warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Is the electric still 220 in Germany. Would I have to carry a step down transformer?

02Nomad Loc: Catonsville, MD

Check the back of your charger, it will tell you whether or not it can accept 220 volts. If it can,you will only need an adapter, not the step-down. I'm speaking from experience, I've been to Europe several times and only needed an adapter; please note, though, you will need to get the one for the specific region that you are going to. Hope that this helps.

Dave_TX

Look at the labeling on your charger. It will indicate the acceptable voltage and frequency range. Given the international distribution of the cameras and their accessories it is likely 100 to 240 Vac, 50-60 Hz. The camera manual may also provide those specifications. I have no idea what the outlets look like in Germany but I suspect they do not look like ours. Travel kits with a variety of plug adapters are cheap.

Fat Gregory Loc: Southern New Jersey

No

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Most electonic devices these days are capable of accepting the electric supply from pretty much any country in Europe. Some of the older ones may have a switch to change from 120 to 220/250, but I have not seen even that in a long time. The German plugs physically have 2 round pins, with the earth/ground carried by a clip which runs on the outside of the plug. British ones have 3 stonking-great brass bars coming out of them!

As some have already posted, you can get adaptors for the physical plugs in many places - try AAA if you get stuck.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Most newer electronics have chargers that can handle 110-240 just fine with only an adapter. I travel to Europe and Africa quite a bit and I just make sure I have the right adapter and a rubber 3-way outlet from Home Depot so I can charge a few things up at once. One notable exception was a Toshiba tablet I got a couple of years ago that was only 110, I needed to shell out another $30 for a power adapter that would cover 110-240. Pretty lame. Always read the fine print on your charger/power brick, better than smoking a camera, tablet or laptop. One of my favorite sports is watching ladies blow up hair driers on 220. Doesn't take long.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Stationed Wildflecken 55-58

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Hi Warrior, I have just checked several of my chargers and they all have input voltage of 110v -240vso you will be OK, don't forget to take European continental adapter which have two round pins about 1" long. These are OK to use anywhere in Europe except here in the UK.
Cheers
John

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

I bought an adapter in the luggage and travel section at Target, it is a multi=use one and has worked in Germany, France, England and Costa Rica with no problem. I always keep it in my camera gear bag

bearofsantafe Loc: Santa Fe, NM / Switzerland

I spend 1/2 my time in Switzerland & 1/2 in Santa Fe, NM.
Every time I purchase an electronic device in the States I make sure it's voltage rating is from 120/203-250v. This includes my Nikon D7000 with charger and laptop, etc.
You just need the plug adaptor and my choose is the two plug with built in ground. Most outlets in Europe take three plug so one my have to buy an additional plug adaptor.

Hopes that helps....

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

:thumbup: Kit is good especially if you are going to travel to different countries, because they do vary. Or pick the specific one if only going to Germany, to lighten your load.

amehta Loc: Boston

I was in Australia & NZ (220V), and never needed a transformer, only a plug adapter. This worked for my computer, camera battery charger, rechargeable battery charger, and USB charger for phone and tablet. Everything hasn't gotten uniform, but it's a lot easier than it used to be.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

You won't need a transformer but wait to get the adapter until you get to your destination because there are different plugs for different groups of countries.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I will not buy a rechargeable device or a charger unless it works from 110 - 220 volts. Now a days there's no excuse for a vendor to sell you anything that doesn't cover the range. That takes care of my camera gear, my camcorder and my PC as well as my cell phone too when I happen to travel with that too.

I bought a universal power adaptor too. That has all the plugs in it so it no longer matters to me what a specific country needs, I've got it in that one adaptor. However since you're going to Europe all you really need is the one with two round pins unless you're also planning on stopping in the UK. Personally, go for the combination adaptor and it then no longer matters.

Finally, these days I never have one thing to charge, I've usually got a lot of things instead. There's the camera batteries, there's the flash batteries, there's the laptop, there's the camcorder and so it goes. Unfortunately hotel rooms don't have unlimited outlets available making all the charging a real challenge if you need to be fully charged by morning.

So I carry a power bar too. That way I only need one adaptor and I can charge many things at once. It doesn't have to be a 220 v power bar, a 110 v one will do, the chargers don't draw a lot of power so it works ok.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

That's not the best idea, get your adapter before you leave.
The one you need is a round two pin as shown earlier by "Bearofsantafe" that will fit anywhere in Europe except UK where we have a huge three pin plug.
Cheers,
John.