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Post by Eagle on Mar 15, 2007 9:46:39 GMT -5
jennifer, could you be a bit more specific on the features that you want in your new Camera? For example:
> "A camera with batteries" - all Cameras use batteries, what type do you have in mind?
> What megapixel range?
> What zoom range?
> What size (Point & Shoot or SLR)?
> Is there any flexibility in your budget (you will probably need a new case and a few spare batteries)?
> Any brand preferences (Canon, Nikon, etc.)?
There are lots of Cameras on the market now that use SD Cards, as the cost of these has been reduced, and the capacities have been increasing.
Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jan 27, 2007 11:22:16 GMT -5
rhea, travelling with two-2 GB cards and the spare 128MB Card should provide you with enough capacity for LOTS of pictures. JPEG files on a 3.2 MP Camera are about 1-1.5 MB per image, which should allow approximately 650-800 photos per card at the highest resolution (I always use the highest resolution, especially for travel. I figure it's cost me a lot of money to get to my destination, and I might never get there again, so I want the best results possible). I haven't checked, but I assume your Camera uses SD Cards?
As herrbert mentioned, if you find that you're taking more photos than planned, you could always stop by a photo shop or Net Cafe and have the card burned to a CD/DVD. Many people have two CD's burned, keeping one with them and sending one home (extra "insurance" before re-formatting / erasing the Card). I would also probably verify that the CD's were "readable" before erasing the card.
Good luck, happy shooting and happy travels!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 20, 2006 12:38:24 GMT -5
cher1e, I don't have a lot of information on what facilities might be available for burning CD's / DVD's in some of the countries you mentioned. You're going to be travelling "off the beaten path" to some extent, so I think it's a fair guess that the computer facilities won't be as modern or prevalent as in most of western Europe. Given the countries you'll be travelling in, bringing some blank CD's might be a good idea? I suspect that Albania might be the most difficult to find modern computers. Not to say that they don't have any, they just might be harder to find? If I were travelling in the same area, I would probably opt for a Portable Hard Drive, as it would be much simpler to operate "self contained" (so to speak), rather than looking for external facilties for photo storage. In fact, that's the method I've chosen as I've just bought a PHD for travel use. When I have some experience with the unit and see how well it performs (hopefully no problems), I'll post a "mini review" here. Incidentally, the same manufacturer offers portable CD / DVD Burners. If you're interested, check out www.ezpnp-usa.com for further details. Some of our members here have also used the Apacer Disk Steno, and as far as I know that also worked well. Be sure to let us know of your experiences travelling in the Eastern countries, as I'm sure it will benefit all of us here. Happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 9, 2006 18:33:01 GMT -5
I just discovered some new photo sites on the net, and thought I'd share these in case other GFE members were interested. Have a look at www.guidotramontano.com or www.pbase.com/alekhine to have a look at these (same Photographer on both sites, based in Italy I believe). After seeing the images of Tuscany, I'm now REALLY looking forward to going there! Unfortunately, I doubt that my photos will be anywhere near the same quality. Happy travels all!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 9, 2006 18:26:16 GMT -5
Doug, I agree, shooting in RAW is preferable in many ways. However, the two reasons I haven't used it much so far, is that the file sizes are considerably larger (one has to make sure to have an adequate supply of memory cards on hand), and also most images need a bit of "tweaking" in post-processing - white balance, sharpening or whatever. I don't have time for that right now - I'm renovating!!! Also, at this point I'm not that familiar with Photoshop yet, so have been a bit "lazy" in using only JPEG's, and have allowed the pre-programmed settings in the Camera to set the parameters. I'm don't profess to be completely knowledgeable with all aspects of digital photography; I'm learning some of this stuff too, along with many on the Boards here. I'm looking forward to getting a 70-300 zoom lens (probably in a week or two, as I NEED to have it before June 28th!). That should be all the Lenses I'll be buying for now (although the 50 mm/f1.8 prime does look like an awesome Lens!!!). BTW, I've just ordered a portable photo storage device from a firm in the U.S. (Texas, I think). I didn't research this one as carefully as I usually do (a process that can take months!), but just kind of took a leap of faith and "jumped in". Check www.ezpnp-usa.com for further details - I ordered the 40 GB Hard Drive model. Will let you (and everyone else on the Boards) know how this works out once I've had a chance to use it for a while. The price seems a bit steep, but to look at it another way, it's a darn sight cheaper than 9 or 10 - 4 GB Compact Flash cards, so in that sense it's a real bargain!!! I would have preferred a preview LCD, but the compact size of this model was a really strong selling point, and as long as there's adequate file verification I'm sure it will be OK. Having the extra capacity will allow the freedom to shoot RAW + JPEG if desired. Should fit perfectly in one of the internal pockets in my Tilley Vest, so I won't have to leave it in the Hostel! Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 9, 2006 0:43:13 GMT -5
