Hi –

I am planning on buying a Canon digital SLR for an upcoming trip to CR (four weeks away!). I was wondering if folks would share some of their photography/camera experiences. I was planning on taking my small, digital point and shoot, as well as the DSLR and a zoom lens (and a tripod?). I’m not a total beginner, but I haven’t advanced too far beyond that, so anything people are willing to share, I’d appreciate!

Just some ideas to get the conversation going:

What equipment will/did you use?
What did you wish you had brought?
What did you regret bringing?
What item was indispensible? (Desiccant?)
General usage/safety advice
Tips on getting good shots

It’s just me and my fiancé (our pre-wedding honeymoon) and we’re headed to Arenal, MA, and Alajuela. So, I’m guessing it will be more scenic shots rather than portraiture

Thanks so much!

We're taking the same equipment this Feb that we did last Feb (with the exception of a MiniDV video camera that we're taking this time).

What did we take:

A ca. 2004 Canon Powershot S50, with a lens adapter and 3X zoom lens (with cameras built-in zoom we had 9X optical zoom).

A cheap tripod.

A camera bag with extra batteries and memory cards and a battery charger.

A rented spotting scope.

What did we wish we had brought?

Maybe more memory (we had a 2G card, and are bringing a 4G card this time--so no problem).

A video camera (which we are bringing this time)

What did we regret bringing:

The spotting scope. It was heavy and wasn't worth the trouble or expense. It didn't work well with the camera. Also, if you take guided nature tours your guides should have a spotting scope on them (most will take the pictures for you through the spotting scope).

What was indispensable:

I'd say the zoom lens. 3X magnification just doesn't cut it when you're taking pictures of wildlife.

General tips/safety advice: Nothing beyond common sense--don't take anything but a waterproof camera on a white water rafting trip, for instance.

Good shots: If you're visiting Poas, by all means get photos of the main crater--but you'll probably get your most interesting photos elsewhere on the grounds--pictures of the cloud/Elfin forest, trails, and Botos lagoon.

I've been to CR twice and the first trip I only had a digital point and shoot, but with a 10x zoom but by the second trip I had just purchased a digital SLR. Both have their advantages. First, get a good camera bag. I got a backpack style one and I love it! A shoulder bag isn't nearly as comfortable. The backpack bag I have opens from the part facing your back so it's secure (no one could potentially unzip it without you knowing) and it holds A LOT! I had my SLR, point and shoot, video camera, 2 additional lenses, and batteries in it!

I didn't take a tripod and don't regret it. I wouldn't have had time to stop and set up shots, but I was also travelling with kids. There really wasn't any shot that I feel I missed by not having the tripod.

I had two batteries for the SLR and would recommend having at least two, I'd charge one at night so both would always be fully charged. Also if the point and shoot takes AA's, have plenty of extras on hand. Of course extra memory cards too.

I had a desiccant pack or two, and at one point my video camera gave a message saying something about moisture, I had to actually take out the cassette and put the packet in it's place to soak up the moisture. We were out in A LOT of rain!

Which is also why I highly recommend an inexpensive, but decent point and shoot. There were several occassions where I would not bring my SLR - horseback riding in the rain, hanging bridges in the rain, hiking in the rain, seeing lava flow at night in the rain...but the point and shoot - with a good zoom - did great and I wouldn't be so upset if it was damaged.

Definitely invest in a GOOD zoom lens for the SLR. You won't get good wildlife shots with the standard lens on the Cannon SLR. That was my biggest let down in going from a point and shoot digital to a SLR. You lose a lot of zoom capability unless you get a zoom lens. And they're fairly expensive.

You mention that you're planning on buying the the Cannon - practice a few shots before going to CR. You'll find it's a big difference in taking shots with that from the point and shoot. You can get some beautiful pictures, but the lighting and differences in the zoom and even in the focusing will be an adjusment for you.

I love my SLR though and the picures I got from this trip compared to my first trip are amazing!

tkmg: Great questions - same ones I've been saving to ask for my next trip to CR. Hope I'm not hijacking your post to ask RAC and Shell the following question...

RAC & Shell: Any recs for a good waterproof camera for rafting, water rappeling, etc.? I was looking at the Pentax Optio W60 or Olympus Stylus 1030 SW - any thoughts?

And Shell: what kind of camera backpack do you have?

I am a keen photographer and life long Canon user (both SLR and compact). We are just coming to the end of a year long trip around the world. Here are a few thoughts.
1. Read the instruction books at least acouple of times before you go and take them with you.
2. Read a book on the basics of photography - the basics like the "rule of thirds" will improve most peoples' photograhy immeasurably.
3. The programme modes on the canon slr do work really well, take shots with those but then experiment with aperture/exposure etc. e.g under exposing a stop or two works wonders on sunset shots. Having someting interesting in the foreground on your secenic shots also works well in most cases
4.A polarising filter was my most useful piece of kit - great for darkening blue skies/white clouds.
5. Dont just stick to colour. Black and white can look fantastic as well.
6. I am paranoid about losing my photos and back them up to both a laptop and my ipod which also reduces the need for loads of memory cards. The laptop will also allow veiwing and editing.

Finally, set up a travel blog for your photos so we can all share them. There are loads of free one around . We use www.travelpod.com

Honestly, I'd just grab one of those disposable waterproof ones for $9. Point and shoot is about all you'll have time for in a raft.

Eressa,

I have the Lowrpo Flipside camera bag. They make 2 sizes and I have the larger one. Here's a link:


http://products.lowepro.com/product/...00,2083,14.htm

Not sure if the link is for the smaller or larger one, but I can fit a lot in mine!

I don't have a waterproof digital camera, but I'd love to get one! I just have taken my less expensive point and shoot digital and kept it fairly covered up if it rains! If you find an inxepensive one, let me know!!!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate it!

I think we'll leave the tripod, but I am thinking about picking up a polarizing filter. I'll see how I do without it, first.

I think my camera should arrive this week and we'll be able to take it for a few test runs over the holidays.