Onembz

In May I will be traveling to Italy. I have heard that some venues will not allow large bags like camera bags or backpacks and some not even large cameras. Does anyone know for sure if this is correct. I shoot with a Canon 6D with 24-105 L and 100-400 L and 100 L macro lenses. If I can't take the big stuff I have been considering either the Canon SX50 or the SL1. I have been considering a crop sensor camera to get more reach for wildlife photography anyway. so the SL1 would filly he bill and allow use of my current lenses. Although the 100-400 L lense with a SL1 stuck on the end would look a little funny.
Any opinions on the SX50 versus the SL1?

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I have never had any problems, and I have visited 3 times, Rome, Venice, and Florence the only place I could not take photos (but could carry a camera was in the Vatican , just the Sistene chapel roof,Take plenty of memory cards you will need them and enjoy

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

One, I have not been to Italy, so this may not apply.
In both England and France, some cathedrals allow photography and some don't. In some places, I could take my camera but NOT my backpack, which was checked in on entry.
I've not had camera size be a restriction, either you can, or can't.
Also most don't allow a Tri/mono-pod.
Most museums seem to allow photography but rarely a flash. Make sure you have a FAST lens. I use a 1.4, and wish I had a 1.2.
Again, this was not in Italy. Have a great trip. ;-)
SS

Big Stopper Loc: London

My experience too.

mikedidi46 Loc: WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA

I have been there 4 times, and had no trouble with my 60D and lens. The only problem would be inside a museum, but your 6D will never requires a Flash. have a Blast

f8shoot

All great answers preceding me. I went on an 18 day Mediterranean trip (Italy included) this past summer with a SL1 and Tamron 18-270 and a sling strap. I could carry it all day with lots of walking and no lens changing and took it everywhere even the Vatican and shot in the Sistine Chapel.

Esta

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

I agree with both replies so far. In the Egyptian museum in Cairo years ago, there was an extra admission charge for cameras. In Venice, I was asked to quit taking pictures in Doge Palace. In Milano, no photography was allowed at the last supper. On another trip to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Perugia, Todi, and Rome, only the most sacred places don't allow photography, e.g. where the original David resides and the Sistene Chapel. But there are still incredible photo ops throughout Italy. My favorite was climbing to the top of St. Peters (see pix). I don't recall not being allowed to take a camera bag in, but some places have you run them through a scanner. Many places don't allow tripods.

St. Peter's Square


St. Peter's Square, zoomed


Tibor River

Zaydewise Loc: Nashville TN

There is no photography in the Sistine Chapel but other than that I had no issues with where I took by camera (D 800 with 28-300 mm lens)

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

How did you get away with shooting in the Sistine Chapel?! I only had my tiny Panasonic bridge camera with me and still got yelled at. :? Lucky you.

Tony Hayman

I have often traveled through Europe. The first thing you notice is that almost all of those wonderful buildings are just across a narrow street. Knowing this on my trip to France and Spain last year I chose to bring only one lens...

The good old 18-55.... I don't think I zoomed into 55 very often, and I would of been happy if I could get wider many times. It is light and although the aperture is not as wide as I would like it worked.

So rule 1, as wide as possible, rule 2 get something wider.

But if you think you may want to zoom in, bring something like an 85mm, bring it with you when you are in the countryside, but otherwise it will live in your hotel room.

Notre-Dame, wide as I could get 18mm

Arca

Onembz

I lived in Lugano, Switzerland for two years and had the wonderful opportunity to visit Italy about 15 times.

You won't have any difficulties with outdoor pictures with any type of equipment.

Where you will have difficulty is in churches and museums. Many will not allow tripods or monopods inside the churches lest there be scratches on the marble floors, and in the case of the Vatican, an untreated psychiatric patient damaged one of Michelangelo's Pieta's. Ever since it was repaired, it has been behind protective glass, but you still can't have a tripod or any other dangerous type object.

The Vatican also has a dress code and they are VERY STRICT about it. Men, no hats or caps worn inside. No sandals or shorts. Women, no bare shoulders, shorts, in short, dress as if you were going to court and use common sense. The dress code may be on their web site.

Other churches and cathedrals in Italy were not quite as strict about their dress codes.

You can rarely shoot flashes inside a church, which is sad because some are very dim from a lack of daylight and very little if any candle light and perhaps the interior ceiling light is not on in the smaller side chapels of many churches. This is to save energy, as it is quite expensive in Italy and they need to conserve energy, and the church needs to conserve money. I have seen machines in churches that allow you to turn on the lights in the chapel for a small amount of money, such as a parking meter.

The Vatican and some other extremely frequently visited churches and monuments will not allow backpacks, so wear a vest to carry an additional lens or extender.

Take the commuter train from Rome Termini to Ostia on the west coast, it is about 30 minutes. It is an ancient city built prior to Rome. there are many beautiful floors decorated with marble from Italy, Greece, Turkey and some other distant lands.

At the Academe' in Firenze, you will need a short tele zoom for a gorgeous shot of the original 'David' by Michelangelo. He is about 17 feet tall and he is at the far end of a hall. You can get very close if you just wait around for the crowd to clear.

The Academe' also has Giambologna's "The Rape of the Sabine Women." It is a stunning statue of two men and a woman, forming a very dynamic triangular, highly tense vortex of passion.

Copies of these two works are outside in the Piazza della Signoria, the latter is under a portico. Thus, you can get the originals in the Academe' and copies outside where you can use tripod and all the fancy glass you care to bring with you.

There are many travel guides that I have had over the years regarding Italy in general and various cities in particular. I have used 'Fodor's' and 'Lonely Planet'. However, the one guide series that has the best photographs is the series known as 'DK Eyewitness Travel.' These are hardcover books with glossy paper and they weigh more than the others because of the paper.

Buon appetito e ciao,

Arca

Onembz

Thank you so much for the information. This is my 1st trip to Europe. I have heard many conflicting rumors about what is and is not allowed. It is good to hear from someone who actually lived there.

Frank

Old Sarge Loc: Moore, OK

I was in Italy from 68-71, (I know that is of no help today) there were no restrictions (other than flash) then, but also no consumer digital cameras and I loved, and lugged a 4x5 speed graphic with me, which meant a limited amount of film with me at one time. But I was able to take a low light B&W of David.