GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

We are planning a two-week trip to Ireland in May. It will be a vacation of a lifetime so I don't want to spoil it by taking too much. We will be driving ourselves around the Emerald Isle and staying mostly in B & B's, one night in a castle, and a side trip to London.

My pictures are more important than clothes and my camera equipment will most likely be with me at all times, due to my paranoia of something being stolen. I plan on putting my Sony a6000, with it's two lenses, flash unit, & misc. accessories in a Kelly Moore bag along with other "purse" stuff. I will wear it UNDER a light coat with lots of zippered pockets. I don't think that I will bring a separate purse. I will have a lot of memory cards and a pelican case stored in my jacket. I measured the bag and I can get an 11" MacBook Air or a 12" MacBook in with the camera stuff. Neither has an SD card reader, so I would have to bring the camera cable to download a copy of the pictures to the MacBook and an extra copy to a small external drive that is to be kept separate from everything else. I have several questions:

I don't have a MacBook yet and it's main purpose will be to review and download pictures taken each day. I'm leaning towards the MacBook Air but the price range is from $900 to $1650 depending on what you add to it. I will definitely upgrade the RAM to 8 GB for $100 but is 256 GB storage with a 512 GB Flash drive needed (standard is 126 GB storage and 256 Flash Drive)? Those two upgrades add $500 to the price. I do think that $150 more for a better processor is worthwhile (from a 1.6 GHz i5 to a 2.2 GHz i7).

1. So which notebook with what additions is advisable? I would like to be able to do some light editing while on the road, so the computer would have to be able to handle some software for that (maybe not Lightroom, but perhaps something like Snapseed or Picasso).

2. I want to bring my Nikon D7100 also but perhaps the D5000 with an 18-300 lens that my husband has would be a better option. He can put it in the backpack along with our meds and a change of clothes for both of us in case our luggage gets lost in transit. Or should we forget the D5000 and just bring the D7100 instead or is the Sony a6000 going to be enough? I'm not really comfortable with just one camera. What if it fails, is dropped, gets lost or is stolen?

I know I am probably being paranoid but I've heard so many bad stories. I already told my husband that he can only take one suitcase and one carry-on. Believe it or not, he takes more clothes than I do. I think 4 outfits is plenty, with extra sweaters to layer in and a decent jacket and a great pair of shoes. That way, there will plenty of room for souvenirs!!!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jeez Grandma you ARE paranoid!!
I would make sure my gear was fully insured and just have fun. Have you never traveled or is Ireland like the most crime ridden country in the world?!
I've never been there but have been to England and never thought I was in any kind of vulnerable situation. Maybe I'm just asking for it. My back back is dedicated and cleary labeled Canon.
According to the Nikon guys, nobody would waste their time stealing a Canon. Well rest assured, they've never even heard of a Sony!!!! :lol:
As for the laptop, I personally would never take one unless I was wiring pics back for publication every day.
Why would you spend your valuable vacation time going through your shots??? You're probably traveling at way more than $25 per hour, that's a lot to pay to stare at a computer.
Anyway, you can of course travel any way you're accustomed to. Do have a great trip and try to have fun!!!!!! ;-)
SS

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Computer while traveling? Why not just a 7-8" tablet for e-Mail. For photography go Mod ... no not a cell phone... rather a SuperZoom with 20mpix and more than 30X zoom. Phone is a Magic Jack via net and you can call USA like you are there.

Goal is to enjoy the new landscape, culture and relax about the burden of keeping up with possessions. If you carry hi $ equipment you are indeed a target.. and by all means do not wear the clothing that brags about being USA!!!

By all means educate yourself about the culture by watching movies like A Clockwork Orange, Oliver, Braveheart, and of course Henry the 8th. :thumbup: :lol:

seagullmist Loc: Niantic CT

I have been over the pond a few times. Use a Scottevest for beating the pick pockets etc. Lots od internal zippered pockets. Carry cameras and basics in LowPro back pack. Holds small lap top that I use for storage. Down load at night and use speed stick as back up. Just don't let anyone get close to you and travel in London off peak on the tube. Great way to get around.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

SS, you are ever the voice of reason :-D
Living in the UK and being out and about with high value cameras in both the biggest cities and the remotest areas I have never have to worry about security... other than not being stupid with my stuff. One thing I have noticed as the years go by, stupid becomes easier to do :lol:

Graham

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

See some of the replies in this thread.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-347025-1.html

Some suggestions.
#1 Do not take a computer - More to carry , including power supplies card readers and cables.
Just another thing to worry about, including getting stolen.
Review you pictures when you get home.
As far as doing some light editing while on the road, forget it. Help your partner with the navigation or look at the scenery
Of an evening do you want to stuck in a room by yourself, editing pictures, whilst your partner is enjoying the local night life wether it be a pub, show (or opera) or a resteraunt?

