Summer is here and the kids are out of school, summer vacation is on the horizon and it’s time to pack; so, what camera do I take? Do I even take one?
I’ll be making this decision later this year, and it will be a tough decision, since it’s my niece’s wedding we’ll be flying to.
Whether you’re going to Disneyland or to Michigan for a wedding you’ll want to record memories for future generations.
So, what are your choices? Do you take your DSLR, your point and shoot (if you still have one), or do you just rely on your phone for snapshots?
I personally cringe at taking my DSLRs anywhere where I’m not working. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are bulky and to me, aren’t worth the pain of carrying them at the end of the vacation day.
Also, something my wife pointed out, you’re less likely to hand over your rig to a stranger to take your photo, so you miss out on everyone being in the group shot with Goofy. Also, what if you’re going to the beach? Would you leave your expensive gear under a towel as you try to enjoy the surf?
A word to the wise, I’ve had less fun during vacations because I’ve brought my pro gear.
Now, my suggestion, if you still own a point and shoot camera I would take that on vacation. They are small, can be worn on a belt or clipped to a purse. If you’re just looking for snapshots you can get one for around $80. Now, I wouldn’t blink giving a random person an $80 camera for a group shot. Another plus is that they are easier to work, if you have it set correctly – all the other person has to do is push a button.
Recently, I saw that the Samsung S4 has a 13-megapixel camera in it. This shocked me and excited me at the same time. I carry too much gear as it is, and if I had this phone, I would be hard pressed to carry my point and shoot.
So the take away is this, don’t ruin your vacation by carrying a lot of photographic gear. If you need a camera bag during vacation you’ve brought too much, unless it is a photo excursion vacay. I would still suggest the point and shoot path, simply because that would cost less to replace if a stranger took off with it, as opposed to a phone.
Happy travels, feel free to weigh in on this, what do you carry? Also, now that facebook has giving us the option to comment with photos, if you feel inclined, share some of your recent vacation photo with your fellow readers and be sure to tell us what it was taken with.
