So you are searching for a Travel digital camera. If you go to the store and ask for a travel camera, in many cases, you will end up with a super-zoom camera. When people mention the word 'Travel' when searching for a new camera, it means that they are searching for a camera with those key features: compact, lightweight (aka. portable) and versatile. Of course there are other factors to consider, and that's the reason I'm writing this article for you.
Size and Weight
Usually when we travel abroad or go out to a vacation, we already carry a lot of stuff with us. We know that at the times that we will be having fun outdoors (or indoors, it depends on the type of vacation), we will carry our camera with us. Lets say that we plan on hiking and spend a lot of time outdoors. We want to carry as less weight as possible in order to spend less effort. Of course digital cameras aren't as heavy as other equipment that you might take with you, so in most cases it's more the size that bothers people than the weight. Even so, you will probably won't grab a Digital SLR camera with you, because it indeed heavier and bulkier than the Travel cameras. The idea is to find a camera that can either: 1) be in your pocket, 2) carried in a small bag or 3) easily carried around your neck with a camera strap.
I recommend getting a camera that is compact in size, which is smaller than the smallest DSLR-like super zoom camera. In some cases, you can even put that camera in your pocket, and when you just feel to grab a photo, the camera is very accessible. If you are en enthusiast photographer, you know how important it is to keep the camera in an accessible place in order to grab a shot right away. A pocketable camera will give you just that. If you buy a larger camera, you'll find that it will be stored in a bag most of the time, and you might not use it as much as you wanted to.
Durable Camera (water resistant, shock resistant, etc.)
A Durable camera, Yes, there are durable cameras out there. A durable camera is a camera that can withstand tough conditions and they are usually waterproof, shock-proof, freezproof and built to last. The reason to choose a durable camera is that you don't need to worry that something will happen to it if you are traveling in harsh weather environments, in a very cold weather or if you just feel taking photos underwater.
Lets take that Olympus TG-810 from Olympus TOUGH Series cameras. It's built like a tank. Professional choose to use it in the toughest environments because they know it will not get broken. It's waterproof (10m), dustproof, freezeproof (-10°C), crushproof (100kgf) and shockproof (2.0m). Just don't through it out from a mountain and it will be just fine. I usually recommend people buying this type of cameras for trips that aren't that friendly to cameras, including desert areas, very humid and cold environments. If you go on a Jeep trip in a stormy dusty desert or staying some time in Alaska, a durable camera like the TG-810 can be a good choice.
Super-zoom or Normal Zoom
Super-zoom, mega-zoom or ultra-zoom cameras, all of them belong to a group of cameras with very versatile optical magnification range. When I say Super-zoom, I'm usually referring to a camera that can go over 300mm focal length. Some ultra-zoom cameras can reach even further, up to 840mm, even more. The zoom is probably the most wanted feature in travel cameras. The importance is directly related to the type of environment that you are shooting with, and also for the type of photos that you enjoy shooting. Usually ultra-zoom cameras are bulkier than those mega-zoom cameras with less magnification. Take the Canon SX30 IS for example, which can reach our further into the distance with its 840mm tele.
If you really need the long zoom, than you need to know that you will make a compromise. You'll need to gain some weight towards more versatility. You'll gain some grams and some mm on every side of the camera, but you'll have more zooming flexibility which is very useful outdoors. Having said that, some ultra-zoom cameras aren't producing an image quality as good as normal-zoom cameras. When I say 'Normal zoom', I refer to cameras with an approx. maximum tele of 140mm. It's not the same 'normal' zoom that is known in DSLR interchangeable lenses. I'm talking about a good zooming range that is known to be in many compact cameras these days.
Because the complexity of normal zoom lenses is lower than the one in ultra-zoom lenses, you can expect it to perform better, which means better image quality (ie. better contrast, more accurate colors, etc.). Furthermore, most of those cameras are very compact, which it's a big plus when you want to travel light. If I had to choose, I would probably give more emphasize on compact cameras with a mid-range zoom, not the ones with an ultra-zoom, but that's my personal preference and its based on my type of shooting habits.
Another thing that you should be looking at is the wide angle of the lens. A wide angle lens means that you can shoot a wider angle shot, where more objects can be viewed inside the framed picture. 25mm (35mm equiv). is a good place to start with.
