I’ve spent hundreds of hours analyzing computers, cameras, and drones. I’ve spent hundreds of more hours agonizing and regretting not purchasing computers, cameras, and drones. I should have purchased a Sony. I should have purchased a Canon. I should have purchased a Nikon. I’ve owned them all and I still can’t decide which brand I prefer. There are products that didn’t exist when I started my travels, like 4K video recorders, which capture significantly better video quality than 1080 HD. I can’t believe that two years after I returned, DJI started selling collapsible, travel-perfect drones. Hundreds of times I wanted to take overhead shots, photos that could only be taken with a drone…and if only I waited two years to take my trip, I could have packed a drone in my bag. After making a purchase I continued to question whether I made the correct decision.
There are thousands of people offering all types of advice. I watched endless electronic equipment YouTube videos from influencers. After sitting through these videos I’m convinced these people should be renamed “confusers” because their incoherent reviews do nothing to alleviate the decision making headache. There is no right camera. There is no right drone. There is no right time or wrong time to purchase electronics (except if a new model will be released soon). There are too many data points to analyze that you’ll go crazy with the analysis. The data points keep growing. The analysis never stops. The best shopping advice is that there is no right decision.
Slightly off topic…do you know the secret to destination-inspiring travel photography? It’s not the camera. It’s not the lens. It’s not the photographer. It’s Adobe Photoshop. It’s editing the photo on a computer later that evening. When you visit Angkor Wat, it doesn’t appear like the professional photos. Then you take a photo of Angkor Wat and it looks nothing like the professional photos and you get upset at the camera…but your photo does look exactly like the Angkor Wat in front of you. Photographers stopped telling the truth a long time ago. Your camera, whether it’s a cell phone, a point-and-shoot, APS-C, full frame, DSLR, or mirrorless will shoot wonderful photos and videos, the professional is beating your images in post-production.
Back on topic with the technology purchases. I’ll start with the easy decision—whether to purchase a new computer. If you have a functioning computer, the answer is no. If you need a new computer, go small, in both price and form. The primary functions of a travel computer are to provide access to the internet (upload photos, build your website, and edit video) and type your adventure stories. Don’t purchase a MacBook for what any netbook can do. The netbook will set you back $300 (there are $200 models but there is a point where cheap is too cheap). The cheapest MacBook costs $800. If you plan to purchase a camera with 4K video, you will need a more powerful computer for processing and editing than a netbook. Unless you plan to perform editing daily during your travels, wait to purchase the MacBook or iMac when you return.
When purchasing cheap netbooks, the Chromebook is the best option. The Chromebooks are junky, but they are tough enough to handle around the world travels. The Chromebooks are sold with all required software preinstalled. Other brands of netbooks that run a Microsoft operating system may require you to subscribe to annual services, at $80 per year, to access software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Admittedly, Microsoft’s software is better than Google’s Doc, Sheets, and Slides.
On to the more difficult decision, whether to purchase a new camera. I can’t make the purchase decision on a camera for myself, let alone someone else. A quick question, does your camera have 4K video capability? At a minimum you’ll want a camera that can record 4K video. Even if you plan to wait and edit the videos when you return, you’ll still want a camera with 4K capability while traveling. If you have a newer camera but no 4K capability, consider purchasing the latest GoPro, instead of a new camera.
4K video recording requires faster SD cards. Newer 4K cameras can record at speeds upwards of 100 mbps which requires an SD card that can write data at similar speeds. As of September 2019, these SD cards cost two times as much as the standard SD card used for photography.
The rest of this camera purchase rambling is me pretending to be an influencer when deep down I know I’m a “confuser.” Beyond the 4K minimum requirement, there’s a seemingly endless list of criteria to evaluate when reviewing cameras. The biggest change in camera technology over the past ten years is a shift to mirrorless bodies. Traditional DSLRs have a mirror between the lens and the sensor. Mirrorless cameras remove the mirror which creates a slimmer and lighter body. Sony has been the pioneer in this space, however, Canon and Nikon, recognizing that mirrorless is where the industry is heading and not a fad, have been slowly moving into the mirrorless space. Two distinct features of mirrorless cameras that influencers never mention: first, there’s a digital zoom and crop, and second, you may preview a photo when using manual modes. These features allow the user to zoom without adding a telephoto lens and view the impact of manual adjustments prior to taking the photo, respectively.
From mirrorless versus DSLR, the next decision factor is sensor size which is really a discussion about your budget since there’s a significant price differentiator, about $1,000, between interchangeable lens cameras with full frame sensors and those with APS sensors, and another $500 drop off to point and shoot cameras, including telephoto superzoom lens cameras. For example, Sony’s A7III, their full frame sensor entry camera, starts at $2,000. The a6400, their latest APS sensor camera, starts at $1,000. On a bright, sunny day the a6400 will perform almost as well as the A7III. The A7III has additional functionality and performs much better in extreme scenarios, like lowlight environments, that the travel photographer will rarely encounter on their day-to-day adventures.
