Trip-Camera-Help

[Mannkind]

So I'm going to be going on a 3month "trip" to London here in about 2.5 weeks.
I'm getting the Canon Digital Rebel... my problem is, I'm not bringing a computer, and I'm not sure if the host family will have a computer/cd burner or not.... I do have a 6in1 media reader (USB2) incase... but what if they don't...
What is a good way to store the pictures taken?
Just one large 4gig micro drive and hope it lasts? ~200 (stolen from muvo2 or something)
I could get 2 512meg cards and I have an ipod, I could use that as an image tank, with the belkin media reader, but I heard it sucks. ~ 300 bucks I would guess
or... what else? I've heard most internet places don't let you have access to the towers, so I couldn't just bring it there... or do they? Anyone know?

I'm stuck, I'm not positive what would be the best way to go. If anyone has any experience or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

 

[LSUfan]

Originally posted by: Mannkind
So I'm going to be going on a 3month "trip" to London here in about 2.5 weeks.
I'm getting the Canon Digital Rebel... my problem is, I'm not bringing a computer, and I'm not sure if the host family will have a computer/cd burner or not.... I do have a 6in1 media reader (USB2) incase... but what if they don't...
What is a good way to store the pictures taken?
Just one large 4gig micro drive and hope it lasts? ~200 (stolen from muvo2 or something)
I could get 2 512meg cards and I have an ipod, I could use that as an image tank, with the belkin media reader, but I heard it sucks. ~ 300 bucks I would guess
or... what else? I've heard most internet places don't let you have access to the towers, so I couldn't just bring it there... or do they? Anyone know?

I'm stuck, I'm not positive what would be the best way to go. If anyone has any experience or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

Bring lots of digital media

 

[hjo3]

Just get a fairly nice like 128 MB compact fl;ash card (or whatever your camera uses) and burn some CDs at a cybercafe every week or two.

 

[blues008]

If you're going on a 3 month trip and plan to use that Digital Rebel to its full capacity then you should bring lots of media.

With bringing 1 large drive you may have plenty of space but you run the risk of having all your eggs in one basket.

If you lose the drive, or it gets stolen, or if it gets corrupted then you've just lost 3 months of photographs.

Also, are you sure you want to take a Digital Rebel? The one thing that a lot of people on these forums forget is that travel photography means you're taking your camera everywhere you go, and you may eventually notice that carrying a larger camera around could be burdensome.

It will also definitely be a target for thieves simply because it's so conspicuous. But don't let that stop you if you truly want to take the Rebel, but just consider it.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[i3rYs0n]

if you going to drop some money just buy an old laptop off the forums with a harddrive that you think would last u for the trip

 

[Mannkind]

Originally posted by: blues008
If you're going on a 3 month trip and plan to use that Digital Rebel to its full capacity then you should bring lots of media.

Also, are you sure you want to take a Digital Rebel? The one thing that a lot of people on these forums forget is that travel photography means you're taking your camera everywhere you go, and you may eventually notice that carrying a larger camera around could be burdensome.

Well, I have a Canon S110 (tech. up for sale...) and it is an nice small camera, but I've been wanting the digital rebel for quite a while now and figured it'd be a good time to get it... I dunno now... dang you (hehe) ...

 

[imported_Mike]

Problem Solved

Buy 1 of these, usb 1.1 but will do the job....20GB @ $100

 

[Mannkind]

Originally posted by: CheapArse
Problem Solved

Buy 1 of these, usb 1.1 but will do the job....20GB @ $100

Very nice! Even now that Blues008 (hehe) might have screwed up my plans for a digirebel, this will definately work! I'm gonna grab it, much easier than the crappy belkin thing for 100 bucks, and it won't takeup space on my ipod! Nice! Hopefully the stores around here will have it, gotta check tomorrow.

So now... to get the digital rebel or not... HMMMM!
Curse you blues008!

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Mannkind

Originally posted by: CheapArse
Problem Solved

Buy 1 of these, usb 1.1 but will do the job....20GB @ $100

Very nice! Even now that Blues008 (hehe) might have screwed up my plans for a digirebel, this will definately work! I'm gonna grab it, much easier than the crappy belkin thing for 100 bucks, and it won't takeup space on my ipod! Nice! Hopefully the stores around here will have it, gotta check tomorrow.

So now... to get the digital rebel or not... HMMMM!
Curse you blues008!

There are alot of cameras out there...do you have any other lenses b/c don't expect to be satisfied with the one included with the rebel kit. The Sony F717 can be had for $475 right now @ some Circuit City stores which is an awsome camera, but it is very different from the rebel.

 

[Mannkind]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

There are alot of cameras out there...do you have any other lenses b/c don't expect to be satisfied with the one included with the rebel kit. The Sony F717 can be had for $475 right now @ some Circuit City stores which is an awsome camera, but it is very different from the rebel.

