Paranoid about cameras

Pick older people! Seriously though, you can tell who is a tourist, but the easiest is to pick other English speakers, families, or seniors.

Pick someone who has a nicer camera than yours.

Thieves want your money, your credit cards and maybe your passport. The street value of your stolen camera makes it not worth the effort, especially in the scenario you have described where you have clearly seen the theif's face.

Megan, I agree that it is generally safe, but you also might want to look into either using multiple memory cards or to uploading the pictures to another device. Pam

Megan: I think the posters here are right. You should have little fear of asking someone to take your picture. You may want to invest in a Gorilla Pod. This is a small flexible tripod that can be affixed to just about any stable object so you can use the timer on your camera. Take a look: http://joby.com/gorillapod. I use it as sometimes it is not convenient to find someone to take your picture. They are available in many stores. I saw them at REI last week. Have a great trip.

Two thoughts: 1) We usually pick another tourist couple or family (that looks "safe"....99.999% of them do) and ask if they would like their photo taken; and then they offer to take ours (or if they don't, we ask if they have time to take a quick shot of us). We usually make sure they are satisfied w/ their photo, taking a second or third, and then they usually offer the same for us. Sometimes you just know you have that special background that will be your "framed desk photo," etc. and you really want to get a good shot. 2) Order an "XShot" Camera Extender, which will allow you to take photos of both of you by yourself. You can them at xshot.com, through Amazon, or even Walmart. Will cost you about $20. We first saw the XShot device when we were in Italy...another couple had one, and we were simply amazed. Light-weight, can fit in pocket, daybag, etc. Practice holding it steady, and you will have the skill in no time. Also great for taking photos of events, scenery, etc. up over the heads in a crowd. Also handy when there is just no one else around to ask and when there is no tree or rock handy for the portable flex tripods (also great/light tools). Don't forget extra memory cards and batteries. Also, be sure to put your email address on your camera and make your first "photo" on your memory card is a photo of your contact info, should your camera get misplaced. What a wonderful honeymoon destination :)

There is no reason to worry about this. You'll be in touristy areas and its not hard to find another tourist, camera slung over their shoulder, to take your picture. Look for people with nice cameras versus small cheap ones. Not because they might take off with your camera, but because they might take a better photo. Do take extra memory cards and DO back up your photos each day. If you have not way to back up the photos, then put the used cards in your moneybelt.

Well since I am on my own sometimes I often have to ask for help,, and have never had a problem. My camera is a cheaper one,, so no fear about it being covented for its value, and most importantly,, I have always found it VERY easy to find another obvious tourist to take my photo. You will too, don't worry about it so much.

I am often asked to take pix of others, using their cameras. They may ask me because I'm past 60 and probably don't look like I can run very fast. Luckily for them, I also know something about photography. I even ask the digital-camera users to check the picture before I leave. I'm usually willing to do a second shot if the first one isn't perfect. Give clear directions (e.g. please include the waterfall behind us) and suggest where the person should stand for the shot. You might want to set up the shot first, for distance, composition, lighting, etc. Then, with the camera settings where you want them, hand over the camera and tell the helpful photographer how to work the thing.

I don't buy into the argument that a thief would not be interested in a camera just because it does not have a high street value. Thieves and con artists are like scorpions; if they get the opportunity, they will steal even if there is little profit in it. Besides, not all cameras are cheap; a $500+ SLR or any Leica or similar high-end brand would go quickly on the black market. I like the idea of asking an old person or a tourist couple to take your picture. I have done the latter, myself. My wife likes to ask waiters to take our picture, as well. But, if your camera means anything to you, don't ask anyone you cannot outrun and outwrestle, if necessary. And definitely do not turn your camera over to someone dressed in costume not native to that country and/or who holds out a "found" ring or asks, "Do you speak English?" :>)

I do it all the time, since I often travel solo. I usually look for a family or couple taking a picture, and offer to get them both in the picture. They always offer to reciprocate. Once, on the Great Wall, I "asked" a Chinese woman, using gestures and smiles, if they would like me to take their picture. She happily handed over the camera, and then they took mine - and then they wanted to take my picture with their camera.

Clark Griswald had his camera stolen (see movie European Vacation). So, select someone with a bigger more expensive camera with lesser athletic abilities.

Clark Griswold..a.k.a...the baby boomer's pratfall man himself...Chevy Chase?!?!! Megan, no need to be paranoid. Use common sense. Relax. Enjoy the differences of Europe. Each country is unique. A world apart from Texas and the states. Some sameness . Cities will be loud, and busy. Countrysides quieter and becalming. Remember your are quests. Watch and listen. Follow your heart. Congratulations on your marriage.
Enjoy The Continent!

"I don't buy into the argument that a thief would not be interested in a camera just because it does not have a high street value. Thieves and con artists are like scorpions; if they get the opportunity, they will steal even if there is little profit in it. Besides, not all cameras are cheap; a $500+ SLR or any Leica or similar high-end brand would go quickly on the black market." I live next door to a German police officer who works in Heidelberg (a city no stranger to tourists with cameras) and I asked this exact question to him. He couldn't remember the last time someone reported a stolen camera, but he gets several inquiries on stolen wallets every week. Doesn't matter how expensive the camera is in a store, there aren't too many serious photographers who are interested in a pinched $500 or even $1,000 camera.

