Wednesday 2 April 2014

A to Z 2014: Camera

{For the month of April I will be blogging alphabetically on the topic of travel tips.}

Choosing your camera is a pretty big deal. You should not be buying a new camera just before a big trip. You'll want some time to get used to it. Learn the features.

Find some shade to check your work.

Do not rely on an expensive camera to take great photos for you. It drives photographers nuts when people attribute their good work to simply having a good camera. That's not how art works! "My goodness, Van Gogh, you must have paid a lot for that paint!"

Of course there is something to be said about megapixels and lenses and other features, but if you don't know how to manage all that, there's no point in spending the extra money.

To be honest, I mostly use a little point-and-shoot. Nearly all the photos on this blog have been taken with a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS. I'm not a professional so I haven't invested in a "proper" camera yet. Plus, it's super easy to carry around.

My little red Digital Elph.
My husband has a Pentax DSLR and he has a great eye! He also has a selection of lenses to choose from depending on what he's shooting. This can cause some frustration when travelling. If we're going somewhere for a week of meetings with just a few days to sight-see, maybe we don't want to lug around the big bag with all the delicate equipment. Same issue if you're back-packing. But if you know you're going to see some really amazing things, you'll be sorry after if you don't capture some memories. Or art. Whatever you're into.

Lenses add most of the weight. Get a good bag!
If you are in the market for a new camera, do a lot of research and get something that fits both your budget and your skill level. And then always carry spare batteries!

10 comments:

  1. I use my iPhone camera for everything, because my camera cord went missing...and then so did my camera. I have to replace it so I have my iPhone until then.

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    1. Smartphones are handy for taking quick shots of things in the moment and sharing on social media. My hubby and I like to pull out the big guns sometimes to get more creative. :P

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  2. I just switched to micro 4/3 and I am loving the more compact size and less weight to carry around.

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    1. Hmm... You know, I've seen those around but hadn't really given them much thought. Maybe I should look into that.

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  3. So true! So true! I do think a DSLR is fantastic, but it's the person taking the photos not the camera, so you too can be good with an i-phone!

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  4. I love my DSLR but sometimes I just wish for the size of a point and shoot. Also, my boyfriend gets a little frustrated when I make him stop and help me change lenses (something we've gotten down to a science by now). We've actually started taking more photos with the iphone because of Instagram, although I still stick to the DSLR for high resolution photos for the blog. Great C!

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    1. Oh yes, I've held up the umbrella so my hubby can switch lenses and get a good shot in the rain... The finish piece is often worth it.

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  5. Look like you've visited some gorgeous destinations! I have always loved my cameras and have a collection of old 35mm and 120mm film ones from way back in the 50s as well as a point and shoot, bridge and DSLR. And from that I can safely say - it's not a good camera that makes the art - it just helps with the quality!
    www.ramblingofabeautyblogger.com

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    1. I collect old cameras, too! I still love how film works but it's way too much hassle to deal with these days.

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