Since I see and play with cameras all day at work I quickly found the little camera of my dreams. Well, the camera of my under-$200 dreams. While I own and love Nikon SLRs, I've learned that, when it comes to point-and-shoots, Canon just does it better. I ended up buying the Canon 1200is in blue, and I love it!
What really motivated me to make this purchase is that I'm considering only bringing a point-and-shoot on the cruise with us next month. We'll be doing a lot of walking, going on excursions, swimming, etc. If I bring my SLR there's a much greater risk of it getting lost, stolen, or damaged. Plus, it's not exactly something I can stick in my pocket so that extra bulk wouldn't be ideal.
This is where I want your feedback. I know that many of you own SLRs and I'm pretty sure that all of you have taken a vacation at some point or another. Do you think I'll regret not having my awesome camera with me to document the occasion? Or is it smart to leave the big guy at home and just stick to the little point-and-shoot? Obviously there would be extra hassle involved, but I want to capture the experience.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Have you been happy traveling with a point-and-shoot, or would you never leave home without your SLR?
14 comments:
I'm interested in this too. I could take the SLR I have at work to Cabo, but they really are bulky. I have a Nikon point and shoot, which really does seem to get the job done.
I've been right where you are. I went on a 7 day cruise to Mexico a year ago. My husband and I don't actually own a point and shoot anymore. Well, not one that takes decent pictures and holds a charge for more than a couple hours. Anyway... I brought my BIG D700 (but took off the grip) and brought just my 50mm and fisheye. Both relatively small lenses. I always have a HUGE purse on me, so I figured, what would be the problem of toting around the camera... I can "throw it" in my bag if need be. I took my camera out a whopping TWO days of the whole 7 day cruise... then begged my friend to send me all the shots from her point and shoot.
BUT... I LOVE the shots I DID get with my SLR. If I had it to do over again. I'd bring both... and keep my SLR in the safe on the days I wasn't using it. And shoot with my point and shoot the majority of the time.
Hope that helps.
Tough question... I travel with my point and shoot if I just want to document events and do a lot of shopping. I bring my SLR if the places I'll go to have lots of scenic and architectural spots. I don't want to regret that I didn't bring my SLR to capture the scenes.
Hi Lauryn, I can't really speak with any authority here as I don't own an SLR, digital or otherwise. My thoughts leaning toward the Canon are:
-I think the SLR would be more cumbersome to transport
-it's much more expensive and (if it were me)I'd be more concerned about it getting lost or damaged, or possibly stolen.
-I've seen outstanding photos taken with smaller digitals, and if you're into photography I'm sure you could make the most of it
All that being said, for me nothing can quite match what can be done with an SLR.
Now...
In response to your comment on my Q&A post, the reason I'm fond of your blog is 'cause you're just plain awesome. I don't think I need to list the reasons why (do I?)
I have two questions for you (which you don't have to answer if they're too personal)...
1) You mentioned you got a camera last year for your birthday. When is your birthday?
2) What do you do for a living?
You may have mentioned these on your blog already but I haven't had as much time to go through it as I'd like. Insert frown here :(
Hmmm... well you KNOW you are going to get the better pictures with the Nikon... but I am a big ol' wuss and scared of it getting ruined, lost etc etc that I would probably go with the little camera (which I have the EXACT same one!)
Let us know what you decide to do!!
I would choose to take the Canon... Only because it'd be easier to replace and I (being a non-photographer type) would probably manage to take the same quality pics with either camera :)
You need to have both. A tiny point and shoot comes in handy in situations where you have to travel light, esp on vacation... and going out to dinner... and quick framing shots. However, if you travel WITHOUT your DSLR you will regret it because there are MANY opportunities to shoot beautiful photos.
If you have to choose one or the other, I would opt the DSLR. You will end up with better photos. It all boils down to, whether you're there for social settings--therefore you need convenience, or whether you're going for capturing the experience and the beauty. In which case, you will have the inconvenience of bulk... My reading experience shows that even as a blogger--and a stylish one at that--you may fare well with the DSLR...Most fashion bloggers I follow have been able to have a good time traveling with their DSLR.
And FYI, comparing my DSLR to my husbands Canon 5D (I have a D70S), Canon does DSLRs better as well.
On a side note, do you know what is a really good fixed lens to start with on my D70? I have a wide angle zoom that is pretty worthless as far as zooms go, and pretty worthless as far as close ups go. And the light sensor on this thing is pure crap. :(
Hmm, well the Canon takes pretty amazing pictures for the price (I have the 880is). But I would agree with Colleen. Take both but don't bother lugging the big one around, take it out a few times when you need to and keep it hidden the rest of the time. :)
I 100% think you'll regret it if you don't take both. It's not every day you get to take a trip to these exotic places, and I know you well enough to know that you'll want to get artsy. If you have both, you can choose that day depending on what excursions you may take, etc, as to which you want to take off the ship, but I really think you're going to want your Nikon with you to appease your creative side on this rare occasion.
Love ya,
Chey ;)
i don't have an expensive slr, but when i thought about getting one I knew that i would have a really hard time taking it with me because of the risk of losing it/damage/stolen. but having said that, you know that your point and shoot won't take pictures half as nice as your slr.
haha i'm sure i haven't helped at all!
I still think you need to bring the SLR. You are going to see some amazing things, especially on your walking trips. I think bringing a large bag to toss it in (with your wallet and sunglasses and other things you might need in warm weather). I do think for little outings you go on you could just grab the point-and-shoot though. I guess what I'm trying to say is bring both. Just in case :)
ps- you hit your comment number lady, are you excited?!
i own both a canon digital cam and the nikon d90. i LOVE my d90 but as you stated it's just impossible to take everywhere you go. for one, it's ridiculously heavy and way to expensive to risk breaking. so i only use mine on special occasions.
i took it to hawaii last summer and i'm so glad i did. i also use mine for family events, holidays, etc. but the canon is my go-to when i drink or go out. i've dropped that thing so many times. it's sad.
anyway, to answer your question...i say take advantage of your SRL when on vacay. it's worth the haul.
When we just went to Hawaii in November I had the same debate and it boiled down to having enough space for both so I ended up brining my Canon POS (I have the same model as you). There were some moments I was bummed that I didn't bring my DSLR but when I got home and saw all my pictures I didn't really notice a huge difference because the Canon POS takes such amazing photos (I wouldn't have wished that I had done it any other way). The best part is that I wasn't constantly stressing about it getting stolen or broken or wet!! If you can make it work bring both but in the long run its a vacation so enjoy and if you can only bring your POS then make the most of it.
I laughed out loud when I saw this post because I literally was JUST dealing with this issue this morning. (Must be since we're basically going on the same trip!) I definitely want to bring my DSLR, and I didn't have a point and shoot ( I sold my old one) until this morning. I bought a nikon s560 for cheap. I'm definitely bringing both. And being super super careful with them. I have terrible luck with dropping them in water... or fruit smoothies. LOL so i vote both.
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