Both the full frame and APS sensor cameras offer interchangeable lenses. If you purchase an interchangeable lens camera, you’ll also need to decide on what lens to purchase. A common lens combination is pairing the 24-70 (18-55 in the APS world) kit lens with a 70-200 lens (55-200), however, if you are traveling, I recommend a 24-105 (18-200) all-in-one lens so you don’t need to carry extra equipment. Beyond versatility, the single all-in-one lens also makes it easier to keep the mirrorless cameras clean if you aren’t frequently swapping lenses. Just as the full frame camera bodies start at twice the price of an APS sensor camera, the full frame lenses start at twice the price of the APS lenses.
High quality point and shot cameras max out around $500, with a few exceptions. With the camera functionality in your cell phone, it’s difficult to recommend a basic point and shoot camera. The camera in your iPhone 11 or Galaxy 9 will perform nearly as well as a basic point and shoot.
As for the drone. Drones are awesome—the overhead images drones provide open an entire new photographic world. Drones are also a pain. I have a drone and would like to fly it every weekend, but I usually take it out once every two months. It’s possible that you pack a drone and never use it. Unless you have a drone already and you use it a couple of times a month, I wouldn’t purchase a portable drone for your travels. Starting at $800, it’s an expensive piece of equipment to use only a few days of your travels. I also believe that you won’t be able to fly the drone where you want. You won’t be able to show up at the Taj Mahal or the Forbidden City, fold out the drone wings, and start flying. There are flying restrictions. The drone photos you see at the famous sights were captured by professionals with a permit. If you fly a drone and are comfortable with its controls, it would add an additional and distinct element to record your travels when you are out in nature. Patagonia, the Himalayas, beaches, and other exotic, nature-based destinations are ideal locations to capture overhead images and videos traversing the broad landscape (those places may also be windy). Be sure you’re an expert at flying drones and not practicing at those windy locations.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
It’s worth buying up for quality. Work an extra month to save money for the better piece of equipment rather than settle for a lower standard. Purchase your camera equipment from a local store. When you purchase camera equipment the seller always offers an insurance plan. I wince whenever the cashier asks about an insurance plan but for an interchangeable lens camera, I think it’s worth the price because the coverage plan includes cleanings. You will get the camera cleaned a few times a year and the cost of the insurance covers more than the cost of the cleanings alone. The local store will clean the camera on-site. The insurance will also cover any damage you sustain.
The store’s camera insurance will not cover replacement costs for stolen cameras…so purchase travel insurance that covers theft.
Many tripods and similar accessories are too large to pack for an around the world trip.
Gimbals are the latest camera accessory craze. You’ve dropped $2,000 on a new camera with five-axis in body image stabilization (IBIS) and your videos still look shaky. What you need is a gimbal! The good gimbals will set you back $700, the cheaper ones are…cheaper. You’ll need to be recording a ton of video to justify the gimbal cost and inconvenience in your backpack and setting up the gimbal before every video shoot.
Thoroughly confused? Purchase the Sony a6400 with an 18-135 (or 18-200) lens.
Slightly off topic…do you know the secret to destination-inspiring travel photography? It’s not the camera. It’s not the lens. It’s not the photographer. It’s Adobe Photoshop. It’s editing the photo on a computer later that evening. When you visit Angkor Wat, it doesn’t appear like the professional photos. Then you take a photo of Angkor Wat and it looks nothing like the professional photos and you get upset at the camera…but your photo does look exactly like the Angkor Wat in front of you. Photographers stopped telling the truth a long time ago. Your camera, whether it’s a cell phone, a point-and-shoot, APS-C, full frame, DSLR, or mirrorless will shoot wonderful photos and videos, the professional is beating your images in post-production.
Back on topic with the technology purchases. I’ll start with the easy decision—whether to purchase a new computer. If you have a functioning computer, the answer is no. If you need a new computer, go small, in both price and form. The primary functions of a travel computer are to provide access to the internet (upload photos, build your website, and edit video) and type your adventure stories. Don’t purchase a MacBook for what any netbook can do. The netbook will set you back $300 (there are $200 models but there is a point where cheap is too cheap). The cheapest MacBook costs $800. If you plan to purchase a camera with 4K video, you will need a more powerful computer for processing and editing than a netbook. Unless you plan to perform editing daily during your travels, wait to purchase the MacBook or iMac when you return.
When purchasing cheap netbooks, the Chromebook is the best option. The Chromebooks are junky, but they are tough enough to handle around the world travels. The Chromebooks are sold with all required software preinstalled. Other brands of netbooks that run a Microsoft operating system may require you to subscribe to annual services, at $80 per year, to access software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Admittedly, Microsoft’s software is better than Google’s Doc, Sheets, and Slides.
