Questions to ask yourself before buying a camera for traveling.

Ready to hit the road for that next great adventure, but not sure what camera to buy?

This is a common dilemma for many people. With the rapid advancement and ever changing world of digital technology it is easy to get confused and frustrated when looking at all of the options out there.

I too have been in that situation. Spending hours endlessly scouring the internet for the latest and greatest camera’s, pouring over the reviews and asking everyone what, in their opinion, is the best camera. After gathering this information I somehow find myself no further ahead than when I started. There is too much information, too many choices etc.

Well after many years of putting myself through the same routine, it dawned on me that I need to simplify the process. If I could start my search with a criteria already in mind I would be miles ahead than just having no plan at all. So I sat down and analyzed what I really wanted out of my digital camera and how I could best adapt it to the specifics of traveling.

Buying a digital camera for use in your own back yard is one thing but buying one to trudge through the desert, summit a mountain or go on Safari are two different things all together. After careful thought and looking at the experiences I had been through I came up with these questions that will give you a starting point when wading into the unpredictable waters of buying that digital camera for your next travel.

1.The first thing you have to look at is How do You Travel?This is a big one. If you are going to a resort, on a tour or a supported trek you will be able to bring pretty much whatever you want. But if you are like me, I am always on the road, traveling buy local transport, staying in small guesthouses and interacting with local people. Soin this case you should be looking for something that travels light and is not too cumbersome or awkward to handle..

2 Next is Where are You Traveling? If it is a beach resort, or a European City then construction and durability may be a little down the priority list. You could probably get way with a good Point and Shoot. If you are going to be taking your camera into some pretty extreme situations, it needs to be able to withstand different temperatures, sand, precipitation or whatever you can throw at it. So be sure to look at something that is is durable, has reliable construction and can take a knock.

3. What is the end product of your photo’s? If you are using them for slideshows for your family and friends, the market is endless of economical camera’s that don’t have all of the bells and whistles that you will probably never use. ie RAW capture, continuous shooting, high ISO capability. On the other hand if you are going to be printing hi-res prints for gallery shows, shooting sporting events and fast motion or take most of your photo’s in low light situations then you are probably going to want to go up the camera chain a little.

4. What do you photograph? Different camera’s are geared to different situations. For example; The person who loves to shoot spontaneously from the hip, like festivals and candid moments will want to look for something that is more compact and quick and easy to use. Taking the time to set up the manual functions and change lenses could cause you to lose that moment in time. The person who loves to plan where they are going to be, has a good idea of shooting conditions and know exactly what to capture will want to go with the feature rich DSLR instead of a Point and Shoot. The DSLR gives you the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and a host of user defined controls that allow you to set the camera up for any particular situation. If you are a landscape photographer this is a no -brainer.

5. What do you have to spend? You make think this is an obvious one, but let me tell you I know many people that have thousands of dollars worth of equipment sitting unused at home that they are stil paying for. So be realistic when going to your loal camera store. Don’t be influenced by all the new and latest things on the shelves. The best thing is to be practical. If you are a pro (meaning you get paid for your photography) or semi-pro, by all means take into consideration that $5000 camera body and the $2000 lens. But if you are like 90% of the world you can find a camera that both fits your needs and your budget.

With your answers to these questions you are now armed with the knowledge you need to buy the digital camera that is right for your next epic adventure.