Recommend gear for Paris?

[d2creative]

Take an awesome photographer's p&s like the Ricoh GRD-II or Ricoh GX-200 along with your D300.
It's nice somedays to leave the big kit at the hotel and walk around with the little camera doing some street shooting. It feels liberating, and with one of those cameras you won't miss the big dslr. Trust me.

[shamrock]

Originally Posted by d2creative

Take an awesome photographer's p&s like the Ricoh GRD-II or Ricoh GX-200 along with your D300.
It's nice somedays to leave the big kit at the hotel and walk around with the little camera doing some street shooting. It feels liberating, and with one of those cameras you won't miss the big dslr. Trust me.

Awesome suggestion, thanks! I've got a Nikon 8800, would that work? It's still a bit bulky, but mucher lighter. It's really slow, though... dunno how much faster the p&s cameras are these days.

[ramblinray]

If you like architechural stuff, I would recommend a tilt-shift lens. Europe is full of really great buildings that photograph well. I had one in my bag of tricks for last summers trip and it was fun to use. I guess it depends on how you like your building to look when you photograph them as to whether you need a TS or not.

[shamrock]

Originally Posted by ramblinray

If you like architechural stuff, I would recommend a tilt-shift lens. Europe is full of really great buildings that photograph well. I had one in my bag of tricks for last summers trip and it was fun to use. I guess it depends on how you like your building to look when you photograph them as to whether you need a TS or not.

I love the look from a t/s lens, but i don't think that i'd use it often enough to justify the expense, and i'm not that good yet. :D

shamrock added 0 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by playbak

Check your charger for the D300. It should be a dual 120/240. Same for your netbook. If this is so, you will only need the French 2 prong adapter. They're pretty cheap compared to a transformer kit. Since you've been to the UK, you know that game.

Yup, the chargers on everything i'm taking are dual voltage, and i've got a converter. I'm really getting excited about this trip. Everyone has had excellent suggestions, thanks so much!

[L Stegall]

On my last trip (last September), I took my 5D and my D60 IR body, as well as my 50, 16-35, 100 macro and my 200 prime, the 5D + 16-35 was my primary combo in Paris (and Venice). I think a good wide angle or a mid-zoom gives you the best options for most city needs. While I packed a tripod, you're not going to get to use it most places. Certainly not in any church or museum interior.

I found climbing up the stairs to the gargoyles at Notre Dame was worth the huffing and puffing to get there. Ste Chappelle is also worth the wait to clear security - amazing stained glass. The Museum Pass is well worth it's price. I loved the antiquities section at the Louvre and also the D'Orsey and the Orangerie were worth visiting. If you do the Bateau Bus (and I recommend it), definitely try to time at least one ride at twilight. We were on the water as the sky turned inky blue and the bridges were all lit up one by one. That was magical.

I can give you some food suggestions as well if you want. Among the highlights was a tiny place specializing in Spanish hams (Bellota Bellota), Cafe Florimond and, of course, Laduree, for the best macarones. Our hotel, Ares-Eiffel, was lovely, great location, easy access to the Metro and I would definitely stay there again.

[playbak]

You're going to have a blast! I took my wife to Paris for her birthday in 2001. You may already know this, but all the national museums are free on the first Sunday of each month. So this includes all the major galleries such as Musee d' Orsay, the Orangerie, Musee Picasso and the Louvre amongst others. Get there early as the line at the Louvre was rapped around the place twice!

playbak added 14 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Ooh. I just remembered what I wanted to tell you. I have the Black Rapid camera strap.

http://www.blackrapid.com/

I wish I had this strap last time I went to Europe. It's so much more comfortable than any neck strap I ever used. You wear bandolera style, but gives you the complete freedom to bring the camera up to ready to shoot. It has a nice balance, even with a big heavy lens like the Nikon 70-200. If you plan to be walking around for more than an hour, you'll love this thing.