tips for Europe trip
- Thread starter jd7
- Start date
Furter, Europe still is a very safe place. Mind pickpockets. Keep your gear-bag in sight, have it closed in crowded areas, wear you backpack to the front in crowed public transportation. In some places/museums you'll have to deposit your bag at the reception. Keept that in mind when packing.
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A quick thank you to everyone who has posted - I appreciate all of the information. Unfortunately I have been caught up with things at work (lots to finish before I head overseas) and I have barely had time even just to read the most recent posts (but I have!).
Anyway maybe I shouldn't read any more posts - too many of you are tempting me to buy an UWA!! The usual CR bad influence
Hhmmm, if I did, Canon 16-35/4 IS is no doubt the sensible choice (for me), although I cannot quite dismiss the idea of a Sigma 20 1.4 Art. The Tamron 15-30 is obviously another possibility, although I think if I was going to go with something relatively large and hard to filter, I'd go for the f/1.4 of the Sigma.
I am flying out this evening so I probably won't have much chance to post again for a while.
Cheers.
Anyway maybe I shouldn't read any more posts - too many of you are tempting me to buy an UWA!! The usual CR bad influence
Hhmmm, if I did, Canon 16-35/4 IS is no doubt the sensible choice (for me), although I cannot quite dismiss the idea of a Sigma 20 1.4 Art. The Tamron 15-30 is obviously another possibility, although I think if I was going to go with something relatively large and hard to filter, I'd go for the f/1.4 of the Sigma.I am flying out this evening so I probably won't have much chance to post again for a while.
Cheers.
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neuroanatomist said:
Thanks again Neuro. A little hard to tell at that resolution, but I am guessing the full size images taken with the TS-E 17L are clearly a step up from the ones with the M (more detail, etc). Still, it seems to me you have dragged some very nice images out of the little (and relatively cheap) M.
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C_Raven said:jd7 said:d said:AlanF said:
Why do you think I don't sign my full name...
- d.
As an aside - and without being able to comment on the Eiffel Tower situation specifically - buildings are copyright items in many (all??) countries. That said, it is usually (always??) the case that it is generally OK to photograph buildings. For example, in relation to Australia, see http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/s66.html
Of course, sometimes there are specific laws relating to particular buildings or places.
In general it is OK to photograph buildings or other landmarks, but not to make commercial use of the images. A good source of information on the matter are the rules and guidelines of stock photography sites, there are lists of specific buildings and places that cannot be posted.
The statement that you always need a releases (ie model release or location release) to use a photo for commercial purposes (basically advertising/promotional) is all over the internet, but from a legal point of view it is not always strictly true, at least in many countries.
That said:
1. if you are using a photo for commercial purposes without a relevant release, you need to do it very carefully if you are going to avoid legal liability - and it's not always going to be possible;
2. it is therefore generally going to be good practice to obtain a release in those situations - it could save you from being dragged into a legal fight later, and if you are dragged into a legal fight later it could make your life easier;
3. as has been noted, many stock agencies insist on releases (it's a risk management issue for them - I am sure they have not got the time to consider every photo which gets submitted in detail to assess whether a release was required);
4. even in places where there is no absolute requirement to obtain a release, there can be specific laws relating to particular places/people.
If anyone is interested enough to want to know more, here is an Australian case which you might find interesting
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FMCA/2008/1132.html
As far as I know, the law in the UK and Europe would be broadly similar except that the UK and Europe have a much broader right to privacy than in Australia. I am less sure about the US, but again I think it is reasonably similar to the Australian position(?). I cannot comment on other places, although I suspect that any places which have a legal system derived from the British legal system may be similar to Australia in relation to this issue.
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Few days later a Canon recommendation came into my mail. Sometimes ...it's better to start by leaving the camera in the hotel:
http://www.canon-europe.com/get-inspired/come-and-see/showcase/north-east-south-west-amsterdam/?WT.mc_id=You_Connect_2016_04&WT.dcsvid=F8EFC18A-1AFD-11DE-AFE7-0F3B97518494
(if there is a safe in the hotel that is).
http://www.canon-europe.com/get-inspired/come-and-see/showcase/north-east-south-west-amsterdam/?WT.mc_id=You_Connect_2016_04&WT.dcsvid=F8EFC18A-1AFD-11DE-AFE7-0F3B97518494
(if there is a safe in the hotel that is).
