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Safe to bring a DSLR camera?

I'm a photographer and would like to bring my "real" camera with me, but wanted to get a feel for whether this is a good idea. I know theft is a concern, but I'm not sure if some of the precautionary measures are a bit overboard -- many of the warnings seem to imply you should carry NOTHING that doesn't fit in a money belt under your clothing.

So...how careful do I need to be as far as my camera is concerned? When I went to Stockholm, I kept my DSLR in a crossbody messenger bag and kept my hand resting on the zipper when the camera wasn't in use. Is this okay, as long as I'm careful not to set the bag down anywhere (and keep it in the hotel safe when not in use)? Or should I bring my smaller point-and-shoot camera?

Posted by
5687 posts

I've taken a nice camera to Europe many times including several times to Italy. I took common sense precautions and was fine. Thieves aren't going to drive by aggressively on bikes trying to cut it off of you or anything.

The fancy camera will make more more of a target than people without one, though. So pay attention to your surroundings, and keep the camera hidden if you can when not using it. (For me, I was almost ALWAYS using it anyway, though.)

I wouldn't dream of not taking a nice camera to Italy myself - photos are a passion for me, and I have on my walls at home some great shots from Italy I could never, ever have gotten with a P&S camera. But if you are only going to post them on Facebook or something, it may not really matter that much.

Posted by
50 posts

I carried mine around my neck when looking for photo opportunities and in a backpack when in transit. No security issues whatsoever. You won't be the only one floating a quality camera.

As for carrying NOTHING outside a money belt, we never experienced anything that would make me take that approach. We didn't even have money belts for that matter. It's really just a matter of being vigilant with whatever you are packing around with you.

We did stuff a wallet in my pocket loaded with nothing but some cards with motivational messages on them in Italian in case someone did try to lift something from me:). We came home with all of them.

Posted by
7049 posts

I would bring it without thinking twice about it. Obviously, if it's worth a whole lot, then you'll insure it or, alternatively, be real careful with it. Europeans have expensive cameras too, and so do Japanese and other tourists. I don't see the point of leaving it at home, or bringing some cheaper version.

Posted by
6733 posts

I think your concerns are completely overboard (using your term). But that depends 100% on you. How attentive are you? How distracted are you? Are you aware of what's happening around you or is your head generally lost in your cell phone to the point that you don't know if you're in Paris or Pittsburgh or how many people are reaching into your pockets?

There are people who are so disconnected from their surroundings and clueless that they probably shouldn't leave their house with a penny welded to their belt-buckle. Others who can dedicate a portion of their attention to where they are, what's happening around them, and who might be reaching into your backpack (or into your pants) should be just fine. Yes, by all means take a money belt or similar device for passport, credit cards, big money, etc. to frustrate even the best thieves and keep your critical bits safe in the worst circumstances. But the most important security devices that you can bring are your consciousness and common sense. If you've got those (and a money belt) and you want to bring your nice camera, go ahead, you'll be fine.

All the chained wallets, bag straps with titanium cables buried deep inside, etc. are completely useless if the person who owns them has their head someplace else.

Posted by
5239 posts

You do realise we Europeans walk around with expensive cameras don't you?

This paranoia about crime, scams etc in Europe is totally at odds with the reality. Do you walk around your home town with your camera? If so why would you consider that it is unsafe to do so somewhere in Europe?

I let my 13 year old son walk around with my DSLR camera when we're in Europe, never had a problem. I don't wear a money belt or any other contraption, never felt the need to and never had reason to despite travelling throughout Europe over many years.

I travel to the US pretty much every year. I've never seen any advice about wearing a money belt, hiding all your valuables, passport, money etc. I carry my wallet in my back pocket just as I do at home and never experienced any troubles. I'm sure most Americans on here would scoff at my suggestion that I should wear a money belt if I visited their home town.

Posted by
45 posts

Great, thanks for the input! I've been leaning towards bringing it and just using common sense, but if it were going to become a source of major stress, I would stick with my p&s (it's a G7Xii so I know it can produce a solid image -- but my DSLR is way more intuitive for me). I'll have my kids with me, who are eminently distracting, but not so much that I can't keep one hand on my bag in a crowded area.

And yes -- of course I realize Europeans own cameras. That's why I framed my question by saying that I got a sense that the warnings were a bit over-the-top. In other pickpocketing "hotspots" like Amsterdam and Stockholm, I've definitely felt like common sense was plenty. But having never been to Italy, and reading the excessive warnings, I just wanted to double check, and this board is always a great source of info.

Posted by
2767 posts

I bring mine and see absolutely no problem doing so. Normal precautions like not leaving the camera or bag where someone could grab it if you turn your head is all that’s really needed. Italy does have pickpockets but they are looking to get your money without you noticing. Like sneaking their hands into your pocket (or bag) to grab a wallet, hence the name pickpocket. It would be very difficult to steal a camera this way. And even the pickpocket threat is overstated in my opinion. Be smart and aware, not overly worried. It will be fine.

