One of the great questions to come from the picnic last week was "What camera should I take?" There is no one answer for the whole group. My advice for everyone:
1) Use your phone as a backup, not your primary camera. Depending on your phone you might not have the best camera and you'll want great photos of this trip. Also, taking pictures eats up the phone's battery life and you'll be sad if you miss that great shot because of a dead battery.
2) Don't go out and buy a new, expensive camera for this trip. We will be touring through cities with pickpockets & thieves, hiking up Alps, and basically beating up whatever camera you take. One you already have without much emotional attachment is the best choice. IF you buy new choose on the less expensive side.
3) Go light weight. On some days we will be touring for 12 hours or so. You'll want a camera that is comfortable and easy to carry. A heavy, bulky, multiple lens camera that gets left in the hotel room takes no pictures at all.
3) Get the features. Some of the churches are dark, you need a flash. Some of the museums don't allow a flash, make sure it can be turned off. Make sure there is a zoom, we can't always get right up to everything, A wide angle is a nice extra feature. It can capture the great panorama of the Alps or fit in that entire monster of a cathedral. (Remember it is the number of pixels not the size of the pixel that make good, clear pictures.)
4) Know the camera. Take some time to learn how to use the camera before we go. Missing a picture because you don't know how to turn the flash on/off, can't find the landscape feature, don't know how to adjust for backlight, or how to charge the battery is a tragedy.
5) Bring extra. You'll take a lot more pictures and video than you think. Have a good memory card and bring an extra. I usually have a 32 GB and carry another one. Also bring an extra battery pack so you can just pop the fresh one in when the current one dies.
All that said, this is your trip. If you don't want the hassle of carrying a camera, use your phone. If your are a photographer extraordinaire and have a vision for the kind of pictures you want to take then by all means bring the camera you want. Just be aware of the limitations or worries that go with your choice.
I got my kids the Nikkon Coolpix and they worked great. There are several different versions with different features and at different prices. Most manufactures have a similar pocket version camera that works well, is convenient to carry, and is easy to use. If you're going to buy, check out a few camera review/comparison sites to make sure you're getting a good value. Say Cheese!
1) Use your phone as a backup, not your primary camera. Depending on your phone you might not have the best camera and you'll want great photos of this trip. Also, taking pictures eats up the phone's battery life and you'll be sad if you miss that great shot because of a dead battery.2) Don't go out and buy a new, expensive camera for this trip. We will be touring through cities with pickpockets & thieves, hiking up Alps, and basically beating up whatever camera you take. One you already have without much emotional attachment is the best choice. IF you buy new choose on the less expensive side.
3) Go light weight. On some days we will be touring for 12 hours or so. You'll want a camera that is comfortable and easy to carry. A heavy, bulky, multiple lens camera that gets left in the hotel room takes no pictures at all.
3) Get the features. Some of the churches are dark, you need a flash. Some of the museums don't allow a flash, make sure it can be turned off. Make sure there is a zoom, we can't always get right up to everything, A wide angle is a nice extra feature. It can capture the great panorama of the Alps or fit in that entire monster of a cathedral. (Remember it is the number of pixels not the size of the pixel that make good, clear pictures.)
4) Know the camera. Take some time to learn how to use the camera before we go. Missing a picture because you don't know how to turn the flash on/off, can't find the landscape feature, don't know how to adjust for backlight, or how to charge the battery is a tragedy.5) Bring extra. You'll take a lot more pictures and video than you think. Have a good memory card and bring an extra. I usually have a 32 GB and carry another one. Also bring an extra battery pack so you can just pop the fresh one in when the current one dies.
All that said, this is your trip. If you don't want the hassle of carrying a camera, use your phone. If your are a photographer extraordinaire and have a vision for the kind of pictures you want to take then by all means bring the camera you want. Just be aware of the limitations or worries that go with your choice.
I got my kids the Nikkon Coolpix and they worked great. There are several different versions with different features and at different prices. Most manufactures have a similar pocket version camera that works well, is convenient to carry, and is easy to use. If you're going to buy, check out a few camera review/comparison sites to make sure you're getting a good value. Say Cheese!
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| My husband bought me this waterproof, shockproof camera with GPS. Awesome! |
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