On to the more difficult decision, whether to purchase a new camera. I can’t make the purchase decision on a camera for myself, let alone someone else. A quick question, does your camera have 4K video capability? At a minimum you’ll want a camera that can record 4K video. Even if you plan to wait and edit the videos when you return, you’ll still want a camera with 4K capability while traveling. If you have a newer camera but no 4K capability, consider purchasing the latest GoPro, instead of a new camera.
4K video recording requires faster SD cards. Newer 4K cameras can record at speeds upwards of 100 mbps which requires an SD card that can write data at similar speeds. As of September 2019, these SD cards cost two times as much as the standard SD card used for photography.
The rest of this camera purchase rambling is me pretending to be an influencer when deep down I know I’m a “confuser.” Beyond the 4K minimum requirement, there’s a seemingly endless list of criteria to evaluate when reviewing cameras. The biggest change in camera technology over the past ten years is a shift to mirrorless bodies. Traditional DSLRs have a mirror between the lens and the sensor. Mirrorless cameras remove the mirror which creates a slimmer and lighter body. Sony has been the pioneer in this space, however, Canon and Nikon, recognizing that mirrorless is where the industry is heading and not a fad, have been slowly moving into the mirrorless space. Two distinct features of mirrorless cameras that influencers never mention: first, there’s a digital zoom and crop, and second, you may preview a photo when using manual modes. These features allow the user to zoom without adding a telephoto lens and view the impact of manual adjustments prior to taking the photo, respectively.
From mirrorless versus DSLR, the next decision factor is sensor size which is really a discussion about your budget since there’s a significant price differentiator, about $1,000, between interchangeable lens cameras with full frame sensors and those with APS sensors, and another $500 drop off to point and shoot cameras, including telephoto superzoom lens cameras. For example, Sony’s A7III, their full frame sensor entry camera, starts at $2,000. The a6400, their latest APS sensor camera, starts at $1,000. On a bright, sunny day the a6400 will perform almost as well as the A7III. The A7III has additional functionality and performs much better in extreme scenarios, like lowlight environments, that the travel photographer will rarely encounter on their day-to-day adventures.
Both the full frame and APS sensor cameras offer interchangeable lenses. If you purchase an interchangeable lens camera, you’ll also need to decide on what lens to purchase. A common lens combination is pairing the 24-70 (18-55 in the APS world) kit lens with a 70-200 lens (55-200), however, if you are traveling, I recommend a 24-105 (18-200) all-in-one lens so you don’t need to carry extra equipment. Beyond versatility, the single all-in-one lens also makes it easier to keep the mirrorless cameras clean if you aren’t frequently swapping lenses. Just as the full frame camera bodies start at twice the price of an APS sensor camera, the full frame lenses start at twice the price of the APS lenses.
High quality point and shot cameras max out around $500, with a few exceptions. With the camera functionality in your cell phone, it’s difficult to recommend a basic point and shoot camera. The camera in your iPhone 11 or Galaxy 9 will perform nearly as well as a basic point and shoot.
As for the drone. Drones are awesome—the overhead images drones provide open an entire new photographic world. Drones are also a pain. I have a drone and would like to fly it every weekend, but I usually take it out once every two months. It’s possible that you pack a drone and never use it. Unless you have a drone already and you use it a couple of times a month, I wouldn’t purchase a portable drone for your travels. Starting at $800, it’s an expensive piece of equipment to use only a few days of your travels. I also believe that you won’t be able to fly the drone where you want. You won’t be able to show up at the Taj Mahal or the Forbidden City, fold out the drone wings, and start flying. There are flying restrictions. The drone photos you see at the famous sights were captured by professionals with a permit. If you fly a drone and are comfortable with its controls, it would add an additional and distinct element to record your travels when you are out in nature. Patagonia, the Himalayas, beaches, and other exotic, nature-based destinations are ideal locations to capture overhead images and videos traversing the broad landscape (those places may also be windy). Be sure you’re an expert at flying drones and not practicing at those windy locations.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
It’s worth buying up for quality. Work an extra month to save money for the better piece of equipment rather than settle for a lower standard. Purchase your camera equipment from a local store. When you purchase camera equipment the seller always offers an insurance plan. I wince whenever the cashier asks about an insurance plan but for an interchangeable lens camera, I think it’s worth the price because the coverage plan includes cleanings. You will get the camera cleaned a few times a year and the cost of the insurance covers more than the cost of the cleanings alone. The local store will clean the camera on-site. The insurance will also cover any damage you sustain.
The store’s camera insurance will not cover replacement costs for stolen cameras…so purchase travel insurance that covers theft.
Many tripods and similar accessories are too large to pack for an around the world trip.
Gimbals are the latest camera accessory craze. You’ve dropped $2,000 on a new camera with five-axis in body image stabilization (IBIS) and your videos still look shaky. What you need is a gimbal! The good gimbals will set you back $700, the cheaper ones are…cheaper. You’ll need to be recording a ton of video to justify the gimbal cost and inconvenience in your backpack and setting up the gimbal before every video shoot.
Thoroughly confused? Purchase the Sony a6400 with an 18-135 (or 18-200) lens.