Best Digital Camera for Traveling?
 

I'm going to Paris with my class in late April for 3 weeks, and have finally decided to take the plunge and not take my clunky film camera, after returning from 6 weeks in Paris with several rolls of film which I ended up transferring to my computer anyway.

What would you avid travelers recommend? I'm looking for something in the 300-500 range; with a large display screen (don't want to have to put on my reading glasses before taking a photo) as well as a viewfinder; a stable zoom; very good definition-- as these photos may end up in college publications and on the web.

Thanks~

I bought my 19 year-old one of these for Christmas: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/samsungnv10/. Like it enough that I'm thinking about getting one for myself to use when the "clunky" digital SLR is too cumbersome. Very well made with metal body, great lens, user-friendly with large display, and 10+ mega-pix. But shucks, no viewfinder. And you may want a bit more optical zoom.

I've got the digital elf from cannon and I really like it. Nice screen, easy to use, good picture quality, and it is small.

First, go to www.betterphoto.com and use their "digital camera calculator". This will provide you with a list of about 10-15 camera choices. It's under Resources/Best Cameras. You can use either version (text or images).

Then go to www.dpreview.com and read the reviews of the cameras on the list. Cross off anything that doesn't get a "Recommended" or higher rating.

That should get you down to 2 or 3 cameras.

Now look at the differences and decide which one will give you more of what you want and less of what you don't want. For example, if you are down to 2 cameras and one has a 10x optical zoom but takes a proprietary battery, and the other has a 4x optical zoom but takes AA batteries, decide which is more important to you: more zoom capability or AA compatibility.

I have found this to be the easiest way to sort through all the choices out there. By the time you're actually comparing cameras, you have less than 5 that you're looking at.

Good luck.

I have the Kodak Easyshare V550--it has a large view finder that I love. Also takes video. Recently used the heck out of it in Rome and Naples. Have had it about a year and it hasn't let me down yet. The price today is about 50 bucks less than what we paid... there's probably newer technology worth investigating.

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQueri...q-locale=en_US

First, decide what size and type of digital cameras you want. $300-500 can get you all kinds of top cameras, from ultra compact to entry-level dSLR.

Since you said "large display screen", and you describes your film camera as "clunky", I doubt you want a dSLR. The rest mostly comes with three shapes and forms:

The Ultra Compact. These are tiny cameras that will fit in your pocket. New models have large 2.5" or even 3" LCD screen. Many don't have a viewfinder, but some still do. They can have very sharp lens, but zoom range is usually limit to 3x. Either the 35mm equivalent of 28-85 or 35-105. These include the Canon ELPH SD series and the Panasonic DMC-FX series.

The "regular" compact. Many models and manufacturers to choose from. They are not as compact, usually cheaper, and have lens up to 10x range. These include the Canon A-series, and Pansonic DMC-TZ series.

The "Superzooms" or "SLR-like". These are larger, with up to 12x zoom, lots of features, manual control. They are almost like SLRs but you can't change lens. Canon S2/S3, Panasonic FZ-series, Sony H-series, etc.

So, first decide which of the three types you want. Then look at the features. Do you need a wideangle lens that start from 28mm or just 35mm? The top model usually have Optical Image Stabilization, which is extremely helpful shooting in low-light situation.

Overall, Panasonic and Canon now have the best compact digital cameras out there. Most of their lineups are very solid. But doesn't mean the other manufacturers don't have one or more superb model in their lineup. After you narrow down with some choices, we can then make more specific recommendations.

I just got back from a week in Paris, and used my Canon Digital Elph SD800IS. I couldn't be happier with the shots. I took about 477 photos in the week, and they were all great. I paid $400 for it, it's very small, has a viewfinder and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Everything you want, this camera has!

beachgirl86 beat me to it. The Canon SD800iS is my 2nd digital camera. Bought for VERY compact size, Canon's incomparable picture quality, good flash range, fast shutter response, 4X zoom (28mm wide angle covers most wide shots), stitch mode for even wider panoramas, where you take 2 or more shots, and the software in your computer will seamlessly put together your panorama. Most shots can be set up with dial, so you don't have to scroll around in a menu. Canon's software is very user-friendly; printing and e-mailing are really easy.

Check out the Panasonic DMC LUMIX FZ 30.It has everything 432 mm zoom.Leica lens,stabilizer...The best all round camera I know. Paul

Canon SD 550 would be my choice. It's ultra compact with a metal body, view finder, 2.5 LCD screen, and a rechargeable battery. Purchase an Sandisk Ultra II 1GB memory card with this camera and you will have a terrific outfit for your travelling photographic needs.

In that price range you should be able to comparision shop on-line for an excellent camera.. Parrot Pop just bought another digital (his 4th) and it is a Kodak 10 times zoom with 7 pixels. I have a Cannon ....older model.. You can have the most expensive camera and the BEST camera, but you must practice with it BEFORE YOU GO AND READ THE MANUAL.. Make sure you buy an extra memory card and have the re-chargable batteries.. The package Parrot Pop came with included a very nice traveling case.. As for my camera..lol. I keep mine in a non-camera padded bag that I can toss in my handbag or wear around my neck.. or my wrist. I don't believe in "camera bags"..they are too obvious.