I carry mine in a crossbody purse. Extra money and credit card in an inside zipper pocket of purse, safety pinned closed. Some money in outer zip pocket, easier to access. Other things I’m not needing (iPad, further cash and emergency credit card) in hotel safe. No money belt.

Posted by
2097 posts

I toted my Canon 5D2 with 5 lenses all through Tuscany with no problems whatsoever. I also took it on a Rhine River cruise.

However, after those two trips, I got tired of schlepping all 22 pounds of my DSLR kit 10-12 miles a day.

Last October my wife had to go to London and Paris on a business trip. I was able to accompany her, but before we left, I went out and bought a Fuji X-E3 kit to take with me. I have three lenses and with those three I actually have more focal lengths (field of view) covered than my DSLR with a 17-40 on the short end and the monster 70-200 f2.8 big white on the long end. Instead of weighing 22 pounds, my new kit weighs a smidge over 6 pounds.

There's another advantage. The little Fuji looks more like a P&S. This draws much less attention when out and about. I can't say if the bad guys pay less attention, but I know I was able to get much more natural photos on the street. Folks get self conscious when you point a big DSLR at them, especially when it sports a white lens!

Posted by
5687 posts

I went through the same kind of path with my 5D Mark II, DougMac. Last year I finally got tired of lugging it to Europe and bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, a "bridge camera" with a big sensor. I took it to Europe and it was a great choice - saved me a ton of weight and aggravation, even if I clearly gave up something by not having a DSLR with all of those great lenses. Even the Lumix looks "professional" I guess, but it's easier to hide than a big camera big, too.

Posted by
45 posts

DougMac and Andrew -- true, it's definitely worth considering how much equipment I'll want to lug around -- especially in mid-August! If I bring my Mark3, I was just going to bring a 24-70 lens, and maybe a 50mm as backup. But the G7Xii is itty-bitty and shoots RAW, and while I'm a bit slower with it (because I use it less than the Mark), it's a totally capable camera and takes a good 5 or 6 lbs out of my bag. On the other hand, my anxious side wants the dual card slots on the Mark so I don't lose all these travel photos to a corrupt card. Aggggghhh, gear decisions. But at least now I feel like I can take any worries about theft out of the equation!

Posted by
3200 posts

I do what Mira does so I recommend that. Years ago I went from film slr to a small p & s because of the weight. It didn't last long. Instead, I learned how to commit to a lens or two, because I love my Dslr and the fun I have With it. My H has 2 DSLRs and one of those smaller cameras recommended above...its a Nikon though. It rarely makes it out of the house...we have to force ourselves to use it and we are usually disappointed. I don't travel to limit my photos with a lesser camera. Even when traveling solo I have never felt unsafe with my camera (or my money).

Posted by
4535 posts

Ah the inevitable responses whenever someone posts about bringing a DSLR - to leave it at home and bring a smaller camera. For some that is fine, but bring the camera you want - there IS a quality difference that a DSLR has over most any other option.

As to your concern about security - you were right in thinking the warnings are overblown in Europe. You will not be a target or gain extra attention - everyone will know you are a tourist no matter what type of camera you have. Lots, and I do mean lots, of people will be carrying their DSLRs too. The only good advice to heed is never place it on a cafe table or sling it over your chair. Always keep it slung over your shoulders or safely in your bag (which should also be secured).

Posted by
31 posts

I've been to Europe 4 times and getting ready for a fifth trip. I have taken my Nikon DSLR on each of my trips and have had no issues at all. Many of the comments above have been already discussed which make sense. I have a couple of other suggestions:

  1. Take off your Camera make neck strap and replace it with one that doesn't advertise the brand and model of your camera. I use a Black Rapid sports strap, that is clamped to the bottom of the camera with a secondary small strap that fits under your armpit. The camera hangs at your side when you aren't using it.

  2. Take a piece of black gaffer tape (not masking tape) and cover the name of your camera on the camera body.

  3. I use a ThinkTank backpack to store all of my camera gear in when traveling between places, or on an airplane. I store the backpack in my hotel room that is locked. While walking around a city, I use a Thinktank Turnstyle bag that holds a DSLR and one or two lenses comfortable. I don't work for Thinktank but they make great bags. I also use a small TSA lock when wandering around.

If you are cautious and keep alert, you shouldn't have any issues. Keep your bag on your back or at your feet when on a subway or bus.

Posted by
6384 posts

If you want good photos, you need a good camera. Take it. I always take mine. It’s either around my neck or in my backpack.

