Travel demands pictures for a variety of reasons, the commonest being a need to certify: If all you want are ‘snaps’, you can’t be a photo-snob, in which case a ‘point-and-shoot’ camera a.k.a. compact does both a satisfactory job and contributes nothing by way of excess baggage.
The main merits of a compact are: ease of operation (no fussy lens-fixing); no struggling to determine the exposure with light meters (planning your holiday is harassment enough); the assurance of clear pictures; and the convenience of a built-in flash (even with pictures taken in daylight, a flash removes dark shadows). Cameras are now freely importable, and several major brands are available. The grey market continues to flourish as well and are a good option for those who like to check out the competition and also value a degree of savings.
Classification of compacts as follows:
- Those that have fixed lenses (28, 29, 30, 35 or 38 mm). These are usually small and give fuss-free operation.
- Those with a moderate zoom lens (38-70 or 38-90 mm). It’s a very useful camera for the traveler. Because, it’s great for the sudden photo opportunity.
- Those that come with sophisticated zooms (38105; 38-115; 38-140; or 38200 mm), like the Nikon Zoom below. These afford a bigger range of focal lengths.
Costs:
- Pentax PC 55 (30 mm). Price: Rs 2,995
- Canon Prima DXII (32 mm). Price: Rs 2,375
- Kodak KE60 (29 mm). Price: Rs 4,595
- Nikon LiteTouch Zoom 120ED AF (38-120 mm). Price: Rs 8,600