I recommend a Canon G7. It's about $500. It is a good compromise between the heavier Digital SLR's and the ultralight point and shoot type.

I love my Canon PowerShot S2 IS. (Newer model available: S3 IS.) 12x zoom, image stabilization, awesome video capture mode (will take up to an hour or 1GB of video, whichever comes first). And it uses regular AA batteries in addition to rechargables. The viewscreen on the back is large, and it swivels so you can open it, close it, or tilt (a great feature when videoing or photographing over your head). The camera features a variety of shooting modes. My favorite is the panorama assist, which will help you stitch together a panorama in the camera. After downloading the images, included software will autostitch the images together into one seamless photo.

As you can see, the choices are endless. While it may seen easiest to just ask folks what they recommend, it really doesn't help. You end up with folks recommending almost every camera under the sun and you haven't really gained a thing.

Using the calculator I mentioned above, will help narrow your choices down to those cameras that meet your needs and requirements. The reviews will help narrow those choices down.

One last thing to remember, before buying ANY camera, go to the store, hold it and try it out. Even if you're going to buy it online. What may seem like the perfect camera for you in print, could end up in a drawer because the buttons are too small for your fingers, etc.

Thank you SO much for the advice-- as usual, the Fodor's travellers are A++ for intelligent suggestions and a wealth of experience. Thanks especially to toedtoes for the lead on the digital calculator, and to beachgirl, beachmom, and parrotmom and pop and the elph users for the specific camera reviews (and suggestions where to find other reviews). One of the most basic insights I got was to give myself time to learn the camera before I go-- to save money, I was planning to wait until just before I leave. BAD IDEA. Ahh, living in a consumer culture where range of choices are dazzling!

Because my shots might end up in various college publications and websites, as well as for my own personal use, I have narrowed my possibilities to two: the sony cybershot dsc-h5 or-- taking the leap-- to a dSLR Canon Rebel--assuming that I won't grow out of the latter for the rest of my working life. A million thanks to all of you, even those I did not mention by name--

Keep in mind that most dSLR (except for the brand new Canon 1D Mk III (MSRP $4,000), there's no live preview on LCD screen.

There are various extenders or magnifiers one can put on the eyepiece to use with eye-glasses, and there's adjustments on the Digital Rebel XTi; but at the end, you still need to look through the viewfinder to take pictures.

Make sure you try it and be okay with it before going with a dSLR.

I own the Canon Rebel dSLR. It is a great camera, but it does get heavy after a short while. I took it on 2 theme park trips, and then bought the G7. The G7 takes an equal or better picture in the "idiot" mode that I use. And it is about half the weight and size of the Rebel.

I've just purchased a new camera for a pending trip. I wanted a viewfinder, a powerful zoom for scenery that I can't get close to, and lots of megapixels. After reading a bunch of reviews, I decided that lots of megapixels might not be of much help as the size of the CCD remains the same and sometimes you get artifacts that you don't want in your picture. The reviewers seemed to think that 5 or 6 megapixels were about optimal unless you were going to do very large pictures (who has a printer for that?). I also wanted to be able to carry it for longer hikes without being too heavy or bulky. I settled on a Panasonic DMC-TZ1 which has no viewfinder but sports a folded 10X zoom so I can have my long lens in a package that will fit in my jacket pocket. It doesn't quite fit in your price range either as I paid less than $200 with battery and spare, charger, case and 2 1GB SD cards. I've tried it for the long zoom and with the built in image stabilization I can take acceptable pictures without a tripod and can focus it on macro mode at less than 6 inches. Now I can get that mountain that is waaaay over there and the tiny flower that needs to be snapped up real close to see the details in a single package that fits my hand very nicely.

Lilybart - glad it was of help to you.

I have the Rebel XT and I love it. The main thing to remember is that the lenses will cost you money to get the range of a prosumer super zoom camera (i.e., the 10X zooms mentioned). You'll hear lots of comments about the kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm), but for the price it will cost in the package, it's worth buying. Look at lens reviews at dpreview and fredmiranda.com for ideas on other focal lengths before spending the money. If you do your research first, you're far less likely to end up with a useless lens.

You'll hear a lot of folks say "buy only L glass" which, if affordable, is a good plan, but in reality not all of us can afford L glass. There are other options that are less expensive (I got the Tamron 28-75mm instead of the Canon 24-70mm L glass - spent 1/2 the cost and I love it).

The last thing I'd recommend is to not use the "green square" auto setting. At the very least, move over to the P mode. This will give you more override capabilities (which can make for better photos). Then, learn about the other creative modes (Av, Tv and M) and learn about shutter speed, aperture, etc. It will really make a difference to your photos. And read your manual and practice.

Bookmarking to read later. I am also looking for a new camera and am interested in several that were mentioned here.