sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Your trip is screaming "bridge camera!".

rafael izakov

In Saint- Petersburg you can use any lenses, it depended of your preferences to show up general view or details.
My recommendation: open web sides:
https://www.google.com/search?q=saint+petersburg,+russia+photos+by+A.+Petrosyan&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=7NwZU7jKFKPT0QGFnoDACw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA&biw=1324&bih=657&dpr=1
and other sides about photos of Saint- Petersburg and it will give a a lot of ideas.

Gaddysmom

I have been to Russia a dozen times and have never had a problem, but I agree with the less is more approach, if only because you will be distracted while changing cameras. Both Moscow and St. Petersburg are big cities and have all the challenges of big cities. In general, the crime is away from the tourists areas, but that means you must be extra vigilant should you wander away from the tourist areas or are out at non-touristy times. Common sense and street smarts should see you through. Be alert to what is going on around you, don't "stand out," keep your wallet in an inside pocket, and have a good time.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I have made a few business trips to Russia. Take as little as possible. Forget the DSLR and take a good cheap point and shoot. Nothing of any value is safe.

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

St Petersburg is a beautiful city where walking will be your choice of transportation. It is also very safe. I was there about a year and a half ago and felt perfectly safe walking by myself at midnight or early hours in the more popular parts of town. In Moscow you will also be walking a lot but there is a safe (but sometimes not user friendly) metro system. Read ahead about where you can and cannot take cameras. Sometimes you cannot have a camera on you. You will be barred from entering. At other times you can have a camera with you but you are not allowed to use it. Always ask. Russians are very friendly. Many of the young people speak English should you need advise or have questions. I found this particularly helpful when using their metro. Learn the Alphabet. It helps. And a few words. That helps, too.

Selene03

Russia is not the safest place I've been to, although there are many places where you can safely take fabulous photos. I would take your D7000 with the walkabout lens and definitely the RX-100. Less is definitely more here. Be street smart but otherwise enjoy a fascinating and beautiful country. You can buy a special permit to take pictures in most museums, which is well worth the extra cost. Both Moscow and St. Petersburg have tour bus options that are a good way to photograph street scenes without being hassled by people trying to grab your camera. Enjoy your trip and some amazing photo ops!

raybiller

Having recently had a problem with my main camera while in Europe which I documented here, I would never travel all that distance w/o having a back up. Chances are you won't need it but you will sure be happy you brought it if you do. I was to Russia on a 2 week river cruise a couple of years ago. It was very nice and I had no problems what so ever, of course as has been said, things are a little tense now. I wonder if tour companies will start cancelling tours if things get any worse.

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

I would only bring expendable possessions as Russia is a lawless oppressive country again.

Gobuster Loc: South Florida

I have got such wonderful results from my RX100 that I think you could take that alone and be well served. I have made 24 x 36" prints from mine and they look very good. The Sony is easy to keep with you at all times and unobtrusive in use. I'd probably also take my Nikon 9300 with 18x zoom as it is also pocketable and has a long reach, but the IQ is not good for big prints.

rrforster12 Loc: Leesburg Florida

I spent 2 days in St Petersburg two years ago and had an absolutely wonderful visit. I had a group of seven and had made arrangements with a Russian Tour guide prior to arriving. They provided Vehicle and driver as well as an extremely proficient Guide, Visa's were required and provided by the Tour company.
I had video and still cameras with me and found very little use for telephoto capability. Most of my pix were taken in the various museums and buildings visited using wide angle or standard lens. We experienced absolutely no animosity or antagonism at any time during our 2 day visit and did have meals in two local restaurant/Pubs as well as dozens of attractions. Actually we have experienced considerably more thievery problems in Rome and Venice then we have in Russia. In Italy the pickpockets are legendary. We have been pickpocketed on three separate visits in Italy. They seem to concentrate on the woman's bag. On one occasion we were on a local bus which had standing room only and a man/woman team went into my wife's purse and got her wallet. They timed the theft to coincide with a scheduled stop which allowed the man to grab the wallet and jump off the bus and run. The woman seemed to just disappear. Interestingly, the wallet was returned to us in the USA a month later by the Rome Police who recovered it (sans cash of course, but with all the now cancelled credit cards intact)

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

I was in St Pete last summer. The only place I remember that you could not photograph was the "Amber Room" in Catherine's Palace. The rest of the palace I was better served with wide angle shots. On the other extreme, at the summer palace I did use my zoom to observe the distance from the sea to the palace along the canals and fountains. Since I was with a private Russian Guide, i was not subject to worrying about the crowds.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

You might want to check on getting a refund on your money, right now Russia is closed to tourists.

paulied

Personally, if it were I, given the recent situation in The Ukraine, I'd tried to get as much of my money back as possible, book a flight to Las Vegas, NV, stay at the Venetian and play craps. After losing my budgeted amount of money I'd go out to the Valley of Fire State Park and take beautiful landscape photos. But that's just me talkin' - LOL! Hope you have an uneventful trip and bring back some gorgeous images, good luck!!!

johnnievegas

Go light. One camera with a big aperture wide angle and a good zoom. Better yet an 18-200mm. Get a tour guide who will take you to as many of the best spots for pictures quickly and safely. The Russian people will appreciate your visit. They know that you have as little to do with the Ukraine as they do.

johnnievegas

Go light. One camera with a big aperture wide angle and a good zoom. Better yet an 18-200mm. Get a tour guide who will take you to as many of the best spots for pictures quickly and safely. The Russian people will appreciate your visit. They know that you have as little to do with the Ukraine as they do.