#2 The less stuff you have with you the less you have to worry about it being stolen. Just have a good insurance policy.

#3 If "stuff" is important to you (like meds) keep it close to your heart - do not put it in baggage that may be lost in transit

#4 If you drop your camera then buy a P&S (or have another one with you)
When was the last time you dropped a camera or had it stolen? If you were vacationing in the USA would you be so paranoid?

#5 Re your packing - do not forget to take wet weather gear

#6 Re - souvenirs - your memories and your photographs are the real souvenirs not more possesions.

On vacations like this a lot of possesions are just a burden.

Enjoy your vacation.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I have good reason to be paranoid because two of my sons are engineers and travel overseas all the time. The youngest boy had his laptop and case stolen and the oldest boy is always stopping someone from putting their hands in his pockets, especially in London.

It won't matter what I wear because the camera will mark me as a tourist. I won't be doing major edits and spending all my evenings in the room. I just want to download my pictures so I have a back up copy and I don't think I can do that on my tablet.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I will definitely educate myself about the culture so your suggestions of movies to watch is a good one. However I think my Sony camera will be just fine. I'm not buying another camera. I do need advice on an easy way to back up my photos.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

I'm surprised that you say that about London. I know they warn about pickpockets but no more so than in any other major city worldwide.
I'm in London at least one weekend a month taking photographs on the street and have been doing so for many years. I have never had anyone try to put their hands in my pockets and never had anything stolen. I frequent the upmarket areas and the not at all upmarket districts.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

As far as backup goes consider just a hard drive that has a card reader built in. Some of them are battery operated so you do not need a computer.
You may neeed to carry a small power pack to recharge the batery from time to time.

We have used similar devices on our travels in the past, however we have never needed the back up. I do not erase my memory cards untill I get back home and the pics have been uploaded into my PC.

We have been lucky enough to visit London twice and never had any security problems. Just stay very alert, as you would in most big cities.

JPL

Well, I would just wait to work on the pics until I am back home, would just carry my phone to look at emails and for navigation and the usual stuff we use smartphones for today.

But if for some reason I wanted to buy me a laptopish gadget to photo edit while travelling the new Microsoft Surface book would be on top of my list.

For memory card backup you will need something like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1061096-REG/nexto_di_nese_nd2901500g_nd2901_with_500gb_hdd.html

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

That's true, out of all my cameras over the years, only one dropped to the cement because the strap broke. The battery door would no longer close, so we just used a rubber band for the rest of the trip.

About the only souvenir I ever buy is a spoon to add to my collection at home...small & inexpensive. Pictures will be the best souvenir and the best ones will have us in them!!

I've got the wet weather covered. Jackets for us, "raincoat" for the camera. We'll dress in layers and try not to stand out as tourists!!

Actually, my husband is the reason I've gotten so paranoid. He worries about absolutely everything. I always tell him it's a waste of energy and useless to worry so much. He worried that the Chrysler plant he worked at was going to close the entire 40 years that he worked there. He's been retired for over 12 years and the plant is still open. He never leaves the house with anything running or on (coffee pot, dishwasher, etc) and always closes and locks all the windows and doors. I often walk the dog and leave the house completely open. And, yes, we are somewhat paranoid anywhere we go. Even when we go out to dinner and leave the dog in the car, my husband thinks someone will steal him ('cause he's so cute...the perfect-sized dog and good as gold). So, you see, he needs this vacation and I hope to teach him to relax but I also want to heed some of his warnings and have a safe & happy trip.

I'll be doing all the driving because he is 75 and I read that you can't rent a car overseas if you are 75 or older. Then, HE can relax and enjoy the scenery. I just have to remember to drive on the wrong side of the road!!

I still want to download my pictures onto something so I have a backup copy. If I don't take a computer, what do YOU suggest?

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

What do you mean, go mod? As in modern camera? What kind of clothing brags about being USA? USA logos????

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

The last time I was in London was 45 years ago and I remember the tube was a great way to get around. We traveled all over Europe back then on the fly. Found transportation and a room when we needed it. Started out in Frankfurt, Germany, went to Paris, London, Amsterdam, a cruise on the Rhine river in Germany and Berchtesgarden, Germany with a side trip to Salzburg, Austria. My parents and in-laws traveled with my late first husband and I because we lived in Germany for the last year he spent in the Army. This time, though, I have everything planned out and all our reservations are already made.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'm finding that to be true as well!!