Camera suggestions, or Memory Maker?

[Vernie822]

Hi!

We will be taking a trip in September (my boyfriend and I). I'm contemplating whether or not I should get the Memory Maker, or if I should purchase a camera to bring. We have our iPhones, but I'd really like to have some nice pictures of us to make an album or a scrapbook with.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a great camera that you think is travel friendly!? My sister has one of the giant Canon DSLRs, and she loves it, but I'm not THAT big of a photographer! I'd just like to have something that takes great pictures, that isn't a pain to carry around, and that is reasonably priced!

OR -- If you think the MM is worth it, I'd like to know your opinions there.. THANKS!

 

[Disneyhabs]

Hi!

We will be taking a trip in September (my boyfriend and I). I'm contemplating whether or not I should get the Memory Maker, or if I should purchase a camera to bring. We have our iPhones, but I'd really like to have some nice pictures of us to make an album or a scrapbook with.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a great camera that you think is travel friendly!? My sister has one of the giant Canon DSLRs, and she loves it, but I'm not THAT big of a photographer! I'd just like to have something that takes great pictures, that isn't a pain to carry around, and that is reasonably priced!

OR -- If you think the MM is worth it, I'd like to know your opinions there.. THANKS!

Nikon N1 line is my suggestion SLR quality AND compact sizE.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Nikon-1-Cameras/index.page

 

[pugdog]

I have a small Nikon that I love but when we go next month we are going to try MM. That way both of us can get in the picture. Hard to trust someone walking by will take a good picture.

 

[Tramp68]

Unless you are a huge fan of selfies or like to hand your camera to strangers for pictures, I would go with memory maker. This way you will both be in all of the pictures. The key to successful memory maker is to seek out the photographers and get as many pictures as you can.

 

[hakepb]

The "Big DSLr" takes much better pictures because it has a much larger sensor (digital "film") than the iphone and most typical point and shoots.
The DSlr also let's you add "fast" lenses (low f/ values like f/1.8. Lower means more light = better)

The best quality answer for you is the Sony RX100 and RX100MII. They have a fast f/1.8 lens at wide angle And have a 1" sensor that is 3x-4x larger than most point and shoots, yet is still a pocketable camera... But it is still a bit spendy

There are also some enthuiast point and shoots with fast lenses and 1/1.7" sensors (3x smaller than the RX100, but they are 50% larger than a typical point and shoot). Like the Canon s120, Panasonic LX7...

If you are interested in a camera, check out reviews at DPReview.com
Also check out the photography forum on Disboards

 

[DSLRuser]

Photographs are a result of 85% the photographer and only about 15% the equipment.

meaning, you can buy a $5,000 camera, but if you dont know how to use it properly, your pictures will look like crap.

works the other way around too. A good photographer can get great pictures from a home made LEGO camera just from using good technique.

 

[Vernie822]

Thanks for your replies. I had no idea there was a photography board! Oops!! I will look into all of your suggestions!

 

[Tomh]

It will be difficult to get good pictures of yourself and your boyfriend with your own camera. I have a DD and DS that I train to use my camera so that I get decent pictures of my wife and I.

I have used Photo Pass in the past (Same thing really as memory maker) and find that is an easy way to get pictures of the wife and I together. The quality of the pictures varies, most are decent at least, and can be worked on in Photoshop to make them a bunch better. Some come out really good. Very few are outright bad pictures.

If you are set on buying a camera, well, it depends a lot on what you want to spend, how big a camera you are comfortable with, what your knowledge level is, and / or how much you are willing to learn before you go.

Many years ago I bought one of the original Canon EOS Digital Rebels. It was a fine camera. I learned some with it, and got some decent pictures. Recently I upgraded to the Canon T3i. It is a big step up, and an awesome camera. There is much I need to learn about it, and photography in general before I will really be able to make the best use of it, but I have several months before our August trip to hone my skills.

I will say, if you are buying a camera, try to go with an SLR if at all possible. Just the difference in the quality of the lens and sensor between a typical point and shoot, and an SLR is worth the difference in price.