We will be going on the RS Venice /Florence/Rome trip' at the end of April. I don't want to miss taking any really nice photos. But I don't know if bringing my camera will be worth the risk of theft, weight carrying it around, etc. Would it be wiser to just use my phone instead?
Thanks for your input.
It depends I think on how good the camera on your phone is. I specifically upgraded my phone before going to Italy last September (to Pixel 6 Pro) b/c I wanted a top-rated camera. The 4x optical zoom allowed me to get some fantastic shots, so I'm glad I did.
It all depends on your camera size and kit. If your phone is new, that is also at risk.
I like a good zoom, but only have a point and shoot camera. It still allows for manual settings, but never as good as a DSLR. I downsized to a 30 X pocket camera that I am happy with.
Also, on a tour, you are one of many in a group. Theft decreases in that environment.
However, one of 3 travel rules I stick to is 'carry only what you can afford to lose'. (If you are curious, the other two are 'pack half the clothes and thpwice the money you think you will need' and 'boil it, peal it or forget it' (for my international travels where water isn't safe).
Which would you rather lose or have stolen in a foreign country 5,000 miles from home: your camera or your phone?
I don’t take a camera if I have been to a place before, as I already have photos from there.
Up until last year, my old phone took great pictures, but my new Motorola android phone does not. :(
So this next trip I’ll take both…..and an IPad mini.
How easy is it to see the screen on your phone in broad daylight, how easy to zoom, and how long will your phone battery last? And how much memory in your phone?
Does your phone do true optical zoom, or just software based? Can you access controls to change parameters for a shot with just one hand?
Which do find to be more comfortable for composing "really nice" photos? I still prefer to look through a viewfinder on a camera - but that's me.
My camera costs less than my phone, and if it was stolen, all I would lose/risk would be the photos I hadn't uploaded. But since I tether my camera to my wrist, or keep it in the bottom of my purse when not in use, the risk of theft is minimal. And it weighs only a few ounces. Plus, it takes better photos than my phone, and the battery easily lasts all day and a few hundred photos.
Interesting question: Which would you rather lose or have stolen in a foreign country 5,000 miles from home: your camera or your phone?
My gut reaction was: I’d rather lose a camera, because I have so much on my phone. But everything on my phone is backed up. If I lost my phone, all my photos would be backed up. Not so for a camera.
In any case bring your camera :-)
If you were going to a city in your home country for a vacation, would you take your camera or just use your phone?
I’m old enough to know when cameras used film, and b&w and color darkroom photography printing was a hobby of mine. Fast-forward many years, and I just take my phone as my camera when I’m traveling. I have a collection of enlarged canvas prints of past trips to Europe hanging in my home office that were taken with my phone. For me, the convenience of using my phone, and the ability to frame the shot without being as conspicuous are an advantage. But, if you will regret the results, then definitely take your camera.
I really dislike the ergonomics of using a phone as a camera. But I dislike carrying around my camera gear more. For long haul trips I now use my phone. It suffices for me about 90% of the time. Where it falls short is in telephoto zoom and very low light. My phone is 3 years old and I’m surprised by how well it works in low light situations like restaurants.
Perhaps you can try an experiment. Go on a local photo shoot using your phone only. Take the type of shots you would on vacation. See if your phone works well. Or doesn’t and if you can live with that.
I never travel without my camera, but these days it’s a mirrorless that I take, not my larger 35mm, with a zoom lens which is what I used to lug around. It just a lot more versatile than my phone. Having said that, I found the phone was better in museums if I just wanted a quick shot of an item as it was quicker and easier to maneuver in at crowded room.
If I lost my phone, all my photos would be backed up. Not so for a camera.
If worried about losing photos on camera if it is stolen, falls into the sea, or some such, just do this. Take an extra card and swap it out about half way during the day. If something happens you'll still have at least half your photos.
I agree with TC - high quality SD cards are inexpensive now and I use a new one each day. I have enough of them to handle 40 days now.....and with enough storage for some HD video as well. I'd much rather lose my Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II to theft than my phone. I sometimes use my Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II when I'd rather carry the least possible weight and size. I used to think I'd rather lose the G9 to theft but they've become rather rare now.
I took my DSLR kit with me on our last trip to Italy. Hauling it around made me look for an alternative. I bought a small Fuji mirrorless camera with two lenses. It's been with us to England and France twice. I went from a 22 pound camera bag to a 7 pound camera bag.
Have you been to Europe/Italy before? even with my big DSLR kit, I didn't worry about theft. Practice situational awareness and the chance of theft will be minimal. I'd be more concerned about taking my camera to some places in Atlanta than I would taking it to Rome.
I have a Nikon camera that is not an SLR (no lenses to change), but still has a telephoto feature. I take it on all our trips. I occasionally take photos with my iPhone, so I can forward photos to family and friends. The camera photos are better than my iPhone 11.