cher1e, If you have any questions on which Plug Adapters will be required in the countries you'll be visiting, check www.kropla.com/electric2.htm. The Euro (2 round pin) Adapter should work in most places. Jules, Yes, you're right. Most Cameras have the ability to vary both the resolution and compression, in order to create smaller files per image and allow more photos on each Memory Card. However, doing this degrades the quality somewhat (with the amount depending on where this is set). While this might be adequate for normal 4 x 6 prints, it doesn't allow for good quality enlargements or cropping. AFAIK this can't be changed after the photo is taken, so for this reason I've always used JPEG images at the maximum file size. I'll probably be trying out RAW images very shortly, and these create the largest files (in my case the RAW images are about 8 MB while compressed JPEG are about 3.3 MB). These provide the most flexibility to work with and make changes if necessary (exposure settings, white balance, etc.) but they're also more work. Cheers!!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 7, 2006 1:03:22 GMT -5
cher1e, I don't know a lot about the availability of photo shops in Eastern Europe? You likely won't have too much trouble in Prague, Budapest, etc. but not sure about other places? Hopefully some of the others can answer that question.
You might want to take three memory cards, if it wouldn't strain your budget too much. Don't forget Plug Adapters and extra Batteries!!!
Good luck and happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 5, 2006 23:46:49 GMT -5
cher1e, a few comments to add to what the others have posted. The number of photos you can store on each memory card is determined by both the size of the camera sensor (6 MP) and the type of file compression you set (fine, superfine, etc.). Therefore, with a 6 MP Camera set to the highest resolution, the images will be approximately 3 - 3.5 MB in size, which will allow about 300 images on a 1 GB XD Card (if my calculations are correct). If your Camera is capable of using RAW or TIFF files, the size will be MUCH larger! Check the Manual that was supplied with your Camera, as it should provide some information on file types and sizes specific to the model you bought. Unfortunately, I think 1 GB is the highest capacity available for XD Cards at the present time, so this will leave you with the choice of either using some form of portable storage device OR getting your photos burned to DVD as the Cards become full. It's probably a good idea to have at least two Cards (and preferably more) for your trip. I don't have any information on what the cards are currently selliing for in Australia, but here in Canada the current price is $89 - 99 for a 1 GB Card. This is considerably higher than an equivalent CF Card, as I just found a listing at the same outlet for a 1 GB CF Card at $44.99. Of course, as the others suggested there are a few additional variables in terms of how many pictures you normally take, and how many you delete at the end of the day. I've found that most people tend to take more pictures with digital than they would with film, so that will be an important point in deciding how many Memory Cards to take. In my experience, using an I-Pod for photo storage is not a good option! My Son tried this approach, and I'm still trying to recover his photos before re-formatting the hard drive on a fairly new I-Pod Photo. It's a great music player and although I'm a big Apple fan (I do use an I-Pod Nano), I wouldn't trust my photos to one. Your best option is to use local photo shops to burn CD's / DVD's as Muvver suggested; portable hard drives / portable CD Burners are a bit on the expensive side. Some travellers get two copies burned of each CD, posting one home and keeping the other copy with them. That way if one CD gets "lost" or whatever, the photos aren't lost. I'm currently working on the same problem, in order to be set-up for (hopefully) a trip this fall. I recently discovered some photo storage devices that I hadn't seen before, and am considering whether the 40 GB Hard Drive model might be an option for me? If you want to have a look at them, check www.ezpnp-usa.com for further information. The company seems to be a bit "restrictive" in terms of international shipping and credit card payments, but I'll "cross that bridge" if I decide to order one. Anyway, hopefully I've answered some of your questions. I'm a bit tired tonight (work!) so not thinking too clearly (tomorrow will probably be worse!). If you have any other questions, post another note. Cheers and happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on Jun 3, 2006 0:32:51 GMT -5
Kim, not sure if I can help, as I haven't used any of the online sites for printing yet. I've always had great service from London Drugs, so usually get my prints there. Although I have signed up for their upload service, which allows me to send pictures to the local store via the net for pickup in an hour, I haven't used it too much as it's very time consuming when sending large files. I usually just take the memory card to the store, tell them which prints I want (and which sizes), and then come back in a couple of hours to pick them up. I usually get my images burned to a DVD at the same time, as I don't have a "burner" at the moment. It's all very convenient "one stop shopping" for me!
