywhere you want all you want except for Sistine Chapel. If you try to go inside St. Peters Basilica or the Vatican Museum they'll make you check your tripod. They don't really care what size bag you bring into St.Peters basilica, but they will arbitrarily ask you to check your bag depending on its size at the Vatican Museum.

The amount of gear you bring really depends on how important a role photography plays in the entire experience of the trip. I carried my D700/24-70+70-200 at all times, and it was heavy as shit; but I was there to take photos, vacation was secondary.

Here is a past thread on pickpocketing/theft experiences in Europe: http://www.tpmg.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18723

When I went in 2008, i had my D70s and 18-200mm. It was great as it wasnt heavy and I was backpacking across (visited ~7 places). I wished I had a tripod back then with me.

I suggest knowing what you want, and travel light.

Point-and-shoot.

What's the fastest way off an Italian cruise ship? Follow the captain.

Thanks qualdoth and Bartimus for the useful insight!

I would most likely be taking a lot of landscape shots(St Peter's, Eiffel tower, Spanish steps, etc), architecture, and candid people shots. I would be using my camera backpack, so as Bartimus concluded, I would likely have this heavy gear with me all the time during our day trips as it'll be used to carry other items such as water, food, maps, etc.

Thanks for the suggestion, it seems the 24-105 would my best bet for the trip. I'm going to see how heavy the 70-300 Tamron is and probably bring this along versus the L lens that is heavy! I presume the theft would be overblown, although from travels of family and friends, they've either witnessed or were the victims of it. I'm pretty careful with my gear and always take precautions this way...but thanks for the insight on that too!

Last time I went to Europe (Portugal), I took my D700, a 35 f/2 and my 105 f/2.8 VR. The 35 was basically stuck to my camera and for the most part felt that I didn't need anything else. I've since picked up the 24-120 f/4 VR and am liking the lens so would probably go with that and the 35 for any future trips. With your kit, I would take the 24-105 and fast prime for low light situations. I would guess that should allow you to have the majority of your needs covered.

I've debated tripods in the past and I normally take my Feisol/Acratech combo along but find that only use them occasionally.

Honestly ? If you had a rangefinder, I'd go with that. Otherwise I suggest a very good point and shoot. I would have no qualms taking a Panasonic LX3 or 5 and a bunch of cards. I find as I got older and accumulated passport stamps and visas, that photography was not as important as it used to be. I still take photos but I'm not going to beat myself up trying to get the definitive Eiffel image.

If I had the chops, it'd be a bag of sketch books and pencils and coals.

Have fun but don't get weighed down by the need to take pictures every minute of the day.

Totally agree, some people get so wrapped up they forget to enjoy the moment. I spent 5 days in NYC and for 3 days I left the camera in the hotel room and just enjoyed the sights.

I would second all of that..

I packed an a300 and 3 lenses as well as a Mamiya C330 on a trip to Paris last year! I also took my tripod. After eating everything I could I came back 1 lb less then I went

My rule for Europe is never stop moving...I kicked over a fellow in Ireland once that came in from the side and bent down in front of me and since he didn't complain I figure I was bang on to do so. At night I hold my tripod like a night stick

I try not to advertise my gear. That's what I like about the Loka as it looks like a normal backpack with no easily accessible pockets. The thinktank support straps allow me to have show that my gear, when out, has multiple clip points so it's not going to be easy to get, and it also saves my arms, and provides me with camera support (especially for the Mamiya). Thanks to someone here for that advice...

Everything is clipped to me at all times. Especially when I sit down in restaurants. Do not leave anything on the table...chairs all face the street so someone walking by can grab anything while you are trapped by the table. If someone is trying to get your attention look the other way fast!

I do all this in Toronto too

If you have any questions at all about Paris just post 'em up. It is such an amazing city!

My travel advice: If you are going to be in one place for awhile then go and visit, enjoy, see what you want to shot, drop back in and shoot it (just remember weather can change fast in parts of Europe..and never in others). If you are only going to be in a place once then look on the internet to give you an idea of what you are going to see...take your shots, and enjoy. This is how I prevent my wife from feeding me windshield wiper fluid and still came out with a lot of photos! I do not see the point in being camera-less..

Walk as much as you can. A normal street in Paris can be just as incredible as a tourist attraction.

I found two antique camera shops in Paris with Google maps, http://www.antique-cameras.com is one of them.fyi..they do not sell film. If you shoot film, or anybody else going that does reads this, buy your film in Canada! 120 HP5+ is $10-20/roll CDN in the middle of Paris! I found a shop off the beaten track and one day it was $8 CDN and the very next day it was $12 at the very same spot..from the exact same guy!

Parisians take a lot of pride in their shops...first compliment them on how beautiful their store is...

Here was the thread I started before our Paris/London trip last year regarding thefts in Europe.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18723

I did not feel threatened at any time, although I have heard you need to be a bit more careful in Rome.

That said, I shot a 40D and my trusty 17-55 took the majority of the pictures on the trip (2583 frames). I bought a Benro travel angel tripod in Carbon Fiber - it weighs 3Lbs and fits easily in luggage. I walked around with it on my shoulder a bunch of times and with the included bag, it really is convienient. I also brought a buddies Tokina 11-16 (81 frames), 580EXII flash, nifty-fifty, 85/1.8 and a Gorilla Pod.

