I don't want to have to worry about keeping my eye on a digital camera on the road. Are disposable cameras a practical alternative in europe? i know lots of pals in the army use them in the field where conditions can get pretty rough and they come out with surprisingly decent photos. but i've never used one. any thoughts?

I'd go ahead and use the digital camera...I don't find it that hard to keep track of my cameras while I am traveling. Disposabla cameras can have decent quality though, and you can always get a CD with digital images of your pics when you get them developed.

:cheers:

I BROUGHT DISPOSIBLE CAMERAS TO EUROPE LAST SUMMER!! BAAAADDDD!!!!!

ok, well! they got like completely destroyed and destorted because they kept having to go through x-ray machines at airport security!! they went through...4 i think, maybe 5 and when they got home the photo girl said she had to throw most of them away and the rest were all blurry and disscolored.

i've now been begging people i met there to put their pictures online, so far only 2 that i know of have. :unsure:

i just bought a digital camera and plan on bringing it next summer.

i am a photography addict. I want to be a photojournalist one day. I have found that digitals work great- but i enjoy film x10 more. I have never had an issues with disposable cameras- i have gotten some of my best shots out of them actaully, if you want i can send some to you. As with the x-ray thing- my film has been fine, so i think it depends on what type of machine it is put through.

:torch:

If your using film, you can always buy an xray proof bag and get the customs and security to search it by hand. A good thing if you're gonna bring any kinda film through more that one xray, especially in coutries where the machine is like 40 years old.

Jenn

This is a tough one.

re: hinrgresonance, I'm interested to know why you enjoy film so much more than digital. I agree with one of the previous threads on digital cameras that they often turn out very mediocre photos w/o any "pop". This plus their weight (mine atleast) and thief-magnet properties really clash with my backpacker (or better yet travel punk) m.o. But maybe that's just me.
And yes please do send your pics, i would love to see how they turned out! alexgn@rogers.com

re: ryder, i sympathize mate, been there (not cuz of x-rays in my case but all the same). any way i'll definitely consider what you said, seems like everyone has a camera/film horror story. So let's hear more of 'em (and success stories too), especially those pertaining to single-use cameras.

You guys rock!
Alex

Instead of a disposable you might as well just buy a cheap $20-$30 film point and shoot used on ebay and then just bring a bunch of film with you. It'll end up being cheaper than buying a bunch of disposables and your pictures will turn out better since disposables tend to have fixed shutter and aperatures and the lens is set to hyperfocal, while p&s are usually adjustable at least.

As far as digitals not having "pop", it depends on the camera and post processing. Here's a couple I took with my digital while on my trip last month:

Amsterdam:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13727022/

Prague:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/13639385/

I always say it depends on what you want to do with your photos, as to whether you go with digital or film. If you are planning nothing more than printing snapshots and posting the odd pic on the web, digital is fine.

If you have ideas of blowing up your photos to put on your walls (like me), film is the way to go. I would have been so upset if the photo below had been digital -- it would never have stood the 20"x30" enlargement I did on it. Now, it dominates my living room and, upon entering, people immediately ask about...

http://home.earthlink.net/~mikedeman.../myn_htilo.jpg

worldwidemike

Yea, I'm still partial to using film for most things important. I use digital to take all the random photos and film for anything thought out, artistic or truly memorable.

I dont think I have ever gotten a good picture from a disposible... :unsure:

I would take the chance and go with the digi cam, I do not for see you having many probs.