LD offers both glossy and matte AFAIK, but I believe there's a "crop" factor when dealing with digital prints. From what I remember, a small amount of the edges are cropped due to the size of the digital images or something (they explained this, but I've forgotten the details).
I prefer the "personal touch" when it comes to prints, as if they aren't processed just right I have someone to complain to, although that hasn't been necessary yet. It's nice to be able to get regular 4 x 6 prints, enlargements or whatever all at the same time.
Anyway, that's my approach so far. Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on Dec 4, 2006 3:03:16 GMT -5
chelsealynn, when I used to travel with Film, I always packed along a sufficient quantity for each trip. IMO it's not a good idea to buy Film in Europe, as it can be quite expensive. If you decide to take Film along, one very important point -- make sure that all Film is packed in your carry-on luggage and not in your checked luggage, as powerful baggage X-Ray scanners might "fog" this! It's a good idea to put the film in a clear Zip-Lok bag (if using 35mm Film, take each roll out of the cardboard box and just put the plastic canister in the clear bag). Ask to have this inspected separately, if the security screeners will accomodate this.
With regard to which film speed to use, that will depend to some extent on what type of photography you'll be using it for. If you plan on taking mostly outdoor pictures in bright lighting, then ASA 200 should provide good clear results. If you plan on taking a lot of indoor photos in dimly lit conditions, then ASA 400 or 800 would be better. I've found ASA 400 to be a good "all around" range, although not perfect for all conditions. One caveat to note -- the higher speed films (>800) are more susceptible to "fogging", should the airport screeners put this through the "carry-on" X-Ray machine. In the "old days" when I used Film, I had good results using Kodak MAX, but I've also used Fuji in the past (Kodak seems to "lean towards" the warmer colours such as reds and yellows, while Fuji tends to lean towards the cooler colours such as green & blue).
One final point to mention is that you'll have to decide whether you prefer having your photos developed in Europe, or wait until you get home. In the past I always brought my undeveloped film home, as I prefer to deal with one processing Lab (in my case, London Drugs). I don't know of any film processors in Europe as I haven't used any.
I'm assuming from your question that you haven't made the "plunge" to digital photography yet? I've found digital easier to travel with, but it comes with it's own "quirks", especially for travel. You might read through some of the other Posts in this section, as there's a lot of good information here from various members.
Hope this answers your question.
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Post by Eagle on May 27, 2006 1:17:56 GMT -5
captainredbeard, a few comments on your last post.
I'm sure you would be able to take "high quality photos in a variety of conditions" with several different types of Cameras. However, I agree that SLR's look like "real Cameras". I've used Canon products for quite a number of years, so I'll be sticking with them also. One thing I like about Canon is that they have the size and expertise to engineer and manufacture their own chips and sensors (such as the Digic II chips, CMOS sensors etc.). I feel this helps to integrate the various components to work better as a "system" to produce top quality images (IMHO of course).
