Hi B,

> I am taking my very compact digital camera, which I find easy to use, and which also takes decent video.

That's all I take.

((I))

Sarge 56 - I've never uploaded my photos and video to anything other than my own computer, using Kodak's software. What is the learning curve on using one of the online sites?

Ira - I've frequently traveled with my video camera, but sometimes I find that I'm losing my enjoyment of the scene because I'm focusing my attention on the little lcd display instead. And I've never bothered to edit anything I've shot. Truthfully, even though I couldn't edit out bad shots before printing, I sort of prefer the days of film, where I actually got hard copies of everything. My photo albums definitely get looked at - my computer based stuff, not so much.

Andrew - I'm going to have to dig out my instruction book and make sure I can use a big SD card. But I sort of like the idea of the 2 GB cards - then, if I'm not uploading them and erasing the pictures as I go, I can store each filled card somewhere other than in my camera, so it is less likely to be lost.

This forum has definitely helped me to get my thoughts in order on this (and many other) issues. Thanks.

This is not a question any one can answer for you, there is not a yes or no answer that fits everyone.

How much do you enjoy taking & then rewatching vacation videos? If that's important then buy the new compact camcorder and take both cameras. Not so important, just go with your digital.

What I have always done... is travel with a couple 'disposables' and get great shots, but that wouldn't make most people happy I'm guessing.

suze- actually, I took disposables, including a panoramic disposable, on my trip to Ireland a number of years ago. The pictures are amazing! I have real photo-bugs that look at them and cannot believe they were from a disposable. Technology is a great thing! :)

butnotrmpt- I am pretty sure it is not difficult to upload your photos to something like Shutterfly. (My daughter did all the work.) You should sign up for a free account today and "practice" uploading before your trip. :) You might also consider loading them to a temp file on the computer you're at, then email them to yourself and then delete temp file. :)

If you upload your pictures to a website as a way of off-loading your memory cards, please be careful that you can 1) get your original pictures BACK from the website if need be and 2) that they are the original size, not reduced for the web!

If you have a full 2GB memory card, it would take quite a long time (probably hours) to upload all pictures to a website, but if you have only a few dozen pictures it probably wouldn't take too long. Uploading your pics to a photo website as you travel is a great way to backup (since memory cards can be lost, accidentially erased, go corrupt, etc.), but honestly I still wouldn't erase the pictures from your original memory cards. Since I have gotten a couple of 2GB SD cards for $10-ish it's not really worth not having a few of them.

Well, we have been traveling in Europe for the last 19 months and have only used one camera. I do almost all of the shots and my hubby jokes that I should be buried with the camera in my hand as that is its normal position.

I actually broke our other camera in one of our first days here, so this was not fully by choice.

What I was left with was a small video camera that also takes pictures. It has worked out quite well and I even get lots of compliments on my photos from our website. ( www.soultravelers3.com)

I have become quite good at shooting both video and pictures back and forth at interesting points.

I know others who just use their small camera for video. That is all where the hell is matt used for his famous video.

We are REALLY glad that we have both video and stills. We love imovie for editing video and have started uploading things to youtube which is fun.

Like someone said, there is no one right way.

I take tons of videos and stills. With that said, while I have an older, but very high end 3ccd video camera, my Olympus digital takes far better shots in many situations.

The advantage to the video is that it has a much bigger zoom, works great in extremely low-light situations and I can talk about what is going on.

I can put the digital in my fanny pack and I carry the video. It works pretty well doing both. As others have said, it is kind of up to what you prefer.

Recently I took my first trip with no camera at all. It was quite liberating!
:-)

Suze - that is my feeling re the video camera. I always feel that I am missing the bigger picture so to speak when I am taking the video and looking at the little screen. At this point, I have pretty much made my decision to just take my small, digital Kodak camera, with extra SD cards, to use for pictures and possibly some video, plus a disposable panoramic camera for those shots that really need it. I took a couple of spectacular shots in Bryce Canyon using one of those disposables.