Travel Camera Advice

[hills boy]

OK well I’m going to be backpacking the world next year and need some advice on camera's. At the moment I have a canon IXUS 70 (nice easy to use camera) . What i want to do is get a new camera for taking shots oversea’s (probly manly landscape and building). I wanted a new Pentax K7 yet after i told the other half :twisted:, she put the breaks on that :nazilock:and limited me to spending $1000 dollars just. So i need some recommendations i was think just a 450D single kit (OZ stock) or getting a 500D from oversea OR should i just get a good point and shoot or super zoom :confused::confused::confused:. Any advice on lenses and what you travel with would be good as well.

Manly she was worried about spending that much money and getting it stolen i told her we have travel insurance, but them the breaks.

Places we’re travelling to in order, South America, USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa.

[big guy]

Hi

The bigger the camera the heavier and cumbersome.
Some very good compacts on the market now by Canon and others.

You will also look like more of a tourist carrying around a bulky one like an slr and more prone to robbers.
I travelled to Israel and africa etc and actually sold my slr cause of same reason.
Hide your possessions well, they spot travellers a mile away.

Happy travels

[DeanoH]

I'd be looking at something not too expensive in case it got lost, stolen dropped etc. Also if its not a Nikon or a Canon perhaps its less likely to be stolen. For convenience I'd want something that could run on AA batterys. I'd go for a Fuji S2000HD. For under $400 you've got 10Mp, 15X optical zoom & HD movie capability if thats your thing. Best off you can have 1 each and still be well under $1000.

This should incur the wrath of the Collingwood, sorry, Nikon/Canon supporters.

Deano

[hills boy]

Thanks guys think is might go with a "superzoom" style camera looking now at either Canon SX200IS or Panasonic Lumix TZ7 which from what i can see a both good cameras, Any one got either of these cameras and like to comment??

[bblaze]

What ever camera you decide on take 3 or 4 different cards for storage and swap them about daily and down load them to a computer if you can. Nothing worse than loosing your pictures. I know, recently lost a camera with close to 1000 shots I reckon. The camera has been replaced but the pics can never be
cheers
blaze

[cartm58]

You can get a TZ 5 for under $300, has features of TZ7 except its a 10 mega pixel instead of the 12 on the TZ 7, half the price good value buy

I have a TZ 1 been very happy with it for last 2 years looking to upgrade to TZ 5 myself find it very pocket compatible in my shirt and love the video option with TZ 5 you get a 16 gig card TZ 1 only 2 gig

[Chucaro]

Canon G10 will be among the best point and shoot with excellent colors for landscaping photography
The Luminix range have very good glass
If USA is your first port of call THIS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/) is paradise for shopping cameras and gear ;)

[inside]

I wanted a new Pentax K7 yet after i told the other half :twisted:, she put the breaks on that :nazilock:and limited me to spending $1000 dollars just.
Shame, the K-7 would make a great DSLR travel camera. Small, light, great picture quality and weather resistant.

[p38arover]

I've been looking at the pix taken by my wife on here recent holiday. I don't think I could have done any better with my Pentax DSLR. Even difficult lighting shots were perfectly exposed.

What was she using?

A Nokia 6500 mobile with a 3Mp camera. As she says, she carries it everywhere.

[DeanoH]

Thanks guys think is might go with a "superzoom" style camera looking now at either Canon SX200IS or Panasonic Lumix TZ7 which from what i can see a both good cameras, Any one got either of these cameras and like to comment??

Bought myself a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS80 last year and took it on holiday. This camera looks pretty much the same externally as the TZ7. Good holiday snaps camera but had a few issues.

1/. No viewfinder. This might seem a small thing but if you're taking pics in sunlight you cannot see a thing on the LCD display. Very annoying. I ended up keeping the the zoom minimal, waving the camera in the general direction of the subject and cropping in Photoshop. You can turn up the LCD intensity but all this does is murders the battery.
2/. Where the leaves close over to protect the lens there is practically no clearance between the leaves and the surround. One piece of dust in here and the leaves stick, with mine, half open or half closed depending whether your glass is half full or half empty. This was a real nuisance. Missed some good shots because of this.
3/. The plastic cover over the LCD display is raised above the camera body making it very easy to get scratched. When the camera is laid on its back its lying on this cover. Poor design.

