First off . . Yer wanna meet up?

Now, tripods in London will most likely draw "Jobs Worth's" plus the police and security companies to your "patch". I know, I've had it. And yes, to get really "good" shots - esp. architecture and potential pans etc - are so necessary. Monopods would be nice - inconspicuous and "erect" and collapse very quickly - if you find one that fits your requirements. While on-tripod I've been approached by a security bloke as I was filming outside our new London Council building - really beautiful building - and was asked, politely, to desist. I was on a tripod. However, 40 paces away was a "gaggle" of Japanese tourist, cammies all over the place, cameras clacking away [ must think of a better term for digital photography, silent and all that ] . . . and they weren't "shooed" on . . . go figure! I think the tripod brings the flies out!

I too have the same Canon XM2 . . and I too have been agonising if I would also use it on vacation. It does look a wee bit pro, a wee bit "nickable" . . . I'm considering the new 3CCD Panasonic consumer cammie, just for such "holiday" times. It is very tiny, maybe too tiny, but it will fit in my fleece or anorak pocket - and off I'd go.

Bottom line : You are gonna be on holiday - maybe a trip of a lifetime, do yer really wanna bring something along that will be continually worrying you? If it gets nicked or broken, how will you feel then? I guess you aren't doing this trip to "earn" money for your filming? You want to enjoy yourself. Now, if you were, then the decision would be made for you - yeah?

This isn't easy - but meeting me WILL be! ! ! !

Best regards,

Grazie

. . oh yes .. Always, ALWAYS keep finished tapes away from your "nickable" stuff. Galling as it may be you can ALWAYS replace the cammie and equip, but you can never recapture those important moments. I always "pocket" my completed tapes . . . .

. .. while in London you will have an option to go to various cammie shops . . My favourites are on Tottenham Court Road's A-V, bang in central London and the shops "fall-over" each other trying to give you the "best" deal . . . don't forget that one . . . even IF we don't meet up - yeah?

Grazie

. . . sorry . . you got me going . . . . " . . . and carry the camcorder around my neck." NO! Don't do it . . you will trip, you will knock it into someone or a wall; you will be seen/advertising yourself as a target for thieves; you will be going into very busy people-squashed places: The Tube; lifts; queues . . . you may want your hands free to support yourself and not protect your precious camera . . .. . you can also be "dragged" by the thing too!

. . but apart from all that you WILL have a great time . . . . . .and finally, take your "name" as your guide, Salamander, try and blend into the background . .. no, that is a chameleon - yeah?

. . .Grazie

A few random thoughts:

1. I'm an ex-football player and it still doesn't bother me to carry 20 pounds of stuff, but if I'm on vacation, I'm going to have a lot more fun, and probably take a lot more pictures, if I can just reach into my pocket and shoot.

2. Everyone is different, so perhaps this won't apply to you, but I've looked at my exotic location vacation pictures about twice in my life. Don't get me wrong, I am glad I have them and am glad they are quality pictures, but I took my 35mm camera, not my Hasselblad. For stills, I'd take my pocket camera, not my Nikon D-70.

Of course, if you are going to use the video commercially and plan to sell it, take the heavy iron.

Grazie- Please interpret "Jobs Worth's" and "patch" for this infinately curious former snowbound New Yorker turned hurricane battered Floridian who if he ever steps foot anywhere near Europe will be delighted to meet you for an afternoon.
I guess it's somewhat of a culture shock but on this side of the pond I've been in places like downtown Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, Miami, and other cities with full gear, lights, camera dollies on tracks, crew, equipment trucks etc etc with nothing even remotely resembling permission or permits of any kind. As long as it isn't hardcore pornography blatantly done on public streets while children are watching most police officers just ask us if we need crowd control. In some places you'll see wannabe reality TV show dreamers come out of the woodwork whenever they see a camera of at least pro-sumer size. And drunken underaged girls thinking we'll give them drugs or cash if they flash their boobs.

