Bringing my dSLR?

If it were me, I'd bring both the 17-50 and the 50-150 lenses. That way you get general wide shots and can zoom if you want/need to. I'd leave the wide angle home unless you'll be visiting more rural locations.

Jeremy, Photography is an important part of my travels, so I always take my venerable Canon dSLR, along with a medium range zoom (24-105) and a wide angle (10-22). Hauling around the extra weight is sometimes a bit of work, but it's worth the effort when I see the results. There are some shots that are only possible with a dSLR. I also have a small P&S for taking quick snapshots of "less artistic" subject matter. Given the issues you described with your P&S Cameras (bad focus, dirty sensor, etc.), having a Camera that "works" would seem to be an important consideration. Happy travels!

Thanks. I was initially interested in the wide angle for indoor shots like in churches, museums, etc. I'll have to reconsider.

If you are happy at home taking a dslr on holidays, then this will be no different, This kits minimal, though I don't have a 11-16 so can't comment on if its worth but they are too close for me so I would only take one,
leave the p&s at home, rather than carry them and disappoint yourself.

I don't want to haul extra stuff either, but being a professional photographer I obviously take my dslr...however, unlike a lot of my friends that I travel with...I take one zoom lens that remains on the camera. I figure if I can't get it with this lens...I wasn't meant to. Lens I use is 18-125. So, I just carry it over my shoulder, it is always ready and makes life simple.

Wish I had my Nikon FM-2 back. I'm an amateur. It I take photos to use in teaching as well as for my own enjoyment, so I take a dSLR with an 18-55 zoom, a 70-300 zoom, and a manual T&S (anti-distortion) lens for architecture. A pain to carry but worth it most days. On the other hand, I have friends who never take a camera and never regret not having one.

You won't be a magnet with a dSLR. The camera you carry is of no real concern to those few that try and prey on tourists. And other than keeping it secure on your person at all times, there is no higher risk of someone trying to steal it. But don't set it on cafe tables or sling it over the backs of chairs. I carry mine around everywhere, even out to dinner if I want to get some night shots or photograph my food. But I only carry one lense, an 18-200 that has always given me the shots I need. I find 18 is wide enough to work in narrow spaces and streets and 200 is more than enough to zoom into ornaments on cathedrals. If photography is important to you, the other cameras just won't hack it. Even when working properly, a P&S doesn't have the quality, zoom and light sensoring that a dSLR has.

Regarding theft; As long as it's with you and on you, there isn't much to worry about. However, don't sit down at a cafe and sling the camera bag over the back of your seat or under the table and then get up and walk away without it. That's the only time anything we ever brought on a trip got taken and it was our own stupid fault. Regarding size; You won't want to run out and buy a new kit, but for the sake of someone else reading...I just got a new kit for myself that combines the sensor size and lens changing ability of a dSLR but at less than half the size and weight. The Sony NEX 5n (or 6 or 7) has a very small, almost pocketable body and a family of interchangeable lenses including three long zooms, several prime options and a great new wide angle. I'm taking these pieces with me in a minimalist camera bag that measures about 7x4x10" and the whole kit weights just over two pounds; Camera body 55-210mm zoom 24mm Zeiss prime 10-18mm wide angle
three batteries & several sd cards

I take my D200 every trip. But I only take one lens, my 18-200. I don't want the hassle of changing lenses and risking getting dirt or dust in the camera trying to change lenses outside. When we stop for lunch or dinner, if my camera is with us, I keep it in my lap.

Thanks all! I'm definitely leaning towards bringing it now. I used to have the 18-200mm but ended up selling it in favor of getting f2.8 lenses. I currently have an 11-16mm, 17-50mm, and 50-150mm. Kinda regret getting rid of the 18-200mm now that I think about it. I feel like bringing all three would be too much, which is why I was wanting to bring just the 11-16mm and 17-50mm. I enjoy taking the wide angle/panoramic shots but am wondering how much I really would end up using the 11-16mm. Should I just stick with the single 17-50mm?

I've traveled with my Nikon D5100 and also brought only the 18-200mm lens, both to save luggage weight and to cut down my time spent fussing with camera gear. I've also toted a small P&S, but it was a really good one. I suppose you should imagine going on that trip only with two cr*ppy P&S cameras, and how you would feel about the pictures you'd come home with. If you'd really regret that, and especially if your wife can't be persuaded into a new P&S, you would likely be disappointed if you don't take the DSLR.

I too take my DSLR and go the route of the 18-200 lens. I had that lens on my film camera and tried to do without it for the DSLR and gave up. I had to buy that lens. As someone put it, if I can't get the pix with that lens then it wasn't meant to be. ; ) Pam

The main problem with only wide angle lenses are it is so limiting... when you are in a tourist area there are typically lots of people around, so it's really hard to crop them out it you are always using a wide angle...If you want a panoramic view just pan around the scene and take multiple images then stitch them together in photoshop and crop them into a long narrow image (kind of a fun technique if you don't have a wide angle...plus very little distortion)

Thanks! So you guys think I'll be fine with just the 17-50mm in that case?

Jeremy, A few additional comments..... Given the three lenses you mentioned, if you only want to take two I'd suggest the 17-50 & 50-150. That will provide a nice range. While the 17-50 won't be quite as good for shooting inside Churches and similar spaces as the 11-16, it's a reasonable compromise. If those two lenses aren't as fast, you can compensate for that with ISO settings or whatever (keeping in mind that noise usually increases with ISO speed). I also usually pack along a 70-300 zoom, but have found over numerous trips that I use the two lenses I mentioned in my first reply about 90% of the time (the 10-22 is one of my favourites). I also have a 17-55, 2.8 but I've never taken it to Europe (although there have been a few times I wished I had it). I'm not a big fan of "stitching" and other post production methods, but I suppose there are times when those are useful. I prefer to minimize processing as that often takes me too much time. I always struggle with Photoshop so use DXO Optics Pro most of the time. Cheers!

