The Ultimate Guide for Beginners to Choose a Travel Camera
Most of the beginners when choosing a camera for travel photography might be overwhelmed with the sheer number of cameras on the market if they do not have much experience in technology. Some people thus decide to bring their own smartphone along with their trip but it does not have a larger or interchangeable lens and the quality of image certainly is not as good as a camera.
Here are the basic features and conveniences needed for a good camera that help the beginners get general ideas before choosing a perfect one to suit their personal needs.
Image sensor and resolution
The image sensor of a camera is a complex component that captures light through small pixels and turns them into a digital signal. The size of sensor ultimately determines how much light it uses to creates an image. The more light the sensor receives the better chance it determines the size of photos printed and the higher quality of the image you have.
Image sensor is made up of millions of light-sensitive spots called photosites which are used to record information about what is seen through the lens. Thus, the larger the sensor the more light it can get so that it can capture better, more lit pictures in dim light.
Typically, DSLR cameras have the largest sensors, the most precise lenses, and capture the high image quality. The larger DSLR will accommodate a larger sensor, and in turn, a larger sensor will produce the better image.
Bear in mind that sensor sizes of DSLR and Point and Shoots are listed by manufacturers differently. DSLR sensors are measured in width and height in millimeters, but point-and-shoot sensors are measured diagonally in fractions of an inch. To compare the sensor size equally, you can convert on some websites either measurement into an approximate measurement in diagonal inches.
Resolution (megapixels) decides the size of an image printed. The more resolution, the larger the potential print size. If you plan to use your image for commercial purposes, it’s worth buying a full-frame or a high-end APS DSLR. For personal purposes only (keeping at home or sharing on Facebook or Instagram), check out entry-level DSLRs, CSCs, or high-end point-and-shoots that feature a large CMOS or CCD sensor.
Optical or Digital Zoom Lens
The zoom allows you to zoom in or out on the subject in the LCD or viewfinder so that you can get a closer view of the subject before taking your pictures. Having a camera with an interchangeable zoom lens is beneficial because you can take with you only the lens you need for the trip you have planned.
Optical zoom uses the optics (lens) of the camera to get the subject closer meanwhile digital zoom is the same as simply cropping an image after the fact, but then blowing it up to fill the original size.
Optical zoom measures the actual increase in the focal length which is the distance between the center of the lens and the image sensor. The zoom changes the magnification of images with the actual optical glass before the images reach the image sensor.
Digital zoom is used to shoot the photo at a high resolution and then crop and enlarge it to create an artificial close-up photo in a graphics program. Some digital cameras allow cropping and magnifying captured image in order to emulate the effect of a longer focal length zoom lens. This process requires magnifying or removing individual pixels, which can cause image quality degradation. Obviously, the usefulness of digital zoom is limited to some certain situations.
A DSLR camera is ideal for anyone who wants to take their photography seriously, not only because you can change lenses, but because it has a better shutter speed and larger APS-C sensor creating much better image quality than the smaller one in most compact cameras.
Battery Life
Battery is an important feature because a different type of camera has different battery life. A Point and Shoot camera usually capture about 190-250 pictures before a full charge is required. DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras have big sensors and interchangeable lens so the battery often run out quickly. That is because all the extra electricity circuitry, LCD displays, electronic viewfinders, built-in flashguns add up to a much more power-hungry device. Therefore, when traveling, you should always take at least a spare battery or plan your days around charging your battery.
Normally, batteries come in all shapes and sizes and employ a wide range of chemical reactions in order to produce power. The most popular battery size is AA and there are normally two types- Primary (non-rechargeable) or Secondary (rechargeable) batteries. It is more economical to invest in a set of decent rechargeable batteries although you have to pay a bit more at first.
Lithium-ion( Lion) cells are the most common type of rechargeable camera battery. They are extremely lightweight and last for a couple hundred shots and capable of delivering a higher voltage than other cells. They are designed to be stored at a reasonable temperature so they are much less prone to self-discharging when not in use.
Another thing that many DSLRs and some CSC owners should buy is an optional battery grip because it has an extra shutter button or mode dials so that you can easily use the camera in portrait mode. Moreover, it helps increase the maximum continuous shooting rate of the camera. Digital cameras have improved recently to have camera batteries recharged much longer than many other devices.
If you shoot with flash on location a lot, a flash power pack should be bought. This is an essentially bigger-capacity battery which produces more power for faster recycling times so that you can use your flash to capture without having to wait so long for it to charge between shots.
Wireless and GPS
Cameras for travel with Wifi allow you to quickly and easily transfer high-quality images from your camera directly to a compatible smartphone or tablet, which simplifies the process of creating backup copies of your images, sharing memorable, high-quality photos and videos with friends, family, and your favorite social networks. It is also better to use the cloud to store your photos.
In addition, a built-in GPS unit with a camera can help add EXIF data to your photo files, allowing you to mark the exact location at which you are shooting your images.
However, using a WiFi connection and GPS sometimes makes you a little bit frustrated with high technical knowledge required and may drain the battery significantly faster than using a USB cable connection so don’t use it when you don’t need it.
Hope with the guidelines above you can choose the right camera for your trip.
