...when travelling solo?

I'm pondering on buying a videocam for my November trip. I'll definitely bring my reliable regular SLR and will buy a digital point & shoot.

I hate people with videocams! I really don't like having my photo taken, and you can't avoid a videocam. Plus, they take so much longer to get their shots and get out of the way. But it's not clear why traveling solo would affect this decision?

Once you try digital, you'll likely give up on the SLR. Film and lenses weigh heavy, and with digital you can take lots of shots and delete the failures the same day.

I find that videos of my solo trips aren't that exciting. You have to video strangers enjoying all the things that you're missing because you're video taping...

When traveling with other people, you can video each other enjoying all those things and it becomes much more personal.

However, I love bringing my dSLR with me, including all the lenses and extras. To me, the photos are much more personal than a video - even if I'm not in them (which I never am).

If you're looking at a digital p&s and already have an SLR, you might consider a digital SLR that matches your current system. Then you can use the lenses on both camera bodies. The dSLRs will have the "auto" modes that the p&s have, but will also allow you to take full control.

Hi thursdaysd & toedtoes,

I have the same sentiment on videocams. I'd miss the sceneries because I'd be more focused on what I see in the videocam. I would probably enjoy it if I have somebody with me.

Thanks!

I can't imagine traveling with a videocam (don't own one). Sometimes I don't even take a camera at all! When I do, I simply take a disposable.

Why do you want to take an SLR and a digital both? Seems redundant.

I agree with Suze about it being redundant when traveling.

At home, having both an SLR and digital is OK because you can choose to leave one home and just take the other. When traveling, you will end up carrying them both all the time.

However, if you're an obsessive photographer, having two cameras can be a good thing. Film cameras tend not to break, but digitals have lots of things that can go wrong. Having that second camera can be nice. I had my previous camera's lens get stuck (camera couldn't work in that position) partway into my vacation and had to buy a new camera for the rest of the trip.

Also, if you're going somewhere where there will be lots of water, sand, etc., having two cameras allows you to waterproof one for extreme circumstances and leave the other for your basic photography. My last trip, I took my dSLR and my Canon G6. I kept the G6 in a waterproof casing (you have to give it up to 48 hours to adjust to the casing before taking it out due to condensation) and used it for wet and humid situations, then used my dSLR for everything else.

Although photography is an important reason why I travel, I really can't see the point of a video camera. I can understand why family vacationers would want video, since it's likely to become cherished part of family memories for the parents and childhood memories for the children. But I can't see the value of it for the solo traveler. As toedtoes put it, I don't think it would be particularly interesting to watch videos of strangers enjoying all the things you're missing-- especially since those strangers are almost certainly couples, families, and groups. I don't particularly want to be burdened with anything that would tend to put the focus (as it were) on my "unfortunate" solo condition.

Well, traveling solo, you're not going to have anyone to help carry all the gear. Definitely wouldn't buy a videocam for the trip.

I'm traveling solo now and before I left got a new point and shoot digital camera that also takes video images. At 30 frames per second, it takes high enough quality to look really good on my computer. And for the few times I do take video, I can then easily post the video online on youtube and then my blog (but quality isn't nearly as good online as it's much smaller size...).

Jayna
travels at www.ususbaby.com

I just saved $$$ for my trip. Thanks!

Saving money is always good! Are you going to get a digital P&S or just stick with the SLR?

I'm still undecided what to get right now. Short-term, I might get a decent digital point & shoot just to get it over with. Then I'll pass it on to my younger sister or brother once I find a good DSLR. I know there's a lot out there. I'm a bit overwhelmed right now.

It is overwhelming isn't it?

Have you invested in lenses for your SLR? If so, your best bet is to stick with that brand. That way you can use your existing lenses.

dpreview.com is a great resource for digital cameras. They have very indepth reviews of various cameras (all brands and price levels) and know what they are talking about.

Because you're used to an SLR, I would recommend you get the best picture quality in a P&S that you can. The rest of the stuff won't matter if you're disappointed with the quality of the photos.

Cool dpreview.com...great website! Thanks!

Camera only.

What about a digital that does video clips. Get extra memory cards and you are set for both photography and short video clips.

I've only started carrying both as of 2006 when I went to Italy for the winter olympics, prior I didn't own a video cmaera and it was just a camera.

I've developed some pretty good skill at choreographing their use at appropriate times. I do agree that you can miss a lot when using the video camera but at times it was great because the zoom on that bad boy is way better than on the digital camera.