Traveling to Florence for a month.

[annie_d]

<p>Hello all! I will be a study abroad student this upcoming summer semester in June and my group is going to live in Florence for a month. We will be traveling to museums and taking a train for a weekend to attend the Biennale in Venice, which I am really excited about. I also think that a couple of my friends and I are going to plan a weekend in Rome as well.</p>

<p>It is my first time traveling abroad so I'm quite cautious about the safety of my equipment. I was curious as to how I should pack and carry around my camera equipment while walking the streets of Italy. I've heard a lot of things about pickpockets and gypsies, and I am kind of nervous! Also, any suggestions on the possibility of taking a tripod with me? I have a Slik Pro 500DX.</p>

<p>I was also considering purchasing a new lens before I go. My budget isn't very high, being a college student and all, so I was thinking something on the cheaper side? I currently use a Canon 40D and have a 50mm 1.8 prime, a 28-135mm IS, and an 18-55mm.</p>

<p>If anybody has any suggestions for me that would be awesome!<br /> Thank you!</p>

<p>edit:<br>

I am also bringing along my Holga camera to experiment with 120 film.</p>

[bruce g. collier]

<p>First, relax about all the security worries. If you keep your wits about you and are concious of your camera gear at all times, you're 99% covered. Use common sense and listen to your instincts, and you'll be fine. Italy is no different than anywhere you've traveled. Like most places, it has its share of petty crime. A couple of specific tips - make sure someone stays with your camera bags at all times in public, put a chair leg through your bag straps when seated in large public areas, and make sure your bag is firmly attached to you when walking through areas that share motorbike/scooter access. Another good idea is to use a camera bag that doesn't yell "camera gear here". </p>

<p>Gypsies, pickpockets? I dunno, been many times, never seen a one. I still stick my wallet in front pocket, and move my backpack to my front on crowded trains, but again, just being aware of your environment will keep you out of trouble.</p>

<p>Tripods, I bring mine, but I never count on being able to use it. Many places won't allow you to bring one in, and if they do, sometimes they are impractical due to the crowds. Make sure yours is small, lights, and easily transportable.</p>

<p>Lastly, your images are perhaps even more important than your gear. Upload early, upload often.</p>

<p>Regards, Bruce</p>

<p ><a href="http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleries/italy/level2_clr1.htm"><strong>Italy Travel Images</strong></a></p>

[scotbaston]

<p>Annie,</p>

<p>Good luck with your travels!<br>

Italy is a safe country, along the lines of the rest of Europe, yet in any country it pays to be prepared and a little cautious. stick to the ideas below and you would be very unlucky to be caught by thieves etc</p>

<p>1) Never leave your gear unattended, I'm thinking specifically of in your hotel and at restaurants. in restaurants I will wrap the straps of my bag around my arm or leg to prevent someone running off with them<br>

2) any camera equipment that you are not using, keep it out of view<br>

3) be aware of what is going on around you and what people are doing... sometimes hard when trying to get the right image<br>

4) you say you are nervous, but projecting confidence is also a deterant to thieves</p>

<p>oh and you will adore Florence with its narrow streets, beautiful architecture, stunning food and drink... Enjoy!</p>

[colin carron]

<p>In Florence and Venice you are more likely to get crushed by tourists than anything else. For security just use your common sense as said above.<br />Personally I would probably not worry about the tripod but that is a matter of personal shoting style. <br />Your lens selection is reasonably comprehensive so you could take what you have and come back with good shots. Hiwever here are a couple of suggestions which you might want to consider :<br />1) add an ultra wide to your collection. The Sigma 10-20 is probably the best value against performance though none are dirt cheap and from my student days I rmember that all photographic gear seemed absurdly expensive!<br />2) If you use the 28-135 as a walkround lens I would forget this second suggestion. I you only use it for the long end how about selling it and getting the Canon 55-250 f4-5.6 IS? This would improve sharpness, give you a longer focal length and a better IS. If you sold the 28-135 on ebay you cold probably cover most of the cost of the new Canon 55-250 IS. If you traded it in then you would have more of a gap to make up.<br>

Note that some Canon lenses are currently in short supply so it would make sense to make sure you could buy first before sellin anything.</p>

<p>have a great trip!.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Theft is a real issue in touristy Italian cities (as well as other large European cities). I have encountered it myself (I had to wrestle with a Gypsie to get a wallet back from my wife in Rome, and a subway insident in Paris noted below) and have known SEVERAL other people with similar stories.<br>

First, most of your money needs to be in either a waste belt or neck belt that is large enough to hold your passport when you don't have it locked up back at the hotel. If you don't want to undress every time you buy something keep a small amount in a front pocket wallet. Taking a recommendation from Rick Steve I also have a note in the wallet telling a potential thief to enjoy a good dinner with the wife and kids. That way you don't loose too much and can make light of the situation.<br>

There are a couple different types of pickpockets. There are the pros that do a quick distraction and hit you fast (again, noted below) and there are the 'mob by a group' type, often with kids, which happened to us in Rome near the Roman Forum. They are after wallets mostly, but once they get it, they pass it off and scatter into the wind each running different directions.<br>

Rarely are they violent but they are good at what they do.<br>

So you need to be aware of where these things happen. Crowded buses, subways, and of course tourist spots are hot places in any of the major cities.<br>

If you wear a backpack, wear it on your front and keep any valuables out of the easily accessible back pocket.<br>

I doubt they will generally steal largish camera equipment. But I could be wrong.<br>

