soma77

i did read the camera recommendation section and it had some great pointers on what to do for image storage on the road, etc, and it is a convincing argument for digital cameras, but i'm already sold.

i had a three mp sony camera that i loved for years and it just crapped out, just in time for my trip to iceland next month. pictures are important to me, and fortunately i have a sizeable store credit at compusa, which will help me with my next camera.

but now i have a tough choice to make, my backpack is small and i'm on a ten day trip. a digital slr camera is going to take kick ass images, better than anything out of a compact, but it is as big as the old film manuals that we used to lug around.

if i wasn't going somewhere where shooting the landscape was so important, then this would be an easier answer for me, i'd go with the compact in my pocket over the hunk of metal in my pack.

here's where i'm at--

digital SLR:
cons: bigger and $150 more. large enough that i wouldn't bring it out to to grab drinks at night.
pros: superior/professional image quality to anything compact, similar functions and capabilities as manual. virtually no power drain (read:no need to plug my new exensive camera into a 220v adaper and prey).

compact digital:
cons: image quality good but not amazing.
pros: $150 cheaper, smaller. i repeat, smaller

so here's my question: do i go big honkin SLR and get insanely pretty pictures, or go small and get pictures of everything?

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benna2

My little sony digital camera takes amazing pictures and it's compact. For only a ten day trip I would definately only bring a small camera with me. The zoom lens is only 3x but that's fine. Usually the pictures from vacation always end up to be other people anyway...

Of course unless you are a pro photographer and the sole purpose of the trip is to take pictures...

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bluepea

I have a digital SLR that I abso-freaking-love (I love it so much I make up words to express it ). But, when it comes to landscape images you're not going to lose out on a whole lot unless you were planning on lugging around a telephoto lens as well. If you get a decent high res camera and shoot the photos at high res, you should get very similar results.

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~~ Jamie ~~
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soma77

thanks benna and jamie, i appreciate it.

sometimes even if you know something in your gut it's good to hear it from an outside persective. it's also good to hear that coming from an abso-freaking-loutely happy slr owner too, because until i got my hands on one i wouldn't have believed the difference, though--as you point out jamie-- it's advantages are less apparent more with landscapes. i'll save the slr purchase for another year.

~ collin

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we were all put on earth to fart around, don't let anyone tell you different. - vonnegut

in order to write about life, you must first live it. - hemingway

TheJake

What digital slr do you have jamie? Cause i might have to steal it...

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d_fresh

I have a dimage 7hi which is huge and I love it (took it to europe with me) but if I were going again I'd take a smaller p&s camera. as long as it has a nice wide angle lens and decent optical zooming you'll be fine.

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bluepea

:greenguy: :greenguy: No touchy!

I have the Canon Digital Rebel XT. It is an amazing camera.

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~~ Jamie ~~
You give me the most gorgeous sleep That I've ever had And when it's really bad I guess it's not that bad




Have some general questions such as whether or not to get a rail pass or how much money you'll need? Visit here!

First time travelers/travelers with a lot of questions - this forum is for you![b]

d_fresh

very nice. that's one of the models i'm looking at.

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LiveFreeorDie

Sounds like you have made your decision, but just to reinforce it, the way I look at it is, you need your camera with you often if you really wind up with great pictures as you often cannot plan when something spontaneously arises that you want pics of. So, ultimately, I think the smaller the camera, the more likely you will slip it in your pocket and carry it everywhere you go, versus a big, clunky heavy, MORE EXPENSIVE (and thus more worry over it), piece of equipment that may become an albatross around your neck by the end of the trip. Unless your shooting pics for Nat Geo, I bet the smaller cameras out today will still work great for your needs.

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soma77

schweet camera jamie. that's the model that i've fallen in love with when i borrowed one. the good news is if it cost keeps coming down maybe i can pick one up next year after i get the compact for this trip.

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we were all put on earth to fart around, don't let anyone tell you different. - vonnegut

in order to write about life, you must first live it. - hemingway