planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'm considering taking my a99ii (42MP) with me on my 3-week trip to France and Switzerland and my 24-105 f/4 attached. I would also consider taking my APS-C a77 (24MP) instead but I'd only get 36mm on the short end...probably not wide enough for the insides of churches, etc unless I added my 17-50 f/2.8, which weighs a fraction of the 24-105 and is a lot smaller to boot. Any thoughts? I have a strap and a harness (more conspicuous, but probably not as easy to steal off of). Thoughts?

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Following.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Will you be in a herd of tourists being led around or exploring the unique on your own?

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Probably a bit of both. I go on a tour that is going to be an unknown number until I get there (max on the tour is 40, but I don't know what the minimum - when I went to Israel with a different tour company there was only 16 of us). Some tours are as a group but there is always time to explore on your own, whether for a few hours or a whole day. One optional tour I plan on doing, (though the most expensive on either tour) is, on my birthday to do dinner, wine, champagne and a show at the Moulin Rouge. Just checked - T-minus 57 days and counting until blast off (Unless COVID cancels my plans for the 3rd year in a row). Hopefully, being double-boosted it won't be a problem.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I've posted the same opinion before. Many times. It is usually ignored!

Full size cameras are great for when the primary mission is photography. If the mission is to be a learning tourist, they get in the way. My favorite examples are what you do with it in a typical crowded cafe and where to lock it up when you want to do something besides photography.

Get a small camera for "cultural" travel missions. Not only will it be easier to tote where you want to go, but if you want images of people that live there, they will be more friendly to tourists that don't point big cameras at them.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Is Paris safe? No place is safe. The real question is what is the risk, how risk-averse are you, and how are you going to manage the risk that exists in every trip. Paris is not a high-risk city, but in every large city with significant numbers of tourists you have opportunistic thieves who will grab your purse, camera, wallet, or cell phone. So you will have to think about how you are going to manage these items to reduce your exposure to risk.

I have taken my full-frame A7 III and A7R III bodies to many large cities in Europe, Latin America, and Africa, including some considered dangerous, and never had a problem. I carry my camera in a sling bag that I carry on the side or in front if needed, and that allows me to easily take my camera out without taking my eyes off the street.

At this point, I shoot full-frame only. For me, every trip is an opportunity to take great photos, and I want to have the best camera with me. I used to have an APS-C Sony a6000 that I gave to my son because I used it rarely.

Lenses: I almost always carry my Sony 24-105mm. The lens is very versatile, and it has a great focal range that allows me to take 95% of the shots I want. A good and versatile zoom is important when you travel in a group as you often don't have much time to get your shot.

For a city like Paris you want to be able to go at least as wide as 24mm (full-frame). If you like architectural shots, particularly church interiors, you may consider a wider lens. I usually carry a Zeiss Batis 18mm prime (330g) for that purpose. If I think that I will do street shots in a big city I take a very small 35mm prime--the Sony Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 that only weighs 120g.

Paris is a great city. Enjoy your trip.

BebuLamar

There is always some risk but the risk of carrying the A99 or A77 are equal in my opinion.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

I walked around Paris for days carrying my A7R4 with 24-105 and never felt any danger. Mostly the problem is pickpockets in crowded shopping and tourist areas. I'd be more scared in most big US cities

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

No major city in Europe is safe to carry anything of value. Take precautions, I always carry my camera's in my hand, and never set them down anywhere.
And always carry your wallet in your front pocket.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

On your own there is danger in today's metro areas. But not any different than in NYC where murder and the attacks are now regular fare.
If alone, be aware of your surroundings and avoid thick crowds. I found that attempts on me were most common when trying to get on public transportation where people are crowding.
None were successful except a watch being taken but I instantly reacted and with help from another person immediately caught the thief, beat him up and got the police to take him and they finished the beating as they hauled him off.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

We have made many European trips, and read of the risk of taking a good camera. I've taken my Canon 5DII each time, and never had a worry. I still kept an eye out for people around me, but never felt any threats.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Unfortunately, no large city is exempt from thieves, pickpockets, bag-snatchers etc. It's a sad fact of the world we live in right now, and only seems to be getting worse. Personally I wouldn't take a large rig with me on a trip like that for many reasons, (just one of which is potential theft).I generally take a nice point and shoot, or bridge camera (great zoom and no need for extra lenses), and my phone which has a very good camera, is a great "back-up". With all the usual gear, full size camera, collection of lenses and accessories, You may as well carry a sign reading, "valuables here, please steal them"! Lol. Simple things like plain camera straps in dark colors, without Canon/Nikon, etc written on them. Bags to carry your gear around that don't look like a camera bag, I have a good quality padded backpack with no camera names on it, and it's large enough for my camera gear and also extra "stuff" for a days excursion,and it's comfortable to carry. I wear a "fanny-pack/bum-bag", (depends where you live), for my wallet, passport, etc. Zippered and easily hidden by my shirt, sweater or jacket. There's lots to be aware of when traveling, and mostly common sense will for the most part help to protect. Honestly, some places are worse than others, but most are not as bad as you might think. Don't let the worrying about it, spoil your trip, enjoy yourself, have fun and bring back some great shots! All the best,
Ray.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I personally found my 24-105 F/4 ideal in an overwhelming number of "must have" shots, including huge churches. I just avoid the rush to the alter and hang back to capture the wide shots. Then as everyone is filing out, quickly get your alter area shots. Now days, for dimly lit interior shots, PP with PS/Topaz products I just set a SS which I can safely hand hold at F/4, and float the ISO. Give it a try before you go. I think that you will be amazed at what your camera is capable of. The long lines at the churches move rapidly since they cycle through large groups at a time.

Kymarto and billnikon both gave great responses for your security concerns. Pickpockets are everywhere there are tourists! If you are still concerned about your rig I would recommend the OP/Tech "Urban Sling" with, cut-resistant braided stainless steel cable for added security, and wear it "Cross Body" with your camera in front, hand held.
https://www.optechusa.com/urban-sling.html
Go, have fun and . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

Edit: Remember, you are a tourist, you will stand out like a Zebra, and taking a smaller camera will not hide that fact.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I never been to Paris; but in the last 10 years, except 2021, in no order we have been to London, southern France, Scotland, England, Germany, Italy, Sicily, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, Italy and many small villages.
In most cases we rented a car and traveled on a self guided tour. I carried a d5000 then a d500.

No one seemed to care. Some would comment on the nice equipment and in some places people would mimic the shots I took. In 2019 many people from Asia had better equipment that I did.

I know the economy is worse and maybe pawning the stolen camera can be sold.

I only had trouble in Prague on the subway when a group of three men tried to steel a early point and shoot canon.
Pay attention to the surroundings. Don't look like prey.

We are leaving for Dubrovnik, Bosnia, and Montenegro on the April 13th for 4 weeks. I am traveling light with the d500, 18 -300mm and the 10 -24 mm. The 18-300 mm lens attracted attention in the past.
The d850 , 3 lenses, flash and tripod that with bag and accessories weight 20 pounds are staying home. I will try to post daily

george19

You, sir, are a master of subtlety and negotiation…and peacemaking. I bow to your abilities. While the vitriolic debate rages on in these pages about image magnification using a crop sensor, you’ve properly turned the argument around to discuss the advantage of getting the wider field of view in at shorter focal lengths with a full frame camera…something you just can’t get, EVER, with a crop sensor.

To attempt to answer your question, I’ve never been to Paris, but am guessing you will want all the field of view you can get.

Well played.