I know, I know, I should be packing and I am not. Good news though, great neighbor just loaned me two pieces of her Tumi luggage for our trip. Now, just got to put stuff in it.

But here is the deal. Think I am going to bail on digital and just go and buy a point and shoot. I am a RETARD in this digital thing. OD just tried to show me everything and I am more confused than ever. Have the digital charged and loaded with a new card but am thinking I will just not worry about it and get what I know.

Do you think I will regret this decision? It is a good Canon Powershot SD20. And elph. Od picked it out for me. So, it isn't the camera. It is me, totally stressing about it. She says I should just get a disposable so I won't stress. Argh!!!

I say give it another go, with an explanation of only the basic functions you would perform with any camera. Basic picture taking and erasing.

You want to enjoy your trip, not stress about it! If you are more comfortable with a disposable camera, take one, or three or four.

However, if you have room (and how much room can a digital take?), take the digital too. Then you can use both and compare your pictures when you get home. This could be an easy introduction to a digital without the stress of it being your ONLY camera.

The really important thing is to enjoy Paris even if you don't one picture.

oops!

"even if you don't take one picture."

I agree with Cameron. The most important thing is to have a good time. Probably, the second most important thing is to take good pictures that'll be lasting memories of the trip.
And, the best way to accomplish both is to take a camera that you feel most comfortable with!

Quick, use the digital to take pictures of your house, neighborhood, and neighbors. Pretend they are all sights in Paris. Look at the results on your computer, and if they are acceptable, you are good to go. If they are crappy, leave the digital at home. You will probasbly do OK with whatever Point And Shoot setting the digital has, by the way. Those chips are real smart!

Does your camera have an automatic setting? I still haven't read my instruction book so I just leave it on either the "P" (I still don't know what that means) or on the "A" whichis automatic, duh.

Have a great trip and do try and take the digital, it makes such a difference.

I have been using digital cameras for several years, but on trips I have taken both digital and "point & shoot."
(I have a 15 year old Samsung that takes consistently good photos.) That being said, I only used the digital camera on our trip to Ireland this month, never took the Samsung out of the bag. No fancy photos, I leave that for experimenting at home on the dog and garden!

Take them both. Use whichever makes you more comfortable. But you will need more than one disposable!

Robes, really, computer boy, of course I can tell the diff. And I was kidding about the disposable. But not about buying a pt and shoot. Don't those still take pretty good pictures? Haven't had a working one in a while. But I do like the idea of taking both. And the manual (one more book, argh) and then maybe learning to use it on my trip and have the pt and shoot as a back up. This is good advice. Thanks Cameron. You are right, the digital does not take up much room. Whew. That was easier than I thought.

Do you realise how long you will be on the airplane for ??? Plenty of time to read the instruction take 100 practice shots of the inside of the plane and then delete them before you get off ! You will be an expert !

One of the best advantages of a digital camera is not having to pack and carry film - or pay to have all the photos developed.

Bring the camera and the manual on the plane. You can study the directions on the plane (or your husband). It might even put you to sleep.

Don't let the naysayers get you down. You can get a very respectable point-and-shoot camera for a reasonable price, and it will give you good results.
As I say previously, use whatever you feel most comfortable with!

It is true that there is a lot more flexibility with the digital as far as sharing the photos. Something to think about. I just got the manuel out. Will take both and learn it on the job. You guys are great and I am not as stressed.

OMG, I hate packing!!!

Heaven:

It’s eerie.

I know exactly what you’re talking about.

I’ve taken eight trips to Europe, always packing my trusty Nikon Zoom Touch 500 point-and-shoot, a tidy little device that’s like an extension of my hand while taking wonderful shots. Well, it finally broke down, and Nikon told me recently that it doesn’t have the parts to fix it.

So now, I’m forced to use a digital Canon Powershot 75 for my trip to Rome (starting May 2), which, while smaller than a dougnut, comes with an instructional manual the size of War and Peace. Over the last few days, I’ve grudgingly toyed with the damn thing, taking test shots just to get the feel of it, and I’ve now resigned myself to the technology and to the simple fact that the old point-and-shoot era is nostalgia.

What about recharging the battery over there? Will I need a converter or other device? Or would I need to recharge it in the two weeks?

Sorry I am so lame. I warned you, RETARD applies here...

If the camera has a batter charger - just look at the raised print. If you see something like 110/220 - it's dual voltage and you don't need a converter, just a plug adapter (so you can insert the plug into an outlet there). How often the battery needs to be recharged depends upon the battery. Typically, the manual will give you a general idea.

Make sure your card is large enough - cards are inexpensive these days.

Hi

When it comes to photography I'm a complete hack. However digital cameras are the best thing since sliced bread. The main advantage I found with them is that you can keep taking photos until you get it right and then you can delete the rubbish ones. Yippee no more headless and legless corpses! Then on your return you can use the software on your computer to improve the image. Believe me it's not rocket science. If a "culture jammer' like me can do it you will have no problems. Just make sure your camera is easy to use i.e set on automatic so you can just point and click. If you find yours complicated there's heaps of basic ones on the market for around $100. Get one with at least 4X optical zoom for those faraway shots.

Yours in digital

djkbooks, my batter charger says 100V-240V. Would that be duel voltage?

Dual voltage, yes.

I once had a digital camera, and I've returned to a film point-and-shoot, because (a) the damn thing broke twice; (b) the instructions were too long and complicated; and (c) I prefer print copies of my photos (yes, I know that I could do that, but it would still involve taking them somewhere and paying to have it done). Point being, I remain much more comfortable with the film camera, despite having to pay to have film developed, and would make the same decision again.