I'm considering bringing my Canon Rebel on my two month backpacking trip in Europe. But I'm hesitant - I don't want to worry about it and I'm concerned with it being stolen while staying in hostels, although I'd love to have it with me.
Does anyone have experience with this?
I'll need to buy a new point n shoot otherwise. Which I'm OK with.
Reply to this Hello Meg
I always bring my DSLR and Netbook (for uploading photos) when travelling. However, I always ensure it comes with me everywhere unless I can leave it in a safe or storage locker.
It can get heavy carrying my camera, extra lens and netbook around all the time but it is well worth it in my opinion.
Reply to this Yep it's got to be done. Ideally you should get it included on your trip insurance or if it's more valuable insured separately...then there's no need to worry. Just make sure you look after the memory card and regularly download your photos and email the best ones to yourself so there's no way you could lose them. There are some places I'd be a bit nervous about carrying an slr around- parts of South Africa/ South America, but really much of Europe should be no worries as long as you're sensible and don't flash it around when you're on your own or after dark too often. The shots from a compact will never compete anyway!
Reply to this Hello Nathan, and welcome to Travelblog! I can second your comments about downloading your photos and securing your best ones elsewhere. I place my most memorable photos on a small but sturdy 32GB flash drive that never stays with my camera equipment (usually in my backpack or uncomfortably in my money belt). Travel insurance is vital, and not just for camera equipment, but for everything else such as clothes and medical expenses as well.
Reply to this OK, you guys have me convinced to bring my DSLR. But travel insurance I know nothing about. I don't care a lick about my clothes, just my camera and I probably my netbook.
I just tried to get a quote, but they seem to want to know what country I'm going to when in fact I plan to be in a few - Spain, Italy, Germany, England, and Ireland. How expensive do you think this will get?
Reply to this If you were in Australia, I could make a strong recommendation.
A clue for getting the cheapest policy is when looking at insurance policies to see what the personal baggage/effects section pays. The policy I use has an item or combination of items up to $3000. This just covers my camera and lens. Try to find such a policy instead of needing to pay extra for "special cover" which quickly adds to your policy price.
As for countries, try to find a provider that covers regions - these are usually: USA, Australia, Asia (not Japan), Europe and Japan, South America, Middle East and Africa. For that reason I would enquire on a "Europe" policy without the need to state every single place you are visiting.
Be aware of policy exclusions too - a number of policies will not protect items stolen from a unattended yet locked car.
As for price, I have no idea!
Reply to this Memarr
Rule 1 - always carry the camera with you (read exceptions below!). I carry my small backpack with it in with me all the time, and leave other stuff (like my laptop) locked up in my big travel bag while away from where I stay - admittedly in middle/cheap hotels, not hostels. This is the same in Europe, as I do anywhere. Currently in South Korea, which is very safe in that regard - managed to leave my camera on a bench in downtown Seoul in very busy Myeongdong a few days ago. After 40mins and leaving the restaurant realised that I had my backpack but no camera. I could virtually see the place I had left it from where I ate. Went back and asked a guy at the same spot and he asked the night time stall holder in front of him about it in Korean. She simply produced a plastic bag from under her stall with the camera in it! That would have meant 1100 irreplaceable shots down the tube - you can always buy another camera after all. This may make me sound mega-careless (?!) but I also managed to leave the camera in an unlocked museum locker in Salzburg after I emptied it (I thought)- thought it might have handed in when went back - but it was still sitting there! I must be one lucky cat, minus 2 lives.
Second what Shane says (I am also from Oz) re insurance. In my case the medical cover is what I check as I have a pre-existing medical condition (heart) - I use the same company all the time as no need for Dr's assessment. This may likely vary in the US or elsewhere. Never claimed on anything on insurance since 1983 on my first trip to Europe. As they say, if you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel (it's a necessary evil in other words).
Reply to this 
