Accessories for Europe

[pilatesbody]

Hi all. I am going to Italy in October. I have a Canon 50D and one lens, but I am very close to buying a micro 4/3 to take as well (instead?). Anyway, I have never travelled to Europe with a DSLR before...the last time I went it was all film and batteries!

So I need to ask: what do I have to buy in order to plug in my battery charger, phone charger, computer charger...

Should I take my laptop or buy a portable drive? I have a large backpack but I'm not sure I want to lug my computer around, esp. if I take the 50D/zoom lens.

Any other advice you might have would be appreciated.

[NathanFranke]

Ditto above. I'm going to South Africa next year, and have roughly the same questions and roughly the same gear.

I'd add one thing though--my wife (having grown up in South Africa) is paranoid about thieves. Any suggestions about non-obvious camera bags?

[pilatesbody]

I got some advice from my friends on FBook regarding the adapters. The camera battery charger and my mac computer charger both convert the 110V to 220V so all I need is the "plug" part. Here is a link that one of my friends supplied:
2 Pin Travel AC Power EU Europe Plug Converter Adapter, 2 Pin EU Plug Adapter, Travel Adapter

I still don't know if I will be taking my laptop or just buying a bunch of cards. I don't think I'll bother with a portable drive because that's another $200 and as I am not a pro, I think I'll probably wait till I get home to download. Of course, that means I have to take enough cards, and then hope they won't get corrupted, lost, or stolen!

I also get lots of advice about pickpockets and thieves in Italy so I'm not sure how to carry all my gear. My camera will be on my neck most of the time, so it's the backpack pockets that I worry about. Travel is exhausting and I haven't left yet.

ps decided not to buy the other camera, but to just go with what I have and put the money in a comfortable shoulder strap and some cards.

[NathanFranke]

I've been doing research myself, and found this: a useful article on DPS. I saw about the internal power converters on most modern electronic equipment, so that's reassuring. Unfortunately, Amazon does not list what countries an adaptor is for.

As for thieves, SA sounds more violent than western Europe (confirmed by my wife's family). I'm planning on getting a new camera bag (think tank retrospective 30). It doesn't scream "I have expensive stuff in here" like a big Canon or Tamrac logo will-at least it doesn't look like it to me.

At the moment, I'm planning on taking my laptop. Plans may change in the next year though...

[pilatesbody]

Yes I've heard some things about SA and I know someone who went. I'm not worried about having my camera stolen from around my neck in Italy, but I know there are many pickpockets. I even heard a story of a gang of little girls who would expertly pick the pockets of tourists at the Trevi Fountain.
I did a quick google search and found this:

What are the voltage requirements in South Africa?

Voltage: 220/230 V; Plug M. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit.

As we have already learned, the converter is not necessary if the charger you have suggests input 100V-240V or something like that. I think the converter is if you are going to be using a hair dryer or curler. It is the plug M part that will tell you what kind of adapter to get. But I imagine a universal one will work in many plugs.

[lil red bird]

Take a look at the item that you plan on plugging in it should have a voltage label on it. That said we did Rome in 2010 all we needed was the converter plugs. All our electrical stuff was dual voltage.