I have to tell you about my 'encounter' in the Paris subway. We were headed to our hotel and I had my backpack on. I had a wallet with a small amount of cash in my front pocket, ZIPPERED and VELCROVED. The station was crowded I and I jumped on the train with my wife when the doors opened. Someone was tugging on my foot. He had dropped some cards and was asking me to move my foot. I didn't want to step on his hand so I was watching his hand carefully. What I didn't see was another hand had unzipped my pocket zipper and had unvelcroved the pocket. He had the wallet halfway out when my wife saw it and shouted stopping. They jumped out of the door a second before the doors closed. Real pros.<br>

If you are a tourist and look the part and are carrying a lot of gear that is cumbersome there is a good chance that you will be targeted. That said if you understand the psychology that they just want some cash and little else you can help yourself by not carrying too much gear that is going to distract you. Also providing targets that will be the focus of their interest is a good strategy as well. Therefore if you DO get pickpocketed you willhave a light-hearted story to pass along rather than something that will ruin your trip.</p>

<p> </p>

[charles_stobbs3]

The railroad stations are the worst, lots of tourists with luggage. Easy pickings. You should only bring one camera and lens and save yourself a lot of wories. The town of Fiesole, short bus ride from RR station has good views looking over Florence. Spend a day in the Cinque Terra area and one day in Lucca (walk around the wall). Forget Pisa, you can see all you need to see of the tower from the train on the way to Lucca. Pisa had more thieves than tourists. Have fun, the memories wil be more important than the photos.

[charles_stobbs3]

The railroad stations are the worst, lots of tourists with luggage. Easy pickings. You should only bring one camera and lens and save yourself a lot of wories. The town of Fiesole, short bus ride from RR station has good views looking over Florence. Spend a day in the Cinque Terra area (do the coast walk) and one day in Lucca (walk around the wall). Forget Pisa, you can see all you need to see of the tower from the train on the way to Lucca. Pisa had more thieves than tourists. Have fun, the memories wil be more important than the photos.

[charles_stobbs3]

I goofed on the editing. Leave the tripod at home.

[annie_d]

<p>Thank you all for the kind suggestions and tips!</p>

<p>What type of camera bag should I consider?</p>

[andylynn]

<p>I once had somebody try (and fail miserably) to pick my pocket in Rome, and saw somebody steal a purse from an outdoor cafe in Torino, and I've spotted obvious criminals in train stations and avoided them. I also had a good lecture from a professor on the many and varied ways to die in Naples, but my whole group made it out alive.</p>

<p>Don't bring a full size tripod, you won't have enough space. If you'll have a home base, bring one that folds up small and use it around Florence if you like but still it's not terribly practical. Do bring a decent table top tripod, maybe the Manfrotto with the cork feet (non-marking) - you can put it on a flat surface to take a long exposure in a church, and you can also use your hand to pin it against walls and columns. Don't buy any more lenses, you'll want the money to spend in Italy. Camera bag - whatever feels good to you, making sure it's one with a handle so you can hold it at the same time it's over your shoulder. You'll want to do that in crowded places - it's not unheard of for a thief to cut bag straps when you're not paying attention. Better if you've got a backpack that's a bit beat up rather than a camera bag.</p>

[berg_na]

<p>I spent a week in Florence last year and did not witness or experienced any criminal activities in the streets, even very late at night. This does not mean that you shouldn't be watchful and use common precautions, but I feel that Florence is a very safe town. It's also a place full of photo opportunities, do plan to climb to the top of the bell tower, you get a great view of the town there. I only took a table top tripod with me which came in handy for long exposures, but other folks had full-size tripods like this fellow...<br>

<img src="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6771/photoght3.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="480" /><br>

<img src="http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9506/duomoap7.jpg" alt="" width="540" height="811" /></p>

[jeffpolaski]

<p>Last time we went to Italy, including Rome, I took a pocketable point and shoot. Next time, Never regretted it I'll take a slightly better P&S.<br />Travelling in Italy is too precious to spend too much time with camera gear. When we lived there, back in the day, I'd just take one (fixed focal length) lens attached to the camera.<br>

Below photo was poor scanning.</p><div></div>

[jeffpolaski]

<p>Then, a couple years ago. I took a Pentax S4i (4 megs!) and never missed a shot.</p><div></div>

[angela_brown3]

<p>All the Chianti country scenery begs for a tripod; I brought mine last year and certainly didn't regret it. While you are out and about do not forget Siena....other towns like San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Castellina, Radda in Chianti, and countryside are all lovely. I am envious. Definitely bring your 40D and all your lenses....you will get images of a lifetime, especially if you will be there that long!!</p>

[bruce g. collier]

<p>Jeff - I know what you're saying, but many of us don't have the opportunity but once in a lifetime. So, why not optimize for the best image capture one can manage be it financially or ergonomically or whatever? I'm not suggesting someone should have their eye glued to the viewfinder and miss the totality of the experience, just that a balance can and should be struck. <br>

Spotmatics rock!<br>

Regards, Bruce</p>

<p ><a href="http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleries/italy/level2_clr1.htm"><strong>Italy Travel Images</strong></a></p>

[jenna_kikani]

<p>I just returned from Italy, including a visit to Florence on Monday. I used a Kata Backpack for my camera gear I believe the model was a 475 around 50-75 dollars depending on the site you buy from. It doesn't scream out 'i've got expense camera equipment in this bag'. It looks like a regular backpack. I also have a 40D and used a 10-22mm lens and the 17-85mm lens the most. i brought a 200mm, but never used it.</p>