Posted by
278 posts

Oh geez, bring the dslr. We did and without issues. The camera was for me but my husband ended up turning into a photobug with it and I ended up liking my iPhone as I was sending photos back home to loved ones as I took them. Zero problems in Venice over 5 days, Verona, Siena, or Rome. Going again in Oct and will be bringing it again. Keep it light in terms of how much your carrying around, one reason is, just common sense, to have a free hand when needed.

Posted by
5687 posts

kwahlgren:

DougMac and Andrew -- true, it's definitely worth considering how much equipment I'll want to lug around -- especially in mid-August! If I bring my Mark3, I was just going to bring a 24-70 lens, and maybe a 50mm as backup. But the G7Xii is itty-bitty and shoots RAW, and while I'm a bit slower with it (because I use it less than the Mark), it's a totally capable camera and takes a good 5 or 6 lbs out of my bag. On the other hand, my anxious side wants the dual card slots on the Mark so I don't lose all these travel photos to a corrupt card. Aggggghhh, gear decisions. But at least now I feel like I can take any worries about theft out of the equation!

FYI, when I traveled with my Canon gear, I carried both my 17-40mm wide, 24-105mm middle range, and 70-200mm (with 1.4X extender), and I used ALL of them from time to time - mostly the 24-105mm, but I used especially the 70-200mm quite a lot. I missed having such a zoom on one trip (when my old 100-300mm zoom broke) and have never been without one again.

Since moving to the Lumix (effective 25mm-400mm), I've been surprised how much I use the 400mm zoom. (I also at 25mm often too - so I shoot a variety of wide and tight zoomed shots.) And the quality at 400mm is much better than I expected; the camera has a great image stabilization system that works better than the Canon (in-lens) system. I do occasionally miss the 17-40mm wide angle sometimes. And I miss not being to stop down past f/8(!). But, I learned to live with these compromises and still get a lot of great shots with the Lumix.

So is it possible you might consider buying a better bridge camera instead of G7Xii? I see it is no slouch (1" sensor) - but are you familiar with its limitations vs. your Canon DSLR? Have you really used it as more than a simple P&S camera? I had to learn what the limitations of my Lumix were vs. the Canon - once I learned them I was able to adjust somewhat. The G7Xii looks so small. The 24-100mm range would be just too limited for me...

Posted by
6733 posts

Hey, don't diss that little G7Xii...mine takes depressingly good pictures. I always bring it as part of my camera kit (along with my admittedly larger/heavier Lumix GH5). Just one of two good cameras I bring (well, one of four if you count the iPhone and iPad, which also take pretty good photos). Each piece of gear works well for some things but none is perfect for everything. At least I try to limit the number of lenses that I bring along (just two for the GH5...and I have to admit one of them is pretty heavy, but it's a must for wildlife photos that needs a serious zoom).

I save weight by bringing fewer clothes.

Posted by
45 posts

Andrew -- chalk it up to different shooting styles, but I rarely zoom beyond 100mm! I'm a wide angle shooter 90% of the time, so zoom wasn't a huge factor when I was shopping for a compact. The G7Xii is tiny and definitely has limitations compared to the Mark III, but as David said -- the image quality is impressive for the money, and the RAW capabilities are nice. I've been happy with it on shorter trips, where we were hiking around and I didn't want to be lugging a huge camera. But I think I'd definitely regret NOT bringing my DSLR to Italy -- I worked as a wedding photographer for years so it's more like an extension of my arm at this point. (FWIW, I'm not "kwahlgren photography," haha.) Glad there were camera nerds to talk sense into me...it's settled, I'm bringing the "big" camera.

Posted by
18 posts

I had bring cameras when I'm traveling and it's perfectly fine. You just need to be very careful and needs also to be responsible enough to take care of it. But sometimes, when I go to crowded places I secure my camera with a tracker just to be more safe and sure.

Posted by
32171 posts

My suggestion would be to bring the camera, as that will provide the ability to get good photos under a variety of conditions. I've been packing a DSLR along on trips for many years, and have found that taking a few basic precautions minimizes the chance of theft (although there are never any firm guarantees, whether travelling at home or in Europe). A few examples..... don't leave the camera sitting on the table when you're dining unless it's secured to something and if leaving it your room at night, store it out-of-sight in your luggage or wherever.

I've found over the years that I do fine with just two lenses, a 24-105 zoom and a 10-22 wide angle, so the equipment isn't really that hard to travel with (of course there's also the usual accessories like chargers, memory cards, etc.). I sometimes take a compact travel tripod as well, but not every year. I also pack a P&S camera and more recently an iPhone as well, which I take out in the evenings when I don't want to haul the big camera. Whenever I'm using the P&S, I often feel "constrained" as I just can't get the results I want.

