Bringing DSLR to Italy

Dan,

I always travel with my DSLR and associated kit, and haven't yet had any problems or attempted thefts. It's important to take a few basic precautions though, such as not leaving the camera sitting on a table while you're dining. The strap should always be secured to something solid. Also, if you're going out for the evening and just taking a P&S it's probably a good idea to pull the memory card from the DSLR and store it in your Money Belt. Although It's a bit more trouble to haul around a heavier Camera, I really like having the flexibility it provides.

What would you do if you were traveling to NYC? Would you leave it at home? Same pre-cautions.

@George,

"Now, why would you do that?"

If the DSLR get's pinched while I'm out for dinner, the thieves may get the Camera but they WON'T get my photos. I'm more comfortable keeping the memory cards close at hand, rather than leaving them unattended. YMMV.

I always take my DSLR but I don't walk around with it around my neck. I usually wrap the camera strap a few times about my wrist and tuck it into my shoulder bag when I'm not taking photos.

I should add that I am a small guy (5'4") and a colleague of my wife told her that they target more vulnerable people (old or smaller folks).
It's a pity that tourists have to be so concerned about their safety.

surf,

Travel in Europe is more likely a concern for safety of property rather than safety of person. You're less likely to be mugged or face violent crime in Europe than in other places in the world (including North America), although that does happen in some cities in Europe.

I've never heard that thieves target older and smaller people, although that's certainly possible. I'm somewhat "larger" so perhaps that's one reason why I've never had any problems?

No one is going to "rob" you. There is a difference between a robbery and having your pocket picked. Violent crime, such as robberies, are almost unheard of.

As for carrying a DSLR, I do it all the time. I've never had a single issue. I've never been "targeted" and no one has ever attempted to take it from me. I'm not sure where you are hearing such nonsense but stop listening to those people. They don't know what they're talking about.

Pick pockets take advantage of people who aren't paying attention. You will certainly be paying attention to your camera so you won't be the person they will target. They will target the tourist who is paying more attention to their map than to the purse they left open when they left the gift shop. That's a much easier target than trying to take a DSLR off of someones shoulder.

Take your camera and take some great pictures.

Donna

Dan, by all means, bring it. I use a strap that takes the weight off the neck and puts it on one of your shoulders instead, with the camera just above my hip for fast access to it; it worked well for long days of walking. It mounts to the tripod hole, which is a minor disadvantage if you carry a small tripod, but worth the trouble, I think. It is worn cross-body, so it tends to keep the camera from swinging around like a normal neck strap-also it feels more secure, but don't tell anyone.
I also carried a good quality P & S which was very handy. Be sure to use multiple memory cards so as not to have all your eggs in one basket should you lose one.

Have a great trip!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/895525-REG/BlackRapid_rs10c_1a0_Metro_Sling_Camera_Strap.html

Dan
Couple of things,
If you shoot at home with a DSLR then there's no reason not to take it to europe.
We all have our preferences, but I took a canon 1dmkiii, to Europe last year and did not get a second glance from anyone.
Europeans do buy DSLRS and every second tourist is taking loads of photos. Lots of people so get out early and late.
I never hang a camera around my neck , Removed the CANON/ NIKON advertising strap and replaced it with a wider more comfortable aftermaket plain black strap i have a KATA strap, that goes over the left shoulder, camera set to be at my right hip, right hand can support the lens, and secure the kit if need be. It was down low when not taking photos and while in Europe I mostly had a 17-40 on the camera, the lens was smaller, than I normally use at home 300/400s, so weight was never an issue. I did have a 70-200 L , but did not use this while in Italy.
What I should have taken was a wide angle @ 1.4 lens as inside most places are dim.
Also take a polariser, I don't know why but I did have more issues with dynamic range, perhaps the northern hemisphere light, is different, but in seven weeks we only had 8-10 days when it was not raining or fully overcast
I also took a G10 for the days we were going someplace where cameras are not allowed, slipped into my pocket during the tour, next year it will be a sony a7.
What got up my nose were the number of tourists who thought "no cameras" didn't mean them with their P&S or their 8mp iphones, and were allowed to shoot away, Windsor castle, St Peters while mass was being held, Sisten Chapel.
regards

I agree with the others; there is absolutely no reason not to bring it. I use a DSLR all the time and never had an issue and never felt uncomfortable using it. As noted, never leave it sitting on a table or sitting out on a dresser in the hotel when you are gone (maids often leave doors open as they clean multiple rooms).

