fredmiranda.com
Login

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Sony Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1       2       3              5              7              9       10       end
  

Archive 2021 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy

  
 
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #1 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


naturephoto1 wrote:
I could add my Really Right Stuff monopod or purchase a smaller one and could use a QR clamp to switch the head between the monopod and tripod quickly. But I would also anticipate that I could use the Leofoto tripod as a monopod by just extending the lens.

Rich


My travel tripod has one leg that detaches, then the center column and head attach to it to become a very nice monopod. It is a great solution for having two choices in just one light weight piece of equipment.




Nov 27, 2021 at 01:46 PM
jharter
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #2 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


I have not read the entire thread but I have enjoyed the obsessional international trip packing discussion! Of course, you seem like a take-everything sort of traveler while many regular travelers tend to be minimalist packers. I will say, I won't volunteer to be your porter! If anything, this thread has a lot of good ideas and great photos of different packing options.

I figure that you have enough experience that you will ignore 99% of the advice but the 1% is still helpful and the rest informative.

I am in the minimalist camp. Carry-on only packing. Always take the same kit +/- one lens for specific purposes. My usual kit is 17/28/2.8, 24/1.4, 40/2, 85/1.8. Sometimes I swap out the 24 for a longer telephoto. I take 2 tripods: RRS TQ14 (acratech GP-SS head) and one of the mini RRS tripods. All of it, including both tripods and a MacBook Air fit in a Gura Gear Kiboku backpack in which is also a Ribz chest pack which holds camera body and all 4 lenses when out taking photos. Just FYI. All of the rest of my travel stuff and clothes go into a hardside carry-on spinner - on which the backpack can sit when strolling through airports.

Sounds like you will have a great trip and well planned packing. My only real suggestion, which adds to your load, is to take a RRS TFA-01 mini tripod with the little BPC-16 microball head. It can serve as a grip when handholding, steady the camera over a railing, stabilize against a wall, or be used as an actual tripod. Can come in handy for interiors in museums or buildings. Can be used with a cable release and camera in live view for less obvious street photos.



Nov 27, 2021 at 01:56 PM
sandycrane
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #3 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


jharter wrote:
Sounds like you will have a great trip and well planned packing. My only real suggestion, which adds to your load, is to take a RRS TFA-01 mini tripod with the little BPC-16 microball head. It can serve as a grip when handholding, steady the camera over a railing, stabilize against a wall, or be used as an actual tripod. Can come in handy for interiors in museums or buildings. Can be used with a cable release and camera in live view for less obvious street photos.


For me it's the lightweight $19.00 Pedco Ultrapod.




Nov 27, 2021 at 02:05 PM
scalanc2
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #4 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


I’m minimalist too.
3 lenses.
14-24 and 24-105.
Less than 2kg camera included.
Super wide is a must for me in places like Venice, Rome and most of italian towns where narrow streets and so are the standard.
When you come here don’t miss to visit Burano.

Have a nice trip!



Nov 27, 2021 at 02:05 PM
naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #5 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


jharter wrote:
I have not read the entire thread but I have enjoyed the obsessional international trip packing discussion! Of course, you seem like a take-everything sort of traveler while many regular travelers tend to be minimalist packers. I will say, I won't volunteer to be your porter! If anything, this thread has a lot of good ideas and great photos of different packing options.

I figure that you have enough experience that you will ignore 99% of the advice but the 1% is still helpful and the rest informative.

I am in the minimalist camp. Carry-on only packing. Always take the same
...Show more

Hi,

Which Gura Gear Kiboko pack are you using to fit your tripods and everything into? My two Leofoto tripods are similar in size and weight to your RRS tripods.

As to the Ribz chest pack I believe that is unpadded. How are you protecting the equipment when in the pack?

https://ribzwear.com/front-pack/

At this point I am expecting not to take a laptop, just a NEXTO DI NPS-10

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1481554-REG/nexto_di_nps_10_cfast_portable_all_in_1.html

and additional external SSD.

