Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people already travel with them. In this section, I will talk about the advantages and disad-
vantages of each camera category.
Point-and-shoot
A point-and-shoot digital camera is a great choice for lightweight travelers and this is the type
of camera I recommend bringing. Thanks to advancements in photo technology, it's entirely
possibly to get excellent quality photographs from a camera that can easily fit in your pocket.
A decent camera starts around $150 and, for around $300, you will start finding some seri-
ously impressive options.
One of the main benefits of a small camera is the fact that you can easily take it with you
wherever you go. Don't underestimate this. It is also easy to stow away in your luggage, and
it's easy to protect so you don't have to worry about damaging it as much.
Today's cameras are so good that even untrained travelers can take excellent quality photo-
graphs. The high-end point-and-shoot cameras give the user more control of his or her photos
and it is very possible to get professional quality pictures.
One of the main drawbacks of a point and shoot is its low-light performance. Low-end
cameras produce grainy and pixelated images when the lighting is poor. However, high-end
models will perform quite well so all hope is not lost.
The other drawback that plagues all point-and-shoot cameras is the lag that occurs between
the time you press the shutter button and the when the camera actually takes the photo. In
general, it's worse on budget cameras and a point-and-shoot camera will have lag.
Digital slr (dslr)
Digital SLR cameras are often known as “professional” cameras. A serious photographer will
have maximum control over the camera to get the best shot possible. If you know what you're
doing, you can get some amazing quality photos—especially if you start getting into using dif-
ferent lenses to match your shooting needs. Depending on the lens, a DSLR will also give you
better zoom capabilities. A DSLR performs much better in low-light situations so you'll get
much better indoor and night photos. Additionally, the shutter lag is virtually nonexistent, so
you can capture action much easier.
The biggest drawback of a DSLR is the size. They are a huge hassle to carry around all
time—especially for hours at a time. I know plenty of people who ended up leaving the cam-
era behind because of the inconvenience of lugging it around. Additionally, DSLRs are hard
to protect when you're on the move all the time, so you need a nice camera bag—which adds
even more bulk.
Don't forget to learn how the camera functions because many people purchase a fancy new
camera for their trip but then have no idea how to actually use it. Spend a few weeks getting
to know how all the functions work to ensure you get the best photos possible.
