Bring camera equipment ?

I think people worry way too much about this (and I had my wallet picked from my purse when I lived in London). Would you take your camera to a big city in the U.S.? If so, then bring it to Europe. Just take normal precautions and pay attention when you are in crowded places.

I agree with Laura. I don't like to have a daypack though because that is easier to tamper with. I use a courier bag or a soft sided bag with shoulder strap for my largish camera, drink bottle, apple, whatever. Don't know what space the tripod takes. Night shots especially, the tripod will be invaluable. Enjoy those 'Kodak moments'.

I have done just that for many years now. Keep your equipment close and know your surroundings. Use the "bag in front" technique when in crowded spaces (elevators/subways). Picking pockets is a crime of opportunity, so don't give anyone the opportunity.

I don't know what size tripod you're using, but unless you absolutely need it, think about not taking it. Its clearly a valuable part of a photographers equipment, but they make some wonderful small tripods which can fit in your pocket or nearly so (gorillapod makes one for SLRs).

I always carry my camera on the neckstrap (Pacsafe) and keep the strap around my neck with the camera under the opposite arm when not in use (like women are suggested to carry their bags).

A professional photographer told me once that if you want to take more interesting photos, put yourself in more interesting places.

Enjoy, take lots of photos, and have a good trip.

I carried my SLR w/gear once. We traveled Japan, Korea and the Phillipines with another couple. I was really happy with my pictures until I saw my friend's. He brought only an all-in-one camera and his pictures were nearly as good.

Now I don't lug a lot of gear. I carry a good, small all-in-one on a neck strap along with a tiny tripod in my daypack. This allows my a pretty wide range of shooting options.

Since you will take your SLR, here's some thoughts. Carrying-on your tripod may be questionable. If you don't plan to check luggage, it may affect your plans. You are likely to be targeted for theft if you are overburdened; it's probably a bad idea to carry both a camera bag and a day pack - consolidate your load. An expensive camera will make you a target, especially in the East; keep good track of your stuff, not just your camera. Don't set anything down while you set up your shot. Consider a morning/evening stroll for some shots, then travel lighter the rest of the day/night.

I have taken my Nikon digital SLR with me to London, Paris and Rome and have never had a problem. I have also checked my home insurance policy to make sure it is covered if it is stolen while I am on vacation.