Also, as to the United Airlines restrictions they have the standard 45 dimensional inches for the carry on and 9" X 10" X 17" for a personal item. So, I can not see how I could follow those requirements with one of the Gura Gear Kiboko packs that would carry everything including the tripods, computer, and all of the camera equipment and an additional hard sided carry on spinner.

Rich




Nov 27, 2021 at 02:28 PM
johnvanr
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #6 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


jharter wrote:
I have not read the entire thread but I have enjoyed the obsessional international trip packing discussion! Of course, you seem like a take-everything sort of traveler while many regular travelers tend to be minimalist packers. I will say, I won't volunteer to be your porter! If anything, this thread has a lot of good ideas and great photos of different packing options.

I figure that you have enough experience that you will ignore 99% of the advice but the 1% is still helpful and the rest informative.

I am in the minimalist camp. Carry-on only packing. Always take the same
...Show more

Four lenses when out shooting doesn’t sound minimalist to me, to be honest. But if it works for you, great.



Nov 27, 2021 at 04:03 PM
chez
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #7 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


Prior to COVID I was doing 2 or 3 trips a year. My kit consists of 2 cameras and 3 or 4 primes. Many times I have been in areas where I have to carry all my valuables with me all day long so no extra just in case lenses for me. I don’t feel I missed anything by reducing my kit…just opened up my eyes to the focal lengths I had.


Nov 27, 2021 at 04:47 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #8 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


This thread has got me thinking about what I would actually take on a trip like what Rich is planning. I have so many options from very minimal, to very complete. Which I would choose really depends on who I am traveling with, where I will be going, and what the purpose of the trip will be. All of them much smaller that what Rich is contemplating.

The filter set and tripod, and accessories is common to all the kits.

General cleaning, 3 batteries, card pouch, & portable 1TB backup storage drive.

4,6,10, NDs, and Circular polarizer

The travel tripod folds very small, is reasonable in weight, and has one leg designed as monopod.

First, is a fairly minimal setup. Easy to travel with.

It includes:

My a1

Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
Tamron 28-200 f2.8 - 5.6
CV 40mm f/1.2

This kit is actually very capable for it's limited selection and size. It provides decent IQ across a broad range (17-300mm w/crop), and a fast f1.2 40mm that serves as character/walk around/night lens. I have used this set a number of times with good results. Really not much it couldn't handle.







Edited on Nov 27, 2021 at 05:16 PM · View previous versions



Nov 27, 2021 at 04:51 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #9 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


Next up is a kit for when photography is more central, and I will have time to compose and create interesting images. It has my favorite CV MF prime lenses, backed up by a pair of AF zooms. All higher IQ lenses. Again with a broad focal length range. This is a great set for city/historical/people/landscape up to medium telephoto. So cities, and countryside is well covered. I would have no issues shooting Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and the coastal areas of Italy.

It is reasonably easy to travel with. Day trips would see a subset depending on location.

Sony 24-105 f/4
Tamron 70-180 f/2.8
CV 15 4.5
CV 21 3.5
CV 40 f/1.2
CV 75 f/1.5







Nov 27, 2021 at 05:14 PM
Craig Gillette
Online
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #10 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


I think the pace/schedule makes a difference. If centered around a couple of places, it's easier to take more and then pare down for a day. If traveling every day or so, it's maybe more trouble. We had my daughter's place in Florence and a small apartment for several days in Rome (near the Colosseum) so there were some really long walking days so I could leave and pickup the tripod. That was 8 years ago (16 mp NEX6) and think hardware and software improvements have really reduced the need for interior tripod use. And maybe the "fast" prime, too?

