There may be nothing new under the sun, but that never stopped people from traveling. The appeal of going some place new draws adventurers around the globe and at the top of their pack-list is usually a camera. Taking photos is, for most people, a way to record memories and to share experiences with friends and family. With modern photography equipment, travelers can take high quality photos without spending a fortune or needing to carry an extra suitcase.
Point-and-Shoot or Digital SLR
Point-and-shoot compact digital cameras can take great photos, but a Digital SLR gives an extra edge. Shooting with an DSLR gives photographers more features and flexibility. Quality and resolution of photos will be higher with a DSLR so travelers will be able to make higher quality prints and enlargements to keep as memories. But carrying a digital SLR camera on a long trip may be inconvenient. Digital SLR cameras are larger than point-and-shoot cameras, so travelers must consider the costs and benefits of each.
Digital SLR and Lenses
At the consumer level there are many great choices for digital SLRs. Luckily for travelers there are compact versions of DSLRs, such as the Canon Rebel series, that still offer many of the features of full-size cameras. Fitted with a kit lens, these starter DSLRs are great for travel photography. Adventurers can take high quality photos without breaking the bank or having to carry too much extra gear.
Digital SLR cameras allow users to change lenses. This is beneficial because different lenses are appropriate for different kinds of shots, but carrying all sorts of different lenses can be cumbersome for travelers. There is hope for light packers who want the full lens range. All of the major lens makers now sell a lens that covers about 18-200mm. Of course there is a downside to cramming so much range into one lens. Image quality with an 18-200mm lens in most cases will not be as good as using a few separate lenses. Once again travelers need to weigh the options for their given situation.
Taking and Deleting Pictures
With the digital age, photographers have the advantage of being able to take as many photos as they please. As long as a photographer has enough memory card space and battery power, there is no limit to the number of photos. While this is a great advantage over film cameras, it can be a disadvantage. Travelers may become overwhelmed with the number of photos to weed through, and perhaps edit, upon returning from a trip. A good practice for travel photographers is to edit photos on the go. At the end of each day, travelers should review their photos while they are fresh in their minds. They can delete any duplicates or unnecessary photos immediately. This will save a lot of work upon returning home from vacation.
Read more travel photography tips.
Christopher Brown - Chris is a California native currently teaching at a University in China. He loves just about anything that has to do with water or ...
