Is it safe to carry around a digital SLR throughout Jordan and Egypt? I have booked The Jordan and Egypt Adventurer and was wondering if the camera will bring too much negative attention (will people try stealing it?), if the activities are arduous enough that carrying the big SLR will be a pain in the arse, and if it might get damaged during the tour.
I have a small compact digital camera, but the SLR is the better of the two. Can someone please offer some advice regarding this.
Also, are there border laws prohibiting cameras and what about various temples and tourist attractions? Do some of these forbid camera use?
Thanks much!
Re: Camera's Digital SLR's
These are excellent questions, and I'd also like to know the answers. We were also thinking of bringing a digital SLR with about 5 lenses in a backpack. We read somewhere that when you enter Egypt you have to declare the camera so that they know you had it before you entered the country, and didn't buy it while there and return home with it. But that's all we've heard. Haven't heard anything about them being banned from certain areas - I certainly hope not, because I don't trust leaving the camera anywhere but around my neck.
Re: Camera's Digital SLR's
Hello F1,
To answer your question: I began travelling in Egypt in March '99 with just a "point & shoot" film camera. Later tours I had upgraded to a film SLR & then finally with a digital SLR & various lenses for different shots. In Egypt I NEVER had any problems with people trying to steal the cam or lenses. The main problem was ensuring that dust was excluded during lens changes. I ensured the safety of the cam & lenses at all times by wrapping in bubble wrap & storing in resealable plastic bags & wiping down before & after lens changes. Keep in mind that the dust can cause serious problems with your digital cams!
On the whole you can pretty much take still & video shots anywhere in Egypt. However, some sites charge extra fees for video cams to be used....some are fairly high fees. Inside some sites the use of camera's with flash are banned & inside other sites(such as interior of Tombs & Temples... this is said to be to protect the artwork), the use of camera's at ALL are banned. To the best of my knowledge the Egyptian Museum has banned the use of all camera's inside the building & you have to leave your camera's inside an unlocked building outside the Museum. If you find yourself in this position, bearing in mind that all bags are xrayed before entry, I would leave my camera with the bus driver (if travelling with an Im Trav group) OR I would NOT leave my camera. The next best option would be to organise with group members to go insde & leave cams with other tour members & then swap over.....remember this is only MY thoughts!! Also bear in mind that your Tour Leader will have up to date info on all this, mine may be out of date as I have not travelled there since March 2007, so ensure that you speak with your Tour Leader about ANY of your concerns. He/she will be the best one to provide up to date info.
I believe that the extra weight, etc of the digital cam & lenses was WELL worth the effort as I have captured some amazing pics throughout Egypt.
As far as I know it is only commercial video cameras that have to be declared, ie, cameras good enough to film documentary's. I also understand it is more to do with the fact that you haven't brought a camera in & SOLD it in Egypt, as you are supposed to have it checked on your departure from Egypt!
I have never declared my still camera when travelling in Egypt....& mine was NOT a cheap one. I have never been pulled up by customs on entry, which would have been easy as I had the cam & lenses in my backpack!
I am assuming that the same could be said for Jordan. As yet I have not been able to manage a trip to Jordan....Petra is one of my dream shoots!
Hope this helps & if you think I can answer any other camera questions, please fire away!.........Debbie