Really enjoyed Italy. New and OLD!. But we're from Southern California so "old" here is mid 1700s. Or rocks and trees. So it's easy to see how it's difficult to decide what to take. TBH, although I have the A7Riv, 28-200 and 17-28 now, I'd not feel too bad about my A6400 and 18-135. I think I'd replace the 12/2 with the new Tamron 11-20/2.8. Saves size, weight, allows, maybe, for lighter tripod, etc.



Nov 27, 2021 at 05:26 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #11 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


Set 3 is the all AF kit with better IQ, and able to be used in a run and gun way when traveling with the Wife who has little patience for my photography. Still small and manageable. The Zooms have very good IQ and a broad FL coverage. The 35 GM has my most used FL and World class IQ , speed for when the images are important.

Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
Tamron 70-180 f/2.8
Sony 35 f/1.4 GM







Nov 27, 2021 at 05:32 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #12 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


This kit is a very strong landscape kit. I would take it pretty much anywhere in Italy and not feel like I was missing anything. It is basically the kit I took the Italy just before the pandemic hit. We were in the Dolomites, and Slovenia. I never felt like I was missing a lens to handle the situation. The 100-400 was an important lens in these locations.

CV 15mm f/4.5
Sony 24-105mm f/4 (most used)
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM (Not available back then)
Sony 100-400 GM (plus TC)









Nov 27, 2021 at 05:41 PM
naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #13 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


1bwana1 wrote:
This thread has got me thinking about what I would actually take on a trip like what Rich is planning. I have so many options from very minimal, to very complete. Which I would choose really depends on who I am traveling with, where I will be going, and what the purpose of the trip will be.

The filter set and tripod, and accessories is common to all the kits.

General cleaning, 3 batteries, card pouch, & portable 1TB backup storage drive.

4,6,10, NDs, and Circular polarizer

The travel tripod folds very small, is reasonable in weight, and has one leg designed as
...Show more

1bwana1 wrote:
Next up is a kit for when photography is more central. It has my favorite CV MF prime lenses, backed up by a pair of AF zooms. All higher IQ lenses. Again with a broad focal length range. This is a great set for city/historical/people/landscape up to medium telephoto. So cities, and countryside is well covered. i would have no issues shooting Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and the coastal areas of Italy.

It is reasonably easy to travel with. Day trips would see a subset depending on location.

Sony 24-105 f/4
Tamron 70-180 f/2.8
CV 15 4.5
CV 21 3.5
CV 40 f/1.2
CV 75 f/1.5


Hi Steve,

You got me beat in your first posting. Your second is more in keeping with what I am leaning toward. But, you are using 2 zooms with a wide focal range and one fast prime. Also, you are only taking/using 1 camera and a tripod that has a leg that can be used as a monopod.

As a result, your filter selection appears to be more limited than mine and you are suggesting taking a 1 TB back-up drive.

I am really struggling with the selection of lenses. I know that I want to bring my WATE. Everyone keeps recommending different options. Some like the 35mm or 40mm lens options and foregoing the 50mm focal length. But, I still prefer the 28mm focal length to the 35mm focal length. And I still think that a 50mm focal length then will work well as the next focal length followed by a 90mm focal length. I would then have make the final decision if I did not also include the Voigtlander 12mm Heliar III (and possibly the 40mm Minolta lens) whether to take the smaller, lighter, sharper 180mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt lens or the larger heavier, slightly slower and more flexible Leica R 80-200mm f4 Vario Elmar.

As to my filter set, most are round 77mm filte) assortment of kinds of Circular Polarizing filters and Variable ND filters alone and with Polarizing filters built in. The round set are the smaller and faster operating filters. A second set consists of my Lee Foundation 100mm filter holder (s) with a Circular Polarizing Filter and an assortment of solid ND and Grad filters which I want to use more often and not futz around with trying to use them in LR as much as possible. The Lee system would be more for away from the cities.

