Can anyone advise me please on whether I should take my DSLR + zoom lens on my proposed trip to China or should I opt for a simpler 'point and shoot?' While I want to take plenty of photographs I'm concerned about the weight issue as well as security. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I would take both. There is so many photo opportunities, I think the number I took was in the thousands! The coaches are secure so when I wanted to leave the SLR at any particular stop I would leave it in my back pack on the coach and take my point and shoot.

Also on my Vietnam holiday the lens on my SLR jammed and luckily I had my back up point and shoot.

Jenny

Being a keen photographer (amateur only) I take both. Whilst I like to get really good shots using my SLR I don't like to carry it around in the evenings. I always debate this issue before each trip - as you say, the weight is an issue, however, for me as much of the holiday is about the photography as the travelling is. I don't though take lots of lenses- I have a 18-200 lens which covers most eventualities. Having two cameras with me also means I have a back up in case the worst happens and the SLR breaks. With regards to safety, I tend to keep my hand on my camera and have it in a cross body case the same as I do in the UK. I think applying normal common sense as you would with any possessions is enough.

I did the China tour with Yangtze river cruise add on in August 2013. Although I don't have a digital DSLR I purchased a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ150 especially for the trip and also took my Fuji Finepix small point and shoot to take out in the evening. I literally took over a thousand photos and although the Panasonic Lumix was a little bulky it meant I was able to get some great shots. There is so much to see and so many opportunities on a daily basis to take photos that I would suggest you take the best camera you can with you. From a security point of view I carried my cameras in my hand luggage on internal flights and the hotels seemed secure if you want to leave them there of an evening; all of the rooms we stayed in, including on the cruise, had small safes in them. Weight can be an issue, particularly in the heat of August when we went but I took a rucksack with me and if the camera wasn't around my neck then I could carry it in the rucksack. I bought an extra battery with me so didn't have to worry about recharging too much. Some people on the trip forgot chargers, needed batteries/memory cards etc and there is some opportunity to buy spares whilst you are there - there are plenty of shops if you forget anything. I hope you have a wonderful time; if you have any questions about the tour please ask. Marie

Hi,

I did the china tour in October this year, and took both my canon

dslr and zoom and a smaller pocket size camera.

The reason for two, was the dslr for the day trips, great wall, pandas and the like and in the evening the smaller pocket digital for the night food market etc. It was safe to take either camera out and you see many people out and about with very expensive equipment, just like anywhere in the world just be cautious. I use a pac safe camera strap on the dslr, which is not only strong but doesn't display the cameras name.

As for weight, put the camera in your carry on, which is advisable anyway, I had no real problems other than leaving a lithon battery in my case, any batteries must be in your carry on luggage, and they can pick them up using the machines at the airports.

Both cameras gave quality and convenience and I came back with far too many pictures, 1200, but they will remind me of a excellent trip for a long time to come. Hope that helps.

Hi,

I am about to do my 11th JY trip and always take 2 cameras with me. For somewhere like China I would definitely take my DSLR but I have an 18 - 200mm lens that stays on the camera and covers everything! For safaris, for instance, I take a 70-300mm lens. I also take a small Nikon compact camera with me for evenings. However, having just come back from Kenya and Zanzibar (not with JY!) I found my Nikon Bridge camera took excellent wildlife shots, in some cases better than my DSLR! Am off to the Italian Dolomites and Croatia for Xmas/New Year and am just taking the bridge camera and the small compact. Unfortunately all camera equipment weighs! I also make sure that all my connectors and and charges are in my hand luggage and not my main case.

Hope this helps - have a fabulous time!

Cheers,

Hils

I always take my DLSR with me in my hand luggage and have not found the weight to be an issue. On my recent China trip I just took the standard 18 - 55 zoom lens and never felt I could have used a longer zoom as most pictures are scenery or of things relatively close to you.

I never felt security was an issue in China as if the camera wasn't with me it was in the safe in my room.

I have taken a an extra long zoom lens to S Africa where it was almost a permanent fixture on the camera when doing the safari part of the trip; it made taking good pictures of the animals at distance so much better. It was definitely worth the extra weight on that occasion.

I did the trip in October. I used a high end point and shoot, as did most of the group. One or two also used slr kits. It really comes down to personal preference. The tour is very full on. Most of the sites were crowded, so be prepared for lots of stray bodies getting into frame. The guides move quite quickly, so the only chances to really set up and compose shots are when you have free time. Whatever you decide, plenty of memory capacity is must. After the tour and cruise add on, I came home with 1400 pictures and about half an hour of video clips. Have a wonderful time.

Many thanks for all those comprehensive replies. I'm quite clear now on what I intend to do and will certainly be taking an additional point and shoot along with my DSLR with just the one lens. Many thanks again to all of you.

Hi just returned from Australia and I took my Canon Powershot DSLR and also my Olympus point and shoot which I took out mainly at evenings and meal events as well as some of the lunch stops leaving the DSLR on the coach or in the room, always best to take two cameras as I did have trouble with both at some point or other, I took over 2,700 photographs between the two