GPS
Yes, a GPS for geo-tagging photos in-camera. This is a useful feature that many people are looking for. Especially when shooting outdoors and wanting to know where each photo was taken. When you shoot a photo with a camera that utilizes a built-in GPS receiver, every photo that you take is geo-tagged with location data. That data can later be used to position your photos on a Google Map, create a traveling log with photos (some great online applications for that) and so on. Some people take a digital camera just to log their trip and keep those photos as memories. For some it's a business and for others it will be pure fun sharing those photos online with the whole world. Whatever the reason is, you want to have a camera with a GPS, because you'll soon realize that there are amazing online photo sharing services out there that read geo-tagging data and can help you create your own private (or public) traveling log online. I did it a few times and it's really satisfying and keep those memories in shape.
Panorama Photos
Many cameras offer a simple way to capture 180 degrees or even 360 degrees panoramic images. This is a great feature, especially when shooting outdoors. Some Sony cameras have this featured called "Sweep Panorama",, which enabled you to take a 180 degrees or 360 degrees (ie. 3D sweep Panorama) shot by just movign your camera, sweeping it from one side to another. All the complicated stitching stuff is done in the camera, without using external software to stitch those photos together.
GPS
Battery Life
When I look for a travel digital camera, the battery life is probably the most important thing that I look at. You don' want the battery to stand between you and a gorgeous wildlife shot. I recommend searching for a travel camera that has at least 300 shots (CIPA). This is a standard nowadays, and you can find some travel cameras with larger battery life. Second, I personally prefer buying a camera that can take AA batteries, so I can buy a pack of 40 AA batteries without worrying about my camera dieing on me when I'm in the middle of my trip. IF the camera works on Li-ion battery, you can buy an extra battery or even two more and charge them before you go out. If the camera works on AA batteries, you would probably be better with rechargeable batteries and a charger. Doing so, you will save quite a lot of money, instead of using disposable AA batteries.
Price
It would probably sound a bit odd, but I prefer buying a cheap camera than carrying an expensive camera with me. Of course it's related to your budget, but it's important to know that expensive camera invite theft. I just can tell you how many times my camera was stolen when I traveled abroad. Actually two times, but that's enough for me. I bought a FujiFilm super-zoom camera (can't remember the model right now), and I was so disappointed when I lost it. Furthermore, I remember that I was always worried that something will happen to it. In order to avoid worrying and inviting unwated people to "try" your camera out, you might prefer not buying the best kid on the block or spending a lot of money on a camera. It's not the most successful tip I can give you, but psychologically, it helped me enjoy my trip better, not worrying about losing an expensive equipment.
That's it for now, I hope that those Travel camera buying guide tips will help you out with your next purchase.
Size and Weight
Usually when we travel abroad or go out to a vacation, we already carry a lot of stuff with us. We know that at the times that we will be having fun outdoors (or indoors, it depends on the type of vacation), we will carry our camera with us. Lets say that we plan on hiking and spend a lot of time outdoors. We want to carry as less weight as possible in order to spend less effort. Of course digital cameras aren't as heavy as other equipment that you might take with you, so in most cases it's more the size that bothers people than the weight. Even so, you will probably won't grab a Digital SLR camera with you, because it indeed heavier and bulkier than the Travel cameras. The idea is to find a camera that can either: 1) be in your pocket, 2) carried in a small bag or 3) easily carried around your neck with a camera strap.
I recommend getting a camera that is compact in size, which is smaller than the smallest DSLR-like super zoom camera. In some cases, you can even put that camera in your pocket, and when you just feel to grab a photo, the camera is very accessible. If you are en enthusiast photographer, you know how important it is to keep the camera in an accessible place in order to grab a shot right away. A pocketable camera will give you just that. If you buy a larger camera, you'll find that it will be stored in a bag most of the time, and you might not use it as much as you wanted to.
Durable Camera (water resistant, shock resistant, etc.)
A Durable camera, Yes, there are durable cameras out there. A durable camera is a camera that can withstand tough conditions and they are usually waterproof, shock-proof, freezproof and built to last. The reason to choose a durable camera is that you don't need to worry that something will happen to it if you are traveling in harsh weather environments, in a very cold weather or if you just feel taking photos underwater.
Lets take that Olympus TG-810 from Olympus TOUGH Series cameras. It's built like a tank. Professional choose to use it in the toughest environments because they know it will not get broken. It's waterproof (10m), dustproof, freezeproof (-10°C), crushproof (100kgf) and shockproof (2.0m). Just don't through it out from a mountain and it will be just fine. I usually recommend people buying this type of cameras for trips that aren't that friendly to cameras, including desert areas, very humid and cold environments. If you go on a Jeep trip in a stormy dusty desert or staying some time in Alaska, a durable camera like the TG-810 can be a good choice.
