What have you all done about taking pictures while
traveling? I have an old, beloved Nikon F2 (circa 1974)
with three lenses that takes beautiful pictures. I also
have a little point and shoot that takes decent (but not
awesome) pix as well. I can't afford to buy anoy more
equipment.
I'll be traveling Guatemala, Hounduras and Nicaragua for 10
weeks. Do I dare take my nice camera? What experiences
have others had with cameras being stolen, especially in
Central America?
thanks!
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When I was deciding what camera equipment to take away with
me, the advice I was given was "take a good camera that
looks cheap!" And from hearing from my travel guru (the
girl that inspired me to go), the amount of times she ended
up in water, her backpack and her got seperated, etc, etc, I
would recommend a point and click. It's not worth losing
your beloved camera, when your memories will be so good!
See, I disagree - but then my photos are everything to me
when I come home. And also my camera is a brilliant
manual and very old pentax, so looks like it's not worth
stealing. I think it's important to have great photos, but
that's because my memory is terrible!
See, I disagree - but then my photos are everything to me
when I come home. And also my camera is a brilliant
manual and very old pentax, so looks like it's not worth
stealing. I think it's important to have great photos, but
that's because my memory is terrible!
Yeah, mine's an old manual Nikon (I even use an old beater
hand held light meter). Did you bring lenses? I'm starting
to think I'll bring both cameras, one for those great keeper
pictures b/c my memory sucks as well (Nikon) and one for
those quick, gotta-get-it shots (point and shoot). Maybe
I'll skip the lenses and just take the 50mm.
Another question: slides or prints? I took slides on my
2-week Grand Canyon rafting trip and they look AWESOME, but
it's hard casually showing your friends your pix. BTW, the
Kodak VS (for Very Saturated) slide film has unbelievable
colors. I'm enamored with it.
I have travelled many times to Central America - Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama - I have taken a small cheap camera on some occasions (to avoid the added weight) and have always regretted not taking my Nikon FM2 and lenses. The times I have taken them I have had no problem. I do not carry them in a camera bag, but in the bottom of my day pack. Guatemala especially is a paradise for photographers and you will regret it if you do not have the right equipment.
Good luck.
I lived and travelled in Central and South America many many
years ago and had what is now an old camera with screw-in
lenses and did not regret having it with me. I carried with
me (never leaving it in luggage) in a soft shoulder bag (not
a camera bag), but didn't put anything else in the bag so
that I could pull things out at a moments notice.
The only things I would change now is that I would have a
point-and-shoot (some are of very good quality these days)
that is small and incospicous for those quick-need or not-
sure-if-it's culturally acceptable situations. I'd also cut
down on my lenses for the other camer - using a zoom to take
the place of 2 or three others. DON'T GO WITHOUT A WIDE
ANGLE LENSE, especially to Guatemala. Oh, and of course I'd
never do it with screw in lenses again! I also got very good
at judging lighting conditions after I dropped my camera down
a gorge and the light meter broke.
Anyway, I'd say it depends on how much you like to take
pictures, and how much of your time you want to spend doing
it. Have a great time! Que le vaya bien.