Hey y'all,

I'm headed to Paris in Nov for my honeymoon! However, I'm a little nervous about bringing my $350 digital camera.

I'm going to use a money belt for my important documents and cards. So, no worries about those items -- But, now I'm thinking that I'm still going to be trotting around with an expensive pickpocket opportunity in my bag or pocket.

Any thoughts or tips on the camera?

Thank you!

You have a $350 camera because you want to take great pictures. Bring it with you!!! Just be aware of your surroundings, avoid crowds, and you should be just fine. In November, just keep the camera and strap inside your zipped jacket. Have a great honeymoon!!

As Budman says whats the point in having a camera like that if you don't use it.

Take sensible precautions, make sure you have insurance and regularly down load the pics.
Above all congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon !!

Muck

Definitely take your camera .

The thing to protect are your digital media cards which will have your photos.

Thanks for the feedback - which, of course, raises another question --

Do you have to worry about having your camera x-rayed at the airport? Don't want to do anything that would cause it to crap out on me.

No! It will be just fine. It will x-ray without a problem.

Just take along extra batteries.

you must bring your camera--the streets are no less safe than in the US--so take the same precautions and have fun

One of my digitals is also a $350.00 camera. I love to photograph and love to travel. So, I wouldn't be without it. If your hotel has a safe lock it up when you don't want to carry it around. Just beware, I was in the Caribbean and my camera had moisture in it inside the safe from going in and out of air conditioning to the heat. It had to go out for repair twice after that...but that brings me to my next point...have insurance...not just parts, but extensive. I buy all my cameras at Ritz/Wolf Camera their insurance is beyond excellent!!! Home owners is something to check too for theft. Again, I wouln't be without my digital camera when traveling! You can take, delete, have multiple memory cards, or even download them if you have the opportunity. Take it!

I'n not sure that I would count on homeowner's insurance for theft of a camera.

The maximum that most policies will pay is for "replacement" coverage...which for a digital camera is usually considerably less than you originally paid.

Deduct from that amount your deductible and it may not pay to file a claim. ..and that's not even considering a rate adjustment you might receive for filing a claim.

Just to let you know, there is a disposable digital camera out there (as well as a disposable digital recorder). They are both available at CVS, I believe. Yes, you still have to pay for the pictures, but it is an alternative to taking the real thing with you if you are at all nervous about it. The camera is about $20.00, and the set of pictures is about $10.00. The disposable digital recorder is apprx. $30.00, and when you get back you take it in and get the recorded time (about 20 min.) put onto a CD for about $10.00-$11.00. I guess the things were developed to give the user a chance to try out digital quality without paying for a camera or camcorder, and for use when you don't want to let your 16 year old take it on that Disney band trip. Hope that helps.

Hi Dick, I guess it does depend upon your household insurance. However I 'lost' my digi camera worth about £240 a few months ago and received a new replacement of the latest version of the camera in the post the next day ! Including the 2 memory cards.I was impressed by the service and the new camera is worth £280.

Muck

If you are nervous about taking your digital camera (remember you need convertors, adapters, for power source in europe) simply buy a couple 35MM disposables. No worries. Personally I'd take my nice digital (if I had one!) but I'm not a worrier and have never had a problem losing, misplacing, having stolen, possessions on a trip.

Buy a long strap that hangs from your neck. To keep my camera from bouncing around, I also put it in an inside pocket of a vest or jacket. Now that I have tiny light-weight cameras, I wouldn't think of traveling without them.

Take your camera, but let me caution you about what happened when I was in Paris about 13 years ago.

I was at the Arch of Triumph with my friend V. She had a very expensive camera, and I had a cheap one. A man approached us and said, "Let me take your picture. You two go stand over there." (about 30 feet away) He reached for V's camera and she said OK and started to hand it to him. I stepped inbetween them and said a very firm no!! I looked at V and I said, "Do NOT give him your camera!!" The man shrugged and walked away.

I couldn't help but notice that he had no interest whatsoever in my $40 WalMart camera, he was only reaching for V's $300 camera. I explained to V that something didn't feel right about this situation, and I think the man was going to run off with her camera as soon as we turned our backs. She agreed and was grateful for my quick thinking. But the credit for saving V's camera should really go to Chevy Chase, as I learned this from the European Vacation movie.

I must say that this scam is not unique to Paris. I'm sure this could happen in any major tourist destination, in any country. Use the same caution in Paris as you would in any other major city.

Hey,the reason you buy a great camera is to take great pictures, and Paris is a great place to take pictures. Be a little cautious, of course, but snap away and don't worry. Nice thing about digitals is there small size. Easy to tuck away in an inside jacket pocket, etc.

Good luck.

Be careful with ALL your things--Paris is the pickpocket capital of Europe!!

Take the camera! Just don't go in for the white sock, white sneakers, baseball cap tourist uniform...and don't give you camera to someone so that they can photograph you. Be careful but don't be paranoid - it will ruin your trip!

Hi
I have a digital camera that costs a bit more than that and it has gone to Paris quite a few times now .. we only worry about dropping it into the Seine when leaning out over a Pont or hanging off of a boat lol..
We also never use money belts so maybe we are just the Dumb Luck type travelers ...I carry a bag that has a strap that goes across the chest .. it zips shut. The camera goes inside there when not in use. Budman said it all, you bought a camera to take pictures, take it!
Or if it will make you nervous all the time, buy one of those disposable types and toss it when you are through, you will still have photos of your honeymoon
Congratulations on your marriage!!

Before I went to Europe in September I ordered an ape case made by Norazza. Their website will show you the trifold case for holding a digital camera, and many other precious objects such as passports, credit cards etc.Worn around the waist it keeps all your valuables safe . I highly recommend it.