Super-zoom or Normal Zoom
Super-zoom, mega-zoom or ultra-zoom cameras, all of them belong to a group of cameras with very versatile optical magnification range. When I say Super-zoom, I'm usually referring to a camera that can go over 300mm focal length. Some ultra-zoom cameras can reach even further, up to 840mm, even more. The zoom is probably the most wanted feature in travel cameras. The importance is directly related to the type of environment that you are shooting with, and also for the type of photos that you enjoy shooting. Usually ultra-zoom cameras are bulkier than those mega-zoom cameras with less magnification. Take the Canon SX30 IS for example, which can reach our further into the distance with its 840mm tele.
If you really need the long zoom, than you need to know that you will make a compromise. You'll need to gain some weight towards more versatility. You'll gain some grams and some mm on every side of the camera, but you'll have more zooming flexibility which is very useful outdoors. Having said that, some ultra-zoom cameras aren't producing an image quality as good as normal-zoom cameras. When I say 'Normal zoom', I refer to cameras with an approx. maximum tele of 140mm. It's not the same 'normal' zoom that is known in DSLR interchangeable lenses. I'm talking about a good zooming range that is known to be in many compact cameras these days.
Because the complexity of normal zoom lenses is lower than the one in ultra-zoom lenses, you can expect it to perform better, which means better image quality (ie. better contrast, more accurate colors, etc.). Furthermore, most of those cameras are very compact, which it's a big plus when you want to travel light. If I had to choose, I would probably give more emphasize on compact cameras with a mid-range zoom, not the ones with an ultra-zoom, but that's my personal preference and its based on my type of shooting habits.
Another thing that you should be looking at is the wide angle of the lens. A wide angle lens means that you can shoot a wider angle shot, where more objects can be viewed inside the framed picture. 25mm (35mm equiv). is a good place to start with.
GPS
Yes, a GPS for geo-tagging photos in-camera. This is a useful feature that many people are looking for. Especially when shooting outdoors and wanting to know where each photo was taken. When you shoot a photo with a camera that utilizes a built-in GPS receiver, every photo that you take is geo-tagged with location data. That data can later be used to position your photos on a Google Map, create a traveling log with photos (some great online applications for that) and so on. Some people take a digital camera just to log their trip and keep those photos as memories. For some it's a business and for others it will be pure fun sharing those photos online with the whole world. Whatever the reason is, you want to have a camera with a GPS, because you'll soon realize that there are amazing online photo sharing services out there that read geo-tagging data and can help you create your own private (or public) traveling log online. I did it a few times and it's really satisfying and keep those memories in shape.
Panorama Photos
Many cameras offer a simple way to capture 180 degrees or even 360 degrees panoramic images. This is a great feature, especially when shooting outdoors. Some Sony cameras have this featured called "Sweep Panorama",, which enabled you to take a 180 degrees or 360 degrees (ie. 3D sweep Panorama) shot by just movign your camera, sweeping it from one side to another. All the complicated stitching stuff is done in the camera, without using external software to stitch those photos together.
GPS
Battery Life
When I look for a travel digital camera, the battery life is probably the most important thing that I look at. You don' want the battery to stand between you and a gorgeous wildlife shot. I recommend searching for a travel camera that has at least 300 shots (CIPA). This is a standard nowadays, and you can find some travel cameras with larger battery life. Second, I personally prefer buying a camera that can take AA batteries, so I can buy a pack of 40 AA batteries without worrying about my camera dieing on me when I'm in the middle of my trip. IF the camera works on Li-ion battery, you can buy an extra battery or even two more and charge them before you go out. If the camera works on AA batteries, you would probably be better with rechargeable batteries and a charger. Doing so, you will save quite a lot of money, instead of using disposable AA batteries.
Price
It would probably sound a bit odd, but I prefer buying a cheap camera than carrying an expensive camera with me. Of course it's related to your budget, but it's important to know that expensive camera invite theft. I just can tell you how many times my camera was stolen when I traveled abroad. Actually two times, but that's enough for me. I bought a FujiFilm super-zoom camera (can't remember the model right now), and I was so disappointed when I lost it. Furthermore, I remember that I was always worried that something will happen to it. In order to avoid worrying and inviting unwated people to "try" your camera out, you might prefer not buying the best kid on the block or spending a lot of money on a camera. It's not the most successful tip I can give you, but psychologically, it helped me enjoy my trip better, not worrying about losing an expensive equipment.
That's it for now, I hope that those Travel camera buying guide tips will help you out with your next purchase.
