p.1 #1 · Rome with just an a1 + 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8? And best spots to capture?
Planning a 5 day trip to Rome in late April with my 18 year old daughter before she starts college in the fall.
I'm leaning towards a 2-lens setup with just the a1 and 20-70/4 + 70-200/2.8.
I'm not planning on photographing inside churches/museums. Guessing photos will be 80% portrait/environmental portraits. 20% landscape. Given that I would want to include some of the background in the wider portraits, I'm not sure anything faster than f/4 offers me much. I could rent a lens for the week if needed.
I haven't been to Rome since my honeymoon 20+ years ago so looking for any advice/recs on gear and where to shoot.
p.1 #2 · Rome with just an a1 + 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8? And best spots to capture?
I was in Rome with my wife and daughter about 13 years ago and a more recent trip, to Switzerland and then a Rhine River cruise. Without going into the reasoning, I'd think the 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8 and A1 is a pretty good set-up for Rome. The only caution is that it's a pretty hefty kit. There could be other lighter choices. You've got f2.8 for the portrait uses. There are the Seven Hills of Rome but there wasn't always one or more of them between where we were and where we wanted to walk.
Although not thinking of interior shots, the churches, cathedrals and such can have fairly dim interiors. I wouldn't skip visiting at least some. Stitching can be an option if 20mm isn't wide enough and you don't take a "just in case" wider. Noise reduction is your friend and it's a lot better these days, as are the sensors, compared to that first trip.
Where to shoot? Pre-book Vatican Museum tours, we booked through the museum as opposed to some of the tour operators. Might be some possibilities, especially in the gardens. Go early, tours typically end and people don't leave, they'll stay to visit spots they want more time with or weren't on their particular tour, so as they day goes on, it gets busier. And anything else that you can pre-book for the really popular spots is probably a good idea. St. Peter's is huge. I don't recall "portrait" type spots but there could be. Lots of places, fountains, etc., I think Trevi fountain has some new visitor regs as it's so popular. Piazza del Popolo has some fountains and interesting views, Piazza Navona has three big fountains, Spanish Steps may be crowded.
p.1 #3 · Rome with just an a1 + 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8? And best spots to capture?
It has been nearly 20 years since my last trip to Rome, but at least for me 20mm is not wide enough. I never shoot people, but the architecture is so beautiful and the streets so narrow, they just beg for the perspective distortion of a UW lens.
p.1 #4 · Rome with just an a1 + 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8? And best spots to capture?
You'll probably shoot the same way you do at home; use the same lenses you're comfortable with here.
I spend a lot of time in Rome. Not knowing your picture taking style, I can only offer that the 24-70 would easily be all I'd need. Inventorying the last 1000 or so keeper from the last 4 years, *3* were between 100-120mm...You can put an ultra wide to good use. But, nearly all my pictures are 24, 35 or 50 and traveling light is Good Thing. Honestly, I'd be comfortable taking just a single 28 or 35. But, most people feel uncomfortable with that idea.
Forum contributor Ripolini is a Roman - see his pics.
Things have changed in Rome (everywhere in Europe) regarding access to sites. April is a perfect time to go, but tourist crowds are a thing even that early in the season and each site has its own daily reservation requirements. Some are a bit arcane. You can reserve access yourself to each site but for a few dollars, you can go with one of the small group guide services and have them do the scheduling. They're also great if you find something you want to see while in town as they might have slots available for the next day, when the site might not. Their guides are profs, post-grad students and writers - excellent. They simplify your planning and the tours aren't cheesy. I have had very good experiences with GetYourGuide. Most others are good, too.
Think about what you want to take home. Venice and Rome are probably the most photogenic and photographed places in the world. There are millions of pictures of the Coliseum and Vatican. The really fun stuff are the details of the city and your experiences with them.
The Appian Way - Headed out of town with a Roman Legion.
p.1 #5 · Rome with just an a1 + 20-70/4 and 70-200/2.8? And best spots to capture?
Thank you all. Sorry for the late reply. I hadn't received any answers and then stopped visiting for some reason... Guess I forgot to sign up for the email notifications.
I found a few sites to hit but am excited to just walk and explore.
The 70-200 has to come for photos of my daughter. I love that as a portrait lens and I think it will do well picking her out of a crowd as well.