I don't have any other lenses... no, I've just been looking to get into the digital slr scene for a bit now, and get rid of my point and shoot camera... somewhere along the line, I've just wanted to take pictures I have some degree of control over, and have more options with (SLR)... for crying out loud, I made an adapter for the S110 to take macro shots (10x mag. glass) ... just because I wanted more control.

At anyrate, if I were going to get another camera, I think I'd want a DSLR, which the 717 isn't.
I'm not saying my S110 doesn't do a good job. I've taken some nice photos with it, but I was hoping to get out of the point and shoot scene.

edited to remove italics

 

[imported_Mike]

Well, if you want a DSLR, the Rebel is the way to go.

 

[blues008]

haha...I just wanted to give you an idea of what you were getting yourself into with carrying around such a large camera.

Ask yourself these questions before you purchase a camera for your trip:

1. Who will I be staying with (what kind of house, is everything secure, etc.)?
2. What do I want to take photos of (architecture, people, landscape, etc.)?
3. Am I willing to carry around equipment (lenses, filters, flashes, etc.)?
4. How much money do I have to spend?

There really is no one camera out that there that will satisfy all your photographic requirements, but compromise here and there and find a camera that will fit your needs and more importantly, your budget.

If you are looking for more manual features check out the Canon S400, S45, and S30 - they are portable, have good manual features, and should be well within your budget if you were plannning to purchase a DSLR.

I use a Canon S400 for many of my travel shots, and also have a Nikon film camera for when I want to impersonate a National Geographic photographer - it's still a work in progress though

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: CheapArse
Problem Solved

Buy 1 of these, usb 1.1 but will do the job....20GB @ $100

I think this looks cool. Too bad it isn't out and will cost a lot of $$$, about $400
http://www.nikonusa.com/large.php?productNr=Coolwalker

 

[DBL]

Honestly, if you enjoy photography, the Rebel is not much of a burden to carry, especially with only the kit lens. How difficult is it to walk around carrying 2lbs at most? Yes, you could put an S400 in your pocket, but you would be sacrificing a lot such as the ability to create prints of virtually any size you wish.

BTW, when I travel, I carry my 10D with three relatively small lenses and some extras. It's probably 5-7 pounds and it really doesn't bother me. There are many people out there who carry a lot more than that too.

 

[Mannkind]

Originally posted by: blues008
haha...I just wanted to give you an idea of what you were getting yourself into with carrying around such a large camera.

Oh I'm not mad, just now, perhaps rethinking the camera... but I still want it

Ask yourself these questions before you purchase a camera for your trip:

1. Who will I be staying with (what kind of house, is everything secure, etc.)?
2. What do I want to take photos of (architecture, people, landscape, etc.)?
3. Am I willing to carry around equipment (lenses, filters, flashes, etc.)?
4. How much money do I have to spend?

1. Host family, I'm guessing pretty secure, they've been doing it 12 years now.
2. Everything...
3. For travel, I think I'd stick with just the kit lense ATM... I'm just getting into it, so it's not like I'd have 4 lenses, 3 flashes, and a donkey to carry around. Not yet at least....
4. I've been saving up for the Rebel, so that is no problem, I've been budgeting myself for it

There really is no one camera out that there that will satisfy all your photographic requirements, but compromise here and there and find a camera that will fit your needs and more importantly, your budget.

If you are looking for more manual features check out the Canon S400, S45, and S30 - they are portable, have good manual features, and should be well within your budget if you were plannning to purchase a DSLR.

Maybe it's just me, but getting another P&S camera doesn't seem like a lot of upgrade to me over my S110. But I do see your point.... ugh

Although, like a poster said below, I can't imagine the camera + lense to be a burden... I mean, only because it's a DSLR. I have some friends that have large P&S digital cameras, and I just can't imagine carrying around such a large camera that is only P&S... but for some reason, a DSLR camera doesn't carry that image for me. Perhaps it is because my father and grandfather have always been into photography.

Although since you have me thinking.... I'm thinking about either waiting to get the DSLR or getting it but also bringing my S110 with me as well, and not selling it. That way, on perhaps shorter trips out I can just tag it along in my pocket.... for quick pics. And bring the DSLR on those grand adventures... like when I goto Stonehenge (or something)

I'm still not sure yet, dang you and your ideas!

 

[blues008]

It may not be a burden if you are carrying around a backpack or camera bag, but the question is do you really want to do that? If you are travelling for a few days on end it may become cumbersome.

If you really want to shoot everything - landscapes, architecture, people, then I would suggest carrying two lenses:

24-50 mm (the 24 mm will give you great landscape shots)
70-200/300 mm (a nice zoom lens for people shots like this

But I do laud your idea of not selling your point and shoot Canon - quite a few photographers carry around a P&S along with their SLR/DSLR.

Good luck and keep us updated on your photos!