I learned that for my style of shooting, I could have left the nifty-fifty, 85/1.8 and Gorilla Pod at home.

I had contemplated buying a 5DM2 and 24-105 for the trip and am now convinced it would have been a great choice - a little wider than the 17 on crop and certainly some more reach.

24-105, 20mm or 50mm prime is a must, and 70-300 if you really must have for close ups. Never used my long lens traveling Asia or Greece. Should have left the tripod at home (Induro carbon fiber) and brought the monopod. Nearly had my gear knocked over when someone tripped on one of the legs because they weren't paying attention. I was lucky because my camera was still tethered to me on a body strap. Plug adapters or inverter for charging batteries since some places don't have the North American plugs or voltage.

You don't really need 70 - 300 lens, 24 - 105 is enough.. You really want to pack like and walk and visit as many place as possible. .. I went to Paris with my D5100 w/ 18 - 200.. and left my 70 - 200 at home.

Did you use the long end of your 18-200? How many shots did you take in the 100-200 range?

I just checked my Lightroom and I shot just 6 between that range and those where actually shot at Versailles. The only shots I felt I missed because my 75-200 was in the hotel safe was a long shot from the Place du Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe...and perhaps from the top of Notre Dame to the Tower. Where I felt I was missing all the time was at the other end <24mm!

I'd still take it though I packed a DSLR with 3 lenses and a Mamiya with 2 lenses.

The only thing that you can shoot far away is either at rooftop or out of the city....Paris isn't packed with skyscrapers like downtown Toronto, however, it is densely populated with 4-6 floors.

Even this shot from the top of the Arc was shot at 55mm:


Check out some more Paris photos if you'd like. http://sharrison.ca/

Be prepared to have 1000 tourists walk through your shots! That's another reason you can't shoot long.

I am also going to France and Spain at the end of May for 2 weeks and I plan on taking all of my gear but using the hotels as a storage locker for what i don't need each day. I would research what you are doing each day and plan your gear accordingly. If you want to wander then stick with the 24-105 but if you know exactly where you are going choose your equipment to suit that. As everyone else has mentioned keep guard of your gear. that is where the good bags separate themselves from crappy knockoffs. I had a guy try and cut the straps off my crumpler 3 years ago in london but the knife was useless against the ballistic nylon straps (plus I elbowed the guy in the face ). Just watch out for the gypsies; if kids swarm you just hit 'em. It sounds cruel but it is realistic in some parts. For the most part just keep your bag strapped down, your camera to your eye, and your shutter flapping. All will be good and you can always crop and enlarge for tighter shots! digital is magical that way!

GO HAVE FUN!

Amazing feedback all...if there were rep buttons here, I'd give all of you a rep!

Crash10, amazing photos of Paris...I'd like to imitate the same on my travels there!

I'll be using my Kata467 bag, a simple looking backpack that looks similar to other backpacks that won't advertise any of my gear. As most suggested, I'd stick it with the 24-105 and bring the 50mm for some nice night shots. Of course, I would bring a small P&S, the Canon S95 for my wife to use just for a back up

I took a Mediterranean cruise in 2010 to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

Many lessons learned in terms of gear, which I'll share. I packed everything in a Tamrac Evolution backpack:
5DMkII, 7D, 50mm 1.4, 24mm TS-E II, 35L, 70-200L MkII, 580EX II, Benro Travel Angel

This was a heavy pain in the back. For the first few days of the trip, I took it all with me. As days went by I reduced my load significantly, and left most of my gear in the security safe of my stateroom. Yeah, lesson learned indeed!

By the halfway point of the trip I carried 2 bodies and 2 lenses in a fixed configuration: 5D with 35L and 7D with 70-200L. The majority of shots were taken with the 5D/35L combo and I could take some long shots instantly without swapping lenses. This is what I'll carry for any future vacations. It worked well for me, and the flexibility couldn't be beat. I didn't miss any shots wishing I switched lenses faster, mounted a fast prime, etc.

In terms of security, I swapped all my neckstraps to plain, black Matin neoprene straps. From experience, I didn't want to announce to the world I was carrying a "Canon 5D Mark II" in big white fonts. My cameras were slung over my neck and shoulder at all times, and for the most part I didn't have to worry about pickpocketing, even in Egypt.

Have a good trip!

there are many tourist, you really need to go thru many small streets to find the right shot. I said 30% of my shot are in 150 - 200 range...

My travel bag usually consists of 2 lenses, flash, and gorilla tripod. The 35mm prime (sometimes I take the 50mm instead) which is on 95% of the time, and a 70-200mm if i REALLY want to zoom in on something. The versatility and low light ability of the 35mm is just too good to pass up. I know I am missing that 35-70mm range, but i can easily compensate for that by taking a step forward or back.
I guess if you really want, you can add a wide angle lens in there.... remember after 4-6 hrs of walking.... that 5lb bag starts to feel like a ton.

Travel as light as possible. If I were going to Europe next week, I'd just bring my 5D2, 16-35LII, 50/1.4 and make the most out of your equipment. Focus on wide-normal.