 - Mary Beth Aiello  Contact Mary Beth Aiello Mary Beth Aiello's Gallery |
Which Camera to Take on Trip My husband and I are going to Italy for 10 days, on a scheduled tour, to celebrate our anniversary. I have two cameras -- a Canon Powershot 2 IS, and a Canon 30D. My question is, which camera do I take. I don't want to lug around all my SLR camera equipment, but I do want to get good shots. So, instead of purchasing many memory cards for the Powershot, should I just buy an inexpensive 28-105 lens for my 30D? OR, should I just rely on the Powershot. I love both cameras, so I can't go wrong either way. Any advise is welcome. Many thanks in advance.
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W. |
Hi Mary Beth, you don't need to purchase "many memory cards for the Powershot". 2 or 3 2GB ones is enough: when a card is full you upload the contents to a PC, and from the PC you upload the contents to your OWN email address using http://www.podmailing.com/ – FREE unlimited size file or folder transfer! Then you can erase the contents of that card and use it again! And again, and again, and again! This way 2 or 3 cards are more than sufficient for your anniversary trip. It is also extra security: even if your photo equipment, especially the cards, is/are stolen or lost, or even impounded by shifty authorities, your precious photos will already be safely back home... http://www.podmailing.com/ requires broadband internet, but that is widely available in Europe/Italy. So if I were in your shoes I would take the Powershot. On vacation that's MUCH more convenient than 10 pounds of dSLR equipment... Have fun!
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
I can appreciate your delima, but if it were me, I'd take the 30D and a couple of lenses. Otherwise, you'll get over there and regret not having your 30D. You can also purchase portable storage devices to download your photos into..assuming you don't have quick Internet access.
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- Mary Beth Aiello Contact Mary Beth Aiello Mary Beth Aiello's Gallery |
Thanks all. I didn't know about podmailing, so I'll check that out. Also, what kind of portable storage device do you recommend?
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W. |
If you HAVE to get a PSD for your photos I'd get an iPod with camera connector: it's also an MP3 player, a video player, and a portable harddisk. And – if you get an iPod Touch – a full fledged internet browser and emailing machine that you can use for those purposes while on vacation but also when you're back home again. So an iPod will be (at least) FOUR useful gadgets for ONE price. In the case of an iPod Touch it's even SIX gadgets for that ONE price! However, any PSD can be lost, stolen, or impounded too, so http://www.podmailing.com/ is MUCH more secure, and waaay cheaper: it's FREE! Test http://www.podmailing.com/ – FREE: send a huge folder with photos (or any other type of files) to your own email address to experience for yourself how it works.
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Mary Beth, I just recently returned from a trip to Europe and I suggest taking the 30D, lenses & tripod because there is so much great photography subjects there. It is a bit of a pain to haul around camera gear but not as much as the pain of not being able to get a great photo when you have so many opportunities. They make small backpacks that work well for DSLRs (look at Lowe or Tamrac) so carrying your 30D wont be so hard. I have some of my Europe photos on my website (I still have 2000 more to sort/edit through)... My .02 - Carlton
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Mary Beth, you could do a Google search for "Photo Storage Devices." I did, and here's a link that talks about several: http://cameras.about.com/b/2008/05/12/top-5-portable-digital-photo-storage-devices.htm Wolverine has several models: http://www.shop.com/Wolverine_FlashPac,_120_GB_Portable_Storage_Drive_7_in_1_Media_Card_Reader-46301423-60640186-p!.shtml?sourceid=298 I have the Epson 3000. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/463477-REG/Epson_B31B186002_P_3000_Multimedia_Storage_Viewer.html Sorry for cut/pasting the links...I don't know the short-cut trick to paste the links directly into the discussion text.
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W. |
"I don't know the short-cut trick to paste the links directly into the discussion text." I'm not aware there IS one on this forum, Ken. And here's another 16 photo storage devices for your perusal, Mary Beth: http://www.steves-digicams.com/digi_accessories.html#storage
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Debra Booth |
Hello, Mary Beth. I think you have to decide what to take based on what you want to do with your photos and how much time and effort you want to spend making them. For me, I don't want to spoil my precious travel time keeping track of heavy equipment that I'll probably not use because either there isn't time or I'm just too tired to bother. You may be more energetic than I am, though. I'm preparing for a overseas trip right now, and I plan to take my Canon 40D along with Canon 24-105 and Canon 10-22 lenses--both lightweight and high quality lenses that cover a wide focal range. Since we are going to be staying in one place for the entire time, I might also take along the 70-200. You might find the 28-105 a little restrictive on the wide-angle end given the crop factor of the 30D. Instead of taking a tripod overseas, I use a monopod and a Gorillapod with an interchangeable small ball head (http://tinyurl.com/68qwmx). The Gorillapod is exceptionally versatile. You can use it as a very short tripod, you can wrap its legs around fences or poles, or you can even brace the legs on your chest to help steady the camera. Also, I recommend taking a remote switch for those slow exposure night shots(http://tinyurl.com/5lqjwn). I have an Epson 3000 for storage and it has worked well. It has a nice display for previewing images, and, although bulky for this purpose, it is also an MP3 player and video player. It is a good value and it doesn't require additional expensive accessories to make it work as a PSD. I hope you come up with a solution that works well for you, and I hope you have a great anniversary trip!
