The fewer travel gadgets you need to bring with you, the better, so use your phone camera!
When it comes to taking travel photos, your phone depending on the model can do a pretty good job. Naturally, a dedicated camera is a better choice for the highest quality pics, but the camera battery can become a challenge. Here are some things to consider when deciding how to take your next vacation photos.
Cameras that Use USB Cables to Recharge
If you have a great camera, then you know that you either need to ration the battery or youll run out and miss your shot. Alternately, you can bring extra batteries with you, but those are expensive and just add to all the accessories you need to store.
Depending on how seriously you take your photography, if you must have a separate camera, you may want to consider one that will recharge through a USB cable. That way, you can plug it into a portable charger to recharge it when needed.
A few models with this feature include:
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
- Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100 IV
- Samsung NX3000
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100
- Fujifilm X100F
- Top of Form
- Nikon CoolPix P610
- Ricoh WG-5
Tips to Take Awesome Pictures with Your Phone
The fact that your smartphone has a USB chargeable battery is an advantage right off the bat. That said, the odds are that youll already have your phone with you everywhere you go, so it means you wont have to carry an extra device to snap your pics.
Still, if you want to get some truly amazing shots using your phone, not a camera, be sure to use the following tips:
- Get a portable charger A high capacity, lightweight and slim-fit charger will help you to make sure you can take all the pics and video you want. Cameras can drain batteries quickly, so make sure youve got that backup with you.
- Use the rule of thirds As you look at your phone screen to design your shot, mentally divide it into three. Try to make sure that each third of your screen contains something worthwhile. Keep in mind that open space can be very worthwhile when done correctly. Some camera apps come with a grid feature to help you with this tip.
- Keep the phone steady If your hand is not the steadiest, find an object and rest your hand on it while you hold the phone. Fence posts and parking meters are fantastic for this purpose, but a shelf, or sizeable-enough rock will also do. Dont tap the phone too hard when you take the picture, to avoid wiggling it.
- Use focus features Most cell phone camera apps let you tap the screen to change your shots focus. Choose the part of your picture that you want to stand out and tap that space on your screen. Your camera will give it the most crisp focus.
- Use existing light Try to take advantage of natural light or the artificial light in a room as much as possible. It offers you a far better result than your phone flash. Try to avoid strong lighting behind your subject unless youre actually looking for a silhouette.
- Clean the lens Your phone goes through an awful lot. It gets tossed in pockets, handbags, on tables and is handled every which way. This means that youve likely got a lot of dust and fingerprints all over your camera lenses. Use a lint-free gentle cloth to dust the lens and remove fingerprints. Very lightly dampen a cotton swab with some distilled water and gently wipe to remove added crud that wont come off with a gentle cloth.
Youre all set! Have a fantastic vacation, keep your portable charger juiced up and snap some great memories!