If you decide that a DSLR rather than a "monster zoom" would be best for your uses and your trip, you might be able to get by with just the Camera and kit lens for this trip (the 18-55 is a reasonable "walk about" Lens), and then expand and add components as funds permit. I would also recommend at least one extra Battery and perhaps a 2 GB CF Card (depending on how many photos you take, you would probably have to stop by local photo shops to have these burned to a DVD when the Card becomes full). One other useful accessory is a "neutral" filter to protect the front element of the Lens from scratches or whatever. You might be able to avoid buying a Case this time if you have a reasonably good Day Pack?
One tactic you might consider would be to scope out some reputable dealers in Hong Kong on the net and perhaps even put a deposit on a Camera (provided the price is right). Again, if you buy in HK you might have "warranty issues" should problems develop. As soon as your flight lands, take a Taxi to the shop and pick up the Camera. Just a thought?
With regard to the "cheap point and shoot" you might find (as I did) that these can be a bit "limiting" as far as travel photography goes (that's why I'll be using a DSLR on my next trip). Most of the P&S Cameras only have 3x optical zoom and a lens with a somewhat limited field-of-view. Check the reviews on the S3-IS as you might find that this would also fit your needs. BTW, the S2-IS received some good reviews also, and now that it's been discontinued you might be able to find a few in shops at very attractive prices.
Hope this has helped. Good luck with your decision and happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on May 25, 2006 19:54:21 GMT -5
captainredbeard, first of all, welcome to the Boards! I've only got a few minutes to post this afternoon, so will try to add a bit to the advice the others have given. First of all, as you're "stopping over in Hong Kong I assume you're travelling from Australia? It helps us a bit to know where you're from, so that we can "tailor" the information more specifically to your situation. I don't have a lot of information regarding the prices in Hong Kong, so not sure what to advise on that? However, a couple of points to think about: if you purchase the Camera in Hong Kong, will there be any "warranty issues" if you have problems, either in Europe or after you get home? Secondly, the Charger will probably be a "world charger" (most Canons seem to be supplied with these), however the plug attached to the unit might be configured for HK so you will probably need Adapters to use this in Europe and possibly also back home. As Muvver indicated, generally speaking Cameras and other electronic products are generally more expensive in Europe than in North American or other parts of the world (especially in the U.K.!!!). If you were to purchase in the U.K., I believe you'd be able to escape the dreaded VAT, however you might have to pay this initially and then request a refund as a "non resident"? As far as whether or not you should buy a dSLR, that's a difficult question to answer without knowing a bit more about your photographic needs and what you hope to accomplish with the Camera. The main advantage of using a dSLR is the flexibility offered by having interchangeable Lenses. However, with that comes the need to buy additional "glass" which can increase the initial purchase price quite substiantially depending on which lens(es) you select. Of course, you will also need extra Memory Cards, extra Batteries, a good quality Case and perhaps an external Flash unit. One final but very important factor that you'll need to consider is the need to clean the Sensor occasionally. The frequency of this will vary depending on conditions in your location (ie: dusty) and how often you change lenses. Check out Visible Dust, Copperhill method or other sites for a better explanation of this. The need to clean the sensor can be reduced by turning the Camera "off" when you pop the lens off (the sensor is a "charge coupled device" and tends to act as a magnet for dust particles - if it's powered off, there is much less of this effect). You might find that a "monster zoom" Camera such as the new Canon S3-IS might also fit your needs quite well. This is the recently released successor to the S2-IS and the recent review at www.dpreview.com gave this the coveted "Highly Recommended" rating! It doesn't have the flexibility or capabilities of a dSLR, but the cost is less and it provides the ability to shoot Video, which most dSLR's are not capable of. I'm most familiar with Canon models, so that's what I tend to recommend. I believe Tony uses Nikon so he could provide more information on those. I use a Digital Rebel XT myself and so far have been very pleased with it (although I haven't had a lot of time to become thoroughly familiar with it, due to a variety of circumstances). There have been VERY "mixed reviews" on the quality of the kit Lens, so you might want to consider something like the 17-85 IS USM in it's place (it also gets mixed reviews, but these generally seem to be more favourable). Which Camera you buy will no doubt be influenced heavily by your budget. The Rebel XT / 350D (whatever it's called in your area?) is