What Camera to Bring?

[Bento]

I'm just bringing my DSLR and 2 lenses.

[Fern]

I sold my DSLR before I travelled as it was too bulky and I knew it would get trashed as i'm quite clumsy.

I used a panasonic tough point and shoot and it was ok, as I could hang it round my neck and tuck it in my jacket. It didn't produce consistent great images that I was used to with the DSLR, poor in low light, no depth of field, etc.

Now I've changed to a mirrorless setup, more compact but with the functionality and interchangable lenses of a DSLR. I have a Sony A6000. Taking it on my first trip next week so i'll see how I get on with it. I'm worried that it is not waterproof though.

[Cambelt]

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...biking-59520-5

[Lovetheworld]

If you don't have much knowledge about DSLR cameras, then maybe it is not worth the effort. If you are just going for point and shoot, a DSLR is a bit overkill and bulky when on a bike.

I just got the latest Smasung S9+ smartphone (one with two cameras, and two physical apertures). It allows you to do pics with depth of field, and even shooting in RAW which you could edit in Adobe Lightroom for example (on the same phone!)
Together with things like 4K and slow motion filming, this kind of thing is so versatile while being of course very compact.

So if you are the point and shoot kind of guy/girl, then don't bother with DSLRs anymore.

I will still be bringing a DSLR (we travel by car), but I think I will be using the phone most of the time.

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by Lovetheworld

If you don't have much knowledge about DSLR cameras, then maybe it is not worth the effort. If you are just going for point and shoot, a DSLR is a bit overkill and bulky when on a bike.

I just got the latest Smasung S9+ smartphone (one with two cameras, and two physical apertures). It allows you to do pics with depth of field, and even shooting in RAW which you could edit in Adobe Lightroom for example (on the same phone!)
Together with things like 4K and slow motion filming, this kind of thing is so versatile while being of course very compact.

So if you are the point and shoot kind of guy/girl, then don't bother with DSLRs anymore.

I will still be bringing a DSLR (we travel by car), but I think I will be using the phone most of the time.

I agree that a dslr will be a bit too much of a learning curve for me right out of the gate. And my phone takes pretty great pictures as it is. But sounds like my iPhone is a bit more limited that your Samsung! Good to know for the future though.

Thanks!

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by Cambelt

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...biking-59520-5

Thanks for the link! I’ll be ingesting this this evening!

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by Fern

I sold my DSLR before I travelled as it was too bulky and I knew it would get trashed as i'm quite clumsy.

I used a panasonic tough point and shoot and it was ok, as I could hang it round my neck and tuck it in my jacket. It didn't produce consistent great images that I was used to with the DSLR, poor in low light, no depth of field, etc.

Now I've changed to a mirrorless setup, more compact but with the functionality and interchangable lenses of a DSLR. I have a Sony A6000. Taking it on my first trip next week so i'll see how I get on with it. I'm worried that it is not waterproof though.

Yeah, I want to avoid purchasing a lack luster camera for this trip. There’s a lot of point and shoot cameras that will get the job done but I’d like a camera to capture the things I see as close to reality as possible.

I have been looking at some mirrorless options too and they look like a pretty great option. Just not sure if they’re in my budget right now.

Have fun with your A6000 and I can’t wait to see some pics!

Thank you!

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by Bento

I'm just bringing my DSLR and 2 lenses.

If I had a dslr I’d probably just take that with me but they are generally above my camera budget.

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by Wanderlost Moto

If I had a dslr I’d probably just take that with me but they are generally above my camera budget.

I've seen an entry-level Canon DSLR with a kit lens on sale in big electronics shops in Germany for as little as 300 euros. New.

Yes, to get the most out of a DSLR you need to play with it and learn about the different modes and functions. But a DSLR in "automatic" mode used the same as a point-and-shoot, will still produce better pictures than a phone or pocket point-and-shoot would, just due to the advantage in sensor size and lens.

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

I've seen an entry-level Canon DSLR with a kit lens on sale in big electronics shops in Germany for as little as 300 euros. New.

