What kit to take, any advice?

[Jonleeper]

Just a quick ask for advice for a trip that I am going on. I am going to Italy for a battlefield tour of Anzio and Cassino. I will take my existing kit but am travelling though London before and after so, for the first time, could hire some additional kit to take. I currently have:

Canon 10D with battery grip.
Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR Di
Canon 70-300 f 4-5.6 IS USM
Jessops 360 AF DC flash

There will be the obvious shots of the beach, mountain, monastery and probably some indoors. I will also get a day in Rome seeing the sights so will need to record these as well. My photography skills are limited but I am trying to progress. I was thinking that perhaps a short lens, 10-20 ish, for the landscape shots and possibly something faster, 70-200 f2.8, instead of my 70-300 to cover the more detail shots, especially inside. Would it be worth hiring the entire kit and taking a 40d? If I do hire where is the best place to go and does anyone have any recommendations? I will be flying so do not want to take lots of kit but wondered if anyone had any advice/suggestions on what would be best? Also any advice on taking the photographs very welcome!

Many thanks,

Jon

[kybo]

You've probably got these on your to go list but based on your criteria a Tripod is a must and lots of memory cards.

Never hired any equipment myself but have heard good things about:

Camerent
Fixation

Here's another one
Hire a Camera

The Sigma 10-20 lens is highly recommended on these forums, as is the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 (it's on my shopping list).

Slightly OT but I'm envious of your trip (would love to do something like that myself) and wish you the best of luck with it all.

Scott

[VxDuncan]

Ooh! Good trip! Would also suggest a Sigma 10-20 to get in the big views, though practise with this lens as IMO it punishes anything less than perfect composition due to the massive field of view. Great for the interior shots though.

I spent a couple of weeks in Cassino, amasing place, though very much under the shadow of Monte Cassino. You never really forget it's there when you're in the town. It's worst at night as even when it's pitch black you still see the a few dims lights of Monte Cassino glowing in the sky like a ufo watching over you. You can see why it was such an impenetrable fortress.

When I visited Monte Cassino for the tour I had a really odd experience on entering that I'd been there before. I knew my way around which spooked me really badly. I then realised that it was recreated in one of the early Medal of Honour games on a level I was stuck on! Really freaked me, being able to walk around a place knowing every inch, expecting zee germans to be hiding behind certain pillars. I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for those that fought there.

If you have the time a day trip down the autostrada to Mt Vesuvious (ca. 2 1/2 hrs) is well worth it as with the back ash and being above the cloud line (when I was there at least!) it's really otherworldly. Pompeii ain't bad either. Just watch out for crime, our group were hit a couple of times for bags in Naples.

[Jonleeper]

Many thanks for the responses.

I was thinking about taking a tripod, or monopod, but have concerns about carrying it about, time to set-up vs. the benefit given. I am not sure that I would actually use one as I normally just hand-hold my kit or use a suitable wall/post/etc as a support. That is why I was thinking of “fast” glass so that I can minimise shutter speeds.

I was also thinking that I might invest in a backpack type bag. I normally carry a "daysack" about with me, a 35l backpack, for stuff (waterproof, lunch, etc) and was wondering if there was a photo bag that would give me a usable space for "stuff" as well as look after my equipment. All the ones I have seen do not have any space for anything other than camera equipment. Does anyone have any experience of these types of bags or any suggestions?

Many thanks again,

Jon

[Longers]

Jonleeper said:

I was thinking about taking a tripod, or monopod, but have concerns about carrying it about, time to set-up vs. the benefit given...........

........and was wondering if there was a photo bag that would give me a usable space for "stuff" as well as look after my equipment.

Defo take a tripod to Rome! I took mine and got some amazing night time shots of the illuminated buildings, fountains etc. They are great in the day but are even better at night! I actually stayed (reasonably) sober one night just to take the camera out after dinner when the crowds had gone

As for bags, check out the Lowepro range. They do a good selection of day/photo rucksacks. There are other brands but I've always liked Lowe.

Longers

[Jonleeper]

I do like to take landscapes so if I was to buy one which one do people think is best? The Sigma 10-20 or the Sigma 12-24. They are both the same price, both EX, both HSM and both have the same minimum aperture. Which one is best?
(The Canon 10-22 will not fit onmy 10D as it is a EF-S mount)

[RobDickinson]

10-20 seems to have on average better reports but if your at all intrested in going for a full frame body later the 12-24 is a better option.

IMO esp on a crop body 10mm is a lot wider than 12mm.

[profstoff]

Longers said:

Jonleeper said:

........and was wondering if there was a photo bag that would give me a usable space for "stuff" as well as look after my equipment.

As for bags, check out the Lowepro range. They do a good selection of day/photo rucksacks. There are other brands but I've always liked Lowe.

Longers

I've just got a Lowepro Fastpack 350 for a trip to South Africa, Its got a camera comprtment that I got a DSLR with 18-55 lens fitted, 90-300 zoom and 150-500 zoom, digital camcorder and digital compact, plus batteries and spare cards. Then a top compartment with enough room for sarnies and a fleece and a few other bits and bobs. At the back is a laptop compartment which I found useful for books, travel guides etc. You could also use it for a laptop! It's also got an outside mesh compartment for a drinks bottle.

It fitted my needs great. Tamrac do a similar one.

[CVP]

Rome is great place. During the day at lots of places you won't be allowed to set up a tripod so it's best to leave it in the hotel, but at night definitely very useful.

They key thing I'd suggest is not to take too much kit, in fact I'd probably stick with what you currently have. Experiment with that and take lots of pictures rather than worry about changing lenses a lot.

Cheers

Chris

[AlfaFoxtrot]

A Gorillapod could be an alternative to a full blown tripod, provided you can find somewhere at a sensible height to stand it on. I got one for my birthday (after my trip to China!) and it would have come in very useful.

[kybo]

profstoff said:

I've just got a Lowepro Fastpack 350.

+1 for the fastpack range. I have the 250. Somewhat smaller than the 350, possibly too small for your needs. Very comfy to wear!!

Scott