My husband and I are going to Italy next month (first time) for 13 days and were wondering if we should bring a video camera with us? We have a digital camera that takes little videos, but don't know if we would want more.
Right now we do not own a video camera, but are planning on buying one in the next several months.
Should we go ahead and get one now to take with us?
I'm just worried about something extra to tote around as well as worrying about it getting stolen.
Any opinions?
Thanks for your help!

A few weeks ago, I was wondering whether video cameras were even sold nowadays. Now I know.

We have one in the basement -- largely unused these last 8-10 years.

In recent trips to Europe I have never -- and I am speaking seriously here -- seen one in use.

We took one to Africa and to Paris but found that what we wanted to record was best taken with still cameras.

Videos require action. We ended up with a lot of boring pan shots of scenery and more boring shots of immobile people (us) trying to look animated and talking to the camera.

You will need an adaptor to recharge batteries on European current.

In future I'll rely on my old Polaroid -- remember to put the film under your armpit to keep it warm during development (LOL)!

Personally I would not bring your video camera. What will you do with it when you are not using it. You will probably lock it in your suitcase at the hotel but will you be worried about it getting stolen.

And if you do take it with you each day while sightseeing I would think you would get very tired of dealing with it. Or at least I would.

I think your comment "I'm just worried about something extra to tote around as well as worrying about it getting stolen" says it all.

Try to have as few things to worry about as possible. IMHO it makes the trip so much more relaxing.

No.

For all the reasons listed above.

I find I'm enjoying my trips more with a simple point and shoot zoom camera than I did when I lugged the full camera bag with all the lenses, etc. and the video camera.

I have a different point of view, on my first trip to Italy, my friend took her video camera. It wasn't that big of a bother for her, since video cameras are not all that big anymore. We also saw other people with video cameras.

The great thing about a video is that you hear the sounds of the places you visit, which is a big part of the atmosphere. I am extremely glad she took her video with her. Now, 2 years later, when I start missing Italy and want to quickly go back, I can pull out the video, pop it in the VCR and I'm in Italy.

And now that they have the digital video camera that you can use DVD instead of VHS tape, it takes even less room.

I forgot about the video option on my Canon digital until two/thirds of the way through our trip to Africa last May. The short videos of penguins belly surfing at Boulder Beach, and of an elephant scarfing down a small tree in Botswana are priceless.

Good idea, lyb. The predominant sounds from our Southwesten US trip with the kids was the wind blowing though. I do think videos are great for kids.

I will share my funniest video camera experience. A friend brought her new fancy (tiny) camera along for a driving vacation. The problem - she had turning it on and off mixed up.

As we got out of the car to see the sights, she turned it OFF, and then turned it on again when we got back in the car! The entire day she was unintentionally taping our conversations in the car - and it was hilarious! Even funnier was her reaction we we played the tape back that night. She was not in the least amused...which added to the hilarity!

>> predominant sounds from our Southwesten US trip with the kids was the wind blowing though. I do think videos are great for kids.<<

That's too bad, on our video, we had the scooters, church bells, sirens, people talking around us, the sound of the couple dancing tango at the Piazza Michaelangelo overlooking Florence...and all the different places that played music around.....

Starrsville --- maybe you need to get a better microphone.

Thanks, lyb. But it was years ago and was one of the first video cameras. I'm sure the microphone wasn't one of the best - but it DID record the sounds accurately - the wind at the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, etc.

The last time I lugged it anywhere was to Ireland in 1990. I'm sure a new-fangled one would be quite a change!

Funny. all I remembered from our last trip to Italy was lugging that damn video camera around and always trying to get my husband to SAY something....say anything! *laugh*

And then, in preparation for our upcoming trip to Italy in three weeks I took out the video to "visit" and see the beautiful sights again before we leave. A preview, if you will.

I have to say, the footage, the sounds, were even more wonderful than I remembered. You can bet that video camera will be the first thing I pack!

erical,

It's a no-brainer: These days you MUST take a videocam with you. Not your father's videocam -- a new one.

Modern videocams are pocket/handbag size. They aren't much different to bring along than the still digicams. They all have long 10x zooms on them, and most will take "still" pictures that will often be missed by a regular still camera.

We weren't ten minutes into our walkabout in Paris when we strolled into the Place des Voges and ran into a string octet of music students playing Carmen for tips. Sounded great -- still does.

I took it into Sacre Couer and recorded some marvelous organ music during Mass.

In Italy, just to hear the resonances inside the churches we visited is so evocative that still pictures pale by comparison.

