8 Comments

  1. Steven
    September 3, 2013 @ 10:01 am

    I feel pretty much the same way about cameras and whatnot… I have a small pocket point and shoot that I almost never use, a tiny video recorder that I almost never use… most of my photography these days is either the dslr or my iphone. And yeah, carrying the dslr can be a huge pain in the butt.

    • Andrew
      September 4, 2013 @ 6:43 pm

      Yup, very similar. I really like my point and shoot, but batteries are a pain. The DSLR is great fun and takes wonderful pictures. Maybe I just need to get more tolerant about carrying it.

  2. Anne
    August 19, 2013 @ 12:05 pm

    My primary camera is a fullframe Nikon, so weight and size can be an issue. It takes gorgeous pictures in low light, but there are times when the size or weight is a disadvantage.
    We also have the micro 4/3 system and are really happy with that (Olympus OMD). In addition to the portability you mentioned, we’ve found a couple other advantages to the M4/3 when my husband and I compare our cameras on trips:
    – with a mirrorless camera, the shutter is much more quiet than a DSLR. If you go often to places of worship or are photographing wild animals, this can be an advantage
    – If you want to do wildlife or other photography requiring a really long lens (400mm+), the M4/3 options are a fraction of the DSLR price and can actually be carried around all day. Even if I could afford 400mm, I couldn’t carry it!

    I still love my Nikon and it does take better photos at extreme conditions. However, the truth is that the M4/3 (especially the newer ones) offers pretty much everything us non-pros would need, with the benefit of size and weight – and in some cases, cost. We’ve also found the video to be quite good – with the high quality and the ability to add a zoom lens, we don’t need a camcorder.

    • Andrew
      August 19, 2013 @ 9:09 pm

      That sounds like a nice camera, but really heavy. I even get annoyed by the weight of my M4/3 sometimes with the long lens.

      For my subjects? I take mostly scenery, architecture and a lot of quirky signs. I traveled forever with my little point and shoot and it really was the blogging that got me into wanting a nicer camera. I don’t regret the M4/3 at all, but it can be burdensome times too. Good to know about the video. I keep thinking there will be a use for video for me, but I have yet to find it. But really it is that sense that it mightbe useful at some point so I’ll keep the camcorder.

      Don’t think we will make WEBMU this year. Too far. Hope you guys are doing well.

      • Anne
        August 20, 2013 @ 5:02 pm

        unfortunately we won’t make WEBMU this year either. but it’s a good tradeoff – baby is due that week, so I don’t think we’ll be travelling.

        Looking forward to seeing more from your travels!

        • Andrew
          August 24, 2013 @ 2:28 pm

          Congrats on baby. Thanks. There are more travel-y style posts on Ctrl-Alt-Travel. Grounded Traveler has become more of my philosophical style ramblings.

  3. Charles
    August 10, 2013 @ 4:34 pm

    I take my D90 everywhere. Depending upon what my weight and space restrictions are, I may take different lenses. When going on travel, I never go without the D90. I’ll forgo almost anything else. I *can* take pictures with my cell phone, but it cannot match the composition and quality of the pictures taken with my Nikon. Half my reason for going somewhere is to take the photos of it, so despite it’s weight and size, it is an absolute essential.

    • Andrew
      August 12, 2013 @ 10:19 pm

      Yeah, I don’t like the cell phone pictures much at all. I really do LIKE the big camera, but when we go for a longer trip the weight does become an issue. Although I may soon be trying a rolly bag instead of my backapack, so maybe that will make a change.

      I also definitely get the purpose of travel being intertwined with photography. I do still really like taking pictures I am also trying to take days where I just travel for the sake of being in a place, not solely seeing it through a lens.