I have a Polaroid camera that's fairly big (not huge--it fits in a small locking backpack on my back, which is where I will be keeping it when I'm not shooting), that I would like to bring with me on my first Europe trip.

My question is -- is it worth it? I'm afraid someone will take it out of my hand when I am shooting, or that it will make me an easier target. It is a bit clumsy and big, so it takes me a little bit to get it in and out of my backpack. I love my Polaroid pictures, and having those special pictures of my first time in Europe would mean a lot. We are on a cruise, so we will be visiting many of those more busy, "touristy" spots.

Has anyone else brought a bigger camera to the more popular spots of Europe, and been all right? Do you find that this makes you more of a target for robbers?

I don't think the issue will be making you a target for robbers, I think the issue will be carrying a large awkward camera. With high quality small, digital cameras so readily available I don't know why you would take a big polaroid camera. But it's your trip and if it feels too big to carry around, you can leave it on the ship.

Honestly, I just prefer the look of Polaroids over normal pictures that you get with a digital camera. I like the style better.

>>I'm afraid someone will take it out of my hand when I am shooting,<<

No one is going to steal a Polaroid camera - you might lose it perhaps. But what thieves mostly want are cell phones or high end SLRs.

>>or that it will make me an easier target<<

What will make you a target are wandering around not aware of your surroundings. Not what sort of camera you are toting.

I ask myself similar questions: should I carry my DSLR or just use my iPhone, or should I borrow DD's LOMO? Believe it or not, there have been occasions where I've had all three cameras; I think it depends on to where you are traveling and what you will be seeing and doing. Setting up the LOMO snaps requires being very aware of my surroundings when I am by myself; this sometimes means I move at a slower travel pace, but the photos that result are more meaningful.

In the age of the Internet there are lots of images and movies from anywhere and of better quality than you would probably do.
My advice is that when you come face to face with an interesting sight, observe it with your naked eye, recreating in those little details that the cameras do not capture and capturing the environment that surrounds that work.
It makes me sad when I see someone who is in front of a masterpiece in a museum, only sees it through the camera of his mobile phone, takes a photo and leaves ...

You don't need to worry about "robbers".

I truly do not believe anyone's going to snatch a BIG Polaroid from your hands. When I iPhone would be worth lot more $$$ these days!

It's up to you if it's worth it to haul around a big camera, on and off the ship, in and out of your backpack, because you prefer that method of taking photos.

I love to work wtih Polaroids, but it's not anything I'd bother with on a trip to Europe, that's for sure! (i use either a film/disposable camera or a tiny digital PowerShot point & shoot).

It's not worth it to me. I'm happy using my phone.

>>>I love my Polaroid pictures, and having those special pictures of my first time in Europe would mean a lot.<<<

I think you should take it, then.

Is this a camera you normally bring on trips, climbing up and down stairs, going in and out of museums, etc? If you are used to carrying it and want to bring it,I can't imagine this being an item people would want to steal. Be aware some museums and indoor places may require you to check it in rather than carry it around. If is heavy or awkward, you might decide it is not worth the bother to bring.

Take it!

If you love that Polaroid camera, go ahead and take it.

Before I moved into digital photography I owned a Nikon F3 film camera which I dearly loved, and had several manual focus lenses to go with it. I quickly learned the advantages of digital, including photoshopping, saving images online, sharing with relatives and friends, etc. After sitting unused in my cupboard gathering dust for a few years I finally sold the film camera.

Now I have the same dilemma with my digital cameras: Should I take my digital SLR camera along with its lenses and flash attachment, or should I leave it at home and take my high end point & shoot instead? Most of the time I leave the SLR at home unless I expect to take sports or wildlife photos. Now that I have my third iPhone with an excellent camera I don't even need the P&S.

If you love working with this camera and it would mean a lot to you, I would not leave it home out of fear of having it taken out of your hands.

I also have the question about whether to just rely on my iPhone, which I do a lot of the time. But there are times that a real camera is better, such as low light situations and shots that would be improved by a telephoto lens. So I bring my digital mirrorless camera when I think I will have opportunities for photos that I would prefer it for.

Taking photos is an important part of travel for me, and I want to make it as pleasurable as possible. So I take the camera I like.

I would not be worried about the camera being stolen - thieves are looking for small, light, easily nabbed items. So that would not be a concern for me.

I absolutely hate to be encumbered by "stuff" when I travel, though. I'm always inclined to be able to scramble around quickly without any impediments. OTOH, I am not a photographer, so have no attachment to that sort of equipment. If it's important to you, take it.

I am so over taking pictures (I will not bless them with the term “photographs”) using my phone. In Venice last week, I saw an exhibition at Tre Oci, a retrospective of the photographs of Fulvio Roiter, and it enlightened me. From the Greek, photos means light, graphos means writing, photography means writing with light, and Roiter exemplified that for me. Photography means telling some sort of story, the chosen medium being light.

So for my next visit to Venice, a couple of weeks in September, I am going to take a decent film camera and just a 35 to 70 zoom lense, and get back to basics. Once you have focussed, you nly have three things to manipulate, the photographic triangle, maybe the photographic curse.
Film speed, and that’s already loaded.
Aperture
Exposure.

I’m going to work my way around the triangle, and start with 400 ASA, B&W.

For the original poster, if working in polaroid does it for you, then take the polaroid camera. I think I can understand your desire, the square format, the limitations of those cameras, and the fact that within a minute or two of taking a shot, you can share it. By handing the physical object to your friends.
You can write visual stories in all sorts of ways, all sorts of media, watercolour, oil, acrylic, pencil, charcoal (the oldest media known to man), needle and thread, digital and film photography, and it sounds that for you, polaroid is your chosen media.

Go for it!