Yes, to get the most out of a DSLR you need to play with it and learn about the different modes and functions. But a DSLR in "automatic" mode used the same as a point-and-shoot, will still produce better pictures than a phone or pocket point-and-shoot would, just due to the advantage in sensor size and lens.

Oh wow. That’s much cheaper than the cameras I’ve been looking at. Haha.

I have a couple amateur photographer friends whom all seem to be fans of Canon that I was thinking about asking if they had any dslr’s they would be willing to part with also. Just a thought.

[mollydog]

https://www.dpreview.com

dp review is my favorite US based Photo review site. I've used them before and they make filtering through dozens of cameras easier for me.

Here is my Next camera! (will be released in a week or two)

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pan...mc-zs200-tz200

Yes, another Lumix. I really looked at the Sony's ... but the Lumix has more Zoom range, a 1" sensor and more. Plus, I know the Lumix and trust it. That said, I will still pay extra for an extended warranty.

This one is not cheap but should be a nice step up from what I have now.
It's about $800. (really not bad in grand scheme)

Good shopping!

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Here is my Next camera! (will be released in a week or two)

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pan...mc-zs200-tz200

That's a whole lotta zoom in your pocket! Not sure I would recommend something like that to the OP, but you seem like you know exactly why you're after it, and I can definitely see the appeal.

One thing to mention. I do press photography occasionally (e.g. Gallery: Nostalgia for summer at the Tallinn Motor Show 2018 - Estonian World), and I've found in the past that while my pocket 1" Olympus definitely made photos that were good enough for Web use, I just wasn't getting the same level of respect with it. Now with my A5100 and a big lens on it, I can push my way to the front and tell people to get out of the shot, and they listen!

[mollydog]

As I mentioned, I used Nikon film cameras for years, a few years ago bought a big Canon DSLR. Great camera for the pros ... but for me traveling, useless.

Way too big, takes up TOO MUCH room in luggage with two lenses, too easily damaged and a big Theft magnet in certain environments. You pull out that BIG GUN ... and everybody stops ... and looks at you! I hate that!

I am not impressed with the Zoom quality of this latest Lumix and don't really need the 350mm reach it has. It's way slow when zoomed out, but I rarely use it that way and have used them before. It is quite good up to about 150mm or so
and 24mm is wide enough for casual travel use. (pros always carry a 14mm or 18mm super wide lens ... BIG MONEY)

Low light work is not great on these Lumix big zoom cameras, but as a small pocket travel camera that is always there and ready, it's not a bad choice.

Some spend $3000 to $5000 usd on cameras and lenses ... and it only takes one good drop and you've got nothing! Most pros carry a nice, small 2nd camera along. You have to be quite vigilant about where you leave your camera bag as well, so you always end up lugging it with. With my pocket camera, it's never a bother to bring along.

Me? For back up I sometimes carry my old Lumix, just in case the main one gets damaged. It's so small, no big deal. I put it in a little hard case and forget about it.

But it's all very personal and there are no bad choices really. One thing I love about ALL my Lumix cameras is how well they do Video. Amazing!

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by Wanderlost Moto

I have a couple amateur photographer friends whom all seem to be fans of Canon that I was thinking about asking if they had any dslr’s they would be willing to part with also. Just a thought.

That is definitely a good thought.

Established brands like Canon and Nikon have a very long back catalog of lenses, because the mount has stayed the same. Photographers often change up to a new body because it works with their old lenses, and offers some incremental improvement that they really care about. But those incremental improvements are not as big as the jump from a phone/pocket cam to a DSLR/mirrorless, and it is an absolutely legitimate path to buy something like a three-year-old DSLR body in good condition. You might even get a kit lens thrown in with it.

Also, for example: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...l_t6_dslr.html It's technology from DSLRs a few generations old, put into a small body, and it comes with a close-range lens and a really far-reaching zoom lens (so you can photograph rice paddies from across the mountain valley). And it's cheap. Serious photographers will gripe, but this will take meaningfully better photos than an iPhone.