Calling on Experience ..once again.

[Novaman]

I am leaving for Europe in a month and and will be backpacking so available space is a concern. I will also take a camera bag small including 3 lenses , d90, and speedlight . My concern is a Tripod .. I am thinking of a Monopod but have never used one. My tripod is too bulky to take.I believe the monopod will collapse to approx 22" so it's a possibility . Other than that maybe a small Gorilla Tripod ..
Any suggestions would be appreciated .
Thanks in advance !

 

[RockstarPhotography]

I would take the monopod. I personally hardly ever use a tripod, the monopod should be just fine.

 

[o hey tyler]

Bring a camera bag that would be hard to steal from. Europeans (Mostly French and Italians) have no problem lifting **** off your person. Make sure it's locked up tight when you're not using it. I don't know how much time you'll be spending in town, but it's still a wise precaution to take.

 

[djacobox372]

I would skip the tripod, unlike film, digital looks good up to 800 iso or higher, so you should be able to handhold any outdoor shot you need to take, and in a pinch you can always improvise something.

 

[Novaman]

I do appreciate the comments , yes I have read a lot of the travel guides Rome , Barcellona and France are full of pick pockets and theives. It's a shame but I don't want to be paranoid ... will have to be very carefull for sure .
I will most likely take a monopod and hope for the best..

Thanks again !

 

[Alpha]

An additional consideration:
What does your flight itinerary look like? If you are taking any flights within continental Europe, your carry-on size can be an issue. For more information about traveling with your gear, try here;
Travel Photography - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Bring a camera bag that would be hard to steal from.

And what would that be? A friend of mine got picked recently, they took the cash in his wallet but put the wallet back. I thought it was very considerate

I do appreciate the comments , yes I have read a lot of the travel guides Rome , Barcellona and France are full of pick pockets and theives. It's a shame but I don't want to be paranoid ... will have to be very carefull for sure !

No need to be paranoid or you won't enjoy yourself. Be careful, yes, especially in touristy areas and in Paris. Biggest mistake made by US tourists is using a backpack and keeping their wallet in their back pocket. Years ago I got to watch pickpockets work and it was amazing how easy the tourists made it for them with open backpack and loose jeans.

Also, if you suddenly get surrounded by kids jabering at you, hold your photo bag close to your front thereby also protecting your wallet/money and move away from them as quickly as possible with your back to a wall if you can. That's the way the gypsy kids usually operate and I personally just start kicking the **** out of them but you may not want to do that just in case you mistake rambuctious french school kids for gypsies, lol.

But seriously, don't be paranoid. Just don't be an idiot.

 

[Forkie]

I do appreciate the comments , yes I have read a lot of the travel guides Rome , Barcellona and France are full of pick pockets and theives. It's a shame but I don't want to be paranoid ... will have to be very carefull for sure .
I will most likely take a monopod and hope for the best..

Thanks again !

I was in Barcelona just over a month ago and I spend a lot of time in Italy - Naples to be exact, the "pick pocket capital" - and walk around with my camera round my neck and my camera back over my shoulder and I'm always fine. Europe is no riskier for thieves than the US, or anywhere else. Just use your common sense:

• If you feel conspicuous or uncomfortable, put your camera away.
• put your camera bag over your chest
• zip it/lock it up when you don't need anything from it.
• don't put your camera on the table in a cafe or restaurant

But, wouldn't you do all this stuff at home anyway?

As for the monopod, if you're really tight for space, why not leave it at home and buy one when you get here (/there!).

 

[ghache]

if you dont plan on shooting long exposure and do night photography that much, i would bring a monopod over a tripod.

 

[Drake]

Europe is no riskier for thieves than the US, or anywhere else.

Exactly. I don't think the risk of you getting pick pocketed in Europe is any bigger than in the States. Like everywhere in the world, you've got safe parts of each town, and the ones you wouldn't want to visit during nights. Just remember that tourists make usually a good target for thieves as they tend to carry more valuable things and be much more careless than the locals. And for them there's no difference between a photographer and a tourist.

 

[Novaman]

That's why I'm on this forum...the feed back is excellent ..Thanks to all !

 

[jake337]

Bring a camera bag that would be hard to steal from. Europeans (Mostly French and Italians) have no problem lifting **** off your person. Make sure it's locked up tight when you're not using it. I don't know how much time you'll be spending in town, but it's still a wise precaution to take.

nice size steel ball on top of your monopod keep em at bay!

 

[MS26]

My wife and I are heading over to Europe in a month, I recently found a new pack that may be worth checking out.

Pacsafe Anti-Theft Travel Bags and Travel Accessories | Pacsafe

Maybe worth checking out, I think you can get it at the local REI, Amazon and they seem reasonably priced.

 

[table1349]

Gee I wonder if the op is still in Europe 5 years later?