What camera do you RVer's use?

Nikon D50 SLR with the standard 18-55, 55-200 lenses that came with the "special". Always meant to buy ONE lense...18-200 or better.

Truth is...I take most pictures with my SAMSUNG Galaxy S5, because I am too lazy to carry around a camera like some "tourist".

Currently?

Olympus Stylus Tough for use on rainy days (any other waterproof camera works).

Canon Rebel XS for most of my photos when traveling by car or RV, or for any intentional photo outings, particularly scenery. Two kit lenses (wide to portrait zoom, moderate telephoto zoom) covers most of my needs. Medium duty tripod I've had for 40 years is an important part of this kit. But any DSLR or mirror-free interchangable lens camera made today covers the same needs for me and if I were starting again it would probably be a Sony Alpha mirror-free or a Micro 4/3 camera kit from Olympus or Panasonic.

For a pocket camera, street photography and most "tourist" situations, I carry a Sony RX100 (3rd generation). This one is also wide-angle to short portrait, has a very fast lens, fast shooting performance, and makes excellent pictures (has a very large sensor for a camera this tiny). The focal length range fits my shooting style, the camera size is much smaller than the M-series Leicas I used for the same situations in my film camera days (and for those i needed to pocket a second lens). But this single camera cost more than my whole entry-level DSLR kit, and since it is not waterproof, it doesn't cover all my needs.

When traveling overseas, in order to deal with hand luggage restrictions, the Sony and Olympus go into my carry-on (with compact binoculars) and the DSLR kit stays home (unless I have a specific plan to use it).

If your goal is wildlife photography, you may want a very long telephoto. This adds a lot of cost to a DSLR or ILC kit, and can be considerable weight.

There exist more compact superzoom cameras with sensors 1/8th to 1/4th the size (area). The smallest are promoted specifically as "travel cameras." These are OK if you don't mind the reduced image quality (lack of actual resolution, image noise). Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Olympus all make decent compact superzooms, storing at near compact size.

In a more DSLR-like form factor, Canon, Casio, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic and Pentax have had offerings the past few years. I started out with one of these (Canon S1) as my first digital travel camera (second digital, first was a S-series Canon compact) but by the time I drowned it trying to take pictures in the rain, all the replacements had gotten larger than what I wanted to carry, so I bought a waterproof pocket camera and moved on to DSLR kit for the rest of my work.

I'm not brand partial. When my daughter asked for a "camera that takes good pictures" I bought her the entry level Nikon DSLR (3000 or 3100) because she had been using a Nikon compact and the controls were similar. I got myself Canon because I had been using Canon compacts and the controls were similar. The Sony RX100 was "I want the best camera in this category" and I am still trying to get used to controls mostly new to me. In the film camera days, it drove me nuts switching back and forth between my Leica's and the Nikon SLRs I was using at work, because they focused in opposite directions. Consider this factor if you already have a lot of experience with one particular camera.

Remember that you'll be traveling out in vast remote areas and will probably want to do some hiking. A small $200 Olympus with pouch is very convenient.

After 4 Canon DSLR cameras I have moved up to a Canon 6D with a 18-105 l lens. It is a full format camera (18mm lens is really 18mm not 24mm) and I love it.

What is your end goal? Personal memories viewed on a tablet, or 4x6 prints? Of are you looking to print 20" - 60" framed prints? If it's the later, get a dSLR. If it's the former, all you need a decent quality P&S from a decent manufacturer, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic...

I'm also a pocket camera fan. My current Panasonic Lumix was about $200 during a pre-Christmas sales period a few years ago. It's a point & shoot but has some easy settings that are fast to switch into. (One I like' for example, is "shoot through glass" - got some fun photos of a bear swimming in the Yellowstone River once, taken through a window.)

Charge lasts a long time, hundreds of pics on one memory card, Incredible zoom, easy to use, and it's ALWAYS with me. I use it constantly on trips. I download the photos to my iPad so we can enjoy them as we travel, and back home onto my desktop PC.

The bulky, heavier, expensive cameras with pricey attachments my relatives have seem to get left behind fairly often because it requires a conscious decision each time whether or not to drag them along to a restaurant, river raft trip, railway trip, hike, etc.

Haven't used a smart phone camera but same principle - it's with you when you need it.

I'm not a camera buff but I take thousands of photos while traveling in our RV. I have a better camera stored in the MH but almost always carry a simple point and shoot camera (Sony DSC-H55)in my pocket or on the dash when driving.

I shoot through the windshield at traffic problems, interesting road signs, city skylines and especially beautiful countryside scenes. No adjustments just point and shoot. Many aren't worth a ****, but most are great for my blog/journal.

My I-phone takes better photos but on my belt isn't as convenient. At dinner with friends I ask our server to take our photo with my pocket camera. The small camera also takes excellent video at family sporting events etc.

For serious photography, many good cameras are available. For travel logs and convenience, pocket cameras are great.

I use a Nikon, I think a D-60 with a long zoom, 300. Not a ton of money and since I use it on the water a lot I can live with the fact that it will eventually land in the drink. I get so many good pics while I'm fishing with that telephoto. but it won't focus an fish in my hand, too close, so I also have a Cannon waterproof point and shoot that is an excellent little camera. Were I buying again, I'd go with the comparable Cannon rather than the Nikon because it has video capabilities and shoots almost as good still shots. I compromise in that the Cannon waterproof also shoots video. If you'd like to check out the photos you're welcome to on FB, most are public. I do OK. Those two cameras together run around $1000.

bobkatmsu wrote:
Not exactly a RV question, but we will be retiring next year and heading out in our RV for 6-8 months at a time. Heading to Alaska in 2018. RVer's know equipment. I want to buy my wife a nice camera for our trips. Budget, about $1000. What suggestions do you have?

What have you done before?

When I was young and foolish I used those great SLR with FILM - not pixels - took 10's of thousands of picture Had a full bag with all the **** 75lbs + when we started to RV used it for a few years and took very few pictures - just never had the right Lens - tripod - etc .......................

Now I carry a Lumix 10X or the 20X have pictures of everything - great shots - great color - it will adjust to do almost everything - and the Weight is less than a Pound- so I always have it with me, and can always get that shot.

So if I were you I'd put the $700 in the bank and spend $300 on a great travel Camera - carry it always and all you need to remember is Memory and Battery.

Get a belt hook and carry it everywhere - you will have all the pic's and memory's you will ever need.

JMHO,

bobkatmsu wrote:
Not exactly a RV question, but we will be retiring next year and heading out in our RV for 6-8 months at a time. Heading to Alaska in 2018. RVer's know equipment. I want to buy my wife a nice camera for our trips. Budget, about $1000. What suggestions do you have?

What have you done before?

When I was young and foolish I used those great SLR with FILM - not pixels - took 10's of thousands of picture Had a full bag with all the **** 75lbs + when we started to RV used it for a few years and took very few pictures - just never had the right Lens - tripod - etc .......................

Now I carry a Lumix 10X or the 20X have pictures of everything - great shots - great color - it will adjust to do almost everything - and the Weight is less than a Pound- so I always have it with me, and can always get that shot.

So if I were you I'd put the $700 in the bank and spend $300 on a great travel Camera - carry it always and all you need to remember is Memory and Battery.

Get a belt hook and carry it everywhere - you will have all the pic's and memory's you will ever need.

JMHO,