llawryf

I am traveling to Prague and Vienna in a couple of weeks with a choir for a week. I recently got a new phone, and I purposely got the new Google Pixel 6 Pro just because of the camera, and thinking that it would be great to not have the hassle of lugging a DSLR around. But now I'm having second thoughts. I'm just afraid I might regret it if I don't take my camera. I have a Nikon D7100, and I would probably just take my Tamron 18-400 lens. Definitely do not want to have extra lenses, etc. I do have a holster type bag that I got just for that lens - but it is still an extra bag to bring. How have others packed for a trip like this? I'm wondering if a laptop type carry-on would work. I could just put the camera and lens in the padded section, and still have room for other carry-on stuff. We're allowed one carry-on and one "personal bag". So this would be my personal bag, and I could put my purse in the other carry-on. I do not want to put the camera in my checked luggage. And the last time I traveled abroad (22 years ago! I had a film camera then...) on at least one leg of the flight they made us check the carry-on bag because there wasn't room for them in the bins.... So thoughts, please!

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

First, you know you’ll regret not having your DSLR when you see the cell phone photo didn’t come close to what you wanted.

Second, in a trip to Ireland in 2017, I took my D5300 and my Tamron 18-400 and my Nikon 10-20. That taught me that I didn’t need to take the Tamron off the camera. So, in 2018, on another trip to Ireland, that’s what I took. QED.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

The wife had her iPhone, I had Canon 6D. She has tons of memorable pictures that are excellent. I don’t think she ever regretted not carrying extra weight. The larger camera was a nuisance on occasion but worth it to me. If you are going on a photo trip take the camera. If you are trying to get shots to share with friends and record the memorable trip use the cell phone camera.

neillaubenthal

Back in the day I used a Nikon 18-300 as the travel lens on my D7500 and am ordering the 24-200 for my Z bodies for those situations when it's not primarily a photo trip but I still want decent photos. With today's phone cameras…you can get pretty darned excellent tourist type photos without carrying anything else. However…anything that requires a wider angle or more reach than the phone will do…particularly longer reach as they al do digital zoom which seriously reduces image quality…you'll be likely dissatisfied. My thought is that most people who are interested enough in photography to be members of a forum and ask a question like this are interested in more than just tourist photos…you'll want some landscapes, cool approaches to subjects, and depending on where you are…some wildlife at middle to distant ranges…and the phone really won't cut it for that very well.

So…I still carry a single body and all in one zoom on non primary photo trips or whenever I'm just walking around and take a camera. No filters, single body and lens in a light package.

llawryf

Very good point! Now, how do I pack it?

DICK32

Take a your 18-400 lens for out doors shots. a camera lens for indoor shots. Prague is a very historic city. Go in the Tun Church. spelling may be off. it has the oldest pipe organ in Europe. Ask for a CD of it. Tacho Brahe (SP) is buried there: He was a Danish nobleman that lost a sword fight and got a golden nose to replace it. He did the astronomical observations that proved that the earth revolved around the sun and killed the Catholic doctrine that the sun revolved around the earth--much to the delight of Kepler the astronomer who derived the laws of planetary motion . Go to the old town area and see houses that are centuries old and built in different centuries.

Vienna Go to the royal palace and gardens. Go to a Mozart's house and a Mozart concert. Food is great in both cities. Your camera gear has batteries it has to go as a carry on.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

I compromise since I travel often. If going to stay in one place, explore the area and have time to "work" the photo I take my DSLR, with a WA lens and a longer Zoom one. But like bus trip in Germany (leaving next week) fast moving where we will be in 9 cities, I just take my lighter weigh Sony P&S with it wide-to-zoom lens. Works well for regular shots, but also fast grab shots thru bus window, night street photos, etc.

I do grab some shots with my Samsung cell, but would miss many clicking on camera, jumping to zoom, etc. So, anyway maybe compromise in-between?

Judy795

All you need is a small backpack camera bag for camera and lens and then your purse inside your other carry on. That’s what I do. And usually a coat or vest with pockets for extras.