In Assisi, we recorded numerous thunderstorms that crashed down on the town. Ditto during the climb from Amalfi to Ravello.

In Vienna, we wandered into a small church where they were rehearsing Mozart for Sunday. Marvelous!

Climbing the Bernina pass, hanging out of the window, you can just sense the experience from the sound of the train clicking on the tracks. Ditto for the Gornergratt climb.

Venice brought motion to the vaporetti as we have night video of the ride out to the Lido and back.

And oh, you can make stills out of the videos too.

Having owned one and tried using it for several vacations and events - - -- my theory is:

You can either FILM the vacation or BE the vacation - - hard to do both......so....I opt for enjoying my vacation and taking some great photos.

I would take it. We got some great footage on our trip. Try not you use it all the time though.
Rich,
Video of our travels in Italy
www.franceinfocus.net/vlc17.html

Don't worry about being stolen. Camcorders are as cheap or cheaper than many cameras. You're much more likely to leave it behind than have it stolen.

Now, to your main question. Videography can be effortless or it can be hard work. Depends on what result you're expecting. If you just want to have some trip memories on tape, then it's easy. Most camcorders are pretty easy to use. Whatever you see, you tape. But <b>do not expect</b> friends and relatives to enjoy watching your hours of footage.

My dad has been videotaping for over a decade all around the world. He spent a lot of effort to make tapes that are worth watching to others. I certainly enjoy them, so are a lot of my relatives. But he'd have to read a lot about the geography and history of the places he's going well before the trip; so that when he tapes, he narrates about the place. And it gets hectic when he needs to listen to the guide, and then re-narrates that onto tape. BTW, the guide may be already in the next room, and he'll have to run to keep up.

And after he returns from a trip, I'll spend hours on the computer editing his footage, adding titles, cutting out noise, etc... and then burn on DVD.

But again, it's about what result you expect to get.

Also, you really need to familarize yourself with the camcorder if you've never used one, and is only for a fairly long trip. And don't forget an extra battery, and you need to bring along the charger (and a plug adapter) to Italy. Buy the tapes online and bring with you, as they are much cheaper here. Bring the manual along too, as there may be lots of features and buttons on the camcorder that you may not know what about, and don't know how to turn it off if accidently engaged.

Finally, size matters. You'll find that the cheaper the camcorder, bigger it is. On trips, you really really want a small camcorder, and you'll be glad you pay a little more for that. Do not pay attention to the digital zoom ratio on the camcorder when doing the purchase.

I'm not sure what weight video camera is being discussed, but I love the neoprene camera strap that I purchased. It is the same material as wet suits are made of and it does wonders to reduce neck strain that certainly builds up no matter the weight of your video products! I'll never use those skinny straps again!

You will be able to find them in better camera stores or some mall chains like Ritz or Wolf Camera.

I'm bringing ours (it's small) for the first time to Europe for our June trip, mostly because we will have our teens with us and this represents a MAJOR family vacation that we may never have again. I don't think we'll haul it all over - but maybe just shoot when we are near our apartments hanging out. We will also bring our digital camera for the majority of photos.

Hi Erica,

My vote is no. However, I am of that less is more theory. Kind of like Eurogirls luggage post, bring what you can't live without, you'll be happy later.

I, myself, would prefer a still camera to the video.

Have a wonderful first experience! How grand!

Safe journey, T.

Erica,

....I left out: Descending the marvelous muraled spiral staircase entrance to the Abbesses Metro stop in Paris.

Seriously, though: Do learn the basic operation. Get one backup battery and don't use the LCD display screen (it shortens battery life). Just use it like you would a regular still camera (with ears). I would recommend the Canon ZX series. (The Eluras are truly pocket size.) They're not too small, not expensive, use small digital tapes. And one useful feature: Just hit the STILL button when you wamt to stop shooting and it will take a still picture (with sound clip) and leave the camera in Pause.

I vote no. Especially since you don't even own one already.

I'm not big for centering what I'm doing while traveling on recording it for posterity. LIVE your trip... supplemented with a few snapshots, postcards (better than any photo you will ever take for major sites and monumnets), a small souveniers booklets are plenty for me.

Not to mention, one less thing to lug around and worry about losing.

I also forgot one important thing about why we don't mind taking the video camera. We limit our use. We choose certain days that we will take photos and video and even then, most times, it will only be for a morning or an afternoon. It is usually a few days into the vacation when we have seen some stuff and know what we would like to preserve on video.

I think others are right when they say do not spend your entire vacation looking through a lens. However, again, I will say I am happy I took it last time and it will definitely be going with us again in three weeks!