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Going to Italy in August
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Jul 15, 2019 08:52:22   #
Turk6482 Loc: Massachusetts
 
Hello all,

Going to Italy this summer with family and wondering which new lens I should get. The lens are between:

Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens for Nikon F
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Nikon F

I have a Nikon D7200 and 2 kits lens but was looking to upgrade to better lens for the trip.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you ask no I am not what part of Italy we are going, the wife and sister in law did all the planning. LOL

Thanks,

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Jul 15, 2019 09:02:22   #
zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas
 
When I traveled with my D7100 my favorite lens was the DX 18-140--this a decent quality lens, quite small and lightweight, with a great range for travel. At some point I added a 10-20 wide angle for architectural shots. I don't see the point of taking a longer lens as you probably won't have an opportunity to take pics of wildlife.

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Jul 15, 2019 09:03:57   #
carney2
 
I am going to Italy in September, and I only go places to take photographs. I switched to Sony mirrorless last year and will be taking a 24-105 and a 70-300. Given your choices, I would opt for the 18-400 because it allows you to go wider for some of the incredible landscapes.

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Jul 15, 2019 09:36:35   #
CWGordon
 
I think you will need wide angle capability far more than you will telephoto. I have no experience with the 18-400, but that seems a lot to lug around through Italy. I know the Tamron lens has a great reputation and is rated very highly. I am not you but might consider a smaller range, shorter telephoto. We went to the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Positano, and Rome. Never did I feel I needed any real telephoto. Also, on a trip (bicycle) from Germany through Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, I used a smaller camera, but equivalence wise, I used my 24 more than my standard. I took a telephoto if I remember correctly. I know I never used or needed one. Things in Europe are usually smaller and closer or look best (landscapes and cathedrals for examples) with wide angle anyway. I won’t go so far as to tell you what to take, but hope my experiences may help you in evaluating your options. I suppose you could always take more lenses, but it doesn’t sound like you want to carry a ton of extra weight. I do not blame you. Enjoy your trip.

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Jul 15, 2019 09:37:46   #
zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas
 
carney2 wrote:
I am going to Italy in September, and I only go places to take photographs. I switched to Sony mirrorless last year and will be taking a 24-105 and a 70-300. Given your choices, I would opt for the 18-400 because it allows you to go wider for some of the incredible landscapes.


I agree on taking a wider lens. However, the D7200 is a crop sensor camera, and a 18-400 at 27-600 full-frame equivalent is not very wide. These days, I travel with the same Sony 24-105 (with a Sony A7III) as well (and a 18mm prime)--currently in Germany. I agree that having a wider lens is more important than a longer lens for this kind of trip--which is why I suggested the DX 18-140 plus perhaps a wide-angle zoom for this trip.

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Jul 15, 2019 11:48:04   #
ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca
 
Couple years ago we went for 2 weeks to Southern Italy & Sicily --
The camera I was then using was a Canon 5DMkII -- A Full Frame Camera - Lenses I took were the 24mm 1.4; 35mm1.4; 85mm 1.8 & a 100-400 IS -- 99% of my shots were taken with 24/35/85 with little use taken with the 3.5 pound telephoto -- For the most part the telephoto stayed on the bus or in the hotel room not on my shoulder or in my camera bag

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Jul 15, 2019 13:39:34   #
SteveR Loc: Michigan
 
Nikon 28-300 will cover your needs with no need to change lenses.

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Jul 15, 2019 13:59:09   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
SteveR wrote:
Nikon 28-300 will cover your needs with no need to change lenses.


Steve, the 28-300 is a handy range for full frame.
I've use it for golf tournaments and it works great.
Btu...the OP has a DX-sensored camera.
Turk6482 wrote:
Hello all,..
I have a Nikon D7200 and 2 kits lens but was looking to upgrade to better lens for the trip.

On a DX body, the 28mm is a 42mm "ff equivalent".
That's not really even a wide angle.

Turk:
Which kit lenses do you have?

When I travel, I take my APS-C Fuji X-E2 and the 18-55...and sometimes the 14.
I don't shoot wildlife so the longer end of the 18-400 would never get used.
That end of the focal range on most superzooms is notoriously soft anyway.
With their smaller maximum apertures, they aren't real great a low light either.
My 18-55 is a f/2.8~4. The 14 is a 2.8.
Both are good for (church) interiors and evening photography.

Too bad Nikon didn't update the 17-55 2.8 DX with VR.
It's a constant maximum 2.8 aperture through the range and sharp.
It was a pro lens made for DX sensors.
(Nikon Didn't make full-frame bodies when that came out.)
I still use mine on the D300s.
It is a bit big and heavy, but I prefer to think of the weight as more stable.
Lack of VR in shorter focal lengths isn't as big a deal as with longer lenses.

