ignace
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 p.3 #13 · Travel Photo - Ditch the SLR? | |
SWE22,
My job (not photo related) requires very frequent travel. On average, I fly once a month between Los Angeles, Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina) and Europe (Spain, France, UK). I think I rack over 300k miles a year on my frequent flyer card, which is always nice for the family vacation...
Anyway, I ALWAYS carry a camera with me for either the just-in-case candid photo opportunity or the planned ahead free afternoon or weekend . Depending on the trip, I take a DSLR (1DmkII), a rangefinder (Leica MP), or both. I second Lord Arka's comments; whether in Calcutta, Santiago de Chile or in Buenos Aires, it is not the 300d Rebel that will make you THE target of a potential pickpocket. It may be your attire (shorts + t-shirt + baseball hat = American tourist...). your back pack, or the group you're walking with, too...
Regarding security, and since you're planning to visit both Santiago and Buenos Aires, let me assure you that crime rates in these two cities are by far lower than the best statistic in Washington DC's recent history. I am not saying you can be careless with your wallet and belongings, but these two cities are as safe as it gets for tourists in Latin America.
With the rangefinder, I need more time to think about composition, lighting parameters, focusing the lens, etc. but I also get an itch of not knowing how my capture is until I go home and process the negative, and then, after a scan preview, here it comes... you may not want to wait and just drop your negative at a one hour photo location, which is a great alternative too in these countries, especially if you do not have access to a laptop or desktop. The rangefinder is compact, easy to carry, and most people think of it as an old pre-digital era camera. Be aware that you may need to shoot a few rolls with a rangefinder to get familiar with it; it is a pretty different experience from shooting with a DSLR. The DSLR gives me all the flexibility I need in terms of bracketing, priority setting, auto focus, low light captures, etc, but it is bulky, and I may not be willing to carry the 1D and a couple of lenses to a business meeting... also, for long trips such as yours, you need to think of digital storage capacity. If you're taking a laptop,. no issue there. Otherwise, you may have to spend some money on memory.
Whatever you chose, you should be OK. Traveling is not without risks, but the memories you will keep through your pics will bring you lots of good moments in a few years.
Cheers,
Ignace
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) and we'll use that when necessary. We're looking into one of the new Nikons for her, and we'll make that decision once we're back in the states.