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I have a trip planned on Labor Day to Rome, Cinque Terra, Venice, and Paris. I want to travel light so I am planning on bringing my M3, Tamron 18-200, Rokinon 12mm f2, and the 22 f2 along. I figure that will give me all the options I will want.
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I'm back from my trip so in case it might help anyone else with gear choices for similar trips, I thought I would record how things went for me. Please bear in mind this was NOT a photography focused trip, so what I say should be read in that context.
I took the 24-70 4L IS, 70-200 4L IS and Sigma 35 Art.
The vast bulk of shots were taken with the 24-70 4L IS. That is not surprising in general terms, but I was a little surprised at just how high the percentage was.
I found the IS on the 24-70 very useful. Shooting handheld inside cathedrals and other buildings, and trying to keep the ISO down despite the dim lighting, I was often shooting at 1/15 or 1/10 or even longer shutter times.
I am glad I took the Sigma 35 Art. I probably didn't use it quite as much as I expected, but I enjoyed using it and once I have finished going through my photos I think it will be responsible for more than a few of my favourite shots.
I was surprised at how little I used the 70-200 4L IS - and even some of the times I used it were as much because I felt like I should since I'd carried it as anything else. There were only a very few occasions when I really felt glad to have a longer lens with me, and most of the time I didn't feel motivated to put it on the camera. In fact, I'm now planning to sell my 70-200 4L IS - and probably pick up a 135L to use as a travel telephoto instead. (OK, that is something I have thought about for ages, but I think I will finally do it now.)
If I had had something wider than 24, I am sure I would have used it. (That said, I am not sure how much I would have used it though to be honest - but that might be just me.)
I used a LowePro FastPack 350 as my camera bag / backpack. That was a mistake - for walking around all day it just wasn't comfortable for me, even when I had limited weight in it (eg camera with lens, one extra lens, a few snacks, water and a few other small bit and pieces). Not sure if it just doesn't fit me well or if its carrying system just isn't up to scratch, but my back and shoulders got sore. I think next time I will get a camera insert and put it in a non-camera backpack.
I was a bit disappointed with my Peak Design Slide strap. I have hiked for days with my Black Rapid Sport and barely noticed the weight of the camera, but I certainly noticed the weight when using the Slide. That said, I didn't have the Slide connected to an arca swiss plate - I just had it connected to either side of the camera. That may have been a mistake on my part. I see a lot of people praising the Slide in another recent thread, so I intend to try it with one end connected to an arca swiss plate and see if that makes a difference to how the camera hangs and the way weight is distributed. (I didn't take my BR on the trip as I thought the Slide might have been easier to get on and off when walking around cities, etc, noting I only did 4 or 5 days of longer hiking outside cities.)
I didn't carry a flash - and I didn't miss it.
A tripod would certainly have been useful. I think I probably made the right call for me, for this particular trip, not carrying one, but there is no doubt I could have got better photos if I had had one.
Forgetting photography, it is really annoying that the local SIM cards where I was switched to international rates when I crossed a border! I was in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and England during a 3.5 week trip, and it didn't make things easy!! I have since heard that Orange may offer a SIM card which does cover Europe - something to look into.
I plan to post a few photos once I have reviewed them and hopefully found a few which are OK.
I took the 24-70 4L IS, 70-200 4L IS and Sigma 35 Art.
The vast bulk of shots were taken with the 24-70 4L IS. That is not surprising in general terms, but I was a little surprised at just how high the percentage was.
I found the IS on the 24-70 very useful. Shooting handheld inside cathedrals and other buildings, and trying to keep the ISO down despite the dim lighting, I was often shooting at 1/15 or 1/10 or even longer shutter times.
I am glad I took the Sigma 35 Art. I probably didn't use it quite as much as I expected, but I enjoyed using it and once I have finished going through my photos I think it will be responsible for more than a few of my favourite shots.