Salamander, no matter what you ultimately decide on, make sure your chargers are compatable with the UK and French voltage. 220 volt in both. Most European chargers are dual voltage 110/220 volt but I'm not sure about the States (assuming that's where you hail from)

Hiyah!

Ok, I hope I'm doing this justice - "If I was to allow you to do this it would be more than my job is worth - therefore under no circumstances will I allow you to do it - even though you have such a small demand could make all the difference between me having and not having a job" . . . something along those lines . ..

A "patch" is: a place or site or stand or small area sometimes relating to a fixed position . . something akin to me putting up my small, ever so humble tripod.

Fleshpainter, you have far more experience than I.

You have the experience that I can only "dream" about.

If you think I'm worrying too much on behalf of our friend here, then tell me. Hey guy the truth I can deal with - yeah? Your extended list of venues you've shot in, without hassle, would make me feel rather more comfortable than over here. I must get back to States one day.

Your " . . I guess it's somewhat of a culture shock . . " now that I don't understand?

Oh, just 2 days ago I was filming - as I say with my itsy-bitsy piece of kit, this time it was just me, no interviewer - and a "lady" . . . a little worse the wear for a drop of the drink, came up to me and asked what the f£$ck I was doing. I gave her the reply - minus the expletives. She asked me if I had any money . . I lied - she knew - I said no, I never carry any money . . I lied, hoping to finish the conversation and allow me to proceed with my most humble project. The next thing I know she has gone into the building I'm filming, summoned a security guard of that London Borough's Building, and he now is coming at me demanding to know what I'm doing - and do I have permission? Hello I'm a very very humble filmmaker trying to eek out a most humble living and here are my permissions and credentials. "Are you Mr. X X X X X " . . . . I reply, grovelling on the pavement, yes indeed I am that most 'umble servant . . and would you hike to have confirmation by way of my driving licence, credit card, security number or my Birth Certificate I'm sure I could oblige . . . "No!" says the nice man, "That wont be necessary . . " I touch my forelock [ that's a piece of hair that serfs in yester year would tug at to diffidence to their masters ] and return my work . . Meanwhile the "Lady" returns to my "pitch" and gives me an conspiratorial exaggerated wink . . . somehow she and I have created a bond way beyond our gene pool . . .

Don't yah just love . . er . . irony?

Grazie

. . ps: Peace & Love ;-)

With respect, I think Grazie is being a bit overcautious here. Salamander (it means newth, btw) will travel with his family. Grazie was most likely on his own, and probably not wearing his Mickey Mouse cap. His motives for filming in front of a public building may not have been as obvious as those of the Japanese party. He even has a beard. (But do meet up with him - he is a great guy. In person slightly more quiet than he sometimes comes across here on the forum, but fun to be with, and he KNOWS London.)

I have traveled to several European cities and gone through many crowds with a video camera. I've always appreciated the smallness of my cam - a Sony TRV950. The greatest challenge has not been the protection of myself or the equipment. But to get a few decent editable shots of something - with recognisable audio - while the family is pushing on for the next ice-cream, the toilets, whatever. They hate being kept idle.

My advice: Bring a small camera with a good mic (small shotgun). In these kinds of situations it is better to look like a tourist than not. And you need to be able to set up a shot rather fast, and pack up before the pushing on gets too loud. About tripods: It's not a must (under the circumstances). You'll do well with a good wide angle lens add-on and moving close to what you're shooting. Also - for landscapes and architecture - grab some shots with a small stills camera and use them for cropping and panning in Vegas. Makes great video. Good luck.
(If you don't mind the extra weight, you can bring a tripod and use it when it's possible. Just don't forget that you are on a family trip to London and Paris - you are there to enjoy it, not just to make a video of it.)
Tor

Oh . . don't yah just hate it when people know you so well .. thanks Torsie! . . . Funny, I always thought I was a loud-mouthed, ill-tempered limey with ideas above his station . .? HAH!

Don't yah just hate them NEWTHs ?

Being over cautious aint a bad thing . . is it? Damn! I'm now gonna worry about that now .. ?!?

Grazie

.. ps: great thread . . . .