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Sarah G |
THANKS for mentioning podmailing.com. My daughter headed for Japan a couple of weeks ago for a semester in college. The pics are starting to come in (3 files so far). It is GREAT to see some of what she is seeing AND TO KNOW THAT THE IMAGES ARE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE. We also got her a Toshiba 320GB external hard drive and she says it is fantastic. The suggestion of a Gorillapod was taken too. She says that she is very happy to have it. Mary Beth. Hope you had a great trip.
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John P. Sandstedt |
Take the 30D fitted with a Tamron 18-250 mm zoom [or the new 18-270 mm IS Tamron has shown sans price.] I toured Italy, cruised the Greek Isles, drove around the Canadian Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands equipped only with my Canon EOS 620 or EOS 3 and my Tamron 28-200 mm zoom. That was before I got my 30D. I toured the SW National Parks this year with simply the camera and the Canon 17-85 mm IS zoom. The tele side of this lens is, perhaps, too short. Nut, the wide angle side [28 mm equivalent] is, frankly, as much wide angle as most folks need. Sure folks will argue that some in the 10mm range [16 mm equivalent is better. But, if you use such a lens you'll have the fisheye effect that might not be the best for scenic Italy. When I went to the Canyonlands this year, I purchased a Wolverine battery powered external drive [~$100.} I bought the cheapest available unit, perhaps a mistake as it doesn't let you see the images on its LCD screen. But, it's 60 GIG memory allowed me to safely shoot and save over 1000 RAW images with two 2-GIG and one 1-G Compact Flash memory cards.
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Robyn Gwilt |
Hi Mary, not sure if you've been/gone/are back from your trip - but I did Italy and France in Dec, and took my 30D and a Sigma 18-200 (so I concur with John S) It was great for wide angle, and gave me enough zoom to grab those 'people' shots when I didn't want to intrude. Not sure how big your Powershot is - but I would suggest though that you include a 'look n push' camera for just in case (!!) My daughter's went on the blink, and we landed up buying a small (but excellent) Fuji, which also gave us a bit of video facility, which I used on the ski slopes, as then I didn't want to schlepp the 30D.... Good luck, and enjoY!
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BetterPhoto Member |
Its your anniversary and you should enjoy yourself. When I travel for fun I like to pull my camera out my pocket instead of a backpack. Of coarse the lighting has to be good for quality shots and you have to know all the functions to get the best shots possible. I would ask your husband what he thinks you should bring. Don't leave it in your hotel room if you do decide to take it! Just got back from a trip in Cabo and one of the girls on our trip left it in her room and someone broke in on the second floor balcony and took everything she had.
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- Mary Beth Aiello Contact Mary Beth Aiello Mary Beth Aiello's Gallery |
Again, many thanks for your thoughtful comments and advice. Each response is highly appreciated.
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W. |
"Don't leave it in your hotel room if you do decide to take it! Just got back from a trip in Cabo and one of the girls on our trip left it in her room and someone broke in on the second floor balcony and took everything she had." You can insure and easily replace your gear. But NOT your UNIQUE, IRREPLACEABLE photos! When traveling, especially abroad, memory cards and backup devices can get lost, stolen, or even impounded (by shifty authorities; there's a lot of those outside the western world!). But if you have access to a broadband internet connection you can upload the contents of your cards to an available PC, then join them together in an (password protected if required) archive or disk image. Then send that archive or disk image – for FREE! – via Podmailing.com, Yousendit.com, or Pando.com to your own email address at home. Without clogging your email INbox. So whatever may happen to your photo gear or cards or field storage device, your precious and IRREPLACEABLE photos are already safely back home! • Podmailing.com (http://www.podmailing.com/) is FREE and allows transfer of unlimited numbers of files of unlimited size. I've transferred upto 6GB files without a hitch. • Yousendit.com (http://www.Yousendit.com/) is FREE upto 1GB/month with max 100MB per transfer. • Pando.com (http://www.Pando.com/) is FREE upto 1GB of files or folders per transfer. And when on location or abroad you may want to carry all the photo related software you prefer to use on CD and/or DVD in your photo bag. Ready to install on the next PC you get to use but doesn't have it installed. These Large File Transfer services can also save you burning CDs and DVDs with high-resolution photos that you would send through snail mail to friends, relatives, and clients. Simply upload it to them. Without clogging their email INboxes. Have fun!
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doug Nelson |
Be sure the wide end of the lens coverage is addressed. The narrow streets and close quarters demand about 28mm (35mm equiv) coverage. This means that the wide end of your zoom should be in the 17-20mm range. A lot of tourists go a bit heavy on the telephoto end. For what I shoot, a 50mm or 85mm with a 30D crop sensor camera would be about all the telephoto I'd need.
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Oliver Anderson |
Take the heavier better camera...its Europe. Make your husband carry the camera and it won't be a problem...my daughter makes me carry EVERTHING. next question
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Diane Dupuis |
That's an easy one for me - especially if your point and shoot has a 10x zoom or more like my Canon sx110. Less is more. I'm not dragging around a 10lb bag of equipment. Glad to hear you had a good time!
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BetterPhoto Member |
You are actualy thanking me, wow thats a first on BP. You must not be a regular here.
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