druthven

Take your camera!!! You will not regret it. On previous trips to Europe and the UK I have taken my D7100 or now the D500 and all the paraphernalia that went with them but on a planned trip to Switzerland I didn't want to lug all that equipment around so I devised a minimalist+ package. The photo shows what goes into a small, 12 inch, Think Tank sling bag with some room to spare. from left to right, tools, rubber bands, lens wipes, set of filters, 2 types of Spider camera holsters, rain cover, battery charger, belt pouch with Sony RX100 vii and remote shutter release, National Geographic belt bag containing, lens pen, flashlight. folding knife/tool, lens cleaning wet dry cloths, small tripod and batteries. There is also a pocket on the outside which contained virtually nothing. Weight, just under 4 lbs. Granted I did already have a $1300.00 pocket camera but I was able to repack loading a D7100 with an old Tamron 28-300 lens and the National Geo bag with it's contents and had a significant amount of room around the lens for other items. Many of the items could be carried in pocket or purse. Obviously the knife would need to be on the checked baggage. Replacing the Sony with the D7100 would add about two and a half pounds.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I definitely would take the DSLR. Both Vienna and Prague are extremely photogenic cities, and you will regret not having a capable camera on this trip. I traveled with my D7100 for years, and for the past four years I have been traveling with a full-frame Sony A7 III. I have tons of great pictures and no regrets.

The lens question: the 18-400mm probably is overkill. You will never use the long end of that lens on this trip. Also, these superzooms do not offer great image quality. In my D7100 days, I traveled with a Nikon 18-140mm lens and was happy with it. I found that often 18mm (27mm full-frame equivalent) was not wide enough, so I added a 10-20mm wide angle lens to my travel kit. These days, I travel with a full-frame Sony 24-105mm lens--which would be about 16-70mm on an APS-C model like the D7100. In my opinion, this would be the perfect focal range for a city trip like this.

Travel bag: I have been using the Lowepro Passport Sling for about ten years as my travel camera bag. It fits a camera body with lens attached plus an extra lens; it also has small pockets for memory cards, spare batteries, etc. It is expandable so you could also stuff a light sweater into it. It has outside pockets for maps, guide books, and one for a water bottle. So it works great as a day pack to walk around a city like Vienna or Prague. It also is small enough to count as "personal item" on airplanes. I travel internationally two or three times a year (I write this from Berlin), and I always carry a backpack and the Lowepro Passport Sling as cabin luggage. The Sling also is small enough to fit underneath the seat, if needed.

The Lowepro Passport Sling also is a good bag from a security point-of-view. I used to travel with a backpack as a camera bag, until mine got sliced open at a bus terminal in Ecuador, which is when I switched to this bag. You can carry it in the back, on the side, or in front. You can take your camera in and out of the back effortlessly while keeping your eye on the street. With a backpack, you have to take it off your back to take your camera out or put it away. The bag also does not look like a camera bag, so it does not automatically identify you as a tourist.

The previous poster recommends a Think Tank sling bag. While I have no experience with this bag, it is the same idea, and I am sure that this would work well too.

Enjoy your trip, and take some great pictures!

lightyear

In numerous trips to Europe, including Prague and Vienna, taking picture of unique structures, buildings, marketplaces, people, etc. I had no need for telephoto(200mm+) since I was not shooting any wildlife., Many images were at the shorter wide angle than the long end. I prefer the Nikon 24-120 F4.00 VR lens on my D810, but your camera can make great use of the 18-140 mm lens or similar. The VR feature is a great aid and eliminates my need for tripod on this kind of trip. Take enough memory cards, since they are very costly in Europe. Take spare batteries and make sure you have a plug that can use European sockets and 220Volts (my Nikon battery chargers are 110V or 220V). I would (unlike others) would not use any backpack becausse it is too difficult to access your camera that way. I have numerous camera shoulder bags of various designs/manfufacture but prefer a nondescript shoulder bag that holds the camera w/zoom lens, spare battery and memory cards, and lens cleaner, as well as the camera strobe (for pictures inside churches, palaces, etc.). I leave the laptop in the suitcase . I f you have another VR lens, take it as a spare in case your zoom lens fails. You will at least have SOME pictures to see upon return. Always close and lock your suitcase when (our for the day, at dinner, etc.)not in the room, since hotel thefts of laptops, cameras are common. When not in the nondescrpt shoulder bag, my camera is around my neck making it hard for thieves ( common now in Europe) to grab. I also put black electrician's tape over the 'Nikon' name on my camera to discourage theft. Never leave your camera bag over the back of a chair in a restaurant ( a thief tried to grab my wife's bag at lunch in a Barcelona cafebut her hand was wrapped around he strap). Take the cheap clear plastic Optech camera rain cover so you can shoot on drizzly days.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

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

IMHO, your D7100 and 18-400 are too big and heavy to carry around.
I would suggest a much smaller pocket camera like the Sony HX99

ELNikkor

Wouldn't lug or use anything beyond 120mm.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Today many photographers travel with mirrorless or bridge cameras. They are practical, light, fit anywhere and offer very good image quality.
I use Olympus and what I have noticed is that when I use the rear monitor of the camera to focus I attract less attention than when I use the viewfinder. To me that is a bonus.