As to tripods, I still have the Leofoto LS-284C, but I can live without carrying the 2" extension and leveling bass as the Leofoto LH-30R head allows for leveling above the ball. The drawback is the tripod and head are only about 51" high with the QR plates and clamp. But, I am vertically challenged at 5' 5". I am now really thinking about a Monopod for supporting the cameras at this point and may opt to include it in my suitcase and swap out the tripod and monopod or follow Steve's example of a single tripod/monopod.

I will be bringing my tiny Lefoto table top tripod and quite possibly a small clamp.

Unlike many at this point I am really trying to avoid a laptop and only bring NEXTO DI NPS-10 Nexto Photo Storage with a 2TB SSD and a 2 TB external SSD.

In any case, I am now leaning to still take the 2 cameras: A7rII UT sensor modified camera and my A1. As to the lens kit, I am really again thinking Leica M WATE, Voigtlander 28mm f2 Ultron II VM, Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph, FE mount, Voigtlander 90mm f2.8 Apo-Skopar, and decide between the Leica R 180mm f3.4 Apo-Telyt or the Leica R 80-200mm f4 Vario-Elmar to only be carried and used on occassion.

Rich

Edited on Nov 27, 2021 at 05:51 PM · View previous versions



Nov 27, 2021 at 05:42 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #14 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


Finally my most minimal kit for business and wife/family travel. If I have to take less than this it is camera phone time.

CV 21 f/3.5
Tamron 28-200 f/2.8-5.6

I wouldn't even bring a camera bag with this kit. Just a strap for the camera and keep the second lens in a pocket when out walking around.







Nov 27, 2021 at 05:47 PM
flash
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #15 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


I’ve not been to Italy. But I have been to over 50 countries on six continents by plane, train, automobile and bicycle. Over the years I’ve come to some conclusions on my own kit. So some tips may be useful.

1. Insurance. Get it and stop obsessing over thieving and security. I become more *alert* in cities and theft rich environments. And the thieves will sense this and move on to someone else. I almost always carry one camera in my hand on a wrist strap. I use a QD system for all my straps so I can change from one to the other quickly.

2. Camera bag/Day Bag. Choose ONE and stick with it for the entire trip. Make sure it’s big enough for all your gear PLUS any extras. Like headphones, a hat/cap, sunscreen and sunglasses. Backpacks are far better for all day walking than sling bags. I’m currently using the Wandred PRVKE with the large photo cell. If I’m on a buss/train it’s not hard to wear it on the front of your body. And while there it also makes a nice makeshift camera support.

https://wandrd-pacific.com/collections/bags/products/prvke

I like this bag because it expands to take a jacket/shopping if needed and shrinks when I don’t. You never want to carry two bags outside. That’s when you lose stuff. And it’s annoying. Also you don’t need different bags for different days. Just the one bag that gets lighter if you leave a lens or two in the hotel safe. This bag also holds my computer when I am transiting.

One day bag means you’ll not forget anything. It’ll always be in the same bag. It’ll be faster to access gear. Muscle memory. You’re less likely to lose it. I’ve tried using two bags or rotating based on needs and it’s never worked out. It is an unnecessary complication you don’t need. You also have some compromises to make with your travelling companions. No way I’d carry more than one bag when out and about. I guarantee you if you swap bags you will leave your spare batteries in the bag in your hotel room……

3. Lose the photo vest. You want to look like a tourist and a target then fine. Otherwise leave it at home. You could consider a small bum bag/fanny pack that’ll take a couple of lenses if you want to walk around really light or to dinner when you don’t want to carry a camera bag.

4. Bring a standard AF zoom. It doesn’t need to be flagship but if all else goes south you can shoot the entire trip on this one lens. And you will want times where you don’t have to do AF and exposure calculations. Tamrons 28-75 would be good. Or something really cool like the Sigma 20-60.

