switchman Loc: Virginia

Greetings,

I'm looking for suggestions on which photographic gear to bring with me on our Europe trip next month. We have a 5 day "Trips for Troops" bus trip to Italy from Stuttgart and 3 more weeks to bum around Germany and Austria.

I'm debating whether to bring a Fuji X-T1 with 18-55 zoom, 35 f1.4 and 16 f1.4 or Nikon d810 with 24-70 f2.8 and 50 f1.8.

My concern with the Fuji is focus slowness, and everyone knows how heavy the Nikon gear is. What do you guys suggest especially this who've been to Rome ?

Be glad to hear from all.

Selene03

Ordinarily, I would probably recommend the Nikon with the lens you mentioned. But it is heavy. Italy, especially Rome is crowded, and there are a lot of pickpockets around. It might be easier to maneuver the city with the Fuji (but I don't know anything about it). In general, in a lot of these European cities, I end up shooting a lot wider than what you have. The streets are small and buildings are large. Whatever you decide to take, have fun!

wayne barnett Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon

My sister and her husband leaves all their high end gear at home and take point and shoots. good stuff is to heavy and its a bother to change all those lens. "Point and shoots do just fine".

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I would bring the Fuji and your 3 lenses. In Rome, I enjoyed Street Photography of people and flower boxes on buildings. Yes, the tourist places also.

anotherview Loc: California

Fuji X-T1 with 18-55 zoom. This combo comports with my travel experience: One lens, one camera, and one camera bag (containing accessories), all carried on the airplane. Travel light and simple.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

???? What do you use when you're hear, that's what you should be using when there!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Look at Olympus. Light and fast as a whole system easily meets your requirements.
I don't think there is anything else out there that compares. The current other mirrorless bodies are small but the lenses are big or bigger than dslr systems so no real weight or size savings. Some will mention some pancake lens but that is pretty worthless if you are looking for maximum versatility with perhaps 2 lenses or maybe 3 lenses which the Olympus will definitely be smaller and lighter with equivalent focal lengths as other systems including other mirrorless ones

switchman Loc: Virginia

I'm leaning more into the Fuji 'coz of the weight. Thanks.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I take one camera (full frame)my wide 17-40mm and my 28 - 300mm. I have done this several times and find it fine. If I take my 7D I take a 17- ? wide instead. and the 300 becomes 480mm.

Just got back two weeks ago again. I did use a strap with a cable (from B&H) in some areas in Spain.

F8 Forever Loc: Lng Island, NY

Lived in Germany and been to Rome. A large part of my photography was with a Nikon and normal lens and then a Rollei. Rarely did I use the tele lenses I ended up with, but often wished I had something wider.

You will be taking many pictures of churches, half-timbered painted houses, and other such good stuff, so focusing speed is largely irrelevant. The Alps don't move very fast, either.

If they still let you walk up to the bell tower at the Cologne Cathedral, or you want to climb the hills to Mad Ludwig's castles, you will appreciate any weight saving. There are some large plazas, but most of the streets you will see are pretty narrow and there are few boulevards. Rome probably still has the scariest traffic "circle" in the Western world, but that's where you really want a wide view.

Oh, and don't miss Rothenberg ob Tauber. It's not on many itineraries but going from Bavaria up through the Romantische Strasse rivals the Rhine trips.

Have a good trip!

switchman Loc: Virginia

I’m adding 2 of the 3 places you mentioned, Rothenberg already on my list.
Thank you.
My biggest concern with focus speed is when going thru the Vatican and the group is moving fast, I’d like to just snap away and look and choose keepers later.

DSLRs have faster focusing but not mirrorless more so with older X-T1.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I was in France for 2 weeks in April, and traveled with a Fuji X-T20 with the 18-55, 55-230 and a 23mm. European cities and towns are very compact, so I used the 18-55 95% of the time. I did not experience any slowness in focusing. The Fuji was compact enough to shove into a vest and not be so obvious.

Rome is the pickpocket capital of Western Europe. I now sever Photographers who've had lenses removed from cameras that were over their shoulders and not even noticed. Do yourself a favor and get a PacSafe strap and backpack to store your valuables. Be extraordinarily careful on the Metro, public busses, and Vatican Square.

The V25 fit all the Fuji gear nicely, and you could get a D810 and your 2 lenses. The strap I highly recommend is the Carrysafe 100.

https://www.pacsafe.com/camsafe-v25-anti-theft-camera-backpack/15240100.html?cgid=camera#start=1
https://www.pacsafe.com/carrysafe-100-gii-anti-theft-camera-strap/15261100.html?cgid=camera#start=1

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

When traveling in places and circumstances in which I'm not in control, very much, and weight is an issue, I take a couple of point and shoots. Mine are Canon SX50 with SX710 as a backup. There are newer versions of those. In general, I've been happy with the results from those two, although I keep the digital zoom turned off until I really want it, and set the dial at the athlete icon to minimize the ornery auto-focus.

Dossile

Having traveled throughout Europe many times, my camera choice changes depending on several factors. I’ve used an early Panasonic mirrorless with a 12-40 and a longer 35-100 zoom and, on different trips, my Nikon Fx D800 or D850. I’ve taken some fun shots with both. What camera I take depends on where I go. If I am in a car or taking panoramas like in the alps or Ireland, I take my Nikon. Traveling on a train and subways in large cities, I usually take my mirrorless. Traveling light when on trains and walking the pavement of large cities makes the trip more enjoyable. I have to admit though, when I think that I am never heading back to an area, like Poland, I trend towards my Nikon with a panoramic 16-35 lens, a 50 1.8 and a mid range zoom, like a 70-200 2.8 or 28-300. I wanted to take some printable photos from Krakow, Gdańsk and Auschwitz with the clarity and capabilities of a high res DSLR. Either way, I take a small tripod from RRS with a ball head for some great night shots. If you head to Rothenberg, make sure you take the Night Watchman tour. It is a kick.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I could be very hot at this time of the year so I would travel light just take the Fuji X-T1 with 18-55 zoom, it would be easier on the flight as well.