I notice on photo forums that this type of question about what camera gear to use in Italy crops up fairly frequently. I never see this question asked about France, Germany or Britain.
I live in Italy, and I find I use the same gear and take much the same type of photograph when I am in France, Britain and even when I went to Mexico once. Am I missing something?
Maybe people feel that Italy is the most photogenic country in the world and want to get the best possible pictures?????
Perhaps I spend too much time in Italy's industrial areas. The outskirts of Florence are pretty ugly, as are many Tuscan cities, and the motorway between Bergamo and Milan runs through the middle of an endless industrial estate.
OK, time to hopefully get this not entirely serious thread back on track.
Here is the gear I mostly need to photograph Italy,
And even this does not cover all the bases.
But for general tourism, all I often need is my Z7, with a 24-200. An OM5 with a 12-100, would be another good choice.
Why Italy? Perhaps, as Alan suggests, because it is so photogenic. Or perhaps because it looks so different from anywhere else.
David
Padova and Bologna by chance?
I will add that when it rains and photography is not possible, you can eat and drink rather well here.
I had a rainy day on Lake Garda Last week and made some enjoyable visits to some local vineyards.
Yes, and I couldn't vouch for the numbers on that site.
Except for a few countries, most rural areas have the same more relaxed, trusting nature. I have forgotten things occasionally and returned to find them still there.
To return to my original post, and to explain, what I wanted to say, I am always amused when sombody asks what camera and lenses they should take on holiday to a foreign country. It is a "how long is a piece of sting" question, that only the person asking the question can answer. Personally, if I am travelling with my car, I take my big bag full of gear, and take out things as needed. It might be just a single camera and lens one day, or even just my phone. If I am travelling by plane it is just a body and three or four lenses, that fit in my hand luggage.
Italy like most other countries, has an infinite variety of different types of places to visit, and it all depends in the end on what you are interested in.
Both taken in Padova. It is an easy day's drive from Vienna. I agree about the food, and I found a comfortable cheap hotel there for the night without difficulty. I had no impression of being unsafe while wandering about the city (unlike NYC!). It was a very pleasant experience and I have lots of interesting shots from there. .
David
It is a perplexing question. I would take a main camera (my D610 or D7500), and a backup lighter/smaller EDC camera (my D3300).
Maybe some people are worried about their equipment walking off without them? But that can happen just as easily anywhere...
My mother is Italian and I have 2 cousins living in Italy.
One works for the government and travels a lot. Occasionally he sends photos some of which are really amazing.
I think Italy is popular right now. In a few years it'll be another place because it's passe to go where everyone else goes.
I've asked this question too. I wanted to be talked out of taking too much gear with me. Most of which I wasn't going to carry daily anyway.
Even though I've made my travel kits fairly simple, I seem to bring the wrong camera/lens because I can't imagine the kind of photos I'll be taking until I get there. I brought an APS-C on a trip where I spent a lot of time in close, small, dark buildings where I needed a very wide lens.
The next year I brought a full-frame kit and ended up outside on lots of long walks where the lighter APS-C setup would have been preferred.
The year I went to Italy, I brought a 200D and 4 lenses including a 100-400 which never left my bag. I carried them all everywhere for 3 weeks. I used 1 lens for the majority of the trip, 17-40mm.
I'm sure I will bring the "wrong" kit on this year's trip too. It is just a lack of good planning.
The advise should probably be, bring one middle lens, use your feet to get the shot and don't forget to enjoy the trip.
I tend to plan a little and try to determine what i am going to see before I go. obviously it never goes to plan. But I have my interests, and so that helps me select gear.
For me my Nikon Z7 mirrorless camera, has solved the what kit to bring. With IBIS I can shoot down to about 1/15 inside monuments and I can ramp up the ISO up to about 3200, with no real effects on image quality. This year for my UK trip I just took a Z7 + 14-35, 28-400 as well as my 24mm Nikon shift lens on the FTZ. It covered pretty much everything. We had a hire car so stuff could be left in the boot, when not needed.
I live in Italy. We have a lot to offer, from fantastic landscapes to interesting architecture. The food is generally good too, if you chose carefully.
I always recommend trying to see some of the less famous places, to get the real vibe of Italy.
