berkspencer

I will be visiting Italy (Rome, Siena, Florence, and Cinque Terre) October 3 - 18, 2023. I have a Nikon D7500 and the following Nikkor lenses: 18-300 1:3.5-6.3; 18-70 1:3.5-4.5; 70-300 1:4-5.6; 10-20 1:4.5-5.6; and 35mm 1:1.8.
I have room for only two lenses; one on the body and one extra. What combination would you recommend?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It depends on what and how you shoot...
I went to Iceland with an 18-200 and a 50.

If I were going, using your equipment, I would take the 18-300 and the 35.
But that's me.
What do you want to take?

berkspencer

Thanks Longshadow. What you have suggested is exactly what I have been thinking. It helps to hear from people with more experience.

Leaning Ladder Loc: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

What type of photos do you like to shoot. Architecture? Street? Landscape? General travel? Will you shoot mostly outdoor or indoor? Having been to these areas more than once, I recommend the 18-70 as your main lens, which you'll probably use 80-90% of the time or more, and the 70-300 as your extra. You definitely want a lens with wide angle capability for large structures like the Colosseum, landscapes, etc, and for the narrow streets everywhere, where a long zoom is very challenging and limited. Then again, a long zoom is great for when you're forced to shoot from a distance, or want a close up. Also consider weight. Walking around all day carrying heavy lenses can wear you out, so if the 18-300 is significantly lighter than the 70-300, that might be the better alternative. And all 3 of these should be fast enough for indoor, assuming your camera does well at high ISO (I'm a Canon guy and don't know). A 35mm might be nice to have at times, but it's far too limiting, when the 18-70 can cover that focal length, even if not as sharp at times. Same with the wide angle - nice to have, but limiting if you can only take 2 lenses. Be sure to take at least 2 extra batteries, and consider a good circular polarizer for that 18-70. Have a great trip!!

augieg27 Loc: Central California

18-300mm will cover most of your ops and 35mm when you want a better quality shot.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

If it were myself. 18-300. After that your widest fastest f2.8 or better for indoors, museums and such.

jrcarpe Loc: Jacksonville,AR

I used a Canon 28/135 and 50mm with good results in Berlin, Germany, Belgium, France, British Isles and many places in the USA.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

I would take the 18-70 and the 10-20. I have been to Italy, fortunately, a number of times. I have rarely needed 300mm's to capture the subjects of interest in the cities. Streets are narrow, typically the buildings are not cavernous and you want to be closer to the action; with yoiur feet and not with a monster lens.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

No "suburbs" or countryside?

Benttree Loc: GA.

18-70 keeper, and 70-300 for distances. For travel lider weight the better. To complies that do not repeat same sizes than that other lens had at ready. Fast lenses as 2.8 on anyplace inside coming handy. When you go Florence in to the Duomo, art in there is unbelievable, with signs NO FLASH. Fast lens it must.
As well, if you had a joice for two mirrorless frames with adapter to use lenses you have. Trip one of the lifetime, back up camera is way to travel. As well no need to change lenses.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

Except perhaps for Rome, cities in Italy don't have suburbs. The countryside - we have beautiful countrysides around Toronto. They are rolling hills, rivers, trees - all the things that you will see in the countryside in most parts of Italy. In my view, photography in Italy is about art, architecture, narrow streets, food and people.

However, each to his own choice. I was simply giving my opinion but it is hard to be objective when you don't know what the person asking the question is interested in.

I had planned a trip, which was unfortunately cancelled; to Berlin, Prague & Vienna. The lenses that I had hoped to take were the following: 14-30, 28-75, 70-180 and my 10mm fisheye (a very small lens).

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’m flying out tomorrow into Pisa and will be hiking through Tuscany for 8 days, one of which will be a day off from hiking spent in Siena, then a train to Rome for 2 days. I was planning on my OM-1 with the 7-14, 12-40 and 40-150 with the 2x TC, but I just picked up the 12-100 so that’ll sub for the 12-40, giving me 24-200 FF coverage.
For you I’d agree the 18-300 and probably the 10-20.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

The 10-20, and the 18-300

rlovaglio Loc: Augusta, Maine

Trying to travel light, I went to Italy with only one lens, a Tamron 18-270 (now a 16-300) --and never looked back. It covered every situation I wanted. Having done that I wouldn't even bother bringing a 35 or 50 mm. The family also took quality images with their cell phones that we added to the file. One of those was blown up to 42x43 for a wall of pictures from our trip. I took an extra battery, a charger, and a polarizing filter. Never used the filter. Great place to visit, have good food, and fun, enjoy!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I think the 18-70 would be fine (I never found the need for anything longer in my trips to Italy), but I do think you need a fast wide prime to stick in your pocket for those low light indoor shots such as museums, The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel, etc. maybe rent something like a 16 or 20 f2/f2.8. Your 35 is fast enough, but wider would be ideal