vacation pix in the digital age

While trying to talk myself into buying some of the new equipment Canon is releasing this month, I pause to reflect on how far 35mm photography has come within my lifetime.

Consider:

The 1982 edition of Travel Photography from the Life Library of Photography has a chapter called “Keeping the Load Light but Complete”. It describes a travel photography kit that offers a balance between flexibility and portability:

1. 35mm SLR camera with 50mm lens and cap
2. spare SLR body with 28mm lens and cap
3. 135mm lens
4. autowinder
5. electronic flash unit with tiltable head
6. neck straps
7. ultraviolet filter
8. transparent film case
9. cable release
10. lens tissue
11. lens cleaning fluid
12. plastic rain cover
13. hand-held light meter with case
14. tabletop tripod with ball-joint head
15. aluminum carrying case

Total weight: “just over 12 pounds”
Total cost (today): ~$2200

I argue that the modern travel kit with equivalent functionality (with one exception) consists of:

1. Digital Rebel XT with 17-85mm image-stabilized lens
2. Canon SD500 backup camera
3. remote shutter release
4. disposable lens tissues
5. camera holster with rain flap

Total weight: less than 3 pounds
Total cost: $2000

Let’s break down the obsolete items from the 1982 list:

Multiple bodies
“The extra body is useful not only as a backup in case of a breakdown, but also as a container for carrying a different type of film for quick switching from dim interiors to bright outdoor scenes, or from color to black and white.”
Digital cameras can “switch film” (i.e., change film speed) with a flick of the thumb on the ISO dial. Black and white is achieved in post-processing or in camera, often with better results than what black-and-white film is capable, and without the hassle of color filters. If you still need a backup, these days a pocket digicam like the SD500 is a decent, much more portable, choice.

Multiple prime lenses
When this article was written, 28-135mm consumer zoom lenses weren't available. Well they are now, and then some. The 17-85mm lens covers the zoom range that corresponds to the 35mm’s 28mm, 50mm, and 135mm lenses (plus everything in between). What you lose over the primes is wide-open aperture, “so a zoom may be of little use in low light.” But that’s where the Canon 17-85mm’s image-stabilization kicks in: equivalent to 3 extra stops of light for static subjects. This is about the difference between the light-gathering ability of the zoom versus the primes, and that’s not counting the Rebel XT’s lower noise levels at higher ISO settings when compared to film. Of course, the IS won’t stop subject motion, nor does it allow shallow depth of field. But given a choice between these abilities and not having to lug around and swap two extra lenses, I’ll bet almost everyone would choose the zoom for traveling.

Autowinder
I had to look up what this was, it’s so thoroughly obsolete.

Flash
Here’s where you have to make the hardest choice between portability and functionality. Modern consumer SLRs have a built-in flash. The Rebel XT’s is pretty good, but not as strong as a dedicated flash unit, and it can’t bounce light off ceilings. The new Speedlite 430EX will add another 3/4ths of a pound if you really need indirect, artificial lighting. I don’t think this is too common a need for most people on vacation, so I’m leaving it out of the kit.

Light Meter
That’s what the histogram is for.

Tripod
There are decent, ultra-compact full-height tripods these days, but the tabletops are still smaller and lighter. However, since you can’t use a tripod in most indoor tourist attractions these days, and the image stabilization does most of the tripod’s job outdoors, I’d argue you don’t need one at all anymore, at least not for photos you don’t plan to blow up to poster size.

UV Filter
Digital sensors are insensitive to UV light, so you’d only use one to protect the lens these days. At any rate, they're cheap and tiny.

Transparent Film Case
Film? What’s that?

Lens Tissue/Cleaning Fluid
Use tissues pre-moistened with fluid.

Cable Release/Strap/Rain Cover
Still need these (or the digital equivalent).

Aluminum Case
The digital kit is so much lighter and more compact, it will all fit in a small fabric shoulder bag. And no extra tripod to carry around either.

So, roughly equivalent functionality comes at one-quarter the weight, less than one-quarter the volume, and 10% less moolah. Plus, you get a huge step up in picture-taking convenience, cheaper and easier developing, and, with the SD500, movies!

Don’t you love digital?