Hi I am planning a RTW and am a keen photographer. During my previous travelling I have been very impressed and enjoyed using my Cannon Powershot S60.

Recently I have invested in a Nikon D50 plus Tamron 70-300... which I have found to be a fantastic camera.. now my dilema is prehaps obvious.. whilst travelling is the D50 worth the weight... or is the Powershot going to do everything I need.

The major downside on the Cannon is the crud battery, which the Nikon beats hands down.. and the major benefit of the Nikon is the zoom - getting me a lot of shots I wouldn't get otherwise.

Anyone been in a similar situation? Any thoughts? Advice?

Thanks
Andy

As with any question of this sort, there is no right, or wrong answer. It depends on what you want to get out of your photography efforts. For me, that means I travel with a full kit, DSLR, at least 3 lenses, flash unit and tripod, plus the other assorted things I need (batteries, media, some tools, etc.). I feel that I get the best pictures this way, because I have the most flexibility in responding to any situation I happen to come across.

If your goal is just to get some good memory shots and the like, then a point and shoot is fine. A good one will get you very nice pictures, but always within the limitations of your equipment. For example, wide to zoom is limited to the capability of the camera, with no chance to change it. You can work around that by being creative, but that won't always work.

Short answer, ask 10 people, get 10 different opinions. Only your opinion counts in the end.

Mitch

If you have to ask, take the point and shoot.

If you're really a keen photographer, you don't have to ask.

Both good points..

I guess I haven't decided what I want out of it, I am quite tempted to take both. Which is possibly total madness, but I want the DSLR for the 'good' shots and the PAS for the nights out 'snaps'

I would say I was truely a keen photographer - at home.. but I am not sure I can be a keen backpacker and keen photographer at the same time..

Thanks for the thoughts

Andy

As fo r as overseas, I've only taken my Canon 20D to Italy so far, but I don't regret it at all.

For me, there was no question about which camera I wanted with me. While I'd gotten some excellent memory shots with my Olympus PAS, it wasn't a DSLR. It had limits.

What worried me wasn't the weight but $$$, but I verified that my insurance covered it and with me it went.

Truly, it is a question you have to answer for yourself.

what genaro said...

If you can see yourself surviving without it, then dont take it. If it's an extension of your arm (and you know who you are), then take it.

a camera is worthless unless you have it with you when a photo-op presents itself. So in my mind, the key is to have a camera with you at all times. I own(ed) a Canon S60 and a Canon Digital Rebel SLR. I've taken the Digital SLR on three trips this past year. No question I took some excellent shots by having that gear with me. That being said, carrying it (and the big extra telephoto lens) was a pain in the ass. My personal preference is to not carry such big gear.

So, I'm in the process of selling the DSLR and the S60, and I'm buying the new Canon G7 and an SD600. The SD600 is truly a PAS you can always have with you. And I think the G7 will match, if not exceed, what I could do with the DSLR, for a fraction of the cost and weight. I'd be happy to explain this further if anyone is interested.

In the end, it's usually the photographer, not the gear, that makes the photo. I've taken some of my best shot with a fixed lens 35mm Olympus film pocket camera.

I do a lot of hiking and am very conscious of my overall pack weight. Every item I pack on a trip is carefully considered. But despite the extra weight I travel with both my powershot and 10D.

I manage to use the 10D about two-thirds of the time. When I don't want to feel the physical and fiscal burden, I leave the dSLR somewhere safe and slide the PAS in my pocket to get pics that I wouldn't get otherwise.

Whatever you do, take the dSLR. What better reason is there to have such a bitchin' camera than a RTW trip?