I have traveled all around with my DSLR. Was glad to have it, some of my pictures help spark my favorite memories. Others have listed ways to be cautious with it, keep it secure. I don't think simply carrying your DSLR will make you a target for robberies. If you look like an easy victim, camera or not, that's what can make you a target. So try not to look distracted, be aware of your bags and surroundings. I always kept my crossbody purse in front of me while taking photos with my camera, but I usually had my husband keep an eye on me/my things while I was taking photos because you are a little distracted while making the picture. But I don't think it's anything to be fearful of. Be confident, smart with your items on the streets and in your hotel room... you should be fine.

Take your DSLR with you. You'll be glad you did. I have a sony with 2 lenses and took it with me and have some great shots. One thing I like is the Peak Capture System. I don't use a neck strap anymore since most of the time I have a messengar bag with me. I put the Capture on the shoulder strap and it works great. I'd rather wear one strap then have 2 straps on. Nifty little device, take a look at the their video if you haven't seen or heard of it.

https://peakdesignltd.com/store/?c=clips

For posters who are concerned about there physical safety while touring with a DSLR: Carry the DSLR with its neck strap looped around the back of your hand and the doubled strap from the bend running between thumb and pointing finger on the palm side. That gives you a firm grip on the strap in the event that you need to use the DSLR as a flail (one of those middle ages weapon of ball and chain configuration) to beat off your attacker. Keep in mind that the DSLR so used is a dangerous weapon and Italians may not accept a "stand your ground" defense.

Humor aside, property can be replaced. Take your good cameras and enjoy your travels. Just be aware of your surroundings and keep smiling.

It sounds like the answer us unanimous. Take your camera but use extra precaution.

Thanks everyone for your assurance. I will bring my camera with just one lens (so I don't have to change lens and attract unwanted attention).

surf,

One lens should work, depending on the range. I always day tour with two lenses most of the time (one on the camera) and have never had any problems with "attracting unwanted attention". You'll likely find there are lots of people walking around with DSLR's, so they're quite commonplace.

One lense, esp a zoom, can work. Henri Cartier-Bresson got by with a normal lenses. That said, for travel a wide range zoom is a joy.

Yes, I have a good 16-80. It's not a prime, but it's too much trouble carrying multiple lenses. I am still thinking about whether or not bringing a tripod. This is my first time in Italy, and it's more of a tourist trip rather than a photographic one. I am sure we will return when my wife retires on a less touristy time of the year.

Cartier-Bresson would never use a tripod. If your "normal" range zoom or camera body has stabilization and you can tolerate a high ISO setting you can hand hold a moonlight scene resting the camera on a window sill or stone wall. If you travel witj a bucky neck pillow you can use it as a bean bag support.

A normal DSLR is far too big to shlep around Europe an it makes an inviting target for theft. But there is a solution - the new breed of mirrorless DSLR. Most people don't seem to know about them since they only been around for 2-3 years. The Sony NEX with a pancake lens is ideal. It is little bigger than a point-and-shoot.

"No one is going to "rob" you. There is a difference between a robbery and having your pocket picked. Violent crime, such as robberies, are almost unheard of. "

People who say this are well behind the times. It's no longer true. Mostly eastern European gangs who have spread across Europe.

"No one is going to "rob" you. There is a difference between a robbery and having your pocket picked. Violent crime, such as robberies, are almost unheard of. "
People who say this are well behind the times. It's no longer true. Mostly eastern European gangs who have spread across Europe.

Violent crime in Western Europe in touristed areas is extremely rare, to the point of not really being an issue to worry about. Please don't spread fear, we have enough paranoid people that come here worried about crime for some reason. And many of the long-time posters here frequent Europe often or live there.

1smithee's comment that "A normal DSLR is far too big..." to an avid photographer is like suggesting to Ansel Adams that his view camera is too big and suggesting that he carry a Hasselblad in it's place.

To suggest leaving one's DSLR home out of fear of mugging is like telling a avid fisherman not to take his favorite fly rod to Alaska because a bear might break it.

