Going On Vacation? Pack Your Camera

You have dozens of things to think about before you go on vacation (or any other journey away from home). Is a camera on your packing list? If not, maybe it should be.

- Jim Fisher

Smartphone cameras are good—really, really good. In fact, they’ve replaced dedicated cameras for a lot of people. The latest phone screens are colorful, vibrant, and clear in daylight situations. Computational tools overcome the limitations of their relatively small lenses and image sensors, blurring backgrounds and using HDR tech in snapshots to preserve detail in bright highlights and dark shadows. Recent entries, notably the Google Pixel 3 and Huawei P30 Pro, have reframed the images smartphones can shoot in dim light, to the point where they’re simply a better option than most pocketable digital cameras.

So if smartphone cameras work so well, why would you want to take an additional camera on your next vacation? It’s one more gadget to pack, another bag to carry, and one more thing to worry about while you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.

First, if you really enjoy taking photos with your camera, by all means, take it along. You’ll have more fun. Trust me; I know from experience. For other folks, though, making space for a camera, chargers, lenses, and other equipment is a chore that may not make sense for every trip. We’re going to talk about trips in which it does and others where your Galaxy S10 or iPhone X will do just fine.

PARADISE

Bermuda, Hawaii, Fiji, Oswego... Well, maybe not Oswego. But if you’re going to an exotic locale with pink-sand beaches and crystal-clear water, we suggest bringing along a waterproof camera. Your phone may be waterproof, but taking it snorkeling could be dangerous—you might lose it, along with all the data inside. And you’ll need to take extra care to rinse it off with fresh water after an excursion into the brine.