5. Bring the gear you want. I’ve done trips with one camera and one fixed lens. And it’s true that less is more. You become more focused. There’s an infinite number of possibilities with just one lens. But I like to have flexibility. Personally I rotate between two types of kit. Either two/three zooms and a fast prime. Or a two zooms (wide/tele) and two primes. Mostly I carry a GFX100S plus 23, 32-64, 80 and 100-200. But it might be a SL2 with 14-24, Q2, 50, 90 and a 100-400 (or 150-600 or 90-280 depending on the trip) that spends some time in the hotel. Both these kits are bigger than yours and fit in my bag with room for filters/remote release, extra batteries etc and room for a jacket or shopping if required. I know 90% of my urban shooting is with a 28, 50 or 90 so that’s what I build my core around. Try to avoid too much focal length grouping. If you mostly shoot with a 35 then you don’t need a 50. Or vice versa. My ratio is around 90%. That means the next focal length is 90% of the one below and I build my kit around a fast 50(ish) and work from there.

6 Bring a smaller tripod. For city travel or where I walk a big tripod will just live in the hotel. I use a small Gitzo traveller and with a sliding plate it’s hold my GFX no problems. Even something like the Peak design tripod would be good. I also carry a really small table tripod or a Joby. My tripod is light enough I’ll carry it every day. I don’t carry a monopod. If IBIS isn’t enough then I need a tripod. Plus you can just get creative with bracing against poles and shooting from ground level. If you’re a left eye shooter you can also use your left shoulder to get the same support as a monopod, in most situations.

7. If you’re carrying more than one body make sure they share batteries and accessories. I used to carry 4-5 spare batteries. Now I generally carry 1-2 spares an a power bank as all my cameras charge from USBC which I can do while the camera is in the bag. I use filters a LOT. So all my lenses have a filter ring for a 100mm system attached permanently. Also means all my lens caps are identical so I can carry one 5$ spare. I don’t take hoods unless a lens is really prone to flare, although they are useful for rain protection as well. I just find them too bulky for travel. A good quality clear/UV filter and a couple of cloths in my pockets solve that problem. I have a lens cloth in every pair of pants I take. They get washed with the pants so I never need to remember to take one each day.

8. The clothes I travel in are specific. My trousers have zip pockets and are convertible. I really like the American Kuhl brand for travel. My shirts are all silk (I react to Merino) and i just hand wash the days clothes each evening. I carry my phone in a zipped pocket with one payment card in the phone case. I have one spare card from a different bank in the camera bag and a third (from the same bank as the first) in the hotel safe with my passport and drivers licence. My camera bag has a printed copy of my passport and I have a photo of it on my phone. Each shoe has 50 Euros or equivalent under the inner sole for emergencies. I wear a cheap Android watch so I don’t need to pull my phone out to check messages. And that’s it. All I need to look after is my camera bag. Anything I buy goes in that same bag for the day. I have found looking after one bag is the only way to go.

So in short. Simple is the whole kit, not just the cameras. But take the gear you like to shoot with or you won’t shoot as much.

Gordon



Nov 27, 2021 at 05:55 PM
1bwana1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.6 #16 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


naturephoto1 wrote:
As to my filter set, most are round 77mm filte) assortment of kinds of Circular Polarizing filters and Variable ND filters alone and with Polarizing filters built in. The round set are the smaller and faster operating filters. A second set consists of my Lee Foundation 100mm filter holder (s) with a Circular Polarizing Filter and an assortment of solid ND and Grad filters which I want to use more often and not futz around with trying to use them in LR as much as possible. The Lee system would be more for away from the cities.


I used to carry around a big Lee Filter set. But I am over that these days. I carry a set of rounds that are sized to fit my largest diameter lens. In my case 82mm. Then I have step up rings. I need only 1 type pf polarizer, and 3 NDs. I have stopped using graduated filters. With the Dynamic range, and advanced software available today I get easier and better results by bracketing and blending. The sky selection tools in software are really great for this. bracketing for me is more often separated by minutes rather than by fractions of a second. This really does maximizes the light for the image. Time bracketing as much as exposure bracketing.