Posted by
2097 posts

Ah the inevitable responses whenever someone posts about bringing a DSLR - to leave it at home and bring a smaller camera. For some that is fine, but bring the camera you want - there IS a quality difference that a DSLR has over most any other option.

I shared my experience as additional information. If folks would rather bring a DSLR for whatever reason, that's fine and should not pose a security problem. What has surprised me is the few DSLRs I've seen when traveling recently, especially more professional full frame DSLRs. P&S cameras have practically disappeared, replaced by smart phones on the end of selfie sticks.

Define "quality". Do you mean the quality of the equipment or the quality of the images produced? Before I decided to go with a mirrorless camera, I rented two of the latest Fuji cameras (X-Pro2 and X-T2). I took them to the beach for a week, along with my full frame DSLR (Canon 5D2). I spent some time shooting side by side, including photos of my active grandkids to test speed of autofocus and the ability to track moving subjects.

After vacation, I analyzed the results, from JPEGS straight out of the camera to RAW files processed through Lightroom and Photoshop. From shooting experience to final image quality, I found the smaller Fuji mirrorless Fuji camera gave my full frame DSLR a run for its money. I would call it a draw in most areas, with the Fuji surpassing the Canon in some areas and the Canon slightly better in others. I was impressed enough to invest in the Fuji. I was more than willing to give up a few slight advantages of the DSLR for the convenience and size of the mirrorless camera. I have large prints of Europe from both (13x19 and bigger) and at normal viewing distances or even closer, you wouldn't be able to tell which was which.

Posted by
2767 posts

Yes, I think a good mirrorless camera can produce images comparable to a DSLR in most travel type situations. If I had $1000-2000+ to switch my setup I’d strongly consider doing so for the size and weight advantages. But realistically my options are DSLR (which I already have), point and shoot, or iPhone. The DSLR is so much better than the other options in my experience. So DSLR it is.

Posted by
4535 posts

^^ "Quality" is always about the images produced and their capabilities to shoot in differing conditions. You are right, some mid-range models that can shoot in RAW perform reasonably well compared to DSLRs (for which there is a range too).

My comment was more about those that talk about how their iPhone or P&S camera takes great pictures. I like my iPhone and it takes great photos. But it isn't even in the same league of quality compared to my DSLR. And since the OP started his thread stating that he is a "photographer," and later clarified to say he used to shoot weddings, it's pretty clear that person isn't just shooting selfies and for Facebook posts.

Posted by
45 posts

DougMac and Mira -- totally agree as far as the quality of the images produced. I had a Fuji x100s briefly and was blown away by the image quality. (Switched over to the G7X only because I needed a little extra reach -- and a non-interchangeable lens -- for concerts.) The limitations, in my experience, are just in the shooting -- a slightly longer delay between shots and ISO controls buried in a menu. Nothing earth-shattering, especially for 1/4 of the price and a compact size. I've brought the G7X on a few shorter trips and didn't feel like I was compromising quality -- just ease. (And again, that's mostly user error. I have tens of thousands of hours on my DSLR, whereas the G7X is fairly new to me...so I'm slow with it.)

Posted by
45 posts

Douglas -- I'm a she! :) But absolutely agree that a phone/tablet can't stand in for a good camera. I'm impressed with how well my phone handles low light and contrast given that it's a phone but even on a desktop screen the image quality difference becomes visible (let alone in a print). I feel like the high-end compacts hold their own well enough to stand in when size/weight is an issue but all things considered...for this trip, I think I'd miss my DSLR more than I'll regret lugging it around!

Again -- really appreciate all the input on the camera decisions!

Posted by
8293 posts

Discussions like this remind me of my late father-in-law, who, a long time ago, had a beautiful, expensive car, which he loved, but he would not take it out of the garage if it was raining, or even if there was a threat of rain. He would walk to the bus stop in the rain, rather than have his car get wet. Insure your camera and take it with you.

Posted by
45 posts

It's insured for personal and commercial use -- I was more concerned about the potential stress of losing it (and the photos) on vacation, and wanted to make sure that wasn't a concern (which everyone has assured me it isn't, as long as I'm reasonably careful). To extend the car analogy, just wanted to make sure I wasn't driving my show car into a hailstorm ;)

Posted by
1829 posts

I wouldn't go to Europe without my expensive camera (I can't say DSLR cause I shoot Sony but costs the same and lens are just as big)

Think of the crime there as opportunistic.
That does not always mean go after the biggest payday target but go after the easiest target.
If you never lay your camera down unattended and similar things to be mindful of your gear you will never become the easiest target.
For anyone to steal my camera stuff a physical encounter would be required ; not saying that can't happen but the likelihood of that happening is much higher in the US than Italy.
Now someone reaching into my pocket for some cash ; that I see as much more likely than grabbing a big camera or lens that I am being mindful of.