mikex

Hello folks on UHH. My wife and I are traveling to Italy this month for 2 weeks. It’s an organized tour. Rome , Venice, Pompeii,Florence. I’m taking a Sony A7riiia, 20-70 f4 and a 70-200 f4. Will the F4 lenses be good enough for interior cathedrals etc…. I’m a novice and have no experience with interior architecture etc…. Should I bring a batis 18 f2.8 or a Sony 35 f1.4 gm for low light ? Prefer to travel light. Thanks in advance.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd bring the 35mm and plan to shoot it around f/2 in the interior low(er) light. It's a full-frame perspective and depth of field I personally really like in these situations.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I’m not a Sony shooter so I don’t have a feel for how well your A7riiia is when shooting higher ISO. If it’s anything like my R5 then F4 should be fine in most situations. I shot my niece’s HS graduation with a 70-200 f4. It was indoors in horrible lighting. I ended up shooting at a higher ISO than I’d have liked but the images came out fine.

You might get more noise in those images but Lightroom or Topaz can make short work of that.

Maybe before you go find something like a local church with less that good lighting and take some practice shots with those lenses and sufficient ISO and see how the images come out.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I have found cathedral interiors are lit well enough to support a quality camera body/F4 lens like you have.
Remember, tours move rather briskly and there is little time to swap out lenses, and you don't want to be "That Guy/Gal" holding up the tour causing others to miss seeing the sights.
In such cases, I would shoot interiors at F4 (wide open), use the reciprocal shutter speed rule (1 over the length of the lens, 1/60 sec for the 12-70mm lens), and set the ISO setting to "Auto".
Now you "have the shot" and it will not be blurry (Shutter Speed - set too slow) and your Depth of Field will be good using F4.
Important to note that "Noise" is "Fixable" and "Blur" and "Focus" are not.
When you return home you may correct "Noise" in post-processing using PhotoShop, Topaz Photo AI, or another quality specialty editing program that will DeNoise/Sharpen your treasures.
Best Wishes for safe travels, take many pics and share your best with us here on UHH.
Remember to always . . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

PS: Practice in any dimly lit place BEFORE you go to see what to expect and correct accordingly.
Also, consider the "P" and "A" settings on your camera body as they can be of great help in Lo-Light settings for such an Expen$ive Trip.
I expect to be severly Flogged for the previous comment, sigh.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

IBIS-enabled equipment removes these ancient rules-of-thumb that no longer apply to 21st century photography using 21st century technology.

Our OP should practice their own hand-holding skills using their IBIS-enabled body and the intended lens(es). How slow can they reliable go? Say down to 1/15 sec, even with the zoom out to 70mm? Even slower? Maybe a bit faster?

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I travel with a Sony A7III and/or A7RIII. My standard travel lens for the past five years has been the Sony 24-105mm, another f/4 lens. I have taken many great night shots in European cities at ISO 5000. I find f/4 fast enough for just about any travel shots. For church interiors I use both the Sony 24-105mm and the Zeiss Batis 18mm. If I had the 20-70 I might leave the Batis at home. In my experience, 35mm would not be wide enough for interior shots. With or without the Batis 18mm, you have a great travel kit.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I concur CHG, I only made that specific recommendation regarding the reciprocal rule because the poster stated ". I’m a novice".
Are we still friends?
JimmyT Sends

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Friends, of course. But, I'm out to stop the repetition of the outdated rules that are nothing more than old habits that people are afraid to change, even in the face of 21st century technology.

mikex

Thanks Basil. Great suggestion. I’m not sure what to expect as far as how dark and for the immense size of structures etc…. I’ve been reading online that you need wide lenses. Also been reading about what chg cannon has eluded to. Modern cameras and lenses work better with the higher iso and low light. Thanks again ! Mike X in Las Vegas.

mikex

Hi CHG , I was hoping that you and the others would reply. Much appreciated !!! I read all of the responses from you and others daily. What a wealth of knowledge. I’m a novice for sure. Started back in the 70’s with a Yashica FX2 for a couple of years. Now 4 kids and 3 grandkids later I’m picking it up again. Online the articles I’ve read (grain of salt) speak of the tight quarters and immensity of the buildings. Just hoping to be prepared for a once in a lifetime trip that we’ve saved a long time for. Thanks again !!! Mike X in Las Vegas

mikex

Thanks for the info. That’s great news.

mikex

Thanks ZUGG 55. Great info. Much appreciated. I’m still thinking about the ZEISS batis 18 , f 2.8.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Glad to help. Your 20-70 and the IBIS body may mean you don't need any of your primes. Personally, I prefer my 35mm to my own 24-70 that overlaps that focal length. It's the lens I always bring for church interiors. Others, of course, will prefer other lenses. 20mm is pretty wide, more so than 35mm, and you'll find this lens very useful throughout this trip.

mikex

Thanks again CHG. I also like that perspective. I’ve not much experience using UWA lenses. Im thinking the 20-70 should be wide enough in most cases. Mike X in Las Vegas

mikex

Thanks for the response. Great info. I’m glad you mentioned the quick pace of the tours. May be very inconvenient to swap lenses in the Vatican and other places. Also a great reminder that blur can’t be fixed !!! Thanks again. Mike X in Las Vegas