Recommendations for trip to Israel (Page 2): :sm24: :sm24:...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

alphonso49uk wrote:

I sometimes think this reoccuring post is made just to brag about how many lenses the poster owns

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

I am 82 y/o, with some walking and carrying limitations, so take my advice with a grain of (Dead Sea) salt.

It seems that you are going on a religious/cultural trip. Therefore, a lightweight wide-to-medium tele (18-200) should be good enough for most situations. Also, a fast wide angle for interiors (there will be lots of those).

I would also pack a small high-quality pocket camera (Sony RX100 or similar-I have a Canon S110) for those situations where a DSLR is not appropriate.

Enjoy your trip.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I've been to Israel and Jordan, plus we went to some sites in Palestine. I carried two cameras - my DSLR with a 28-300 and a smaller camera with a zoom that goes to 500 (I think). First off, I felt a LOT safer in Jerusalem than I do in downtown anywhere here. There were vigilant soldiers everywhere and I think everyone in Israel either is or has been a soldier. In Jordan our guide explained that there is very little crime because the punishments are swift and harsh. The same was true in Palestinian sites, particularly in Bethlehem.

I never felt the need of an extra lens. And we were on the move all of the time, so carrying extra weight would have been exceeding tiring. What I DID want is an extra pair of eyes and an extra pair of arms so I could photograph twice as much! Don't burden yourself down with a bunch of gear. You won't have time to change lenses anyway! The 18-400 would be perfect!

photoman43

francwoods wrote:

My wife and I are going on an Israel tour Nov 28 -... (show quote)

When I used DX lenses, my favorite was the 35mm f1.8. I would take it and one general purpose zoom lens that you already own.

Hip Coyote

francwoods wrote:

Thanks for the input. I may swap out the 35 for the 50. I'll do some testing to see which does better in low light at various aperture settings.

Our float in the Dead Sea is right outside our hotel at the end of the day... so no problem with shower and changing after.
And you're correct about cities in the U.S. that are just as sketchy...

That makes a lot more sense than what we did!
https://www.francwoods.com/

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Hip Coyote wrote:

I had the great opportunity to visit there a few years ago on a security and counter terrorism thing. An amazing experience. People who say to cancel apparently have not walked the streets of Los Angeles, NYC, Chicago or St. Louis recently. Serious crime up something like 30%. Follow home robberies, stores taken over, streets taken over by gangs. I think 6 shot in a bar yesterday in LA. I doubt you will need rubber boots to walk in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to avoid poo on the sidewalks as you do in major cities here. ( I was in the law enf world and have some clue about crime.)

So, that being said, go have fun. Be vigilant, of course. The food is magnificent.

I did a data plot on my shots from Israel and the vast majority of my shots were 28-32mm ff equivalent. The next most used was standard 50 mm range. Only 1 percent of my shots were long telephoto...300 mm plus. I cannot speak about the lenses you are considering as I am a m43 users (a great choice for travel) but I can say there will be times that you are in darkened locations, churches mostly, where you need a fast lens. Jerusalem is crowded and the streets in the Old City are narrow. You need wide. And you may find fast is also helpful. I do not think flashes will be allowed in most places. I would pick a few lenses and leave it at that. You will be walking a lot, probably in a group and they cannot wait for you to change lenses as they walk in the narrows of Jerusalem. Lose your group and you will have a problem. I also suggest you just get used to the idea you may have to up the iso farther than you normally would want to.

I can also say that your itinerary is going to be rushed....a camel ride and then to the Dead Sea...and Masada all in one day is a lot. You need to shower after getting into the Dead Sea because it is salty (I did it once). We had to change in a crowded, hot, locker room after the Dead Sea...not fun. After Masada you will be hot and sweaty...it will be a full day for sure.

I see mention of Bethlehem in there with Jerusalem..I am not sure if that was intentional...or maybe something in Jerusalem is named Bethlehem...but if you are going into Bethlehem, I dont think you can go there and back and accomplish all you want to accomplish...it is in Palestinian territories, you need to switch guides (I think), border control, and all that...We never went but want to go back. I am not an expert, but the issue popped out at me and thought Id mention it to you.

I had the great opportunity to visit there a few y... (show quote)

Great post!

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

Looked at the stats from almost 1900 images (I was shooting with a D90 at the time I went) - 95% were taken with my 18-135 kit lens, including some lovely night shots of the Western Wall, Temple Mount, and Tel Aviv. A few, at the Ein Gede nature preserve were with my 55-300 - there is some interesting wildlife there such as the Rock Hyrax and Ibex. So, I personally think you could get by with 1 and 2 and be very happy with the results. I used a Nikon GP-1 GPS plugged in to my D90 which is extremely helpful. It's no longer manufactured but there alternatives. Something to consider. Enjoy your trip!

fosis Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I've been there. You'll want the 10-20mm if you go into churches and/or synagogues. With your cropped format the 18 (28 equivalent) won't be wide enough. But the 18-400 will be your daily go to lens. Personally, I'd think the f 1.8 35mm could be left at home unless you're not comfy with pumping up the ISO and using Topaz deNoise AI in post.
Bethlehem is "across the street" from Jerusalem. We enjoyed our visit to "the shepherds fields," acknowledging that Israeli settlements have encroached there, but that's the point to understand how it is there, whether you're Christian or Jewish or Muslim.

