When you buy a spare camera battery they don't come charged.

Good point - take the charger with you.

I actualy take a power bar with me as well - with a couple of cameras, video and computer - I pack a power bar as well.

Came back from Paris a month ago. I had no problem getting my pictures burned onto a CD. Be careful though and shop around. We went into a camera, electronics shop on Rue du Rivoli and they wanted 20 euros to burn a CD!! Yikes! We asked at the internet cafe where we went everyday and he said he only would charge 6 euros. He was appalled that the other place would charge 20!

Anyway, he was very knowledgeable and burned our CD's for us while we were checking our email. Then he gave us the CD to put in the computer to check and look at our shots.

I meant to say "2 1/2 weeks" in my note above. Sorry. I just saw it.

hi, thx i'm researching away...in this post and others, people mention optimal zoom, what number is good to look for? i see 3-4 often...thx

rallen, I think you mean "Optical" zoom not "Optimal" zoom. "Optical" zoom is preferred to "Digital" zoom because Digital zoom can distort the image quality. Optical zoom is all done with glass in the lens, not electronics, and thus ensures better picture quality. A 4X optical zoom is better than a 2X optical zoom - lets you zoom in twice as far, obviously.

Batteries: remember that some cameras take AA or AAA batteries that can either be disposible or rechargable, so you can buy themm on the road in a pinch. Other cameras take unique, rechargable batteries. In that case, most DEFINITELY take a charger with you!!! I took two new batteries to Europe with me plus a charger. My charger has a US AC plug-in, but I brought a European adaptor with me. The battery charger was rated up to 240 volts, which is the European voltage (pretty safe bet with things like camera cargers and razors, NOT with all electronics, betware!). The input ratings are written on all electronics so you can make sure they will work at 240volts. If the input maximum voltage says 120 volts do NOT attempt to use it in Europe!

(If you didn't bring an adaptor, your hotel may have one. In London, which uses a different adaptor than the rest of Europe, the hotel actually provided a US-style wall socket so I didn't need any adaptor there.)

Andrew

Regarding Batteries:

I think that the poster above was buying a rechargeable battery which typically does not have a charge on it when you buy it.

FWIW, our digicam uses a 2CR5 battery and it cost anywhere beteween $6 and $ 15 depending on specs and the store. Rechargables are available but we have not bought a system yet.

Re batteries: disposable batteries come fully charged - rechargeable batteries don't. Another point to remember is that rechargeable batteries lose their charge over a period of time, so if you haven't used your camera for several months, top up the charge before you set out on your trip. Having at least one spare battery is a very good idea. Nothing is more frustrating than your battery going dead in the middle of the day, and nothing to replace it.

Hi holly,

Rechargeable batteries have to be charged up before they can be used.

I bring two sets of batteries and a charger with me.

I run one set of batteries until they run out, change the batteries and recharge the first set.

In 3 weeks, I have to charge each set of batteries at least twice.

Lots of good advice here. Multiple memory cards. Multiple batteries with charger.

I would add to that that we were lucky enough to be able to bring a very small laptop with us on our trip. While many would think that carrying a laptop might be a nuisance (it wasn't), it allowed us to download the pictures from the memory card every night at the B&B. And it allowed us to go nuts and take as many pictures as we wanted, as storage wasn't an issue.

As well, we were able to review the pictures immediately on a bigger LCD screen and decide whether or not we needed to go back to take better shots (we did at the Trevi fountain).

And finally, it allowed us to burn the pictures on CD, which I put in my large suitcase - separate from the laptop that I carried on the plane with me. Just in case something happened to the laptop. Peace of mind.

Bender

You can also download pictures to an IPod.