Amsterdam - any ideas/tips

[Naddan28]

Hi All,

 

I've got a 4 day trip to Amsterdam on Friday, really looking forward to it and just wondered if anyone had any tips on locations or advice on lens selection?  I own an XT1, 14mm, 35mm, 56mm, 16-55mm and 50-140mm.  

 

I'm thinking of traveling light with just the 16-55mm (and a tripod for night shots of canals!) but any advice would be really appreciated!

[milandro]

Well, unless you plan doing any serious portraits ( which is not what one does while on a a 4 day city trip, normally) I would leave the 35 and the 56 at home take the 14, 16-55 and 50-140.

 

If you want to travel light yes, sure take only the 16-55.

 

As for the night shots on the canals the bridges are equipped with outstanding rails and pillars ( some pillars are not as camera friendly as others) and you can certainly use you camera on a small and portable mini tripod.

 

If the weather is going to be slightly different than it was yesterday and today ( we’ve dropped back into winter temperatures with hailstorms and wet snow yesterday ) a visit to the Keukenhof ( open for a few more days) would be mandatory and so it is the Zaanse Schans ( you can reach both by bus or train). Maybe you want to go to a trip to Marken and Volendam but you can also go to Edam en Monnickendam they are all very close to one another and not far from the city. You can get there by bus from Amsterdam.

 

 

 

 

So you will have seen all the windmills that you need to see, an old village or two and the Dutch flowers.

 

 

Remember the 27th of April is King’s day, when his mother was queen it used to be the 30th.

 

Amsterdam will be very “ happy” starting from the night before, if you are into quite visit of cities you picked the wrong time, it won’t be possible to shoot canals that day or the night before! People are everywhere selling anything on the streets and partying all around.

 

If the weather is nice is very glorious but it can be too much to some visitors.

 

I also predict that the city will be rather dirty for a few days in the aftermath of all that it happens the 26-27. You have been warned!

 

All the traditional tourist spots are nice.

 

But again you will find that they will be rather untidy in the days after King’s day.

 

 

Have fun.

 

 

 

http://www.keukenhof.nl/nl/

http://www.dezaanseschans.nl

[johant]

One of my favourite places in Amsterdam is "het Begijnhof" (unfortunately usually crowded). The 16-55 will serve you well in Amsterdam ... in general, I think a wide angle is more usable (for me) in a city than a tele. The book market at "het Spui" (every Friday) is worth visiting too,

 

Have fun!

[Naddan28]

Well, unless you plan doing any serious portraits ( which is not what one does while on a a 4 day city trip, normally) I would leave the 35 and the 56 at home take the 14, 16-55 and 50-140.

 

If you want to travel light yes, sure take only the 16-55.

 

As for the night shots on the canals the bridges are equipped with outstanding rails and pillars ( some pillars are not as camera friendly as others) and you can certainly use you camera on a small and portable mini tripod.

 

If the weather is going to be slightly different than it was yesterday and today ( we’ve dropped back into winter temperatures with hailstorms and wet snow yesterday ) a visit to the Keukenhof ( open for a few more days) would be mandatory and so it is the Zaanse Schans ( you can reach both by bus or train). Maybe you want to go to a trip to Marken and Volendam but you can also go to Edam en Monnickendam they are all very close to one another and not far from the city. You can get there by bus from Amsterdam.

 

 

 

 

So you will have seen all the windmills that you need to see, an old village or two and the Dutch flowers.

 

 

Remember the 27th of April is King’s day, when his mother was queen it used to be the 30th.

 

Amsterdam will be very “ happy” starting from the night before, if you are into quite visit of cities you picked the wrong time, it won’t be possible to shoot canals that day or the night before! People are everywhere selling anything on the streets and partying all around.

 

If the weather is nice is very glorious but it can be too much to some visitors.

 

I also predict that the city will be rather dirty for a few days in the aftermath of all that it happens the 26-27. You have been warned!

 

All the traditional tourist spots are nice.

 

But again you will find that they will be rather untidy in the days after King’s day.

 

 

Have fun.

 

 

 

http://www.keukenhof.nl/nl/

http://www.dezaanseschans.nl

Thanks we are there, Fri-Tues so hopefully things will have settled down! Aside from portraits much use for the 50-140mm f2.8? Travelling with friends so the 16-55mm is a convenience option, compared to three primes. I don't want to inconvenience everyone, when travelling with three non-togs.

[milandro]

It would much depend if you are into some compressed perspectives or not.

 

One of the reasons that made me chose the cheap 50-230 was to buy a long focal zoom which could be of use when you need it without investing too much in terms of money, volume and weight for a focal which I don’t use all that much.

 

Thanks we are there, Fri-Tues so hopefully things will have settled down! Aside from portraits much use for the 50-140mm f2.8? Travelling with friends so the 16-55mm is a convenience option, compared to three primes. I don't want to inconvenience everyone, when travelling with three non-togs.

[milandro]

well, it looks like the unusually cold, almost wintery temperatures, and the hail and wet snow have had the best of King’s day and in many cities, included Amsterdam, this has been a much smaller even that I can ever remember it has ben in the last 25 years.

 

So, most probably the city won’t be as messy and dirty as it usually is after this huge event.

 

Do bring warm clothes and something against rain. It is not raining all the time but we have very unpredictable and mostly cold weather for this season.

[Naddan28]

well, it looks like the unusually cold, almost wintery temperatures, and the hail and wet snow have had the best of King’s day and in many cities, included Amsterdam, this has been a much smaller even that I can ever remember it has ben in the last 25 years.

 

So, most probably the city won’t be as messy and dirty as it usually is after this huge event.

 

Do bring warm clothes and something against rain. It is not raining all the time but we have very unpredictable and mostly cold weather for this season.

Thanks again for your help, we had a great time!

[milandro]

My pleasure