It's funny. When ever I see people taking picutures of each other I ask them if they'd like me to take one of them together. As a point of information I like to take two cameras. My point and shoot when I'm out and about during the day. I like to get up early and use my SLR while the light is good and before the crowds arrive ..and/or later in the evening when the crowds finally fade away. My first photo is always of a card with my name and address written on it. Just in case someone steals my camera maybe maybe they will send me my chip. It's like chicken soup .. it can't hurt.

I have the same fear and it is sort of funny to me. Fact is if you are going to lose your camera and cards it probably would not be that way. Use several cards and don't keep them with the camera. If you have a way to upload them to a photo service, that would be the most security you can get against losing your photos.

megan, I've thankfully never had a problem asking others to take my picture. I always carry both a large DSLR as well as a P&S Camera, and I always use the P&S for that purpose. For example, on the trip that I've just returned from, I had others take my picture on several occasions. In some cases, I used the staff in restaurants (it's not likely they'll run off with an inexpensive P&S Camera) or other travellers (who already have their own Cameras). You won't have to worry about the possibility that someone will "run off with all of my pictures that we can't replace" if you backup your photos each night. An inexpensive Netbook computer is an easy and effective way to backup photos, especially as most Netbooks have a built-in SD Card Reader. That's the method I've been using for the last few years, and it works well. Will both of you be packing along a Camera? Congratulations and happy travels!

(Regarding stolen cameras in Europe, or anywhere else...) "I live next door to a German police officer who works in Heidelberg (a city no stranger to tourists with cameras) and I asked this exact question to him. He couldn't remember the last time someone reported a stolen camera..." My former son-in-law was a state trooper, and he never got involved in a murder investigation. I guess that means there are no murders in the United States. I am not disagreeing that camera thefts are rare. There is no need to be paranoid about it, but don't be too trusting or you may regret it.

Thanks for all the comments. I think the fear does come from the European Vacation with Clark Grieswald. At this point in time it will be just my camera but I'm trying to save up for a second one just so that we can both be taking pictures. I like the tripoid and xshot, I'll have to look more indepth on these things. Thanks again, megan

A simple solution would be to take a one-shot camera - like the ones people put on tables at weddings - and just use that for the pics you ask strangers to take for you. After years of camera disasters on my travels I bought and carried around 6 of those 6.00 jobbies - they did a great job and no one would think of stealing them! Now I'm back to a high-end normal one and I never hesitate to ask a furriner to take our pic. People
like doing favors!

Hi Megan! I was very worried about this on our trip last year that I was constantly on the look out for pickpocketers etc. that it was stressful at times and I didn't enjoy some areas as much as I wanted to. Learned my lesson! We just got back from Spain and brought our DSLR. Many people walked around wearing the camera around their neck/bouncing on their chest. I had my strap wrapped around my wrist, even when we rode the BCN metros and walked up and down Las Ramblas. No problems. When we were visiting sites we asked older people, familes, and people who also had other nice cameras to take our pics - usually set it on auto so they didn't have to fiddle with settings. Again many people are walking around with their big cameras. Just be aware of who's around you when you're shooting. My husband usually stands watch when I am setting up shots :-) Have fun!

The risk of someone running off with the camera is pretty minimal. You'll be able to tell who is a good bet for taking your photo and who to shy away from. Pick people who are part of a family group and who you think you can outrun - no joke. The bigger problem when others take your photo is the mind-bogglingly inept way so many people frame a photo. Here we are standing in front of (famous place) trying to get some good options for a family photo and they focus in on our faces with little to be seen in the background. Yea, we traveled 4000 miles to get a photo of our faces 'cuz we couldn't do that at home... Also, either swap memory cards frequently or download them to another device frequently. Then you don't have to worry so much about the photos themselves.

If you ask someone to take your photo, the chances that you randomly chose a camera thief out of the crowd is pretty slim. If someone approaches you and offers to take your picture, that's the time to make a quick judgment. Don't be afraid to say "no thanks" if you feel uncertain or uncomfortable in any way. Even if you then accept another person's offer a few minutes later, you can always claim you changed your mind (not that the original person who offered is likely to notice). Trust your instincts if you sense danger. And of course, if the potential photographer tells you to take off your shoes and step into the fountain, remember Clark Griswold! Have a great honeymoon!

Megan, Waiters are always good for picture taking if if not too busy. There are a couple of waiters in Siena who run off when people give them their cameras to take their picture! Its funny to see the looks on the people's faces. And if someone asks if you could take their picture, and they have a nice camera, have them return the favor, and take yours. You'll know who's ok. Don't worry so much. Try to back up the photos somehow, though. Our friends had their luggage and camera soaked with water in the storage area under a bus once and lost everything right before they went home.

I bet a camera with Tinkerbell (or some other cartoon character) on it wouldn't be too attractive to theives. ;-)