stogieboy Loc: Marlboro, NY

My family and I are going to Italy at the end of August, and I'm debating whether to take my D750 with me, or just rely on my iphone 14 Pro. Honestly, I dont have any intention of using a tripod anywhere we go, most of what I shoot will likely only be "snapshots" so I don't know if I want to bring the camera. If I do, I think I will limit my lens to either a 35mm or 50mm. I have a Nikkor 18-300, but I feel like it will get pretty heavy a few days in. We are mostly going to be in Rome, with a one day trip to Venice (overnight) and a one day trip to Napels (overnight) thrown in. We'll be there 8 days. We also have an overnight layover in Stockholm coming back, we intend to do some sightseeing there, while we have the chance.

Has anyone faced this? What did you do, and were you glad, or did you wish you'd made a different decision?

Thanks!
-Mike

ELNikkor

Don't need a tripod for good photos. Leave the 18-300. (that's a DX lens anyhow). The 35 would be a better choice than the 50. My D750 would go with me; on it would be my 9 ounce 28-80 AF-D 3.5-5.6, then again, I don't have an iPhone 14 Pro, which is all you really need. Many places might raise eyebrows, charge extra (you look like a pro!), or deny the D750, but allow all cell phones.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

The zoom might get heavy and will attract attention. On the other hand, you will pics that will not otherwise be possible. You will have to flip the coin...

As for wallets and cell phones. KEEP THEM IN A ZIPPERED POCKET or another safe place. My wife went to Italy late last year and while on public transportation, my wife's phone was stolen and her friens wallet was taken. Plan accordingly.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

If you are not looking for quality photographs, by all means do the smart phone thing. That will make you the consummate tourist. And by the way, why would your camera weigh any more after being there for a while than it would on arriving? Too much pasta?

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

The I Phone 14 Pro was my backup camera on a recent trip to Scandinavia. The IPhone performance was so good that at many stops on our trip, I left the D850 in my backpack. It won’t disappoint you. It was also a fabulous nighttime performer, capturing wonderful handheld Aurora photos.

jcboy3

I never travel without a camera; what's the point of having good gear if you leave it at home when traveling to the most picturesque locations?

waynetgreen Loc: Florida

Have done Italy twice. First a tour of Tuscany and I carried my D750 with 24-120. Great camera but heavy with all the walking. Second, Lake Coma and Venice, took my D7100 with 16-85, lot easier and the photos were great.

anotherview Loc: California

You may wish to review guided tours of the places you visit. Your trip may then prove more fruitful.

Ruthlessrider

The only questions you need to answer is am I going as a tourist or photographer. If you’re going as a tourist, your IPhone 14 will be good enough. If you are going to get some great photographic shots, take your camera and a lens or two that you think you will want to use.

alexol

You say you'll take snap shots rather than more formal photos which is fine.

My suggestion is to enjoy the trip, travel light, take your phone only, concentrate on being in the moment. As you already know, your phone will take better photos than most people think, especially when held correctly, steadily, without punching the "shutter button" - something many people do and spoil their photos.

Italy is spectacular, and Rome especially so - I've been lucky enough to have been many times. There are a bazillion photos available for purchase if you want a nice coffee table book.

If this is a photo holiday, by all means take the big camera.

PS if you want an exceptional (professional and therefore expensive) personal guide, free free to PM me.

photoman43

My travel kit for such a trip (and I have done about four of these to the same cities) is my Nikon D800e and my Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR. Today I would add my cell phone. If I knew I would be indoors at museums or churches I would add a 35mm or a 50mm prime lens.

In Venice, and other cities too, I would get up around sunrise and walk around taking pictures with almost no one else around. My safety was never an issue.

During the day I "hid" my camera and lens under a windbreaker.

If you are willing to buy something new, there are lots of travel cameras with "smaller" sensors and zoom lenses that are small and light but will take very good travel pictures.

https://www.dpreview.com/tag/buying-guide

neillaubenthal

What you said. I might take only a light/small body and all in one zoom…but taking *only* the iPhone, nah.

Even though most pictures will be snapshots…there will still be churches, people, street shooting, architecture, bridges, landscapes, etc…and while the latest iPhones are darned good cameras for a lot of that…one thing they don't have is a lens with much reach. As a person who blogs about our travels…having only iPhone shots would be too limiting.

Jagnut07 Loc: South Carolina

If you want to find guided tours then use the “Viator” app on your iPhone. I have used it in Italy and other country’s and have had great experiences. By the way take the camera but see is you can get a smaller lighter zoom lens.

RolandDieter

I've been there several times and never felt as though a phone would be enough. But, your 18-300 (= full-frame equivalent of 28-450) has more reach than you will need but less wide angle than you will probably want. I'd suggest picking up something lightweight that goes wider ... perhaps a used Sony RX100 vi. I also often carried two Panasonic GM5 bodies, one with a 7-14 and the other with a more normal range zoom. These are tiny and lightweight. The GM5 hasn't been made in a while but can be bought used. They came in black and red -- the red looks very touristy and is less attractive to thieves. The thieves are very good. The work in teams and rehearse before going out (we once stayed in a hotel used by thieves and watched them practice after breakfast). A common ruse is one spots the "mark," a second "accidentally" bumps into him, the third makes the snatch and the second then blocks your going after the snatcher by getting in the way and apologizing for having bumped into you. Native Italians can recognize thieves a mile away, but most tourists can't. Thieves recognize tourists by the way we walk. Our gait and arm swings are different because we are not used to being as hemmed in by crowds.
But its a great place to travel. Enjoy and be on guard.

lightyear

I took my D810 , 24-120 VR f 4.0 lens and a monopod for interior (church, museum) images, kept camera in a shoulder ( non-photo style) bag except when shooting, had no trouble. The collapsed monopod looked like a cane to the church, museum door guards, and created no problem. Images were super. No one cared.