I was surprised at how little I used the 70-200 4L IS - and even some of the times I used it were as much because I felt like I should since I'd carried it as anything else. There were only a very few occasions when I really felt glad to have a longer lens with me, and most of the time I didn't feel motivated to put it on the camera. In fact, I'm now planning to sell my 70-200 4L IS - and probably pick up a 135L to use as a travel telephoto instead. (OK, that is something I have thought about for ages, but I think I will finally do it now.)
If I had had something wider than 24, I am sure I would have used it. (That said, I am not sure how much I would have used it though to be honest - but that might be just me.)
I used a LowePro FastPack 350 as my camera bag / backpack. That was a mistake - for walking around all day it just wasn't comfortable for me, even when I had limited weight in it (eg camera with lens, one extra lens, a few snacks, water and a few other small bit and pieces). Not sure if it just doesn't fit me well or if its carrying system just isn't up to scratch, but my back and shoulders got sore. I think next time I will get a camera insert and put it in a non-camera backpack.
I was a bit disappointed with my Peak Design Slide strap. I have hiked for days with my Black Rapid Sport and barely noticed the weight of the camera, but I certainly noticed the weight when using the Slide. That said, I didn't have the Slide connected to an arca swiss plate - I just had it connected to either side of the camera. That may have been a mistake on my part. I see a lot of people praising the Slide in another recent thread, so I intend to try it with one end connected to an arca swiss plate and see if that makes a difference to how the camera hangs and the way weight is distributed. (I didn't take my BR on the trip as I thought the Slide might have been easier to get on and off when walking around cities, etc, noting I only did 4 or 5 days of longer hiking outside cities.)
I didn't carry a flash - and I didn't miss it.
A tripod would certainly have been useful. I think I probably made the right call for me, for this particular trip, not carrying one, but there is no doubt I could have got better photos if I had had one.
Forgetting photography, it is really annoying that the local SIM cards where I was switched to international rates when I crossed a border! I was in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and England during a 3.5 week trip, and it didn't make things easy!! I have since heard that Orange may offer a SIM card which does cover Europe - something to look into.
I plan to post a few photos once I have reviewed them and hopefully found a few which are OK.
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Welcome back, jd7!
Looking forward to seeing some of your photos when you post them. Sounds like your experiences ended up being similar to my own, except I was carrying a 70-200 2.8 and not using it, and I did pack a flash (and spare batteries etc) and never need it.
I was carrying everything in a Thinktank Streetwalker HD, which I actually find very comfortable even when close to fully loaded, plus it meets carry-on limits as well. However, I decided after my trip earlier this year that my next camera backpack I purchase will need to be one that provides access to the main chamber via the panel that sits against your back, and not the top surface that faces behind you when you're wearing it. This is mainly so I can access items more easily, either by leaving the waist strap done up and rotating the whole pack around my hips so that it's in front of me, or so that I can place the bag on the ground for access without getting the straps/back panel all dirty, and keeping me cleaning when I put it back on.
Cheers,
d.
Looking forward to seeing some of your photos when you post them. Sounds like your experiences ended up being similar to my own, except I was carrying a 70-200 2.8 and not using it, and I did pack a flash (and spare batteries etc) and never need it.
I was carrying everything in a Thinktank Streetwalker HD, which I actually find very comfortable even when close to fully loaded, plus it meets carry-on limits as well. However, I decided after my trip earlier this year that my next camera backpack I purchase will need to be one that provides access to the main chamber via the panel that sits against your back, and not the top surface that faces behind you when you're wearing it. This is mainly so I can access items more easily, either by leaving the waist strap done up and rotating the whole pack around my hips so that it's in front of me, or so that I can place the bag on the ground for access without getting the straps/back panel all dirty, and keeping me cleaning when I put it back on.
Cheers,
d.
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d said:
Thanks d
I know what you mean about having a pack which opens via the panel which goes against your back. There were a number of times during this last trip when that would have been really handy. The only thing, though, is it means you can't have a suspension system against your back - the back panel itself has to sit directly against you (at least, I haven't seen any bags which have that sort of access and a suspension system). I know lots packs claim to have back panels which allow airflow, but in my experience the only ones which really give you a bit of air are the ones with suspension. It may not be such a big deal in cold weather, but in warm weather I think it would make a real difference.
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