Bill_de Loc: US

A wider prime for indoor use, wider than 50mm, would be my choice on a 'crop sensor' camera.

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

That sounds good. Most of the time you will be able to just mount the Tamron. Be very careful with your camera in large cities especially Rome. Many many thieves there for sure, have wallet in front pants pocket at all times.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

I agree with Mac. Your DX equivalent of 27-600 will be overkill on the long side, and not wide enough. Italy is not just landscapes. You will find most of your pictures will be in the 27-105 range; but there are many instances that you will need 14-30 range. (FF). Interiors, streets, churches, amphitheaters, bridges......Pompeii? Herculaneum? ON and on...
There will always be lots of people and you will not generally be able to back up to get what you want with the 27mm on the 18-400. If you do not have the appropriate wide lens...rent it.
Enjoy your trip..make sure to take your eye away from the viewfinder from time to time to enjoy fully.

ELNikkor

Agree with "Mac". How much shooting is really done beyond APSC 140mm? Yet the length and front-heaviness is ALWAYS there with an 18-400.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

How much do you want to carry, weight is important, my default choice is my Sigma 17-70 on my T8i, if I'm willing to carry more then I have to decide on Canon 50mm 1.8 or Canon 10-18, I only carry my 55-250 if I'm sure I'm going to want it, YMMV, Bob.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you have a smartphone (iPhone/Android phone) take that. ALWAYS take your smartphone. That way, when you decide the Nikon is too much to carry or too valuable to risk during a certain activity, you'll at least have a decent camera with you (plus that supercomputer in your pocket!).

Beyond that, take the lenses you have and think about what they're good for and what you expect to photograph. The 18-400 is a compromise lens, not super sharp, not super crisp, but VERY versatile. The 50mm is likely very good to excellent, depending upon which 50mm it is. It is also much better in low light, than the zoom, no matter which one you have, so I would take that.

You didn't say what other lenses you have, so I'll tell you what I would take. If I had a fast 35mm prime, I'd take that instead of the 50mm. If I also had a 60mm macro, I'd take that along with the 35mm. And I'd take the Tamron 18-400, either way. Its range and reach are handy.

I use Micro 4/3, so my lenses are TINY compared to DX/FX Nikon gear. My whole system fits in a backpack, so I take it all... 24-70/2.8 equivalent, 70-200/2.8 equivalent, 60mm/2.8 macro equivalent, and 85mm/1.7 equivalent. I also have room for a 30mm/1.7 equivalent. (Actual Micro 4/3 focal lengths are HALF of their full frame equivalents.)

Hip Coyote

Your gear would cover it. If you want to carry gear, that would be ok. The 50 would be ok inside, however, I do prefer a wider angle lens for that kind of work. (Burkphoto must have been typing while I was typing. He's a pro and knows what is what. That 50 would be too tight for my preferences. Then again, I rarely shoot anything other than wide angle-ish stuff. Particularly in places like Italy. Like him, I shoot m43 gear, but with pro lenses, so gear is still a bit large.)

But, I just returned from Italy and Switzerland a few weeks ago. For the first time I left my interchangeable lens camera and lenses home and only took my Sony RX100 vi. The jury is still out if I will do that again. On one hand, I missed my regular gear...I am so intimately familiar with its workings. I love the lenses and what the system produces. But, carrying a small camera on my belt was sure nice. It takes decent photos. (I was not all that familiar with the camera, which was a mistake.) Carrying a large-ish camera on international travel is a pain. It also depends if you are traveling with a group, with group transportation, or your own rental car or via train. We were on trains and suffice to say, Italian trains are a challenge for a whole bunch of reasons. Add to that luggage AND gear, and it would not have been fun.

I am at the point of no longer taking photos inside churches, etc. the first few churches are ok, but it becomes overload. And, be prepared for crowds.....large crowds. I just dont want a photo of a church with people all over the place...so I now just get a post card and move on. But, say at the David in Florence, I did take photos and like them. I don't know, I am in a quandary.

Also, do not forget that cameras on phones make exceptional travel cameras as well. My wife takes some excellent memorable pics with her iPhone.

I guess my answer is "maybe."

george19

I’ve occasionally found myself wanting longer focal lengths for wildlife, but that’s less than 5% of shots and not worth lugging around. Even my 70-300 was rarely used, and the 200-500 is always within a quarter mile of the car, so the 24-85 is old reliable.

With a crop sensor, 18mm will give you a field of view equivalent of 27mm. Is that wide enough for streetscapes in Italy?

The other part of adventure is to just take the one lens and squeeze your best out of it, so the Tamron will probably be your best bet.

oladams7834 Loc: Ypsilanti, MI

Thanks for the advise.
My other thought was to take my Tamron 18-200mm, Nikon 50mm, & Nikon 70-300mm. But I just was sure about switching lenses depending on where we go that day.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That sounds good to me - except for the 50mm. The 18mm - would cover that. The simpler the better.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Your good with the lenses you picked.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

IMHO, you are carrying too much. When I went to Italy, I only took my Sony HX-99 ($400.00) has a 24-720 mm Zeiss lens that produces great 20X30 prints. Shoots RAW, Pans, pop up flash for auto fill, pop up viewfinder for outdoor shooting, HDR and more. Have a belt pouch for it so I am always hands free.
Travel right, travel lite.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A popular choice would be a standard zoom plus a bright wide angle (less than 24mm) prime or zoom.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

I've been to Europe several times with a D500 for interior shots you'll need a short fast lens I had a 10mm 2.8mm
for the old cathedrals.

druthven

For Italy, France or for that matter anywhere else in Europe or the UK I would go with one lens, Nikkor 18-140 or if you're concerned about maximum length and don't mind the extra weight go with the 18-300. You will have to sacrifice carrying around the bulk and weight of an extra lens and also the prospect of changing lenses on the fly.