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 , she put the breaks on that 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 . 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 is paradise for shopping cameras and gear

[inside]

I wanted a new Pentax K7 yet after i told the other half , she put the breaks on that 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