Travel Advice - Cameras for vacation, what you need to know

The range of cameras available  for use when traveling is bewildering. We review several camera types below and note pros and cons that might be of importance to you.

Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are the most popular camera type due to the ease of displaying these pictures on PC’s and sending images to friends via email.

While relatively expensive, digital cameras have the advantage that you can compose a picture, take it, and immediately view the picture on the small preview screen that is part of the camera. If the picture does not meet your standards, you can erase it from the memory card  and take another picture.

Although many digital cameras do not produce results that rival  quality 35mm SLR film-based cameras, they do meet a specific need and the functionality of many digital cameras surpasses anything that you can do with film based systems (e.g. take both stills and short videos with the same camera system).

Digital cameras store images on memory cards that store a picture in a numeric format that represents the image captured by your camera.

• Memory Cards are available in different capacities and formats ranging from Megabytes to Gigabytes. Memory cards come in a variety of formats and you must purchase the format used by your camera to store images.
•  Cards with more memory cost more than cards with lower capacity, but store more images.
• The number of images that can be stored on a card is a function of the image size and resolution that you choose when setting your camera to capture images.
• Software (usually supplied with your camera) is used to transfer the images from the card to a computer or another storage device.  Once the images have been transferred, other images can be stored on the card.  In other words, memory cards are reusable, unlike film.

High-resolution images gulp space on memory cards and you should decided the desired size and resolution of your photographs before you leave on the trip.

• Most cameras display the number of images that can be fit on the memory card they are using, based on the choices that you make related to image size and resolution.
  • Make sure that you understand this relationship and take enough memory cards to capture the number of images that you might take during the vacation.
  • The images remain on the card until transferred to a computer or otherwise erased.
  • If you travel with a portable PC, you can transfer the images to the PC and clear the memory card.
  • If not, you might be able to find an Internet Café and Transfer the images for storage at one of the many Internet sites specializing in digital photo services (e.g. www.shutterfly.com or www.ofoto.com ).
  • Some Internet Cafes have the ability to write your images onto a CD.
  • Alternatively, you can simplify the issue by carrying an extra memory card to two.

If you are interested in digital cameras and have not yet purchased one, see our expanded section on Digital Cameras.

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Disposable Cameras

If you will be satisfied with some simple shots of the attractions that you visit when traveling, bring a couple of disposable cameras and have at it.

• Most disposable cameras feature a built-in flash and approximately a twenty-five picture capacity.
• Disposable cameras are fixed focus cameras (no close-ups or zooms) and do not have the picture taking flexibility of other types of cameras.
• We have found disposable cameras to be reliable.
• Finally, disposable cameras are relatively inexpensive and easy to find when traveling, if you should need to pick up a new one.

APS Point and Click Cameras

If you want greater flexibility while taking pictures and better quality results than a disposable camera can provide but do not like dealing with complicated 35mm cameras, buy a “point and click” camera that features the APS (Advanced Photo System).

• These little delights feature automatic film loading (and automatic film speed setting), flash, automatic exposure, automatic focus, and the ability take photos that range from close-ups to semi- panoramic images.
• The APS cameras are small, compact, and usually equipped with a reasonably good lens.
• They are great for taking quick, quality photos.
• Finally, cameras bearing the APS seal are usually small, lightweight, and easy to use.

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35mm Cameras

Photographers that are mores serious about taking pictures will want to take a 35mm single lens reflex camera with at least one additional lens (usually a telephoto) in order to be prepared to capture images in a variety of lighting and climate conditions. .

• On the action side, 35mm camera operators usually require longer to compose and snap the picture, as they adjust the various settings these cameras offer.
• If high quality photography is an important part of the trip for you, the 35mm camera is your best bet, as it is the most versatile of the cameras discussed here.
• The 35mm is, also, the most expensive cameras discussed here and can cost from several hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the number of camera functions and  the assortment of lenses.
• The 35mm SLR usually is a larger, heavier camera and requires toting a camera bag to handle accessories (such as lenses, filters, film, and batteries).
•  Finally, please note that operating most 35mm SLR’s requires a “learning period” before you really understand how to take advantage of the camera.
  • Do not buy one and hop on a plane, believing that your pictures will turn our great because you bought a great camera.
  • Buy it in advance of your trip and snap several roles of film to make sure you understand how to use this versatile camera to your best advantage.

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Batteries

With all types of cameras (except the disposable), be sure to carry an extra set of batteries since  cameras now depend on external power for most camera functions.  If you have a charger, take it with, but remember to take a power adapter, unless the charger is engineered to work with multiple power types.

 Recommendation

If money is no object, buy a good quality digital camera, several memory cards (for image security), and use this as your main camera on vacation.  If you already have cameras consider taking  two of them on your next vacation.

• For instance, If you  travel  as a twosome, try to take a 35mm (film or digital) and an APS or digital point-and-click camera.
  • There will be times when you simply do not feel like taking the 35mm with you or when using it requires set up that will take you beyond the picture opportunity that you are facing.
    • In these situations take out the APS or digital and fire away.
    • In addition, the panorama option on the APS camera is fantastic, as it allows you to take delightful pictures of objects too large to catch from other cameras at the same distance from the feature.

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