Nov 27, 2021 at 06:02 PM
naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #17 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


flash wrote:
I’ve not been to Italy. But I have been to over 50 countries on six continents by plane, train, automobile and bicycle. Over the years I’ve come to some conclusions on my own kit. So some tips may be useful.

1. Insurance. Get it and stop obsessing over thieving and security. I become more *alert* in cities and theft rich environments. And the thieves will sense this and move on to someone else. I almost always carry one camera in my hand on a wrist strap. I use a QD system for all my straps so I can change from one
...Show more

Hi Gordon,

Thank you. I am not sure if I can follow all of your suggestions. As far as Insurance, I have some through PPA and also I will confirm this with my Home owners.

As to cameras having the same batteries, the only way this would be possible would be if I took my Kolari Vision modified cameras or another A7r. But, I can live with both size batteries. I have the chargers loaded in a case so it is not that much of an issue to me.

I am not sure about getting all of the lenses with the same filter size and caps, but that may be possible.

Watch, I am not sure.

I may be able to get an inexpensive zoom small zoom.

My tripod is small and light, but possibly heavier than it could be. Still thinking about a monopod now.

Rich

1bwana1 wrote:
I used to carry around a big Lee Filter set. But I am over that these days. I carry a set of rounds that are sized to fit my largest diameter lens. In my case 82mm. Then I have step up rings. I need only 1 type pf polarizer, and 3 NDs. I have stopped using graduated filters. With the Dynamic range, and advanced software available today I get easier and better results by bracketing and blending. The sky selection tools in software are really great for this. bracketing for me is more often separated by minutes rather than by
...Show more

Hi Steve,

I use my circular filter set more often as it is faster, lighter and smaller. I have Step up rings for these, most of these filters and step up rings are for 77mm though I have one special 82mm Variable ND filter with Polarizer and Enhancing filter built in. I do not have solid ND for this set up. They are much easier to deal with with the Lee system as I can focus and then install the filter. I find sold ND filters would be much more difficult to work with for round filters as focusing would/could be near impossible due to density and or if you focused first and then installed the filter it is more likely to change focus and or change the composition. When I have more time and am willing to carry the 100mm Lee system, I still like to have the ability to use grad filters. But, that is me.

Rich



Nov 27, 2021 at 06:15 PM
simonedf
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #18 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


A kind of different tip: buy an Airtag and hide it in your camera bag/backpack.
Should shit happen, you can track the location of your gear in real time.



Nov 28, 2021 at 03:29 AM
rscheffler
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #19 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


Rich: I don't have any qualms with the core range of lenses you want to bring: WATE, 28, 50, 90. That's a really compact kit. You'll have to make the call on anything longer than 90.

For my visits to Germany, primarily urban photography, I found 21-90 worked well for me and most of the time was using 28, 50 or 90. As others have said, your eye adjusts for the lens(es) you have with you. I'm sure if I also had a 300mm along, for example, I could find compositions for it, too.

Definitely go 2TB in the Nexto and also as the second back up SSD. I still advocate buying a ton of good quality, but less expensive slower SDXC cards and shooting everything onto two cards. It's Black Friday time now and there are deals out there (just don't buy from Amazon due to potentially greater possibility of counterfeits).

I have mixed feelings about the filter kits. Definitely a polarizer because some polarizer effects cannot be done in software. Rather than the massive 77mm with step rings, I'd probably just buy one for each common size. In your case 39mm for the 28 and 90, 49mm for the 50 APO and 67mm for the WATE, which could also be used with a step ring on either the 180 or 80-200. This saves fiddling with step rings most of the time and can be left on each lens if you're in a situation where you're possibly changing lenses a fair amount so you don't also have to spend time sharing one filter with step rings for all lenses. NDs I guess if you have use for them, but while you like the grads, this might be an opportunity to leave those at home and instead blend exposures in post.

