If there's a good time to take photos, it's when you're traveling. Still, which camera should you bring along? That largely depends on where you're going and what you're doing, but a good rule of thumb is to leave extremely expensive electronics behind. Sure, that fancy SLR camera takes amazing photos, but if you bring it with you, you'll be worried about it the whole time. So, what other options are there? One of the following should do the trick nicely:
- Smartphone Camera - When your top concern is to travel as lightly as possible, kill two birds with one stone by using your smartphone camera to chronicle your adventures. Smartphone cameras are better than ever, and it's often impossible to tell the difference between a photo that was taken with an iPhone and one that was snapped with a digital camera. The new dual camera on the HTC M8 has some amazing features.
- Compact Digital Camera - There are countless options out there for compact digital cameras, and many of them offer features that are quite comparable to those of full-fledged DSLRs. Their compact size is convenient in terms of staying streamlined while on the go, but it can be a hindrance too because it's easy to misplace such a small device. Invest in a decent memory card to avoid running out of space, and get in the habit of charging it in your hotel room every night.
- GPS-Enabled Cameras - iPhones and other smartphones add GPS coordinates to images' EXIF data, so you can check out when and where you took your photos after returning home. There are digital cameras that offer this capability too, and it's a pretty nice feature to have. There's something immensely satisfying about uploading your photos and seeing them marked out on a map.
- Underwater Cameras - If you'll be out and about in the water a lot during your travels, consider getting an underwater camera. It may seem a little frivolous at first, but the images you'll capture will be absolutely priceless, and it's nice not to have to worry about getting your camera wet. The GoPro is the king of the outdoor and underwater cameras.
- Disposable Cameras - Remember when disposable cameras were all the rage? Once they ran out of film, you could just drop them off for processing. Disposable digital cameras are available, and they're perfect for travelers who are worried about losing more expensive cameras. However, the photos they produce don't tend to be very high in quality, so this isn't a practical option under most circumstances.
Which of these options will work best for you? Many people end up using several, and there's nothing wrong with that, either. By arming yourself with a smartphone, a compact digital camera and a disposable camera, for instance, you'll always be ready for anything no matter where you go.
(Photo by mikealex via Flickr)
(This article was written by Nicholas Chernih)
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