marieb

Looking at all the great photos posted on Fodors of Bangkok and surrounding area got me thinking. What kind of camera is everyone using. Just basic cameras or ones fitted with tele photo etc. Thanks everyone for sharing them with us all. I leave in a week. Can't wait.

Jaya

I use a Canon PowerShot. It's nothing fancy, but it does the job. I think it's less the kind or brand of camera and MORE that you are familiar with the camera and its various features.

Also, make sure your memory stick has enough memory capacity or bring more than one in case the first one gets filled.

thursdaysd

I'm on my fourth digital - a Panasonic Lumix FZ5 - love the 12x zoom! But I think that the brand is less important than having a good eye. (Which can be helped by cropping after the fact...)

Hanuman

I agree with everyone that the understanding of your camera and your editing capabilities are very important but a digital SLR(single lens reflect) will offer far more superior photographs than a small camera.

This is a great web site for researching cameras - http://www.dpreview.com/

This is another great web site for learning techniques - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

silverwool

I take an old Canon EOS 20D with a 17-85 mm zoom lens and lots of cards. Normally I shoot JPGs but swap over to RAW for anything that will need extra post processing. However with the ever declining cost of cards I will probably shoot a lot more in RAW on my next trip. However, whatever camera you decide on, give yourself time to understand how to use it before you go traveling.

Also do not let anyone show you how to get more photos on your card by cutting down the resolution. Leave it at its highest setting. Then you have the greatest flexibility afterwards.

MichaelBKK

I use a Canon 300D, mostly with an 18 to 55 mm lens, but I also have a telephoto I use as well.

About a year ago I bought an Olmypus 770 SW because I thought it would be nice to have a compact camera to use when I didn't want to lug the SLR around, but even though it has a higher resolution, I'm not happy with most of the photographs I've taken with it. It's particularly bad in low light, and that's probably because the lens is just too small. I don't even bother taking it with me any more.

I've heard good things about the Panasonic LX3, which has a nice large lens with an ultra-wide angle.

MaryW

We use a Nikon D70 with 18 -55 lens and a telephoto. Its getting a bit old now - much newer models out but takes fantastic photos. Usually shoot in RAW. We have a small much older Nikon compact which in its day was great and I still take it if I just want a small camera but its nowhere new as good as the digitalSLR's Stuck in the cupboard are the old pentax film cameras - I doubt they will ever come out again!

Mitch04

I used a Pentax K10D with a range of lenses, and a Panasonic Lumix FZ5. When travelling to remote places, I tend to take only two lenses - an 18-55 and a 70-300mm.

Kristina

I use a Nikon D40x DSLR and I love it. I also use Photoshop elements for post-processing.

WillJame

On our last trip (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand) and for 6 months in Japan the two of us shared 3 cameras: a Sony Digital SLR with an 18-80 mm lens and a 70-300 mmm telephoto lens; a subcompact Canon SD 1000 Elph for convenience and portability; and, a Sony HD camcorder (which can also take stills).
We found several of our guides enjoyed photography, and often used one of our cameras, sometimes for hours at a time. Interesting possibility that someone might want to consider: take along an extra (older and little used?) digital camera for your guide to use. You'll get some interesting different shots, and lots of yourselves.

marieb

silverwool go ahead call me ignorant but I have no idea what you are talking about when you say JPG and RAW. All I know is that I use my simple cannon powershot. Could never imagine bringing my old fashioned nikon (not digital) with all the lens on trips. Although I would love the shots I could take from that. Thanks for sharing everyone.

live42day

On our last trip I brought a Canon Rebel xti with a regular and a telephoto lens, but my husband had a canon pocket camera. We found it was a great combination because sometimes I would not want to carry my big camera with me. You can, however tell the difference between the pictures and who took what, but that being said we will still continue to do this. I LOVE my Canon XTI

alovesa

We use two cameras, both canons. One is the 8gm Cannon rebel, which is totally awesome and can be fit with any lens you need for a trip. We just use one 28-105 zoom. We also have an old canon elph which we continue to use because it has an underwater housing. THe housing is perfect for going to the beach (keeps out sand) or going underwater.

You can check out our photos and our trip reports at our website: http://www.hitherandthither.net

If you visit, let us know with a comment. Thanks!

AskOksena

>>>Just basic cameras or ones fitted with tele photo etc.<<<


Going rather basic and light these days, snapping a few with the company-issue 'smart phone', but then I'm an Asia 'trans-pac' business traveller who refuses to check bags, and most of my sights are airlines (Singapore Girls - Forever), airport lounges (SIA Silver Kris Lounges and TG BKK F Royal Orchid Spa - Forever), meeting rooms, restaurants, hotel rooms and gymnasiums and yes, the occasional late-night, in-room massage treatments. (Completely legit, these days - and no photos.)

Can't help but give props to a still functioning and all-time cherished 'old school' print film camera, my beloved Contax T2. She passed with flying colours on certain 8000 and 7000 metre ascents in the Himalayas and Karakoram. (Should add, she and her batteries were rather well insulated, 'high up'.)

Another sentimental sweetie is what some may call a 'toy', a little Leica M3 purchased a few years back at 36,000 feet through a pre-order via SQ's KrisShop, flying ex-Singapore to Hong Kong. (So love that additional interaction with those sensational Singapore Girls.)

(And would suggest, the best 'pics' can occur without cameras. On one Himalayan mountaineering expedition, a fine climbing partner didn't take so much as one picture, from Kathmandu, all the way to 8000+ m and back. Well done.)

Savour your memorable Asian times, perhaps, with that Asian airline,

macintosh (robert)


I can see for miles/

(Who)

silverwool

Sorry, marieb, I would not call you ignorant. If you are happy with what you are doing don't worry. I'm just geeky! RAW files are uncompressed and end up a lot bigger than Jpgs (which are compressed, the amount dependent on the resolution set in the camera.) Therefore a lot more cards required. They do give me a lot more processing latitude though. As several people have commented, knowing how to use your camera is more important than than the brand or type.

I saw an elderly Japanese gentleman using a top of the line Hasselblad digital SLR to photograph his family at Ta Prohm last year. These are over $40,000 Australian for the body only! Now that is definitely overkill.

marieb

silverwool you are too kind not to call me ignorant when I should know such simple things. Thanks for explaining in such a simple way. I really like how my shots turn out more with my old fashioned need film nikon than my digital (ability to zoom more) ;howver we all like the digital to see if we have captured the shot just right. Thanks again.

KMLoke

I use a 5 year Panasonic Lumix FX7 and am thinking of replacing it with the Canon SX200.

http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home...0_IS/index.asp

Cyberia

I use the Lumix-FZ7. Great pictures in good light and still objects (even at high magnification) though not as good as I'd like in low light or with fast moving things. My pre-digital compact camera was amazing. I took perfect pictures in gloomy conditions, literally walking by things without even slowing down, series of pictures of something going by fast, etc. Every picture looked like it was done with the greatest care. Still, with digital at least you can take too many pictures and dump ones you don't like. Few of mine ever get printed up though, just staying on my computer or backed up on disks (some sent out to friends/family).

A Canon was my first choice but the seller let me down.

BostonGal

I've been using the Nikon SLR series for at least 5 years now. I am currently using the D200 and D700 with varying lenses. I also bring along a Holga that I've been using for about 2.5-3 years.

I can't believe how many SLR cameras I'm seeing out and about now. I think it's great!

Katie_H

I love my Canon Rebel--it's Canon's most basic digital SLR I believe. I went with Canon because I had two lens from an old Canon film camera that I can use with it.

I usually travel with it and a Canon Powershot point and shoot.