FDR: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

1smithee's comment that "A normal DSLR is far too big..." to an avid photographer is like suggesting to Ansel Adams that his view camera is too big and suggesting that he carry a Hasselblad in it's place.

To suggest leaving one's DSLR home out of fear of mugging is like telling a avid fisherman not to take his favorite fly rod to Alaska because a bear might break it.

FDR: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Bring your dslr. They are so common across Europe that another one would not stand out. However, leave any extra long lens at home; they, not the camera, are what attract thieves. This youtube video illustrates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V5JMfaDKAs.

A mid-sized zoom (in the range of 24-100mm) will handle practically any situation from landscapes to closeups. I ditched my 300 mm years ago because I got tired of lugging it around and never using it on location. Now the only lens I take is a 18-105 mm lens that is only about four inches long and does not make a tempting or easy-to-grab target.

@1smithee,

"A normal DSLR is far too big to shlep around Europe an it makes an inviting target for theft."

I strongly disagree! I'm an avid amateur photographer, and I don't find my camera "too big to schlep around Europe". Some of the smaller entry level DSLR cameras with a "kit" lens (~15-85mm) are not really too big or heavy at all. As mentioned in this Thread, DSLR's are very common in Europe, so I don't believe it's any more of an "inviting target for theft" than any other travel gear. An iPhone is likely a more inviting target. Of course, YMMV.

Definitely take your DSLR & just use the same precautions that you would use in any big city in the U.S. My husband & I are both amateur photographers with DSLR's and we always travel to Italy with our DSLR's as well as a camera backpack containing multiple lenses, a tripod, etc. You will see people everywhere with DSLR's and camera equipment. If I couldn't take my DSLR, I frankly wouldn't travel! That's how important photography is in my travels. Anyway, just be aware of your surroundings especially when in crowded or congested areas (i.e. on trains, buses, etc.). When sitting at a restaurant, especially at outdoor cafes, I always put my backpack on the floor down by my feet and put one leg through one of the backpack straps so no one could easily grab & take off with my equipment. Also, when standing on crowded trains, I would wear my backpack on my front instead of my back or my husband would stand directly behind me so no one could unzip my bag and take my camera without me knowing. Take your DSLR & a few lenses. Have a great trip...you will be in a photographer's paradise!

Why have a DSLR if you don't take it along when you have interesting things
to photograph?

First of all, DSLRs are not targets of theft. Yes if you leave it
carelessly lying around, someone will take it, but they are not highly
desirable items for theft. A small point and shoot is easier to
unload and easy to take from a cafe table or pocket. A fancy phone is
a really desirable target and beyond that thieves want money and credit cards.

And half the people in any tourist site have fancy cameras or are
using their fancy phones as cameras. You won't stand out. I know
one person who has lost a DSLR in Europe; he left it in a toilet stall
and when he went back to find it, it was gone. So don't do that.

Muggings and robberies are virtually unheard of in European tourist sites.
And being small doesn't 'make you a target'. Your odds of being shot or
mugged are pretty high in the US comparatively speaking; your odds of
being pick pocketed are higher in Europe if you are careless. But your odds
of any sort of violent crime are incredibly small in Europe.

This is just a total non-issue. I have been carrying an expensive SLR of
one sort of another for 55 years of European travel. I traveled by ocean liner
on my first trip with my SLR and now have a nikon DSLR as well as a point
and shoot when traveling. I have never had the slightest concern -- and
have a large collection of snapshots of me or me and my husband taken
by strangers at various tourist sites -- and I have returned the favor of course.

Seriously. Don't worry about it. Use good sense and enjoy taking
great shots.

Absolutely bring your DSLR. I can show you my London DSLR pics compared to my wife's iPhone pics, and you will have one seriously easy decision, unless you're a fan of grainy snapshots.

Be it London, Paris, New York or Disney World, my DSLR never leaves my side. I do wear it around my neck, but my left hand is always resting on the camera. No sense having it in a bag when a 3-second photo opp comes by (those ravens in the Tower of London don't hold their poses very long!). I usually bring 3 memory cards and switch them out every 2 or 3 days so that I at least have some pictures in case the camera does "walk".

