It's Europe for me in three weeks...

[beehive50]

...and I'm in a major quandry! Do I take my "big" camera... my Rebel XTi? Or the Canon SX20 IS that I bought for the trip?

The SX20 is bigger than a point-n-shoot (looks like a mini Rebel! LOL) w/a 20x optical zoom... I thought this would be great for traveling. My dilemma? I keep shooting photos with it and I'm just not 100% sold. I've taken some great ones, but taken some really bad ones, too. Especially in low light. I get get as wide as f2.8, but even in manual, the camera takes control and won't always let me shoot at that setting. It's weird. It's also a bit slow to focus... at least to me. I'm afraid to risk these once-in-a-lifetime photos... I'm just not as confident w/this camera.

That being said... I'm soooooo fearful that my Rebel would be stolen. Although someone would have to rip it outta my hands! But, still... and then there's the question of lens. I seriously (don't hate on me!) do NOT want to be changing out lens. Hence, the purchase of the SX... no lens swapping! Anyways, then I wonder... which lens? I've been looking at these:

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DiII VC
Canon 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

They're all in about the same price range and all the reviews have mostly said: Get this lens; it's a great all-around lens and perfect for vacations.

Soooooooo... any thoughts? I am sooooooo lost now! Thank you!

[Britgirl]

please please take your big camera. honestly - should it get stolen you are insured,- but its going to be such a great photo taking sight, you dont want to spend the trip saying oh i wish i had my big camera.... I once did this and was miserable...
the only zoom I own now is a 17-85 so I am no help in the lens choice... other than I always prefer the sharpness of actual canon to tamron/sigma.
personally? I'd stick a 50mm on for travel or people sat with you in restaurants etc and one zoom for day trips and sight seeing.

[Britgirl]

and bring 900 batteries and your charger with adapter

[conorsmum]

I agree with Mel, take your bigger camera. You'll regret the shots you couldn't get. I've travelled all over Europe with my big Canon (40D) and usually my 28-135 lens attached. (So you can see how heavy it is!) I usually travel with it in a camera backpack so I don't feel too vulnerable.

Have a great trip!

Char

[esther_a]

I took my p&s and was totally happy with that. It was hopeless in low light but most of the photo opportunities were in good light. My primary focus was to have a great holiday with my three kids in tow so I liked to have my smaller camera tucked in my bag with my wallet, tour book, maps, etc. Now if I was traveling without the responsibility of children that might be another thing...

[katrinak]

Take your BIG camera. I didn't even read your entire post. There is no question.

YOU are a photographer.
YOU are taking a trip you won't take again soon.

THIS is important.

Leave a pair of shoes behind.

TAKE the camera.

[katrinak]

Your camera could be stolen any day in Southern California and you still carry it, don't you?!

I will now remove myself from this soap box.

[sweetpeony]

[QUOTE=katrinak;231262]Your camera could be stolen any day in Southern California and you still carry it don't you?![QUOTE]

[iUma]

Debi. NO question. Take the big camera. I carried mine all over England on my shoulder out of the bag and carried lens in the bag. Switching was no problem. Theft is also no problem if you are careful. Traveling does make people careless in a strange way...all the new things every day can disjoint your focus and you forget stuff. But just make it a priority. I am assuming taking photos IS a priority on your trip. Like weddings...when it's over all you have is your dress, your inlaws and your photos....except all you will have is your photos!! I haven't finished my book from last year of England yet but I am REALLY glad I have all those photos on my hard drive and backed up on my EHD!!
Re: Lens....I'd do what Mel said and just take the 75-300 you have along with your 50.

[AllynD]

Originally Posted by iUma

Like weddings...when it's over all you have is your dress, your inlaws and your photos...

This cracked me up! LOL, and a spouse, too, I hope!

[cheska99]

Take the BIG camera. For a once in a lifetime trip to New York City at Christmas to introduce my favorite 6-year-old to the magic of Christmas in New York, including Rockefeller Center and tea at the American Girl store, I took the p&s and regretted it mightily.

You might want to look into one of the handbag like camera bags (Epiphanie, Jill E, Kelly Moore) so you can have your camera with you but tucked away unobtrusively. My Epiphanie Belle bag is arriving on Monday and I'm excited, let me tell you. Or perhaps better yet, the Loewepro (spelling?) backpacks which would be great for walking around Europe. You've got padded compartments for your camera stuff and then the rest of the room is for all the other goodies you need in your travel survival kit. The important thing here is that you only have to keep track of one bag during your wanderings.

Right now I think I'd just take a 50 1.4, which is light and a very good lens. Some of the zoom lenses you're looking at are very heavy and hard to keep steady without a tripod--and you don't want to be lugging one of those around, do you?

Finally, if you take me with you, I'll guard your camera for you. I'll even lug the tripod! ;-)

[ValerieP]

You ladies are too funny-I took my p&s and my big camera with both lens to dc and I took far more pics with the p&s primarily because it was snowing and it is so much easier when chaparoning 8 kids! Now, I am planning to go back in July and I have mapped out 20 some lighthouses to see, so you can bet money I will have my big camera and lens with me all the way, and I think I am going to get a waterproof canon-just for back up, in case of rain! So take your good camera and have a good time! Cant wait to see your pics

[KerryMac]

TAKE THE BIG ONE!
That's all I have to say
Oh, except to repeat what Katrina said, your camera could be stolen anywhere...I've taken mine everywhere and so far it's returned home safely 100% of the time.