As for tripod vs. monopod: really depends on whether you think you will need the stability of a tripod enough to warrant it. Like you said, you can extend the tripod legs without spreading them to use as a pseudo monopod.

Chest pack: can be good, but depends. I have a Newswear Chestvest, which is a similar concept to the Ribz suggested earlier. Main drawback IMO is there is no air circulation and as a result, it can get very wet/sweaty under the bag, which in turn is both uncomfortable and does not look good. IMO it's acceptable in a 'work' situation like covering a news or sports event. Or when hiking in the woods. But not urban holiday settings, even if you're mixing in some photo 'work.' While your trip will be in March and not in the middle of summer, it could still get warm enough for such a chest pack to become uncomfortable. The same could be said for a backpack. It's a reason I switched to an Osprey Talon 22, because of its massive air gap over the back. But it's not a bag that will work for what you need (too small, too difficult to work out of as a photo bag other than carrying stuff while in transit). Instead I use it to carry non-photo things and some accessories while working out of the murse.

Keep an eye on developments around the omicron variant. Seems many countries are reinstating at least some visitor restrictions, currently mostly for travelers from southern Africa. Sounds like Israel, for example, will ban all non-citizens... Might blow over well before your trip, but delta certainly has stuck around a while.



Nov 28, 2021 at 05:03 AM
naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.6 #20 · Photo Equipment for a month long? trip to Italy


rscheffler wrote:
Rich: I don't have any qualms with the core range of lenses you want to bring: WATE, 28, 50, 90. That's a really compact kit. You'll have to make the call on anything longer than 90.

For my visits to Germany, primarily urban photography, I found 21-90 worked well for me and most of the time was using 28, 50 or 90. As others have said, your eye adjusts for the lens(es) you have with you. I'm sure if I also had a 300mm along, for example, I could find compositions for it, too.

Definitely go 2TB in the Nexto
...Show more

Hi Ron,

Thanks again. In preparation for the trip and since Crucial had their 2 TB internal SSD on sale (I have one in my laptop), I placed an order directly from them yesterday rather than from B&H as they could use the full amount of money. I had also recently ordered one of the faster type II SanDisk 64 GB SD (for use with the A1) and 4 more of the slower 64 type I SanDisk 64 GB SD cards to be shared between both cameras on Friday. I will order more of these closer to Christmas and later closer to the trip as they are available on sale.

I will consider getting 39mm and 49mm Circular Polarizing filters. I found a Moose (Hoya Circular Polarizing filter in 49mm which I can share with the 39mm filter lenses once I receive my Heliopan 39mm to 49mm Step up ring that I have been waiting for for almost 15 weeks). B&H had no Warm Circular Polarizing filters listed for 39mm. I also found a Moose (Hoya Warm Circular Polarizing filter which is presently out of stock in 67mm; it could cause vignetting with the WATE, but the 77mm Circular Polarizing filters with the step up rings do not). I found my regular Leitz 60mm Circular Polarizing filter. I normally like to use a warm polarizing filter since it adds a bit of warmth to otherwise a bit cooler look to a standard filter. That is why I have the Singh-Ray warm Polarizer with warming filter and one with the same warmth and the added Enchasing filters in 77mm.

I am still debating on bringing and splitting duties between a monopod and my Leofoto Tripod. I can get what looks like a nice and relatively small CF 5 section Leofoto Monopod that folds to about 17" and extends to 60" for about $80. I could then borrow an Arca type QR clamp to use with the monopod and quickly move my small Leofoto head back and forth between the monopod and the tripod depending upon which I would be using.

We are definitely going to monitor what is going on with Covid and all of its variants as this could potentially sink the trip. And if need be we need a 2nd booster shot, we will get those.

Rich



Nov 28, 2021 at 08:09 AM
1       2       3              5              7              9       10       end




FM Forums | Sony Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1       2       3              5              7              9       10       end
    
 

Welcome back
Log in to your account