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-   -   APS or regular camara? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/aps-or-regular-camara-43293/)

Noelia Apr 30th, 1999 11:02 AM

APS or regular camara?
 
I am going on an escorted tour of Western Europe, I want to take nice pictures of all the wonders of Europe (London Bridge, Pisa, Colussem, David, Eiffel? I have a regular 35mm/75 zoom camara. Is it worth it to buy a APS camara for panoramic pictures?

Mary Ann Apr 30th, 1999 11:06 AM

We took our 35mm with zoom in 1997, it takes great pictures. But we also bought two disposable panoramic cameras along. We ended up only needing about 1 and 1/2 rolls for 17 days. It is a less expensive consideration.

greg Apr 30th, 1999 11:43 AM

For the reason you mentioned, it is not worth getting a APS camera because what it calls panoramic is a lab picture cropping trick and not due to the panoramic lense (which it does not have.) Imagine taking picture using your 35mm at wide angle, blow it up to say 8x10 then crop enough to make a wide or tall picture. That is essentially what APS panoramic does -- I have one myself. <BR> <BR>I take one to Europe for different reason, however.

elaine Apr 30th, 1999 01:41 PM

I am not a camera expert by any stretch of the imagination but I will offer this unsolicited advice. Do a Search on this forum for &lt;film&gt;. There was a thread not too long ago that started out asking about how much film to take and ended up with lots of suggestions about how to manage picture-taking. <BR>I will repeat my suggestion here. Although you will want to take many of your own pictures, don't overlook the opportunity to buy post cards in each location. The pictures on the card can be just perfect. Also, many of the larger cities (Paris, London Florence, etc) have inexpensive souvenir picture books that are sold at newsstands and souvenir kiosks. <BR>For the equivalent of $5-7 US you get a book with great photos of all the major sights, and none of the photos are spoiled by bad weather or camera mistakes or hoardes of people. Keep in mind that many museums and historic sites do not permit the use of a flash, a few bar picture-taking inside altogether. If you're feeling extravagant you can do what I have sometimes done and bought two copies of those books. One is to ruthlessly cut up when I get home and insert the cut- out photos in my album.Ditto postcards. <BR> <BR>I have also used a disposable panoramic camera and have had varying results.Sometimes the pictures have come out without much color distinction or <BR>contrast, even though I used them on sunny days. <BR>The hardest part is finding a vantage point to get the panoramic shot you want.

Diane Apr 30th, 1999 03:00 PM

I've been using an APS Camera for over a year now. Bought it for Paris, have also used it in Puerto Rico and at home. I'll never go back to 35mm again. NO NEGATIVES! Your processed film is stored in the same canister you load into the camera. Every picture is coded, and you get a small "contact sheet" so you'll never have to squint at negative strips to choose which one you want for duplicates or enlargements. Those would be the reasons to get an APS (with a zoom, of course). Some let you change film --say from 200 speed to 400 speed -- mid role and put it back again. (I take LOTS of pictures. I had to use a 35mm on a trip to San Francisco last month and really freaked out when I realised I now have 8 rolls worth of negatives.) Some photonuts say the enlargements aren't as good, but I've got three 8x10s that are gorgeous. I stuck to 400 speed film in Paris, and have some lovely shots inside the Musee D'Orsay and Louvre using no flash. True, it isn't a panorama lense, but for tourist shots, its great.

Geoff Apr 30th, 1999 03:26 PM

Consider APS if you want, just as mentioned not for the panarama feature. I recently bought an APS for mom as she went to Egypt (I work for one of the big 2 camara co.s). The panarama was kind of nice to get, and of course the pyramids, etc. are great subjects for that. But many of the panarama shots are a little fuzzy around the edges. As was mentioned, part of that effect is just a larger blow up of the film. (but almost all APS camaras are also zooms) <BR> <BR>In the end the camera was perfect for 2 other reasons. One was that mom has arthritis and can never load the stinking film in normal cameras. The other was the exposure the cameras gave. They really do give superior exposure and development that makes for very nice pictures. <BR> <BR>

Lynn May 1st, 1999 05:55 PM

Noelia, <BR> There are some 35mm cameras that take panoramic pictures, a company named Ricoh makes a very good one which I took on my trip to Europe. Make sure you take all the film you need with you, I found myself out of film just two weeks into my four week trip, film in Europe is very expensive. In total I used 14 rolls of 24 exposure film.

Kate May 2nd, 1999 10:24 AM

My APS camera allows what Diane mentioned: the switching (rewinding) of film cartridges mid-roll so you can then insert the proper exposure speed film. I love this functionality and wouldn't go back to a 35 mm for this reason. Additionally, the fact that I have three different picture sizes is a nice extra too - it adds variety in my photo album. <BR>

Bob May 2nd, 1999 05:46 PM

Great APS camera is one of the Canon ELPHs. Good benefit is that they take beautiful pictures and are small to carry. You can wear it on your belt like a pager. We now take a camera to events that we would not have taken a larger camera. Just returned from a cruise and the ELPH seemed to be the camera of choice. Only one video camera on the whole trip. I concur on taking film with you to Europe. Stock up here and fire away. I always try to put people I am with in my pictures. If you do not want to do that, just buy a postcard. Plus, go through your photos you now have. Do you look mostly at the photos of solitary buildings or the ones with friends and family in them? Just a thought.

Nancy May 2nd, 1999 08:37 PM

I purchased an aps camera last year before leaving for Italy. My camera is made by Fuji and I loved all of my pictures. I enjoy the option of the three different sizes, I realize that they are cropped but to see that panoramic shot of the canals in Venice...I loved it! Also, I loaded a new roll of film while sitting in a rowboat in the Blue Grotto, I dare you to try that with a regular 35mm roll of film!! I wasn't aware of being able to switch rolls mid way. This is great to change film speeds if the occasion arises. My question, how does the camera reset when a different roll is used? Is it able to keep track of the # of pictures left to shoot? I leave for Paris in a few days so please help me with this!! thanks

Bridget May 3rd, 1999 02:58 AM

Not all APS cameras have the ability to switch mid-roll. You need to look at your user's manual and see what it says. For instance, I recently bought the Olympus Centurion (GREAT CAMERA), which does not allow the mid-roll switch, but it's "sister," the Olmpus Centurion S does. If a camera has that ability, the film "saves its place" and knows where to start again. You can look at the bottom of an APS roll of film, there are 4 symbols, which allow you to see if a roll of film is new, used, or 1/2 used. Hope this helps!

A Vernon May 3rd, 1999 04:33 AM

After years of 35mm photos, my husband surprised me with an APS camera -- the Minolta Vectis. Don't know if it's worth buying an APS for you, but I LOVE IT! <BR> <BR>I don't take very many panoramics, but love the option. (My picture of one of the towers at Hearst Castle will chase any blues away.) I shoot most of mine at 4x7 and when you get used to that, other prints look pretty whimpy. <BR> <BR>Aside from the prints, one of my favorite features of APS is the size of the canisters -- they're dinky! I can fit at least six in my tiny camera bag at once, plus they're oval so they're easy to arrange. And I pop them in and out of the camera with ease. <BR> <BR>Love the contact sheet, too, but I use a high quality processor that provides it for ANY 35mm. Don't skimp on processing!! I pay the bigger bucks and it's worth it. <BR> <BR>

Topper Aug 2nd, 1999 07:28 AM

For Valerie.


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