Do I need a long lens for Italy?

[Jules Winnfield]

I will be visiting Italy, Rome and Sorrento, and plan on taking my canon 10-22 and 17-55 lenses. Last year, I visited Banff, Canada, which was breathtaking, but my 70-300 lens was hardly used.

Mostly, I take family and scenery shots. I would appreciate an opinion from a more experienced photographer (i.e. anyone on this forum)

Thanks.

[Mad Aussie]

The 10-22mm is must for me without a doubt. A long lens, anything over say 100mm I use mostly for either wildlife, isolating someone in a portrait (so huge depth of field creating background blur), or when I'm going for a certain look like the Prop in my 'I used to fly' thread I posted today. If all you want is snaps of people and nice landscapes, then you could do without a long lens. However, a long lens can render some very nice landscape/scenery shots as well. I'd be asking yourself if it would hurt to take it if you didn't use it.

Wanting it and not having it is worse than having it and not wanting it.

[Jules Winnfield]

Following Mad Aussie's advice, I decided to take a longer lens, but used the trip as an excuse to buy the canon 85mm 1.8. I took that as my longer lens instead of the 70-300, since the 85mm is so light.

The 85mm is a fabulous lens and I will definetely use it as a travel lens again. Most places were tight, so the 10-22 got a workout, the 17-55 was used less so, and the 85mm lens about 5% of the time.

Thanks.

[Mad Aussie]

Following Mad Aussie's advice, I decided to take a longer lens, but used the trip as an excuse to buy the canon 85mm 1.8. I took that as my longer lens instead of the 70-300, since the 85mm is so light.

The 85mm is a fabulous lens and I will definetely use it as a travel lens again. Most places were tight, so the 10-22 got a workout, the 17-55 was used less so, and the 85mm lens about 5% of the time.

Thanks.
I look forward to seeing the results :)

[AcadieLibre]

I think having up to a 200mm lens is a must for any travel or for any shoot period. Even if you use it 4 or 5 times you would have missed 4 or 5 shots and they could be one of those once in a lifetime shots. I would rather be over prepared than under pre[ared, nothing like saying sh-t if only I had brought ...... your call but I would bring your 300mm if you cannot rent, beg or borrow something that goes to at least a 200mm focal length. I don't think you get ridiculous with the amount of equipment you bring with you under any circumstances but that you be as prepared as you can with the right equipment within reason.

[Matt K.]

For what you are planning to shoot, the wide angle ones should be sufficient. Now if you plan on doing a lot of architecture shots, why not get a shift/tilt?:shrug:

[Marko]

I'm with Acadie Libre here, I feel a longer lens 200-300mm is essential for travel photography. There's always some area that's too far away and needs zooming...JMO.