Don’t Forget Your Camera!

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A camera is on the list of essential items you need for any trip, perhaps closely following your passport and money. Although things you see and do on a holiday or adventure will be seared into you memory and stay with you possibly forever, you can’t possibly hope to remember all the little details as well. And if you’re anything like me, your memory is crap, so photographic evidence is essential if you take sadistic pleasure in boring the balls off your family with details of your trip!

This article is dedicated to helping you choose a camera that best suits your needs, and to spice it up a little I’ve included some of my fave travel pics! Enjoy…

Up close and personal with elephants in Cambodia
Up close and personal with elephants in Cambodia

With all the recent updates in camera and video technology, you have tons of options to choose from- but how do you narrow it down? Here’s our guide to choosing the best travel camera for your trip.

First, let’s break down your four basic options:

·         A point and shoot camera ($200), easy to use and learn.

·         A DSLR camera ($550), includes an entry-level lens and body kit.

·         A mirrorless camera ($500), easier to use than a DSLR but still high-quality images.

·         A GoPro camera ($400), the go-anywhere and do-anything option.

Halong Bay
Beautiful Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

Next, think about what kind of durability you need from your camera. Point and shoots can survive a drop on a soft surface, but a hard drop will shatter the camera. DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras are both very fragile as well (although mirrorless cameras are slightly less so), while GoPro cameras can survive pretty much anything you put them through.

Also, consider how much time you want to spend learning to take the perfect pictures. You can pick up a point and shoot and start using it without any prior knowledge. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have automatic modes for beginners, but you’ll want to spend some time practicing your techniques to get truly great shots. GoPros are easy to use once you get the hang of them.

Steve practising his parenting skills for the future...
Steve practising his parenting skills for the future…

Do you need your camera to be on-the-go, or can you handle packing a few extra supplies? Point and shoots are small and don’t have any extra lenses, while DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have extra lenses you might want to carry with you. DSLRs are much bigger and bulkier than point and shoots and mirrorless cameras. GoPros are tiny and easy to take anywhere.

Finally, consider your desired picture quality and battery life. Point and shoots take high quality images for being basic cameras, and their battery lasts about 190-250 pictures before needing a charge. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras boast big sensors and interchangeable images for amazing pictures. DSLRs have a long battery life for stills but not so for videos, while mirrorless cameras die very quickly thanks to their LCD screen being constantly on. GoPros are ideal for time lapses, and they can take about 2.5 hours of continuous video.

With Bubbles, one of my favourite dogs at the dog rescue centre in Chiang Mai
With Bubbles, one of my favourite dogs at the dog rescue centre in Chiang Mai

In short, if you want to spend more time on your vacation than photographing it, choose a point and shoot or a GoPro; if you’re willing to devote a little more time, money, and energy to getting the perfect shot, try a DSLR or mirrorless camera. And wherever you go, make sure to get plenty of beach pictures to make your friends back home jealous.

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