iPad 3 for Pictures and Video?

In my opinion, an iPad camera is not really a camera - a point and shoot that will fit in your pocket will take significantly better pictures (and video!) at a fraction of the cost. Regarding using it as a GPS, I think you will end up spending hundreds of dollars on data charges by using an international data plan - the maps program is a data hog. I am bringing mine for a trip to Italy in July, but only because we will have free wifi at our apartment and I want to be able to share pictures with my siblings/nieces/nephews while I'm gone.

The new iPad camera is a huge improvement over the old - and it does take decent video - but both are lower quality than the typical tiny pocket-sized $99-$150 cameras you can buy anywhere. Those cameras can zoom in and out, among other advantages. Plus, you'll just look a little silly holding the iPad like a book in the air to take a photo. The only advantage to the iPad camera for travel, is that it's a handy way to email "look where we are now" type photos to friends at home without the hassle of having to download your photos from the pocket camera to the iPad first. Other than that, use a pocket camera for memories and the iPad for media and internet.

I agree with the others. You can buy a point and shoot which will take better pictures than an Ipad & will be much cheaper & smaller. In my opinion, the Ipad is awkward to hold & take pictures with. Can't comment on using the Ipad as a GPS for walking around but we took our portable GPS unit a few years ago to Rome and found that we had trouble maintaining the signal because the buildings blocked the signal. I'm taking my Ipad 3 on our upcoming trip to Italy but mainly for communicating back home, watching movies on the plane, keeping a travel journal on it, etc.

4-0, the ipad is terrific for everything except taking pictures - too big, too awkward, and low quality. When using it to take picture everyone would know. A good $100, pocket size point and shoot would be far better to use. Sometimes you want to take a picture without the whole world knowing about it. A good map with a compass is often better than GPS because the tall building, narrow streets often prevent the GPS from getting a good location. It will work but can give strange results depending on where you are.

Great for email and writing travel notes. The Kindle app allows u ti bring travel guides w/o the Borden of weight. Also Apples own app for books works just as well. Try researching the TomTom Italy app, it stores all the maps on the IPad and does not need data connectivity, works on IPad and IPhone. As for photos and video, a small digital camera might be better. It does take good quality photos and video.