It depends what you want to do with the photos. I took my mirror less camera in 2019 when I was there. I was glad to have the optical zoom particularly in Venice & Varenna. I also took photos with my cell. I have a few prints from that trip & some from my camera that are quite large. They look way better than the 8x10 photos I took with my phone at the time, a new Samsung phone.
If you don't think you'd ever print them than a phone may be sufficient.
as has been said, it depends totally on the technical quality of the photos you hope to capture. if dynamic range, sharpness, color rendition, and the ability to make dramatic changes in focal length are important to you then a camera with a large sensor (dslr, mirrorless, even film) is still superior to a phone. the same goes for photo editing possibilities like enlarging, cropping, and color correction. when it comes to framing and composition the hardware is irrelevant; it's all about how you 'see' the world in front of the lens. there is no question that a phone is infinitely more convenient, it fits in your pocket. as for loss due to theft what will hurt more, a $5000 kit in a camera bag or a $1000 phone that is your portal to every app and contact you use while on the road? for me, given all of the above, the loaded camera bag is worth the calluses on my shoulder and the risk of it being stolen, at least for a few more years!
Many cameras have wi-if capability now, so if you are worried about having all your photos in one place you can download them from your phone or camera to your iPad or laptop, and even a flash drive.
Chances are your phone's camera is better than your camera, unless the camera is new and fancy.
Also what are your plans for these photos? Storing online and looking at them and sharing on phones, tablets, computers? A phone camera from a modern phone is plenty good. Or will you be blowing them up to wall size and framing as murals?
Chances are your phone's camera is better than your camera, unless the camera is new and fancy.
What do you mean by better?
For example I could not have taken the photos I wanted to take in Venice with any cell phone. And if the price for these photos is that I'm taking a heavy camera, various lenses and a tripod with me then I'm personally willing to pay that. But since everyone is different there is no right or wrong I would say.
My camera has an eye piece which helps during bright daylight. It is also fairly compact. It also is better when printing pictures in large format than my phone. It’s a Sony. My iPhone takes better video. It’s 4K. So I will bring both during our trip to Italy this summer.
greg.may12, inferring that you have a nice camera, and quality of photos is important. But your main concern is weight and theft. Then the compromise is to take a less valuable point-and-shoot camera that you wont feel bad about losing, that is less exposed than your phone, but still capable of decent photos.
I dont like to pull my phone out of a secure pocket (as much fear of leaving it somewhere than being stolen). So I take my old duct-taped undesirable POS camera on trips.
Last fall on RS Eastern France tour I took both my point & shoot Panasonic LUMIX DMC ZS100 which is my compromise between the reach of digital and optical zoom and my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I no longer feel the need for full on SLRs. I used them about 50-50. On this last trip My iPhone photos were wonderful and in low light better in many circumstances, but the LUMIX delivered as well. I attach a thin cut proof neck strap to my camera and do not worry about it. It is around my neck and small enough not to be super conspicuous .
Over years of travel I have used various smallish cameras with that neck strap. I also use a strong wrist strap so that my phone is always attached to me if taken out of my small Pacsafe crossbody. Nothing is fool proof but as an easily distracted traveler. this has been pretty effective for me.This system is not bulky and lightweight and I keep every thing attached to me. You can also use a neck lanyard for times when wanting to use your phone camera.
Next time I upgrade my phone I may actually leave the camera behind.! The quality of cell cameras is really impressive. For phone wrist straps and neck lanyards Amazon has many choices. I m also a fan of Pacsafe travel and security products. I regret they no longer carry same neck strap but there are many kinds of secure options on the website.
I am headed to Venice and a village Italy tour for first time later this year and I will be using this same system. It was a good point to switch out SD cards periodically so will add to my routine. I liked the reminder of situational awareness. When in doubt store it away! No fear, but be comfortable in how you go. Enjoy!
@ Katy, can you share the info on the strap you use for your phone?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KM3Z21G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
above is the link to the phone lanyard that I used last year in France. Because I had my Lumix on my neck strap mostly , I usually had my phone attached with the wrist strap, but this item comes with two neck lanyards, and two wrist straps, which can be connected to a pad inserted in your phone case with a connector extending through the charging hole. So you could actually switch between the wrist strap and the phone lanyard. This is very inexpensive $12 but the straps are rounded and slightly thicker than you would expect which makes it feel more secure. Anyway hopefully the link will work and you will see this simple solution. it should give you some ideas for looking around. The problem is that most secure neck straps are designed for larger SLR type cameras. Try it, if it doesn’t work for your needs, Amazon will likely take it back.
Thank you everyone for your help. I have taken everyone's responses in to account and have decided to bring a mirrorless compact camera that can easily fit in to my pocket and purchased a lanyard to attach it to. I'll report back here with how I made out.
Thanks!!