Don't get me wrong here. Panasonic have always made brilliant electronic gear and when you add a Leica lens you've got a great little camera. Mine is now Kayes 'handbag', or never leave home without one camera and for this its perfect. For a full on travel camera I wouldn't recommend it.

Deano

[big guy]

I Had a Pana also and similar issues.

Go for a digi that has good charge and perhaps AA option as said previously.

I would stick with Canon or Nikon.
They are well built and can take a knock.

Also look for a fast start up so when you need it quick, its ready and willing.

[rocket scientist]

I bought a canon A 70 for my wife years ago when she did a trip to India.
One of the specs I insisted on was AA batteries.
Wife took 8 NiMh batteries and charger.
Sure enough, 3 days into the 6 week trip the AA battery charger was fried by the dodgy power supply. Advantage of AA batteries , she was able to buy batteries anywhere and continue for the rest of the trip.
If the camera was dependent on a specific LiIon battery and its charger, she would have been stuffed.
Camera has since done trip to Europe and countless camping activities,and still going strong.
Agree with others, Canon and Nikon, though Fuji is great too.

Pete.

[mrapocalypse]

I'm a Nikon Nut but I have a Canon G10 that i carry for snapping and I am in love with it!

This is a reasonably small camera that is 14.7 megapixels and is capable of producing mind blowing pictures. It has a huge rear LCD screen, has some reasonably good manual over-rides, a really good standard wide lense and a full frame sensor.

I carry it in my work bag and the battery lasts for ages, I charge it about once a month.

Plenty of travel journos use only this camera. It's semi pro IMHO!

It's the sort of weapon you can snap away at parties with or take your time and the images will be worth it. It's small enough to carry but big enough to feel like a real camera!

Good points.

Beautiful pics.
Great lens
Big LCD
Easy to operate with lots of SLR Style knobs.
Has a hot shoe as well as a built in flash.
Takes SD cards.
Feels like a real camera.
it has a proper strap.
VF has a Dipoter to adjust


BAD points.
The manual settings are a bit fiddly. But i's so good on auto it doesn't bother me really.
It's a bit heavy!

They retail for under 700 and you could get the tele converter that goes onto the cool bayonet mount on the front! Get some big SD cards and a case, maybe a spare battery.

[rocket scientist]

I'm a Nikon Nut but I have a Canon G10 that i carry for snapping and I am in love with it!

This is a reasonably small camera that is 14.7 megapixels and is capable of producing mind blowing pictures. It has a huge rear LCD screen, has some reasonably good manual over-rides, a really good standard wide lense and a full frame sensor.

I carry it in my work bag and the battery lasts for ages, I charge it about once a month.

Plenty of travel journos use only this camera. It's semi pro IMHO!

It's the sort of weapon you can snap away at parties with or take your time and the images will be worth it. It's small enough to carry but big enough to feel like a real camera!

Good points.

Beautiful pics.
Great lens
Big LCD
Easy to operate with lots of SLR Style knobs.
Has a hot shoe as well as a built in flash.
Takes SD cards.
Feels like a real camera.
it has a proper strap.
VF has a Dipoter to adjust


BAD points.
The manual settings are a bit fiddly. But i's so good on auto it doesn't bother me really.
It's a bit heavy!

They retail for under 700 and you could get the tele converter that goes onto the cool bayonet mount on the front! Get some big SD cards and a case, maybe a spare battery.

Glad to hear your opinion as an honest user. I was thinking of getting one myself as a camera to have on me all the time. Easier to hike with too.
Be interested to see comparisons against G11, should have better low light capabilities. Really waiting for a full size sensor compact camera. I rekon Canon or Nikon must be close.