Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're answering a common
travel question -- Do I need a better camera while traveling?
(light chiming music)
Capturing photos and videos is one of the most essential
activities during a vacation. Until
recently, most people would carry a dedicated camera when traveling. In fact
I remember carrying a large and heavy SLR in the late 90s when I traveled to
Italy. It took incredible photos, but it was a bit of a pain carrying everywhere,
especially while backpacking. Since we now carry smartphones everywhere, a
common question that I often get is whether it's worth carrying another
camera when traveling. The answer is obviously subjective, but I wanted to
share our thoughts and provide some insights on the strengths and weaknesses
of smartphone cameras. Keep in mind that I'm not a professional or expert
photographer, and most of my experience is capturing video for this channel. So
let's start with the pros of using your smartphone. Number one: Always accessible.
There's an old saying in photography that the best camera is the one that you
have with you. We're all accustomed to carrying and using our smartphones, so
using it on vacation seems like a convenient and natural thing to do.
Number two: High resolution video and advanced features. The latest smartphone
cameras are capable of 4k video at 60 frames per second which blows away my
dedicated camera, the Canon G7X Mark II. And the portrait mode photos on my
iPhone X are arguably better than the ones I'm able to capture on this camera.
Number three: GPS logging and sharing options. While a
lot of dedicated cameras have the ability to log your GPS location either
natively or by using your phone and transferring via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the
process is just so much easier on your smartphone. I can even share photos and
videos to social media immediately, while it's much more of a process with my
dedicated camera. Number four: Less to carry. Having less items to worry about
when traveling is really convenient, and it usually means one less charger to
carry as well. Number five: Water resistance. I love that most newer
phones are water resistant. This makes it perfect for traveling, especially when
you might encounter rough weather conditions. So using your smart phone
seems great, right? Well, there are a few cons, so let's run through the list.
Number one: Limited low-light performance. The biggest drawback and limitation that
you'll find when using your smartphone is the performance in low-light
conditions. This is primarily due to the size the sensor. For example, my Canon G7X
has a one-inch sensor which allows you to capture a lot of light, especially in
low-light situations. Most smartphones, on the other hand, have a one-third to one-
half inch sensor, so you'll notice that it struggles in low-light conditions, and
the image and video tends to be a little more grainy.
This is usually not a problem in normal daytime lighting, but more of an issue in
the dark or indoors. Number two: Limited optical stabilization. Most newer phones
have great optical stabilization, but I still think that my dedicated camera has
better stabilization. Also, the amount of stabilization can be adjusted on my
dedicated camera. Number three: Concerns over damaging or losing your phone.
Having a dedicated camera can be convenient, especially for situations
like action sports. For example, we use a GoPro when filming in aquatic
environments and situations where there's a high risk of potential damage.
Breaking or losing your GoPro will be less costly than damaging your phone,
which is a critical tool in our daily lives.
Number four: Limited storage space. We all have had the experience of running out
of storage space on our phone. This can be super annoying when
traveling. Of course, it can happen to your dedicated camera too, but you
generally have more options when it comes to memory cards. Number five: Lower
megapixels. This is more of an issue if you plan to do professional work or
create a large print of your image. My Canon G7X, for example, is capable of 20
megapixels while my iPhone X has 12 megapixels. For most people, this
shouldn't be an issue, but is something to be aware of. There are other technical
limitations like not being able to save in RAW format, adjust
aperture and shutter speed settings, and in the case of DSLRs, being able to swap
lenses. But honestly, those are not likely to be issues for the casual photographer
or traveler, which is why I'm not including them in the list. Plus, there
are some workarounds for these issues on smartphones like using a more
featured camera app. So, my personal opinion is that for most people, a good
smartphone camera is really all you need. While you might not get the best
low-light performance, the convenience and daytime performance generally outweigh
the cons. Unless you're an enthusiast or professional who wants more options,
controls, and quality, I honestly recommend using your smartphone as your
primary camera while traveling. In addition, here are some tips when using
your smartphone on your trip. Number one: Clean up your photos and videos. I
recommend getting into the habit of reviewing your photos and videos every
night and deleting ones that you don't intend to keep. While digital photography
allows you to capture as many images as you want, it can easily lead to digital
clutter, so take the time to delete bad photos. You'll not only be happy later
when sharing your photos, but you'll have more space on your phone. Number two: Use
Google Photos. There are a ton of different photo management apps out
there. I personally use and recommend Google Photos. I like that my photos get
offloaded from my phone and stored in Google's cloud. Google also has some
pretty incredible intelligence around their photo recognition. For example, I
can type "hiking" and Google will find photos that will meet the search
criteria. I can even use Google Photos with my iPhone. While I like Apple Photos,
I've had problems with my photos and videos not syncing across all my devices.
Also, I pay a little extra to have Google Photos retain the original file type and
resolution, and even have it store and local copy on my personal server. I know
a lot of people dislike the idea of Google having access to your photo data,
but I personally find the intelligence offered by their service to outweigh my
privacy concerns. Number three: Carry a spare battery pack. Using your smartphone
camera for photos, and especially videos, will drain your battery.
I recommend carrying a spare battery. I'm a huge fan of Anker spare batteries
and chargers. In fact, I carry their power cord mini plus battery charger in my bag
at all times, and it comes in handy both on trips and my daily life. Number four:
Consider using a gimbal if you really want to upgrade the quality of your
smartphone videos. You might want to consider using a gimbal. There are a few
on the market like the DJI Osmo Mobile and the Zhiyun Smooth. Just make sure to
do your research before buying. For some reason, the optical stabilization of some
of the newer phones can interfere with the gimbal, causing jittery video. A lot
of video nerds like me are waiting for DJI to release their second generation
of the Osmo Mobile gimbal which will hopefully resolve this issue.
Do you carry a separate camera when traveling, or do you prefer to use your
smartphone? Please share your experience in the comments section below. Also, if
you have any questions, please let us know. We've included Amazon links to some
of the products mentioned in this video. Trip Astute does get a percentage if you
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giveaways. Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.