I know this is very subjective, but I'd like to gather some opinions. <BR> <BR>In about a month's time, we are going to be travelling in Italy and France for about 2 weeks with a total of 8 family members. We're thinking of taking our videocamera. I don't like to watch travelogues, it's incredibly boring and if I videotaped all the places we went I know I'd never watch the video again. However, I really love to capture interpersonal exchanges and since we'll be with most of our family and in such a unique place, I'm thinking of bringing the camera along anyway. <BR> <BR>The drawbacks to bringing the camera, in my mind, are the hassle of carrying it around and being concerned about it being stolen. What do you think?

Hi John: <BR>Check out the long post on " <BR>How to remember my European trip on a lifetime". I remember reading recently. It had alot of pros and cons. <BR>Good Luck

Hi John, as for the hassle of carrying it around you could always bring it along with you, but then not necessarily carry it around every day. (I'd never carry around the ones that look large and cumbersome, but aren't they getting smaller and smaller all the time?) As for being concerned about it being stolen, my personal rule is that I don't bring along any camera that I can't afford to lose...lot less to worry about that way. Good luck!

More than the concerns you've expressed, my experience suggests you might be concerned about spending the trip with your eye glued to the viewfinder, never seeing a sight with both eyes open.

Echoing Ed's comment: Before my first trip to Europe, I borrowed a friend's videotape, which was a tape of her tour group (by another member of the group). Not only was it difficult to watch (what one person finds interesting may be boring to someone else), but it looked as though the person did spend the trip glued to the view finder. Another point: sometimes less is more. A good photograph evokes memories as much as the captured scene. A videotape kind of forces everthing on you.

If you want to take it, why not include it on your household insurance in case it gets stolen. We took ours for one trip. My husband never used it after lugging it there and insisted when I went on day tours of my own that I use it. I was glad I did so, but it is a bother. Marilyn

Bring it. You can get video-still capture software and turn your tape into .jpg and .mpg. It is far more interesting to see video than a bunch of photos in a shoebox!

Hi John, <BR> <BR>Bring the videocamera! <BR> <BR>I've been to Europe with my family 3 times and just recently with my husband. This last time I left the video camera at home, but I don't regret taking it the previous 3 times. It was lots of fun to take with the group, but the important thing is to get everyone involved! I did most of the filming, but I would get someone to "introduce" the sight we would be filming, or talk about what we were doing. It makes watching the video later more entertaining. The other thing with the camera was moving it slowly and less really was more! <BR> <BR>The time I travelled with my sister and 2 kids (7 and 10) the kids really had a blast with the camera. I have the kind with and LCD screen so whenever we were stuck waiting in line somewhere we would just rewind and watch all of our previous adventures. The kids had a great time watching themselves and it kept them occupied during the boring times. I had an 8 hour and a 2 hour battery which was more than enough for a 2+ week trip. <BR> <BR>Whenever we get together as a family (1 or 2x a year), we usually watch the videos and have a great time reliving the trip. <BR> <BR>Mary

With many of the new video cameras, you do not have to have your eye in the viewfinder. Most or at least many have a built in color VCR with screen that you can bot film, preview and watch through. Most importantly though if as you said "I never watch it again" than it is a royal waste of time and a royal pain. I watch mine relitively often, in fact I usually purchase travelog videos in preparation for my trips and will combine them with my own video to a vcr tape.