I find I can usually crop the photo if need be in photoshop. I still like my wide angle. ; )

another thing I'd add, is getting rid of the "NIKON" camera strap, just like "Canon", they advertise their "hey Camera " and don't provide good support esp if you hang a larger (heavier) zoom. After market straps, allow for carrying it "over shoulder and resting at your side, a better option, than around you neck and hanging in front. Better for your neck, and more out of sight. If you are going to take multiple lenses on the trip, I seriously recommend just one lens on the camera, and the rest stay in the hotel. Getting distracted changing lenses could see you set it down and leave it. Same goes for filters.

Last year I left the DSLR at home after taking it on many trips. I just didn't want to lug it around England. Instead we took our then-new Panasonic Lumix ZS20 which takes excellent pictures. The pictures are so good you wouldn't know they are shot with a compact camera. I doubt that I'll take the DSLR to Europe again. The ZS20 has a 20x optical zoom and Leica lens. I got it from Costco which has a 90-day return policy. If they still carry it, you could try it out.

Thanks guys! I actually have a non-branded comfortable camera strap that I bought a while back and have been using, so that should help with not sticking out too much like a sore thumb :) Tex, real interesting info on the zs20 - how's the battery life on it? I hear it's slow to charge with the internal charging system...? Looks like it's available on Amazon for around $250 or so - tons of really great reviews. What did it cost when you bought it at Costco? I actually had considered looking into the Panasonic GF1 or GF2 a while back, as those seem to have nice reviews and the size of the camera is perfect for being in the low-profile category and for travel especially.

I agree with the idea of not paying extra for GPS. It happened to be on the camera I wanted which at the time was priced about the same as or less than the others I was considering. Maybe some day I'll decide I like it. This will sound silly, but I didn't realize GPS could be turned off to save battery. I'll do that and maybe read the direction booklet again to see what else I've missed. I got the camera out earlier in the day and the battery was about gone. I plugged it in and when I looked at it 3 hours later it was fully charged.

Jeremy, battery life hasn't been an issue on the ZS20, but then we don't take 1000s of photos on a trip like some folks do. On an exceptional day like last year at Chatsworth we might take up to 100. We charge it overnight every few days. My wife reminds me that the battery seems to drain a bit when the camera isn't used for a few days. That may have something to do with the GPS system, but I don't know. The camera was $275 or thereabouts last year at Costco as I recall.

This is just an observation. On our journey to Ukraine last year I saw more digital single lens reflex cameras than I have ever before in Europe. I attribute that to people having more disposable income and people not traveling with light weight luggage. I doubt very many of them were professional photographers. This was very apparent in Odessa where lots of tourists were from Russia but was also observeable in Lviv and Kyiv. We use Panasonic DMC-ZS1, one for each of us. I bought a ZS9 but it didn't take as good photos as the ZS1. I looked at the ZS cameras that have GPS but couldn't think of a reason I needed that feature.

Jeremy, regarding the Panasonic Lumix--if battery life is important, you might look at the ZS20's little brother, the ZS15. Since it doesn't have GPS or a touch screen, the battery stays charged longer. It "only" has 16x zoom Leica lens and 12.1 vs. 14.1 mp sensor, but took great pictures for me on my last trip. Blew a couple of shots up to 16" X 20" and they came out crisp and clear with great color.

I've also had wonderful experiences with the Panasonic Lumix line of P&S cameras. Have had good battery life with them - though I've usually bought a spare battery to keep charged in reserve. Just a note that none of my ZS cameras have had GPS or a touch screen. My ZS1, which I still have, produced wonderful pictures. I tried out a ZS10 a year or two ago but returned it to Costco because its photos weren't as sharp as the ZS1. I bought a ZS9 about 14 months ago because its specs are much the same as the ZS1 but with longer zoom lens, and amazon had knocked the price down to "irresistible" level. I suppose it's the Leica lenses, and I know it's not my mad photographer skilz, but I've come home from trips with wonderful photos taken with the ZS1 at times when I didn't want to lug my DSLR along for the day. It's not as tiny as some P&S, and needs to be kept in a case to protect the lens cover mechanism, but it's very easy to tote around. I haven't traveled as much since I got the ZS9, but so far it seems to be as much a champ as the ZS1.

I always used to tote my SLR and a couple of lenses when traveling to Europe but not anymore - too much weight and too much messing around changing lenses. I spent 2 months in France this summer with just my Lumix ZS8 - small, light weight, convenient, and takes absolutely wonderful photos (nice zoom too). I have some prints that I enlarged and framed hanging on my walls and you can't tell the difference between them and the ones I used to take with the SLR. I can't say enough about a good P&S camera. edit: Also I did not have any problem with battery life and I took lots of photos each day (as many as 400-500) and using the zoom a lot. I just automatically charged it overnight each night just to be on the safe side.

@Tex, "My wife reminds me that the battery seems to drain a bit when the camera isn't used for a few days. That may have something to do with the GPS system" That's been a common complaint in various reviews of Cameras which have internal GPS systems. They suggest that users switch off the GPS unless they're in a location they specifically want to "tag" to the photo. That's not a feature I'd probably use, so wouldn't pay extra for a Camera with a GPS. Cheers!