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Tag: photography tips

  • All About Cameras for Travel: Compact vs DSLR

    All About Cameras for Travel: Compact vs DSLR

    Cameras for Bicycle Touring and Travel

    People assume that if they buy a DSLR, they will be able to take good photos. Wrong. You have to nail the photography principles first. Read all about them HERE.

    Compact cameras are awesome these days…

    The way I put it to most people is that DSLR cameras will allow me to produce 10% better photos over my compact. Compact cameras offer really, really good sensors and adjustability these days in a super lightweight and bulk free package. Rarely are they over about 250 grams and never cost over about $800AUD. Most high quality compacts can record video in HD as well!

    My current five favourite compact cameras for travel are:

    1. Sony RX100: Although I haven't used this camera, I can only assume it is amazing; it gets a hell of a lot of praise in photographic circles. This camera has the biggest sensor of any compact camera, meaning higher quality photos, and a faster camera as more light is able to be used. It's light and adjustable, the sweep panorama is a great feature too.

    2. Panasonic LX7: I use the older version of this camera, the LX5. I use it in conjunction with a filter tube and polarising filter. It is really light, fast and adjustable and has a great quality wide-angle Leica lens. It is able to produce images with a short depth of field (f/2.0). The images and video are fantastic, check for yourself on our Flickr or YouTube pages!

    3. Olympus XZ-1: The Olympus is also really fast and adjustable, using a lens with the shortest depth of field available on a compact (f/1.8).

    4. Canon G15: The G15 is probably the most adjustable camera of the lot. It has a really useful fold-out screen so that you can take photos above or below what you'd normally be able to.

    5. Canon Powershot S110: The S110 is the smallest and lightest of the lot. It is still really adjustable and takes great quality photos and videos.

    Tough-compacts: Kat uses a tough-compact. We liked the fact that her camera can be used for water sports such as snorkelling and diving, in rain and just generally in horrible conditions. It will be really cool to record what it's like to get caught in a sandstorm if that ever occurs! Check out Sony for our favourite tough compacts, but also Panasonic, Olympus, Nikon and Canon.

    The things I miss most travelling without a DSLR, in order, include: shooting in low light, a really short depth of field, ISO above 400, the crispness and clarity of the photos and the ability to switch lenses.

    Micro Four Thirds Cameras

    A relatively new style of camera are the four thirds type. They are essentially half way between compact and DSLR, offering a bigger sensor and interchangeable lenses over a compact. They are still quite small and are pretty great for travel. If I were to quantify the difference compared to a DSLR, I'd say the DSLR can take a 5% better photo over a four thirds.

    My view on four thirds is that you may as well go a DSLR if you're wanting a bigger sensor and interchangeable lenses over a compact. It's really all or nothing for me.

    Check out Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus for a few awesome four thirds cameras.

    DSLR Cameras

    If you are going to go all the way to a DSLR for the best shots, the most important feature of the camera is the lens. Lenses are what give you the best photos; the bodies have much less of an influence. In my opinion you should be spending half your money on the camera body and the other half on the lens.

    DSLR Camera Brands: I like Canon and Nikon cameras, but Olympus and Sony also do some pretty good stuff.

    The most useful lens for travel: A lens between 18-100mm. Unless you are doing particular types of photography, a zoom lens will gather cobwebs. I don't even own a zoom lens for my DSLR!

    Get yourself a nifty fifty: The Canon 50mm f1.8 is incredibly good value lens ($150AUD) which produces better photos than lenses 10x it's price. You cannot zoom with it, but it is fast, light and crisp. The photos you see where the image is blurry in the background and the subject super focused can be produced with this lens.

    Good value DSLR lenses: If you can't afford, say, the top end image stabiliser or “L” series lenses from Canon – I can highly recommend lens options from Sigma and Tamon.

    Conclusion

    Whether you're satisfied with a compact camera or wanting to use the best DSLR, there are so many great cameras out there. Most have amazing automatic sensors, so if you still aren't taking good photos – it's not the camera, it's you…

    For travel photography and especially when bike touring, check out the latest crop of compact cameras. They rock!

     

  • How to take really, really good photos, plus a top secret tip!

    How to take really, really good photos, plus a top secret tip!

    I love photography.

    I have been passionate about it for a long time, getting my very own camera as a wee lad. When I had enough money I purchased my very own digital camera, setting up the ultimate photography education. No longer was film a concern!

    I am not the best, but a lot of people seem to really like my photography. I think we all (including professionals) get better with time and experience.

    I use a few common principles that if followed correctly, will produce amazing travel photos.

    For more info on cameras, click HERE.

    1. Shoot in thirds:

    – In my opinion, if you use the rule of thirds, you will set up photos to look great.

    – Imagine your photo is cut into nine pieces; there are two evenly spaced lines going vertically and horizontally. Your camera might even have a feature to get this grid on your screen. You want to locate your points of interest at the intersection of the lines, and you want to put the horizon or dominating lines of your photo along any of the four lines.

    2. Shoot horizontally or vertically:

    – Don't shoot on any angle other than 90 or 180 degrees to the ground. It looks stupid in almost all travel photos.

    3. Shoot during the early morning or late afternoon:

    – With the sun behind you and the light low, you will achieve the best natural lighting for your photo.

    4. Shoot with the sun behind you:

    – Shooting into the sun should be avoided as it causes excess light to go into the camera lens and poorly illuminates objects in front of you.

    5. Spend time framing your photo so you don't have to edit it later:

    – Make sure the horizon is perfectly straight

    – Remember to use the rule of thirds to set the image up well so you don't have to crop the photo to make it look right.

    6. Focus on the main subject of your photo:

    – Most compact digital cameras will allow you to do a 'spot' focus, that is, pin pointing your focus on a particular spot. If you choose which part of your photo you want to be in focus, then hold the button half way, you will be able to frame your shot and shoot when the time is right. Using this in conjunction with the 'automatic' setting will grab the best light level for your point of focus.

    7. Take a tripod

    In order to make the most of low light situations, you should carry a tripod. Tripods can be lighter than 100 grams for compact cameras and will allow you to capture early morning, evening and night shots. We like the Joby Gorillapod tripods for travel.

    Alex's Super Top Secret Travel Photography Tip:

    This is something I worked out through extensively travelling with a camera.

    If you are not a professional photographer, the chances are you aren't as good at photography as them. That is why I use their work to inspire my own!

    Whenever I reach a point of interest in a touristy place, I look out for postcards and books. Why? Professional photographers have already taken some great photos from interesting viewpoints.

    Try to recreate the photo, finding the same location, shooting at the same time of day and framing the photo in the same manner. I can guarantee great results.