BootsnAll Travel Community

I want to buy a new camera but I can’t decide on what type, a full size dig SLR or a compact dig camera.

Compact dig camera:
I asked one friend of mine that is a reporter and he said that a full size dig SLR would be a waist of money for me because it is too big to carry around and to expensive to risk breaking or having it stolen in my travels. Something like “who would carry around a big ass 3000 dollar camera in Mexico City?”. Plus if I show up in a place like Miramar with 3 thousand dollar digital Nikon SLR I’ll be immediately tagged as a reporter and booted out or followed around. and that I should just buy an 8MP camera that I can carry on my belt because I’ll be more likely to use it.

Full size dig SLR:
But another friend of mine that is that is a combat cameraman says (said?) “If you’re taking the time and money to travel around the world than you should take the best possible picture you can” with a compact dig camera you will end up with a bunch of 3x4 photos that are just “ok”. And that photo journalists travel all over the globe with there camera equipment, I’ll get used to carrying around a full-size SLR because if she can (a 120 lbs girl), than I can.

Any suggestions? Thanks

They're both right. It really depends on personal preference. How serious are you about photography? What do you intend to do with your photographs? Are you willing to carry around 5-10 lbs (or more) or camera equipment with you while you're traveling? The answers are different for each person and only you know what's right for you.

I carry my professional-sized digital SLR, several lenses, a flash, a tripod and various other accessories on my travels. For me, it's worth it because I can see the difference in quality between a compact and an SLR. Some people would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

I took a compact with me last trip and for 90% of the time it was perfect for what I wanted - however were a few times where I would have liked something more.

Next time i'm taking the same compact and a DSLR. I enjoy taking photos and while they're far from technically being perfect i'm enjoying the learning and seeing what else I can do with the DSLR.

If I could only take the one it would be the compact - as much as I love the DSLR there are sometime when its just too much.

You could always split the difference and look at some of the hybrids about.

when i was on the road with my canon powershot s410 i was amazed at my appernt talent for photography! esp when i vewid the shots from the little lcd.

unitl i got home and tried to make bigger prints...lol.

this time im taking a canon rebel xt with me.

as far as im concernd its worth it cause my trips are ALL ABOUT THE PHOTOS. for me. solidifying the memoires.

hrrm...rebel xt or 20d?.....

The best camera is the one you have with you. I'm a point and shoot kind of guy and love having an ultraportable along with me, but the others on this thread are absolutely right: when you get home some of the limitations of smaller cameras become apparent. I usually end up bringing both an SLR and ultraportable with me. The small one is used most for people, the biggie for landscapes. Warning: spending opportunities ahead.