ashriverguy Loc: Rural Minnesota

My wife and I were there in 2004 and it was a wonderful life changing experience. I carried a small Kodak zoom camera and had the best quality photos of the group. Almost all of my photos could have been taken (today) with my iPhone with excellent results. You will be doing a LOT of walking so travel light and secure.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

You do have a full schedule! I am also going to Israel. My wife and I will spend 6 weeks there. I was most recently there in March 2020 and we left 3/4 through our intended stay due to Covid. On that 3 week trip, I recall that I had a 24-70mm and a 14-30mm. However, the choice of lenses depends upon what you like to shoot.
For this upcoming trip, I believe that I will take an ultra wide angle f/2.8, (10mm ‘fisheye’), my 14-30 f/4 constant aperture and my 28-75 f/2.8 constant aperture.
I will also take my ND filter, my polarizer filter and maybe a monopod. I shoot with a Nikon z6. The lenses have flexibility for low light, they are light and my crop tool works well.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

I was in Israel a few years ago. Took only two lenses. Tamron 18-400 and a Sigma 10-20 wide angle. Most of the time you'll be using the Tamron 18-400. Enjoy your trip, Shalom.

francwoods

alphonso49uk wrote:

I sometimes think this reoccurring post is made just to brag about how many lenses the poster owns

Maybe if I had 2 or 3 times that many lenses... and a Z9 to go with them!!!

I really appreciate those who have traveled to Israel and gave suggestions. So far my thinking as been the:
10-20 for landscape shots
35mm for interior low light (50mm instead??) and the
18-400 for walk around where I have no idea what to expect!
This is a "study" tour but I am hoping to capture enough images to help my aging brain remember what went with the various topics at each site. (FYI... https://gtitours.org)
I will, eventually, post pics on my website... probably after the holidays!

Todah Rabah!
https://www.francwoods.com

francwoods

nikon123 wrote:

I will also take my ND filter, my polarizer filter and maybe a monopod. I shoot with a Nikon z6. The lenses have flexibility for low light, they are light and my crop tool works well.

Thanks for the reminder about filters! I'll have to make sure I have all the correct sizes. I'm considering taking my travel tripod (Vanguard 265AB) since it has a hand grip on one leg and can be used as a walking stick. But it's not as light as I would like

I was thinking tripod for group shots where I could jump in the picture... and for any long exposure shots. For those of you who have been there, are there places where a long exposure would make sense?

https://www.francwoods.com

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

francwoods wrote:

Thanks for the reminder about filters! I'll have ... (show quote)

Yes there are water falls -Ein Gedi and in the north - Golan Heights and in the path of the Rivet Jordan and on the Mediterranean side, especially around Rosh Hanikrah. I understand that the area around Metulla also has waterfalls.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

francwoods wrote:

Thanks for the input. I may swap out the 35 for the 50. I'll do some testing to see which does better in low light at various aperture settings.

Our float in the Dead Sea is right outside our hotel at the end of the day... so no problem with shower and changing after.
And you're correct about cities in the U.S. that are just as sketchy...

https://www.francwoods.com/

Hip Coyote wrote:

I had the great opportunity to visit there a few years ago on a security and counter terrorism thing. An amazing experience. People who say to cancel apparently have not walked the streets of Los Angeles, NYC, Chicago or St. Louis recently. Serious crime up something like 30%. Follow home robberies, stores taken over, streets taken over by gangs. I think 6 shot in a bar yesterday in LA. I doubt you will need rubber boots to walk in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to avoid poo on the sidewalks as you do in major cities here. ( I was in the law enf world and have some clue about crime.)

So, that being said, go have fun. Be vigilant, of course. The food is magnificent.

I did a data plot on my shots from Israel and the vast majority of my shots were 28-32mm ff equivalent. The next most used was standard 50 mm range. Only 1 percent of my shots were long telephoto...300 mm plus. I cannot speak about the lenses you are considering as I am a m43 users (a great choice for travel) but I can say there will be times that you are in darkened locations, churches mostly, where you need a fast lens. Jerusalem is crowded and the streets in the Old City are narrow. You need wide. And you may find fast is also helpful. I do not think flashes will be allowed in most places. I would pick a few lenses and leave it at that. You will be walking a lot, probably in a group and they cannot wait for you to change lenses as they walk in the narrows of Jerusalem. Lose your group and you will have a problem. I also suggest you just get used to the idea you may have to up the iso farther than you normally would want to.

I can also say that your itinerary is going to be rushed....a camel ride and then to the Dead Sea...and Masada all in one day is a lot. You need to shower after getting into the Dead Sea because it is salty (I did it once). We had to change in a crowded, hot, locker room after the Dead Sea...not fun. After Masada you will be hot and sweaty...it will be a full day for sure.

I see mention of Bethlehem in there with Jerusalem..I am not sure if that was intentional...or maybe something in Jerusalem is named Bethlehem...but if you are going into Bethlehem, I dont think you can go there and back and accomplish all you want to accomplish...it is in Palestinian territories, you need to switch guides (I think), border control, and all that...We never went but want to go back. I am not an expert, but the issue popped out at me and thought Id mention it to you.

I had the great opportunity to visit there a few y... (show quote)

To the OP - Don't forget, the crop factor for the D7200 is 1.5:1. So 28-32 ff is 19-21 for your camera. 50 ff is ~35 for the D7200.