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Cameras
Feb 16, 2006 1:01:31 GMT -5
Post by Eagle on Feb 16, 2006 1:01:31 GMT -5
birte, have a look at my Post in the "Cameras" section.
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Cameras
Feb 16, 2006 0:57:54 GMT -5
Post by Eagle on Feb 16, 2006 0:57:54 GMT -5
birte, welcome to the Board! A few comments on the questions you raised.
First of all, it would help to know whether you presently have a film or digital Camera, and whether this is the "Point & Shoot" variety or Single Lens Reflex?
I think it's safe to say that most on this Board now tend to favour digital Cameras. There are a few members here that are still "die hard" film users. There are pros & cons for both formats (especially where travel is concerned).
To summarize briefly, using a film Camera means that you have to pack along enough film for your trip (it can be expensive in Europe), keep the film with you (if the film gets stolen or lost, your images are gone!), and pay developing and printing costs when you get home. You have no "feedback" on image quality until you see the finished product, and should you want to store the images in a computer there is usually an additional charge to have these burned to a CD. There's also the risk of having film ruined (fogged) by powerful airport X-Ray luggage scanners (this is more of a concern if the film is packed in checked luggage, and if this is "high speed" film - ASA 800+). The initial purchase price of a film Camera is probably less than digital right now, as there are LOTS of surplus film models on the market. This might make the film types more attractive for those on a limited budget.
With a Digital Camera, there is instant "feedback" and pictures can be re-taken as many times as desired, as there's no cost in doing this. However, the initial purchase price of digital Cameras is higher as the buyer also has to allow for Memory Cards, Spare Batteries, etc. Digital pictures are easily transferred to computer when back at home, and processing costs are a bit less as one only has to pay for the prints that are desired. When travelling with a digital Camera, it's necessary to give some thought on how to store images when the memory cards become full. Transferring images to computers in Net Cafes is not a good solution, for a variety of reasons. One of the easiest solutions these days is to have the photos burned to a CD at a local shop, and then re-use the memory card.
How many Memory Sticks or Memory Cards (are you using a Sony Camera?) to travel with depends on a number of factors -- the resolution of the Camera (ie: how many MP), the format and compression settings (ie: if the user is shooting RAW or using compressed JPEG images?) and the size of the Memory Cards (which to some extent depends on one's budget).
How much Film to bring -- I suppose this depends on your "shooting style". You probably have some idea how many pictures you normally take while travelling, so this should provide some idea. Of course you also have to choose the type of Film (some prefer Kodak, some Fuji, etc.) and the speed (lower ASA speed films provide sharper images, while higher ASA speeds are often needed for taking pictures in low-light conditions (ie: in Museums where no flash units or tripods are allowed). One disadvantage with Film is that the user can't change the ASA (speed) -- this is determined by the film. Most digital Cameras allow the user to select ASA speed, and this can be changed with each photo if desired.
Perhaps the best example I can provide, is my experience on my last trip to England. I packed along one P & S Film Camera and one P & S digital Camera. At the beginning of the trip I used both Cameras about equally, however by the end of the trip I found that I was using the digital almost exclusively. I won't be taking a film Camera on my next trip! I did find the 3x zoom and somewhat limited angle of view a bit of a "limiting factor" (wide angle capability - I could get around this somewhat by "stitching" however that's a bit of a bother to do with every shot), so will be taking a digital SLR on my next trip. I will also be taking the digital P & S again, as it's quite handy to throw in a pocket, so I'm more likely to have it with me more often than the larger Camera.
Hope this helps? You might get some good tips by reading through some of the other posts in this section of the Board. Good luck with your Camera decision!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 14, 2006 15:25:54 GMT -5
Tony, thanks for posting that. Hopefully not all of us look like that!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 15, 2006 1:18:12 GMT -5
Jennifer, are you sure these are disposable Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries? I'm not familiar with these. I have heard of disposable Lithium batteries though.
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Post by Eagle on Feb 13, 2006 13:59:15 GMT -5
Jennifer, one final point regarding the batteries for your Camera. Buying disposable alkaline batteries is certainly one solution, and should work in the short term. However keep in mind that alkalines don't function as well in digital Cameras as rechargeables, and often a "low battery" warning will occur after only a few photos are taken (the number of photos that can be taken varies a bit between Camera models).
This occurs because the discharge curve is different for alkalines vs. rechargeable batteries, which "fools" the voltage monitoring circuits in the Camera. When this happens, it doesn't necessarily mean there is no power left in the battery. In many cases there is lots of power remaining and these will power a Walkman or a Flashlight quite nicely.
I wasn't sure if you've ever heard about this, but thought I should mention it.
Happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 12, 2006 18:43:04 GMT -5
jennifer, yes, that clears things up a bit. From what you've said, it appears that the only thing you will need the Voltage Converter for is your Camera Charger (we'll ignore the Laptop and Hair Dryer issues for now). It appears that you have two choices:
1.) Use your Hi-Low Voltage Converter and your present Energizer Battery Charger. Ensure that the Converter is set to the "Low" (25 watt) position, as this is the Transformer conversion side, which is more suitable for electronic devices! If used only in mainland Europe, you probably won't need any Plug Adapters (although one Adapter might be a good idea, as some of the receptacles might be recessed - you'll see the difficulty when you encounter one). One concern that I have with this option, is that your present Energizer Charger is designed for 60 Hz. operation - the Hi-Low Converter won't provide conversion for the frequency - this is determined by the frequency of the electrical system and for "travel" purposes there's no way to correct this easily.
2.) Buy a "travel" AA Battery Charger for your Camera, which is capable of use on 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, and use this with appropriate Plug Adapters. This is probably the lightest and easiest-to-carry option. However, this means buying another piece of kit. If you choose this option, I see no reason to pack along your Hi-Low Converter - it's not really needed. The other advantage of this method is that you can use the same Plug Adapters to charge your Laptop, provided the power supply for this is designed for "international" use.
One caveat when using any of this equipment. Most of the travel devices (such as the Hi-Low Converter) are not designed for "continuous duty" operation. It's a good idea to monitor these when in use, and disconnect when the charging or whatever is completed.
Hope this helps? Good luck and happy travels!!!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 12, 2006 14:52:43 GMT -5
jennifer, just to make sure I'm offering the best advice, it might be a good idea to clarify some of the terms in your post. You mentioned that "i have a converter with the adaptor for europe, standard 2 round stokes". Are you referring to a Voltage Converter, which steps-down the standard European 230 VAC to the North American 115 VAC OR a "converter" to adapt the European plug style to the North American style (more commonly called a "Plug Adapter" to avoid confusion) Are you taking electrical devices along which require a "Voltage Converter" (aside from the battery charger for your digital camera)? It's important to know this, as there are two principles used in voltage conversion. One type is better for heating appliances (ie: hair driers) and other "simple" devices, while the other is better for electronic devices. Using the wrong type of conversion device for a particular appliance can cause problems!Any additional information would be a big help!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 11, 2006 15:40:28 GMT -5
jennifer, check this link for information on the different Plug configurations in the countries you'll be visiting -- www.kropla.com/electric.htm - this should give you some idea which Adapters you might need. Cheers!!!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 11, 2006 14:59:37 GMT -5
jennifer. certainly, you could buy a Charger in Europe but since you'll only be there for a limited time, you might find it more useful to have a Charger that you can also use "at home".
The other problem is that if you were (for example) to buy a Charger in mainland Europe, it would be supplied with the two round pins which are standard in that area. You wouldn't be able to use it in countries with different plug configurations (such as the U.K.) without an Adapter! At least one Plug Adapter will probably be necessary at some point in your travels. Plug Adapters are not heavy or bulky, so I don't see any problem in packing a few of these along. In my view it would be more practical to buy a good quality, travel Charger with "fast charge" capabilities, and pack along whichever plug adapters you need for a particular trip.
I'm not sure how useful it will be to pack along the USB cable, as you might find that you won't be able to transfer photos in the same way you do at home (for a variety of reasons). This has been discussed lots in this Forum - check some of the other posts. You might find a USB Card Reader to be a better alternative (one which doesn't need driver software). If you decide to have your photos "burned" at a photo shop or whatever, no doubt a reader will be provided anyway.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 11, 2006 0:09:18 GMT -5
jennifer, IMO your best bet would be to buy another Battery Charger, one which is designed for travel use. You could still use your existing NiMH Batteries, but leave your Energizer Charger at home. A couple of examples for you to look at would be www.magellans.com/store/Appliances___Batteries___RechargersEA454?Args= or Source by Circuit City #2319302. AFAIK both are designed for operation on 100-240 VAC. Many Photo and Department stores also carry travel chargers. Not sure what kind of stores are available to you, but here in the west two possibilities would be Future Shop or London Drugs. You will still need a Plug Adapter though. When using the "travel" Charger in Europe, be sure to check to see if it has a switch to select input voltage. It's quite likely in newer products that this will be done automatically. Therefore all you'll have to do is connect it to the mains using your plug adapter, insert the batteries and wait for them to charge. Try and find a Charger which has "fast charge" capability (the Magellans model listed above will charge in 90 minutes - it is capable of charging four batteries so you could have a fully charged spare set of batteries with you). BTW, why are you taking your USB Cable? Hope this helps. Good luck!!!
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Post by Eagle on Feb 10, 2006 18:52:48 GMT -5
jennifer, to reiterate what the others have said, if you could provide some technical details on the equipment you're using, we should be able to help you get your charger problems sorted. What type of Camera are you using and what type of batteries does it use?
