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10
Camera Tips For Your Vacation
Just about any working camera is capable
of great travel shots, if you use it smartly. If the point-and-shoot
that you already own has served you reliably, it should work
fine for your trip. It is always best to take along the camera
you know and trust rather than a shiny new model you've never
run film through.
You'll still want to tune up your camera before you leave,
especially if you haven't used it in a while. Follow the
ten tips below:
1.
Get fresh batteries for your camera, even if the old
ones seem fine. (You can always save the old ones to use
when you get back.) While you're changing batteries, check
for leakage; if you detect any whitish residue, clean the
inside of the battery compartment with a pencil eraser.
2.
Blow out the inside of the camera to remove any dust.
(Try to use canned air from a photo shop, if possible.) Do
the same for the viewfinder and lens.
3.
Check the lens for smudges. Remove any with lens cleaning
tissue or a special lens cleaning cloth.
4.
If you have two working cameras, it is better to bring
both along. At the very least, pack a couple of one-time-use
cameras in addition to your regular point-and-shoot. These
cameras are especially handy if you're traveling in conditions
that are hazardous to your normal camera, either a nasty
weather or places where robbery may occur. It is also a good
idea to leave your good camera at the hotel if you're headed
to a beach. Sand and salt water are real camera killers,
but waterproof one-time-use cameras can even be taken into
the waves.
5.
Whether your camera is a new purchase or an old companion, bring its manual on your trip. In
addition, make a "mode
map" for yourself. A mode map explains all the buttons
and features of your camera in terms that you understand.
6.
Don't get stuck without batteries. Many current point-and-shoots
take batteries that aren't readily available overseas or
are far more expensive over there. Here's another good general
rule: Leave for your vacation with a fresh battery in your
camera and bring at least one spare battery for each camera
you're packing.
7. Don't forget to test your camera.
8.
Shoot a test roll of film before leaving on your trip.
If you have a camera that works properly with a slide film,
that film (ISO 100) is the best choice for this test. (Unlike
color print film, slide film is very unforgiving, so that
if your camera's exposure system is acting up some way, it
will be obvious from the slides.) Otherwise, a short roll
of ISO 400 color print film will do. Shoot pictures in bright
light and in dim light. Shoot pictures with close subjects
and with distant subjects.
If the camera has a zoom lens, shoot pictures at several
different focal length settings. Take flash shots at different
distances, too. Try to use every feature on the camera -
or at least every feature you think you're likely to use
on your trip. If you're going somewhere sunny and plan to
take lots of people pictures outdoors, for example, be sure
to take some outdoor portraits with fill flash.
9.
As you shoot the roll, listen to the camera. Does it sound "healthy"? If you hear odd noises
that you haven't heard before - whining or straining sounds
in particular
- take heed.
10.
Have your film processed and check the prints (or slides)
for sharpness and good exposure. If most of your prints have
good color and lots of detail, you're on your way. If, on
the other hand, you get back muddy prints (or dark slides)
or a lot of fuzzy pictures, you may need to repair or replace
your point-and-shoot. Take the camera and test pictures to
the folks at a local camera shop or mini-lab and ask for
their advice.
All this testing may seem a bore, but it serves two purposes.
First, it lets you discover problems with your camera before,
not during or after, your trip. Second, it tests you; you'll
be brushing up your camera skills. If your camera has some
features that you don't understand, take the opportunity
to reread your camera manual. If something still confounds
you, ask a knowledgeable friend or the clerk at the local
camera shop.
Many travelers become convinced that they need a higher-tech,
easier-to-use, camera for their long-awaited vacation. This
is not true at all. First, new devices can, and do, fail.
Second, even if a new camera is working flawlessly, you may
not fully grasp its operation. A button may end up doing
something very different than you thought it did when you
pressed it.
You may still want, or need to buy a new camera before your
trip. If so, buy it at least a few weeks in advance. Run
a test roll through it. Then shoot at least two or three
rolls more of a variety of subjects. Shoot the types of film
that you'll be using on your trip. You'll leave knowing the
camera works, and understanding its features.
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