A previous poster said it best....a big, bulky DSLR is a lot harder/riskier to pinch (and sell) than a little point-and-shoot or a smart phone. I'd be ticked if someone stole my DSLR...I'd be beside myself if they snagged my iPhone given the relative hassle factor of replacing these items.

Even better...don't give into the "there's a thief on every corner/bus/museum" paranoia. Just be sensible.

Think how you would feel if you left your camera at home because you were afraid of it being stolen, then returned home to find that someone had broken into your house and stolen your camera. Play it safe, take the camera with you. ; > )

I use the Sony NEX-6 and love it. Smaller then a DSLR which is great for travel or just around my town. It's better then a lot of DSLRs out there with a bigger sensor and the new model is a full frame sensor now.

I appreciate your post Re: DSLR and security. It seems others are less concerned equipment risk and more reassuring.
But, are you OK with weight of your DSLR and what you have to tote... for the quality of images you expect? If the answer is yes then you may be at peace. Great!

Personally, I love the idea of fewer pounds to lug around... thus, considering a "point and shoot" of with an extended range of capabilities, especially in low light (without flash) for indoors. There are several wonderful options out there that can get you super image quality and lighten the burden by at least a couple of pounds. It may be $ well spent.

Any travelers feel similarly about the DSLR/len(s) weight issue? If so, have you found sufficient value to go upscale P and S rather than packing DSLR equipment?

B

@bjnaz,

Packing around a DSLR is a bit of a nuisance at times, but I'm willing to tolerate that as it provides so much more flexibility and capability than a P&S (IMHO). Photography is an important part of my travels, and considering that I may only get to visit some locations once in a lifetime, I want to have the best chance to get good photos.

I've travelled with only P&S cameras on occasion (and an iPhone), and I feel very much "constrained" with them so I'm willing to haul around a DSLR and put up with the weight. Although some P&S cameras may provide advanced features such as ISO selection, aperture or shutter speed priority or whatever, it's usually somewhat time consuming to switch modes in a hurry. With the DSLR, I also have the ability to work in RAW.

I travel with a very light weight canon point and shoot with a 90 mm telescope -- it is always with me as it will fit in a shirt pocket or small purse. I also travel with the Nikon DSLR which I take with me when I plan serious photography like that day trip to Crecy la Chapelle. It is heavy and a pain to lug around when I am just out on the morning run to get a baguette. I also like to keep the very long lens on the Nikon (I have an 18-50 and a 50-200 lens -- the combo is just so expensive. So I keep the long lens on the big camera and use the point and shoot for wider and framing shots. I find that most of the photos I treasure are made with the long lens.

Yes, by all means bring it along with you. My wife and I just got back from Italy and Greece and brought along our Canon 60D with the 18mm-135mm lens and my 10-22mm wide angle lens . We had no problems and saw so many people with DSLR camera's at every location. We even on occasion allowed others to take our picture. One suggestion, if your still concerned over theft, State Farm Insurance offers a separate rider for all your camera gear in case of damage or theft. On a trip to Hawaii, just after purchasing the 60D and extra insurance, I slipped very near the flowing lava on Kona and landed with my camera, breaking the lense. State Farm paid the claim with no questions asked and I didn't have to give them the broken lense either. Now, the extra added peace of mind comes in handy when traveling. Im not careless, but I know Im fully covered in case anything happens... We even saw someone with a full size tripod at the Leaning Tower! Now that's too much for me to carry on a two week trip. So glad that I brought both lenses too. The wide angle came in handy for the shots with buildings and landscapes! Have a great trip, and don't worry about your camera as long as you keep it with you and your eye on it, you will be fine.

Steve

I just wanted to report back about bring my DSLR. Everyone in the forum was right , we felt safe the whole time there and never had any issues. We were out late (10PM), took public transportation (metro, bus, train) and never ran into any potential troubles. I do believe now that Italy is as safe as any other cities in the world. Thanks everyone.

I'm so glad you reported back, Dan. It will surely help somebody else who has similar worries. My experience has been the same as yours - Just use common sense.

Dan,

Thanks for the update. That's also been my experience when travelling in Italy (and elsewhere in Europe). Taking a few basic precautions usually results in a safe trip.

Now that you're back, it's time to start planning the next trip!