which camera to take

You'll likely get a wide variety of responses on this one, but I vote for a small but decent quality camera. There are many good point-and-shoot cameras out these days. But make sure it's something you could live without if stolen or lost. If you're a serious photography person, there are ways to conceal your expensive gear (I think the best tip on this board was carrying gear in a diaper bag). Consider taking a number of memory cards (they're getting quite inexpensive) and swap them out every few days. And although there are scammers a-plenty in Italy, the best defense is being aware of your surroundings and not being an easy target (e.g., don't take your camera out of your bag and leave your bag gaping open while you take photos).

IMO, take your best camera. Why worry about not getting the shot you really want?

Smaller compact cameras do not offer the lens opening you need to get great interior shots. Think of all the shots inside churches that will be compromised by taking a smaller camera! The smaller the lens opening, the less light gets in, the harder it is to take photos in low light without a flash...and you can't use flash in most churches!

AFter I used a compact camera for one trip, I went right back to my mid sized camera (I use the Sony H5)
I sold my smaller camera on craigslist.

Smaller cameras offer a convenience. But if you already own a bigger one, and you've already stated that the bigger one takes better pictures ---why even ask the question? You've answered it yourself!

If your pictures are as important to you as mine are to me...take your best camera to get the best shots- you will not be sorry!

Kay, I usually travel with both a compact P&S Camera and a dSLR with assorted Lenses and other kit. While the dSLR is a LOT more trouble to pack around, it provides the capability to get photos in some challenging condtions (ie: low light or at night, etc.). Having a range of controls to work with (ISO range, shutter speed and aperture) makes a big difference!

My philosophy is that if I'm spending a small fortune to travel to a particular location (one that I might never return to), I want some good photos to remember the experience!

Using only a small P&S Camera will probably minimize the risk of theft slightly, but I'm sure the petty thieves are aware that virtually ALL tourists will have a Camera with them. If the Camera is in a pocket, it might be even easier for them to steal than one that's being held?

I haven't had any theft problems so far, but always try to be vigilant.

Good luck and happy travels!

Why not take both? The digital camera will hardly take up any space. If you are in a place where you don't feel comfortable carrying the camera bag, you can take the small camera.

I usually take a small camera (I'm not much of a photographer and don't take a lot of photos) simply because I like to carry as little as possible. Every once in a while I am in a really, beautiful place where I wish I had brought my large camera.

I agree with Laura, take both cameras. My husband and I both carried one camera. When we split up he took pictures of things he liked and I did the same. We put it all together on one DVD. I let him choose the pictures he liked best to include and I did the same.

Another vote for BOTH! I take my Nikon and use a Packsafe strap (and nothing that says NIKON all over it if possible). then keep it close and dont worry. Just be aware of yoru surroundings like everyone should be anyways regarless of your "gear!" :)

Also - the small compact Cybershot or so is GREAT to take out at night for dinner (and leave your big cam locked up in the bags hidden away in the hotel room. Its discrete and handy. Also great for those possible wet days when you dont want to take out the big guns! Quick shot (rain or not) and stick it back away in the pocket.

One more note - If you have a nice camera over $500 - call your home-owners insurance and list it as a specific line item if that makes you feel a bit better. it could be only a few extra dollars to your policy.

But do take both.

and have fun!

I took my dslr and my wife took her p&s and I was glad we did. I agree with the others who say to take both for the reasons they mentioned. I also took my Nikon strap off and replaced it with a plain generic one. Also, take spare batteries and always keep the extra one fully charged just in case.

camera...hummmm..well i brought my olympus digital cam...after about 15 pics i took, i realised i had already seen all this stuff in National Geographic, T.V. shows, BOOOORING....my one regret is i didn't take enough "motion pictures"..naples, rome, florence, would have been really cool if i saved that...for "pictures"? eh...boring.

I made up for quality with quantity. I took a digital camera that fit in my pocket and simply took LOTS of pictures, well over 600. I took multiple pictures with different settings (flash, no flash, distant setting, close-up setting, etc) then picked the best when I got home and deleted the others. They came out spectacularly but my camera does have lots of settings although it is small.

I even cheated in the Sistine Chapel by taking some pictures without flash and with my camera at waist level pointing up. I just knew the lightening would strike me so I asked others around me to hold up their arms to attract the bolts (with a lie like that, now I have to worry about more bolts).

I would worry less about safety than convenience. If you don't mind dragging the bag everywhere (so nice to not actually CARRY anything), and you really think the better pictures will mean more and won't just end up unseen on your computer disk, then go for it.

During our recent trip to Italy, I brought only my small point and shoot camera for its compactness and convenience. Last year, during our trip to the UK, we also brought our dSLR camera. We got much nicer shots with the dSLR, but I liked having less to carry and the ease and speed at which I was able to set up for shots. It's all a tradeoff. As for inside shots in Italy, many places we went (museums, churches, etc) did not allow any photography at all.

If you do take your dSLR, I have a great bag to suggest if you are worried about looking really conspicuous carrying around an over-the-shoulder camera bag. In the UK, I used a Tamrac backpack camera bag. I got a fairly small one that had a padded compartment for the camera and room for 2 lenses (our largest was a 300mm lens), memory cards, filters, plus our point and shoot. The top part of the backpack I used for guidebooks, maps, odds and ends. It was compact and comfortable. They make others of various sizes and configs.

More important than which camera to take, point and shoot or DSL, is HOW to take pictures. There are hundreds of ways to learn, online (Camera company websites and photography sites), books, locally held courses, etc. I see thousands of folks holding a P&S up over their head and pointing it in the approximate direction of the object of interest. People pose friends in front of the Coliseum and step back far enough to take in the whole building with the result that the people are indistinguishable from a tree. And many, MANY more mistakes. Please folks, if you spend that much for a camera of ANY kind, learn how to take pictures.

For ways to carry your camera safely, check www.magellans.com. They sell bags and camera straps with steel cables running through the straps and steel mesh sandwiched in the fabric of the bags to make them slash-proof. I plan to get one of their packs in order to carry my laptop and camera equipment safely while in Italy next year.

One other thing--my little Kodak Easy Share digital P&S camera has a video setting. The quality isn't superb, but good enough for catching action when I want. I will be taking both it and my big camera when I go. I'm hoping to replace my Maxxum body with a Sony dSLR body before my trip.