Both Sigma and Tamron have a 17-50 2.8 with stabilization that some here seem to like.
Never used either, but I have a couple of other Sigma lenses I've been impressed with.

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Jul 16, 2019 00:24:14   #
repleo Loc: Boston
 
Turk6482 wrote:
Hello all,

Going to Italy this summer with family and wondering which new lens I should get. The lens are between:

Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens for Nikon F
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Nikon F

I have a Nikon D7200 and 2 kits lens but was looking to upgrade to better lens for the trip.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you ask no I am not what part of Italy we are going, the wife and sister in law did all the planning. LOL

Thanks,
Hello all, br br Going to Italy this summer wi... (show quote)


I've been to Italy several times over the last couple of years. Lake Como, Milan, Venice, Cinque Terra, Florence, Senna, Tuscany, Umbria, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sicily etc etc. My recommendation would be to go: small, light, wide and bright. My best combo was my Sony A6000 with the 18-105mm F4.0 lens. 18-70 would have been fine also. You don't need long lenses, haze can be a problem trying to shoot distant landscapes. 18mm crop is wide enough for any landscape shots and in those narrow streets. A small, wide, bright lens like the Rokinon 12mm F2.0 is great for church interiors if you feel the need to bring a second lens. Above all - go light. You will suffer for every extra ounce you try to carry especially in Summer.

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Jul 16, 2019 06:31:43   #
miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida
 
I went last year and used the Tamron 16-300 so I would go for the 18-400, as the most logical. it give you the best options

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Jul 16, 2019 06:32:27   #
dave_roe Loc: Rome Italy
 
Living in Italy I would say go as wide as possible.

Places are tight, 18-105mm is my walking around lens and works 99% of the time.

Outside of a major population center, as in travels in the countryside, then my 60mm-250 is the lens of choice. I still pack the 18-105 once we arrive in a village…….

One thing to know….. Italy is hot in the summer. July and August will see high temps and humidity. Plan for the heat. Also August….. holiday month for most and once outside of the regular tourists places you will find many places closed for part or most of August.

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Jul 16, 2019 06:32:38   #
Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast
 
Turk6482 wrote:
Hello all,

Going to Italy this summer with family and wondering which new lens I should get. The lens are between:

Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens for Nikon F
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Nikon F

I have a Nikon D7200 and 2 kits lens but was looking to upgrade to better lens for the trip.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you ask no I am not what part of Italy we are going, the wife and sister in law did all the planning. LOL

Thanks,
Hello all, br br Going to Italy this summer wi... (show quote)



Going with family as a vacation? Travel light, travel light, travel light....are the best tips I can. recommend. Another point, you will probably use a wider FL about 80-90% of the time. ENJOY.

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Jul 16, 2019 06:37:35   #
Collhar Loc: New York City.
 
Turk6482 wrote:
Hello all,

Going to Italy this summer with family and wondering which new lens I should get. The lens are between:

Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens for Nikon F
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Nikon F

I have a Nikon D7200 and 2 kits lens but was looking to upgrade to better lens for the trip.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you ask no I am not what part of Italy we are going, the wife and sister in law did all the planning. LOL

Thanks,
Hello all, br br Going to Italy this summer wi... (show quote)


!8-400. Mama Mia.....it is going to be HOT!!! If you are renting a car the first day or so will be an experience. The fear will subside.

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Jul 16, 2019 06:44:40   #
d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA
 
Remember that Italy, like much of Europe, is very old and as such, the towns and cities are built around roads that are extremely narrow, compared to those in the US - which is newer. This is why the wider the lens, the better off you will be in taking photos of buildings and such. Take the widest lens you can and it will still be too much for the D7100, as I found in my trip last fall to Italy. And frankly, I like to take a small tripod for those shots, because in trying to get the best vantage points in tight areas, composition becomes a bit more trying. On the other hand, do not try to take the tripod into the Coliseum. I was almost denied entrance once I had paid for the ticket because I had it in my hand; my (gorgeous) guide told the security people she would hold onto it, if he would let me through. As soon as the security guys were behind us, she gave the tripod back but suggested I use it in very surreptitious ways. I never used it in the Coliseum, because I did not want to compromise her situation, but her actions saved me from an awkward dilemma. It was the only place in Italy where I was denied use of the tripod, including in and outside of the Vatican buildings. That included taking photos of the Pope saying Mass in St. Peter's Square. But I will also say that using it was difficult in some areas because of the incredible crowds. That is a challenge in getting good photos: Getting clear of the hordes of people that surround many of the landmarks you might want to photograph.

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Jul 16, 2019 06:59:27   #
sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey
 
I would take the 18-400. I’m in Croatia now and using 18-135 most of the time. I would also bring a prime 27mm 2.8

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