I wouldn't go to London, it's full of bloody foreigners and men in strange hats ;-)

Funny, I always thought I was a loud-mouthed, ill-tempered limey with ideas above his station . .? HAH!

Ill-mouthed, yes. Slow-tempoed, yes. Ideas ??? I don't remember any ideas.
Tor

Sorry, Grazie. No, you're an absolutely well behaved gentleman and your conversation is not as cockney as one might have feared. Rather polite, actually.
Tor

Now that we've gotten the pleasantries out of the way, may I suggest getting a small table tripod?

I bought mine in the 70s, and used it with various cameras including a rather heavy Canon F-1 SLR all over the world. The legs are stored in the 5" column, so the whole thing is the size of a single cigar tube and weighs maybe 100 grams (my international calculator seems to indicate this is about 3 Foot-Pounds per Fortnight in the Imperial system of weights and measures :O)

BTW, I am so glad the U.S. 1866 Metric Act of Congress passed. We are slowly but surely getting there, inch by inch so to speak.

(I hope nobody thinks I got my foot in my mouth here).

It is a sad fact that many modern Americans would gladly trade the meter maids of today for the foot men of yore.

Sigh, those were the days of wine and roses...

I just had the opportunity to catch up on replies. This has been entertaining and educational (as always). It sounds like the smaller Sony is the way to go.

Grazie, I don't know if we'll get the chance to hook up or not, but either way I'd love to hear your insights into London. I came once before with my wife back in 1989. This time it will be us plus our daughter. We are looking forward to it, and to giving her the opportunity to seek other cultures (yes, we're from the states)!

Job 1 = Enjoy the family trip

I've only got a consumer Sony TRV340 with a wide-angle addition, so that's what I bring. A cameraman friend suggested, and I bought, an Italian-made mini-tripod by Manfrotto.

It stays on all the time. When the legs are brought together, you have a nice little post to hold the camera with, raise it above your head for high-angle shots, etc.. When they're spread out, you have a nice, er, mini-tripod for those steady shots: on the ground, car hood, whatever, there's always a surface around that'll take a mini-tripod.

Pierre

PS Don't leave your gear in the car. Someone will break the window and steal it (don't ask).

We're planning on using mass transit rather than renting a car. Is there any reason we can't get around London and Paris without a car?

Oops, sorry. Not having a car in Paris or (especially) London is a GOOD thing.

Although subway/tube/Metro is most efficient way to go, you see nothing but blank walls, and they're all the same. Experiment with surface transit. We always blow .5 day on a bus tour to get sense of city.

Supplementary: some museums/cathedrals won't want you to/will charge for photography/videography. Postcards (for eventual scanning into your video) are an inexpensive option.

You're going to the two greatest cities on earth, IMHO. Enjoy!

Pierre

In london you can get a weekly travel Zonal Card. DIRT CHEAP! . . As long as you travel outside the early rush hour . . post 9:30am . . you get to use it . . I often travel around Londion with my small kit of stuff and use a £4.30 Zone 1 & 2 travel card. This includes Subways and Buses too! Take a Car?!?! You must be nutz! Apart from the traffic and the lack of parking, the Congestion Charge - £5/day EVERY DAY! - for central London will hit your pocket. Granted, if you really wanna get outside of London for a few hours hore a car . . not in central London though .. the Tubes [ Subway ] and buses win by miles . . You could always call the Grazie Taxi . . . IF I aint busy . .would be a pleasure . . !

Bit seeing the sites? Pub Trav and Shanks Pony [ . . .walking! ] anyways you want to SEE my great city?You don't want to be ever "stuck" in a traffic jam . .. getting hot and bothered . ..

.. .hey what do I know? . . . Oh yeah, I designed and organised the tourist Brochure for my local Borough a few years back . . teh! Forgot about that one . . .!


Grazie

Perhaps a translation booklet would be in order... one to equate proper English to bastardised American.
I haven't looked yet but there are no doubt tens of thousands of them in print and on line.

LOL! - Grazie