Holiday Time – Smart Phone or Camera

You’re heading off on a holiday in a month.  Do you take your camera or your smart phone?

It’s a tough choice.  If you have a Digital SLR camera, it’s heavy, cumbersome, and you dare not put it in checked luggage. If you don’t take your heavy camera, you’re limited in what you can take photos of, and you lose quality. As well, instead of taking time to make compositions, changing positions, looking for the best angle, with a smart phone you’ll just end up taking quick snap shots.

It’s impossible for me solve the problem for you; I’m just going to tell you what I do. I’m going to assume you like photography (after all, you’re on our mailing list!).

When I go downhill skiing, there’s no way I’m going to take my Nikon D600 camera. I have taken it a few times and it’s horrible to ski with.  It’s heavy hanging around my neck and awkward as it sways back at forth.  If I try and put it in my ski jacket, I can’t do the jacket up! I now have an LG G4 smart phone that takes RAW photos.  It’s still not fun when I’m skiing to have to stop, make sure my ski poles are firmly planted in the snow, take off my gloves and compose a shot. However, it’s better than not getting a photo.  The following shot was taken at Big White, Kelowna with my LG G4.

If I’m just doing a quick visit to Vancouver and really won’t have time to explore and take photos, I still take my Nikon D600, just for reassurance, although I don’t carry it with me all the time.  If I go down to the beach for sunset, I’ll definitely take it along with my tripod.

If we have paid significant dollars for a trip to Mexico, Europe, Hawaii or any other exotic place, my Nikon D600 is the first thing that gets packed, even before my clothes  Our main goal when we’re travelling is to photograph, whether in our motor home or by plane.  If you’ve spent money for a great trip, you want equally wonderful photos to remember everything about the trip.  You’ll definitely want a real camera not a smart phone.  There are actually some pretty nice light cameras on the market now, compare these to my D600 at 30 oz.

For more options you can visit the following website: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-dslrs,review-2218.html

If you’re spending money on a fabulous trip and buy a camera just before you go, don’t!  Buy far enough ahead so you can learn and practice with the camera before you go.  You’ll want to be comfortable with the functions of the camera and know what it can do.  I happen to know where you can take some awesome classes to help you learn your new camera quickly before that trip.  Try www.cameracourses.ca/kelowna!

For a short trip your smart phone is probably fine, unless you’re planning some “photo” time.  Definitely if you’re skiing or rock climbing, I probably wouldn’t take a big camera.  If you’re spending money for a super trip and you like photography, don’t leave home without your Digital SLR.  Then when you see that great night shot by the water in Sicily, you’ll have it!