current Loc: Hooper Utah

It may not be just your manner. Maybe you look like “the Rock” :-) - will definitely do St. Peter’s Basilica. Thanks!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Nahhh. You look way tougher than me..

current Loc: Hooper Utah

That’s funny! One more question. Don’t have the option of mirrorless, however have a few lens choices. Which would be your choice?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Well lens choice would be dictated by choice of subject matter. Given that the urban places in Europe are more dense than the US, I gravitate toward moderate telephotos with a wide angle option. Others may disagree, but I’ve never found much need for any focal length beyond 100mm or so. A lot of streets and interior spaces really benefit fro wide angle lenses. The other option, of course,mid to shoot with the intention of stitching as panoramas. I have been to The British isles (including Dublin and London) maybe four times, to Italy, including Venice, Rome, Florence, and the coastal regions. The 16-85 (Nikon) worked quite well. Years ago, I traveled with film cameras using only a 50mm on an 8 week trip with 40 rolls of Kodachrome. Recent trip to France, including Paris, I used a Fuji with an 18-55mm lens. My goal is to minimize gear, so one camera/ one lens is my goal. Next time I go, I intend to take a 14/2.8 wide angle as well as the 18-55. It really depends on ones intent: I also travel with a single bag that is “carry-on” compliant. This includes clothes and camera gear.

So bottom line: Batteries, charger, lots of memory, one camera & one with wide angle capability. In my travel world, a lens like an 18-200 would be excessive in terms of size, weight, and have limited use.

current Loc: Hooper Utah

Thanks! I’ll be leaving my long lenses at home. My linchpin has been landscape. I’ll be out of my element taking urban shots. It will be a challenge.

repleo Loc: Boston

Fast and wide!! Something like a 24 - 70 or 105 and a fast 18 or 24 prime for interiors would be ideal but above all - travel light. Rome has many vast open public spaces which are fine for a normal length lenses, but the old section (and all of the picturesque hill towns) is mostly tall narrow alleys. Some sights like the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon have fairly tight spaces in front of them so you can't really zoom out with your feet. The alleys get pretty dark early in the afternoon. The bright sun creates very strong shadows down low and and glaring highlights up high. Bring a fairly strong graduated ND filter to counter the contrast.

Hollifax Loc: France

Ostia Antica, the old Roman port on the Tiber, is very photogenic and with fewer tourists than central Rome. There's a fast and frequent train service.

https://www.rometoolkit.com/whattodo/ostia_antica.html

ceh1024 Loc: Lutz, FL

So many good pictures the trick is to find the right view location and angle. For instance if you go to the left of the Altare della Patria and behind you get a really excellent picture of the forum without having to pay to go in. For the Colosseum if you go to the Arch of Constantine side you can get a lot of varied pictures of the old versus the restorations. Going up into the dome gives you one of the most incredible pictures of the Vatican. Keep in mind that you can expect an incredible number of tourists trying to do the same as you. In fact Rome is like a number of places now trying to limit the number of people and traffic.

As others have said beware of the pickpockets. They are forever refining their techniques. They are no longer just the Gypsies of old they were sort of easy to spot if you were savvy. Today they look like tourists or locals and they are much harder to detect. Public transportation is your greatest risk but all the hot spots are potential. If you are or are not savvy in the ways of the pickpockets you may want to visit Scottevest.com or clothingarts.com. No need to wear both but I have found them excellent and have never heard of anyone losing anything while utilizing the products. Nowadays I don't have to pay as much attention to arranging my valuables while wearing them.

One more comment. No need to carry the thick wallets that many carry. Minimize it. All you really need is some Euros, credit card and whatever else pertains to your visit.

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

tripadvisor.com

Largobob

Great advice Hank. I've been all over Europe on several occasions. I have driven rental cars, taken tours/busses, trains, river cruises, planes, etc. Driving in Europe, especially large cities like Rome, can be a challenge. One way streets, lack of parking, tolls, not knowing the area, dense and fast moving traffic...and learning how to use your horn (not a joke in Rome) will be frustrating. Most hotels offer package tours "out of their lobby." Half day, full day, guided, English speaking....lots of options.

Romans (Italians) tend to be very friendly and will provide help and advice. I hope you spend some time enjoying the food and vino. Wish I were going with you. Enjoy your trip.

dyximan

allan catt Loc: gillingham,kent,uk

If you really want good scenery ,go to Lake Garda,it’s stunning .

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

beautiful city, no doubt.

after rapidly tiring of the urban busses... ( very slow, crowded, late ) we started to take taxis.
found them vastly quicker to get anywhere and very reasonable. no tipping really but 1E is actually appreciated.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Be very careful using public transportation. All of the buses have signs warning of pickpockets. We were on a subway during my first trip to Rome and I was carrying my camera equipment in an over the shoulder bag. Subway was crowded & I was standing. Each time the train stopped or started people would lurch slightly. At one stop it was fairly smooth yet the guy next to me lurched into me a bit harder than I thought was warranted. I looked down and he had unzipped my case and had his hand inside. Later during that same subway ride a teenage girl grabbed a woman's purse at a stop and was out the door before anyone could stop her. Forewarned is forearmed.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Definitely go to a travel agent here and book tickets to the Vatican!!! We did with AAA and was I ever grateful. The lines around the Vatican are horrendous!!! We got to our starting point and boarded a small bus. That took us to the tour entrance and we got RIGHT IN...No waiting in line. My best advice, If you are going to do any major touring of museums, etc., BOOK THEM HERE AND CONFIRM THE RESERVATIONS. You will be grateful you did.
Rich...