Unless you're using other electrical gear, you might not even need to take your Transformer along. You will however need at least one Plug Adapter, but those are small and easily packed so shouldn't be a problem.
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Post by Eagle on Jan 25, 2006 19:14:47 GMT -5
stabone76, from what I've seen on various photo forums, there are different "schools of thought" on whether to travel with numerous smaller capacity cards or a few large capacity cards. All of the "experts" on these forums seem to have their own theories, usually based on "experience". I can only relate my own preferences in this regard. To some extent the size of Memory Card used will be dependant on your photo style -- do you normally shoot JPEG's at highest resolution, medium resolution or RAW/TIFF files? If you're shooting RAW then higher capacity cards are a good idea, in order to be able to store a reasonable amount of photos on a card. This also depends on the Camera equipment you're using. The larger the sensor resolution, the larger the file sizes. For example, if you're using a Camera with a 6 MP sensor, then you will need more memory card capacity than someone using a 3.2 MP Camera. A good example of what size Cards to use can be seen on this web link - www.digicamhelp.com/learn/camera-questions-and-answers/memory-card-capacity.htm. In my own case I started out with a 5 MP compact P&S Camera, with 2-512 MB Cards and 1-256 MB Card. Although I'm still kind of "new" to digital photography, this has been adequate so far. However, I've found that I tend to take more photos with digital than I ever did with film, so it's important to have enough capacity to last for a day's shooting. I've also found that it's not always convenient when travelling to search out a photo shop or whatever to get photos burned to CD, so having enough capacity to last for a few days is a necessity. I'm considering a Portable Hard Drive for my next trip, but haven't reached a decision yet (Epson P-2000 or FlashTrax XT are the "front runners" at the moment). Now that I've upgraded to digital SLR (Canon 350XT - 8.0 MP) I decided to increase both CF card capacity as well as speed. On my next trip I will be travelling with at least two (and perhaps three) SanDisk 2 GB Ultra III Cards. I bought the first card before the new Lexar high speed cards were introduced (also there were some "problems" last year with Lexar high speed cards and Canon Cameras, so decided to go with SanDisk for the first card; Lexar have now introduced a new HIGH speed series, and I might give these a try for the next card). This is the approach I've chosen for photo memory, and I feel it's the best solution for me; others will have to make their own decisions. As far as the cost between the different sizes of Cards ($100 for 1 GB or $50 each for 512 MB), this is not really a factor in my decision. My choice is based on which size card will be the best for my purposes, and I save up until I can get the one I want. I'm also considering travelling with both the compact P&S as well as the dSLR, as the smaller Camera is a lot easier to throw in a pocket if I'm going out in the evening (the dSLR will be securely locked up in the Hotel, with the Memory Cards removed!). That means I'll likely have at least six CF Cards in various capacities at my disposal. Again, everyone's situation is different but hopefully this answers your question.
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Post by Eagle on Feb 15, 2006 1:22:30 GMT -5
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Post by Eagle on Feb 13, 2006 13:48:30 GMT -5
Tony, thanks for posting that link. I haven't seen that particular hard drive before, but will do a bit of checking and see if I can find some reviews or whatever. Be sure and let us know how it works for you during your travels.
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Post by Eagle on Feb 12, 2006 14:39:33 GMT -5
Tony,Yes, I have seen the P2000 and also the newer P4000 units (the 4000 basically just has a larger capacity AFAIK). These have an incredible display, but according to dpreview there are some "shortcomings" as well. The file naming convention appears to be a bit "clumsy" and outdated, and it's surprising that Epson wouldn't have cleaned this up a bit when designing the product? Not sure if you've seen the Review, but if not check www.dpreview.com/reviews/epsonp2000/page6.asp for further information. I'm also struggling with a decision on whether to take a portable hard drive on my trip, or whether to use local photo shops to burn CD's? At this point I've "shortlisted" the P2000 and the FlashTrax XT as possible choices. The minor deficiencies of the P2000 are certainly not "deal breakers", but I'm leaning more towards the FlashTrax as it appears this product has an exceptional level of support. I've seen more than a few comments on various photo boards and from what I can gather the customer support dept. at Smartdisk issues frequent software upgrades and responds quickly to user difficulties. However, the interface with FlashTrax also appears to be a bit "kludgy" in some ways. It seems there isn't a "perfect" product of this type on the market yet? I had also considered a portable CD Burner such as the Apacer Disk Steno, but don't want to be bothered with packing a bunch of CD's around with me, mailing some home, etc. For me the PHD is a "cleaner" solution. Glad to hear you're enjoying your D70. I'm still trying to become famiiar with my 350D (hope to post some great photos of Europe when the time comes!). Cheers!!!
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