Europe and DSLR

[Twigs]

DS is going to Europe for 19 days on a college trip. He will be in London, Bruges, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Lyon, Geneva, Munich, Venice, Florence and Rome. The advisor's for the trip warned them about pick pockets, and having backpacks slashed etc. Also he was told that some of the churches require you to stow anything you have in cubbies. He was planning on bringing his DSLR, but now he is thinking he shouldn't. I think he will regret not having it. Does anyone have any advice of what precautions he could take if he does decide to bring it?

 

[AussieCaribou]

There are companies who make slashproof bags and camera straps (PM me if you want to know what we use). We (DH and DD and me...3 DSLRs!) had both when we went to Europe and all was fine.

Also, make sure the photos are backed up each night (and the back up is someplace safe - like in the hotel room safe or the bus) and that the travel insurance company knows about his kit and that it's covered. We have the cameras to use them and the insurance to cover any issues.

He's going to have a great time and will bring home a lot of wonderful memories with photos to match!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I spent five months in Europe, and in my experience, pick-pockets are only a problem if you're careless. If you're paying attention and are aware of your surroundings, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. For the extra cautious, there are slash-proof camera straps and bags, but that's something I never bothered with.

While I've never been in a church that required me to store my bag in a cubby, some museums have coat checks where they require you to store backpacks (Doge's Palace in Venice comes to mind). However, in those situations, they only require you to store large bags and backpacks, and you can always keep your valuables (camera included) with you. And the coat checks are guarded at all times by a staff member, so having a bag stolen from that shouldn't be a problem.

Each church differs with whether or not you can take photos, and most churches do not allow you to use flash.

Will your DS regret not bringing his camera? If he's just as happy taking photos with his iPhone (which most of his friends will probably be doing), then I doubt it. He should leave the camera behind and travel lighter. But if he enjoys photography and wouldn't be satisfied with an iPhone photo, then I would urge him to bring the DSLR.

Precautions... wear the camera around your neck/across your body. Don't worry about not looking cool because it won't be worth it if the camera happens to fall to the ground or get snatched out of your hand. Pay attention to your surroundings and put on your "game face." I've learned that people don't mess with people who look to be in a bad mood, so whenever I'm traveling alone or am in a sketchy situation, I try my best to look generally ticked off rather than lost and confused. Back up, back up, back up! Try to back up your photos every night. Bring more memory than you think you'll need. I'd suggest two 16gb memory cards, more if you shoot raw. And take your camera everywhere. If you're at a museum where you have to store your bag, take your camera out of the bag and wear it... even if you aren't allowed to take photos! And speaking of not taking photos, there are usually pictorial signs at the front of churches and museums where an X will either be over a camera or over a flash. You might want to clarify whether it's no photo or no flash.

I hope he has a wonderful time in Europe!!

 

[nigelp]

He was planning on bringing his DSLR, but now he is thinking he shouldn't.

because, of course, no one owns a DSLR in Europe because of all the pick pockets!

I live in Europe and shoot all the time with my DSLR - as others have stated it is all about common sense.

Europe is not that much different to USA - it is just all about the 'unknown' for you all.

When I first went to the states, I worried about gang-crimes, drive by shootings, muggers etc (its what we see in the news) but this is not the reality for the average tourist.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Twigs - I hope your son enjoys his time in Europe. If this is his first trip there, I hope it ends up being a magical experience.

We travelled Europe with a dSLR; the same way we travel the rest of the world (including the US) with a dSLR.

The same rules apply as you would do at home - watch your possessions, don't wander into the rough areas of any town or city, make sure you know who or what is around you, don't "flash" your possessions around.

As to having to leave stuff at museums, the museums in Melbourne have the same policy. It is bag-checked and if only the people manning the checking area have access to the area, then the bags are probably safer there than anywhere else. I have been in museums in the US where you have to leave your possessions in an opened, unmanned cubby area. In those instances, I have chosen to leave and come back when I don't have my bags rather than leave my camera gear unattended.

And yes, I have seen pickpockets in action in Europe....and the gypsy kids that crowd round you in packs.....and everything else "they" warn you about.
I've found that most people are friendly; it's the minority that creates the stereotype.

 

[daisymomof4]

Sounds like a great trip for him!

My main concern would be where he will keep it when he's not using it. Where is he staying? If he's going to hostels I'd tell him to leave it at home as there likely won't be anywhere secure enough to keep it at night or when he's not got it. If it's a real hotel room with one room mate he knows, then I'd think it should be fine.

I'm an American living in a capital city in Europe. Things get snatched out of hands all the time on the street, trains, etc. Things like smartphones, iphones, kindles, cameras - guys on bikes or just on feet run by, grab and it's gone, even mid phone conversation, and not just tourists but locals too. I'm not telling you to detour your son, but just to give himself a heads up that it is a problem and he needs to be diligent about his surroundings, even in nice places. A slash proof strap or bag would be smart

 

[pjacobi]

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/theft.htm

-Paul

 

[Evad]

I had the same worries but I brought mine anyway and am so glad I did!! Like others said just be aware of your surroundings and he will be just fine.

 

[Twigs]

Thank you for all the replies, they are very helpful. I will go over it all with him and let him decide. We are now having some space issues as he is only allowed to bring a 24" suitcase and day pack, but he should have room for the camera if he chooses to bring it.

 

[My2Girls66]

I have taken my dslr to many places in Europe over quite a few trips and have never had a problem. Like everyone has been saying, just keep an eye on your stuff as you would anywhere. When traveling with group, watch each others backs. Crowded metro platforms and metro trains would be one of the most likely places to get pickpocketed. I wear my pocketbook and camera across my body with the bag and camera toward my front. My husband usually wears a backpack, when on crowded metros/platforms I watch his back. Money, credit cards, wallet...should be in a front pocket.
My DD has spent 2 years now living in France, between working and studying. She has never had a problem and she has been all over, on all types of transportation, all times of day and night. Never a problem.
If your son loves photography, he should bring it as long as weight/space permit it.

 

[pjacobi]

I think he will regret not having it.

If you nag or force him to take the dSLR, it will greatly increase the chance of camera being lost or stolen!

I suggest that you compromise on a good quality P/S camera that will fit in a pocket. Your DS is likely to be more interested in friends and girls than getting a perfect shot of an old building.


-Paul

 

[mcraige]

We recently spent 11 days in Europe (London, Paris, Rome) and I didn't have any issues. At the Louvre, they did require you to check large back-packs, but I was allowed to keep my LowerPro Slingshot 100 AW with me. We did stay vigilant, and were always aware of our surroundings. The closest thing to a pick-pocket I encountered was the old "Is this ring on the ground by your feet yours?" scam. This happened to me at least 3 times in 1 day on Avenue des Champs-Elysées. My response was less than polite, and the scam-artist never hung around long.

 

[Twigs]

If you nag or force him to take the dSLR, it will greatly increase the chance of camera being lost or stolen!

I haven't nagged or tried to force him to take the camera. I haven't even said "you will regret it if you don't take it". He wants to take the camera and loves photography. He has a good p/s, that is not the issue. I do thank you for the travel link, it was helpful.

The only only deterrents he is now considering is having to bring it along on the corporate visits in each city, and the weight/room in his daypack. Thank you for everyone's advise and suggestions, it did help him.