[Denise Gormish]

I was asking this same question last year when I was going to Europe. Everyone told me to take the big camera - and they were right. I don't think my photos would have been as spectacular otherwise.

I was worried about the weight so what I did was bought a super small camera bag that holds just one SLR with one lens. A small outer pocket held some camera stuff but also worked as a very reduced version of my purse. The bag is Lowepro TLZ Mini. It worked perfect. I would suggest taking the camera/lens combo you want to use to a photography store and trying various bags.

I can't remember which lens I took...maybe a 28-105.

[beehive50]

Thank you all sooooooo very much for your thoughts and advice! And for the smiles, too... y'all are pretty clever girls! And, sorry... I just got home from a weekend of soccer AND visiting my parents... just so ya know I wasn't ignoring you! And, now to absorb everything and make my decision! (Which just may be that "big camera" after all, from my first glances at your responses!) You girls ROCK!!!

[Shawnajc]

I say take your big camera. I live in Germany and have traveled all over Europe and always take my big one, even with three kids in tow.

[digigrandma]

How fun to be planning a trip like this, Debbie. I'm no help, really, having never taken a trip like this. I would think having one bag that works as a camera bag and your purse would be the easiest for you to keep track of your gear at all times.

[anxela]

Take the big one

[echogirl]

My two cents would be the big one as well especially if it's the one you are most comfortable with and takes the best pictures.
I would also go on flickr and search through some photos through their tags (Europe, country, lens etc)..to see what shots your lens will get you...just a thought.

Did I mention I'm super jealous? Can I come..I'll be your personal camera bodyguard!!

Have a safe trip!

[beehive50]

Doris... you definitely can be my camera bodyguard! LOL And, Merr... I was totally thinking my Crumpler would be my bag AND purse! I'm just trying to decide exactly how much I can fit in there! Might need the next size up... hmmmm...

[maureenreynolds]

Having gone from a p&s to mostly my iPhone, I obviously am not a camera guru. That being said, take the camera you love, esp as the photo is the priority for you. My thought would be more to be sure you have the one bag/purse for your camera and maybe laptop. (Ali Edwards had a good one shown on her blog this week.) It's the frickin' security and customs that make me tend to take less and less. Oh yeah, the jam packed seats and overheads on airplanes too. I take my laptop carrier and use that with a nearly empty lepsportsac purse on the plane.

I've never had anything stolen in Europe, Asia, the Middle East or Africa. I've been in major cities, and small villages, and prudence and discretion work. If you are the kind of woman who leaves her open purse in a supermarket cart while she shops, then you'll want to rethink how inviting your behavior will appear. Seriously though, when you see the hordes of Japanese tourists, you'll realized there's plenty of camera goodies about.

btw, I will be preceding you next week and so don't want to think of packing!

[b2halter]

Take the big camera. I just bought the Tamron lens, and I'm liking it a lot. It gives you a lot of versatility without having to change lenses every 3 minutes. The kids did Machu Picchu with a point and shoot and got phenominal pictures, but since they were hiking the Inca trail, they couldn't take the bigger camera easily. For Europe, I'd take the big one.

[sam ellis]

Big camera - and get a canon 18-200. Especially if they are all the similar price. I always say buy your camera brand lense ( if you can afford it)


SO HAVE YOU GOT IT? big camera.

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by sam ellis

Big camera - and get a canon 18-200. Especially if they are all the similar price. I always say buy your camera brand lense ( if you can afford it) SO HAVE YOU GOT IT? big camera.

OK, girls... I got it! I got it! Take the big camera! And, thank you for twisting my arm... and now to get a lens! And, I just realized earlier today that I can RENT a lens, too... geesh! I rented that beautiful 70-200mm/f2.8 for the high school soccer season... so yummy! And, if I really wanted to, I could rent me a Europe lens, too! Oh, so much fun now that I'm taking the big camera!

Thanks again!

[beehive50]

So, as I mentioned in Shawna's Rome thread... I'm taking the big camera. Done deal. Along w/my 50mm lens AND a rented 24-200mm, which apparently will get me both WIDE and LONG... right, Katrina?

Thanks, ladies! I'm leaving Friday (I can't believe it's almost here!) and am stocked up on memory cards... I can take a total of 4,000 photos. Think that'll be enough for 10 days?

[maureenreynolds]

Weather has been great Debi. Sunny in the daytime but with still enough of a chill to warrant a good sweater. Just wonderful for walking and photo ops. Have a great trip!

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by maureenreynolds

Weather has been great Debi. Sunny in the daytime but with still enough of a chill to warrant a good sweater. Just wonderful for walking and photo ops. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the update... I know it's supposed to be raining in London when we land and I was hoping it'd be warmer in Paris and Italy! Yay! Although I seriously won't mind the rain... I'll be in LONDON!