a great Camera and was recently voted the BEST "budget" dSLR in a recent test in Popular Photography magazine. It's small and easy to carry, which is one of the reasons I like it for travel. However, some users complain that the small size makes it difficult to hold properly. That hasn't been my experience. Of course, if one has a large Lens attached, it's not quite so light anymore! The one minor "deficiency" that I didn't like was the small LCD on the back, but that was a trade-off as with a small package like that, I doubt that it's possible to have the large LCD as well as the top display - there simply isn't enough room! Two other Canon models that have received good reviews are the older 20D (probably discontinued by now?) and the newer 30D; they are both larger and heavier than the Rebel, but built like a Tank!!! The Rebel XT / 350D will probably be replaced this fall (according to rumors), but since you need a Camera now, there's no reason to wait. One could wait forever for the "best" model with all the bells & whistles! If you're thinking of taking a course and getting more involved in Photography, buying an SLR will provide you with a Camera that you can both use now on your holiday, as well as "grow into" as your abilities improve. Check the reviews for any Cameras you're considering at www.dpreview.com or www.steves-digicams.com for further details. You can probably get by on this trip with just a good "walk around" Lens such as the 17-85, and then purchase other Lenses and accessories as funds permit. Good luck with your decision. If I think of anything else, I'll post another note. Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on May 4, 2006 23:56:03 GMT -5
artvandelay, thanks for your post regarding the S2-IS. It's great to get some feedback from someone that actually owns the particular model under discussion.
Happy shooting and don't forget to post some of your photos here for the rest of us to enjoy.
Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on May 4, 2006 0:44:19 GMT -5
kiwichick, yes, IMO the "monster zoom" Cameras are the next best thing to a dSLR, as they provide the zoom range that is sadly lacking on many of the compact P & S Cameras. In addition, the zoom is stablized (as it is on many of the dSLR lenses these days) to compensate for the "blur" which occurs due to Camera shake. What is lacking on the "monster zoom" Cameras is the ability to change lenses. One of the criteria you specified was to have "reasonably good optical zoom", so these seemed like the perfect choice.
I doubt very much that a compact Camera could produce "better image quality" than an S3-IS or other M.Z. Camera. Given equivalent sensor size and lenses, the image quality should be at least equal. However, Cameras such as the S3 usually have a larger and better quality lens than many of the compacts, so theoretically the image quality should be better. In addition, the M.Z. Cameras usually have a "faster" lens (ie: allows more light in) than the compact Cameras, providing better ability to take photos in low light conditions.
One other factor you might want to consider is the range of controls in whatever Camera you buy. Except for some of the compact P & S models, many of the Canon models provide a full range of both automatic "scene modes" as well as full manual control, allowing the operator to choose shutter speed, aperture, etc. This is a very desirable feature as it allows the photographer much more control as they become familiar with the Camera and their abilities improve, and allows one to have control over things like depth of field.
With regard to the size of the Camera, the 350D that Muvver mentioned is a fairly compact dSLR, but it's still slightly larger than the S2 or S3. The size varies of course depending on which lens is attached. The M.Z. Cameras are a bit easier to carry, as their size or weight never vary. I also use a 350D / Rebel XT and the small size was one of the most important criteria when I was making my purchase decision.
Depending on how long you want to wait with your purchase, you could delay this until the review is released for the S3-IS. In the meantime, check out the local shops in your area and try out some of the M.Z. Cameras to see whether these might work for you. Once you've made a decision, buying online as Muvver suggested is another option if you don't want to deal with Jessops, etc.
One final mention - digital zoom isn't entirely "useless", but it's a bit of a gimmick and tends to degrade image quality somewhat. A good optical zoom is a much better choice.
Again, good luck with your Camera purchase.
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Post by Eagle on May 3, 2006 10:12:38 GMT -5
kiwichick, just checked the daily currency rates:
449.00 USD United States Dollars = 243.699 GBP United Kingdom Pounds
The S3-IS certainly might be within your budget? You'll have to allow a bit extra for Memory Cards (SD/MMC), a decent Case, Rechargeable Batteries (four Ni-MH probably best, 2300 maH or higher & at least one spare set of batteries is a good idea, especially if you use the LCD a lot while shooting) and of course you'll have to allow for the dreaded VAT.
Cheers!!!
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