Cameras Past & Present
I've had some questions about my travel photographs so I thought I would start by sharing what camera equipment I use. Over the years I've used a variety of cameras that I've all really enjoyed and worked well for me.
Canon Rebel (Summer 1999 - Fall 2003)
When I finished undergrad I saved some of my summer internship money to buy myself a 35mm film Canon Rebel with a kit lens in the Summer of 1999. I loved that camera and toted it everywhere with me during grad school. This was the camera that I took on my first trip overseas. The only downside was that with all the pictures I took I was always lugging tons of film around with me.
Canon Digital Rebel (Fall 2003 - Summer 2010)
After I finished grad school and started working I decided to use some of the money from my annual bonus to buy the original Digital Rebel in the Fall of 2003. Before the Digital Rebel there weren't really any options for an affordable digital SLR so I was pretty excited when it came out. Although I was a little sad to give up my film, pretty quickly I was in love with the flexibility that having a digital camera provided me. Initially I used the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens but then I upgraded to a bigger zoom lens a few years later which proved to be a nice multipurpose lens for me.
Sadly, my beloved camera finally died on me. I took it everywhere including a lot of humid locations. On my trip to Guatemala in 2010 the shutter button started acting funny and I had to press it really hard to take a picture. I was in some rain storms during that trip and when I returned home some of the switches on the back of the camera had stopped working. My Rebel served me well over the years and I took tens of thousands of pictures with it.
Canon EOS 7D (Summer 2010 - present)
With my Rebel dead I needed to buy a new camera. Since I used my old camera for seven years I decided to get a camera that I really loved and could use for many years again. After investigating a lot of options I ended up splurging on a 7D.
While searching around for a good price I found it was offered among Adorama Camera's refurbished equipment. Adorama Camera is a well known company and its Canon refurbished products are refurbished by the manufacturer and come with a 1 year warranty. Combining that with the fact that buying it refurbished saved me a few hundred dollars I decided that was the way to go.
My 7D has been fabulous and I love the pictures that I can take with it. I also really enjoy being able to capture video with the camera. With my 7D I use a Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. I find it is a great multipurpose lens to use while I am traveling. It gives me a lot of flexibility in one lens that enables me to pack light.
Canon Power Shot G12 (Summer 2011 - present)
Before heading on my trip to Southeast Asia for three weeks last summer I decided to get a point and shoot camera. After researching my options I decided to get a Powershot G12. I like to shoot in RAW which is supported by the G12 and it also gives me the flexibility to change the aperture and shutter speed which I like.
My 7D is my main camera but I love being able to slip my G12 into my pocket to take pictures when I am out with friends or at a restaurant. I also use it when I am in situations where flashing my SLR around isn't the smartest idea. For example if I am in a crowded market known for pickpockets then I keep my 7D packed away and use my G12 instead. It allows me to take nice pictures in situations where I might otherwise be a little uneasy with using my 7D. I also like having a small backup camera with me on my travels in case something happens to my 7D.
So what kind of camera do you use? What do you love about it? What would your ideal camera setup be?
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 6:14AM | Posted by Lisa | 11 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article 
Reader Comments (11)
Hi there,
Thank you for your camera advice. I am searching for a new camera and will possibly purchase the Canon 5D. I, too, love to take thousands of photos and have been very lucky with my Kodak 24x camera. I want to try a camera with interchangeable lenses this go around.
You take fabulous photos and I am inspired.
Thank you for your help Lisa.
Veronique
I am using a Pentax K10 dSLR - I previously used two types of Pentax SLR. Not sure why I started with Pentax in 1976 and when I switch from SLR to dSLR I liked still liked the Pentax features. I have the two lenses, 28-80 and a 70-300. My husband has always been a Cannon SLR user; he never made the switch from a SLR to dSLR. He started using a Cannon point & shoot but it had some problems and fixing was too expensive so he has switched to a Nikon point & shoot. . I borrow the Nikon point & shoot sometimes, but I am so comfortable with my Pentax dSLR camera, it is my go to choice for now :-)
Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for the post about your cameras in answer to my request. I LOVE your Picture of the Day today from Sicily - just beautiful! I can't wait to see more of your Italy pictures, too. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for sharing your gear with us.
I am a Canon girl too, using a Canon 50D for the past few years. I have several lenses: an EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM, an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6, and an EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM.
I too wore out the shutter button on my previous Canon dSLR after taking tens of thousands of photos. I also used to have a Canon G2, which I loved, but it quit working after I left it unused for too long.
My camera goes everywhere with me. I often refer to it as my third child. We're planning a big trip out west this summer, and I can hardly wait to look at everything through my lens. I need to read up on composition for landscapes before I go to make the most of my trip.
Keep the photography (and Photoshop?) posts coming. You're an inspiration!
Veronique- Thank you so much! I've heard good things about the Canon 5D and have some friends who are very happy with it.
Mary-Lou- I think it is interesting that most people stick with whatever brand they started with. That is definitely what happened with me. I bought my film Rebel because it was the SLR that I could afford and then I've been a Canon girl ever since.
Cindy- Thank you! I really enjoyed visiting Terrasini. I'm glad that you enjoyed the post about the cameras and have tons more Italy photos to share.
Sandy- That is so funny that you wore out your shutter button, too. I'd like to get a macro lens for myself at some point. I'm planning on sharing more photography posts (tips for shooting, editing, etc.). I do have to confess that I don't know how to use Photoshop and just use the Canon digital photo professional software that my camera came with to tweak my photos.
If you're using the Canon software to make your photos look that good, then I've got to try that. I don't think I've ever even looked at the software that came with my camera; obviously I overlooked a gem.
Another Canon girl here...started with a film Rebel and in 2005 (when I felt dslrs finally were good enough to be comparable to film, I was a film snob!) I got a a Rebel XTI. It's getting to be time to replace it, but since hubby got a new bicycle this year, the camera may have to wait until next year. Definitely will consider a refurbished one to save some dough!
Sandy- Thank you! I plan on making a post later about how I use the Canon software.
Hilary- I was reluctant to give up my film, too, but it turned out well for me in the end. I am definitely happy with going to refurbished route for my 7D. It was a nice money saver!
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