do you take your camera everywhere?

[landon9720]

I spend the week working in an office. On the weekends, I take my camera everywhere. This is how I squeeze another avocation into my already busy life, and it mostly works out. Except when I run errands with my family to stores such as Target. I guess I just feel self conscious walking around with a DSLR over my shoulder. I'm not about to leave it in the car. Does anyone relate to this? What do you do?

[djKianoosh]

haha.. well, that Target shot looks pretty cool..

when on vacation last week in puerto rico i took my camera everywhere :)

but i'm like you, during the week i'm in an office all day and dont take it with me.

[Ben H]

I take my camera everywhere.What do you do?


I don't take my camera everywhere, for two reasons. One, more opportunity to get mugged and lose it. And secondly, people might think I'm a geek.

(I *am* a geek, but I don't want people to think that! :) )

If I must take a cam everywhere, I'd feel safer with a discrete point&shoot.

[kat]

Ha ha..yah. I take it when I go out to town..nearest mall is 2.5 hours away..wouldn't want to miss a shot!! :)

It's funny how when you don't take it thought..there's the perfect shot!

[tomorrowstreasures]

cool shot and glad to see less mini vans and suvs!

[Iguanasan]

I am currently sporting a Canon PowerShot SX110 IS which is small enough that yes, it goes with me everywhere. Left it at home by accident the other day and I felt its absence :(

I'm saving up for a DSLR but I can't imagine taking it back and forth to work everyday. I'll probably keep the PowerShot for day to day stuff and the DSLR for evening/weekend excursions.

Regards, Iguanasan

[djKianoosh]

yeah, the dslr is too big to take to work every day.. so i have a panasonic lumix fx500 that i take around with me a lot. it does the trick alright most of the time.

[AcadieLibre]

I take mine most of the time, just depends on where I am going. I always have a camera with me, just sometimes if it is my DSLR and other times my Kodak digital. If I am running around a DSLR is not always practical to lug around.

[Gem]

I have a canon S5 (hopefully getting dSLR this summer) which is kinda bulky and doesn't fit in my backpack with all my books, so I can't really take it with me to school. However, I had it with me 24/7 when I when to Dubai and Pakistan (although my dad didn't let me use it in Pakistan cause he thought we'd get mugged). When I have the room, I take it to school with me :)

[landon9720]

Does improving and mastering photography require taking as many pictures as possible?
Does it mean mastering the best technology we have available?
Doesn't this mean carrying the DSLR everywhere?

[Iguanasan]

Does improving and mastering photography require taking as many pictures as possible?
Does it mean mastering the best technology we have available?
Doesn't this mean carrying the DSLR everywhere?

I'm just a recreational amateur, however, I'll give you my 2 cents.

Yes. No. No.

I think you need to take a lot of shots to get that feedback and practice. After taking a LOT of shots and taking the time to review them for composition and lighting the next one you take will let you do it properly almost by instinct.

The best technology does not make the best photographer. However, you should completely understand the technology you are using to allow the instinct that develops to take over so you don't have to fight with the technology to take the shot.

I don't think you need to lug a pile of camera gear around every where you go, however, having at least a point and shoot handy will help you develop those instincts for a good shot without all the gear. It helps you get used to looking at the world through a "lens".

Regards, Iguanasan

[Ben H]

I agree. Taking lots of pictures and developing your photography skills means your eye and your brain improve - you *see* a lot more, and learn to see.

Once you've done that, you see these photo opportunities everywhere, regardless of whether you have a camera with you or not. And seeing them is half the skill of a photographer imho...

[mindforge]

I take my D90 everywhere and before that, I took my Alpha everywhere. I usually just have it ready to go in the trunk of the car. I am a very impulsive person. Almost all the cool stuff I do starts like this...

... at a red light, I turn to my wife and say "Wanna go to the Monterey Aquarium.
"Sure"
"How fast can the kids be ready?"
"Ten minutes"
"Okay. Want a rent a luxury car?"
"Like a Cadillac."
"Nah, a hummer."
"Okay, drop me off and go get the kids ready."

So, knowing me and that nothing is planned, if I want good pictures I need to have the bag with me. I have one of those convertible bags that don't really look like camera bags and then all these straps pop out and it straps down over shoulder and belt. Very comfortable. I am also 6'2" and 250 lbs. and I generally don't have a "come and mug me" look. People usually think twice because of my size.

I say, take the camera everywhere. I do have a point and shoot that is beat up as all hell that I will take into buildings with me. Even if I am not supposed to have a camera, I usually do -- at least a point and shoot. I'll try and smuggle it. :)

[JoeMezz]

If my P&S battery is charged then yes it goes with me always.. otherwise I leave the P&S and SLT at home.

[Mad Aussie]

I don't take my camera anywhere it's going to be left alone or I think it might unsafe.
This means it doesn't come to work with me and usually not to shopping centres but most other places I drag it along.

[jjeling]

My camera is generally with me where ever I go. Actually I have two cameras, with different lenses on them. When I recognize a situation, I never have to fumble around with changing lenses or anything. I also carry tripods and all kinds of goodies. I generally drive so it stays in the car. Then I bring it home, upload, edit, put back into car. It is all in a camera bag, then inside a backpack. If someone else drives, I just grab my bag and go. Even with a trained eye, there are times I will never take a shot. Many times it is just extra weight. It has resulted in many quality images at the same time. All depends, you never know what your going to get into.

[mindforge]

Recently, I got to play with a Canon G10. Awesome. It is one of my next purchases. I normally tote one D90 (I have two and my wife has one) everywhere I go. I just have an 18-105 VR (the kit lens) on it when I am just going to the store, but yes, it goes in. I have children (one infant) and to most, it probably just looks like a bag for them (except for the Tamrac logo of course). I am going to get the G10 to replace this problem. With the G10 I can have it in my jacket pocket and it rocks.

One note on the G10 - My friend just had around 15k in camera gear stolen while he was loading up. He was on his way to a wedding. He only had the G10 and all his lighting gear. He shot a great wedding and no one wanted massive enlargements. The G10 is the best fallback camera you can have IMO - it is also very portable. Hands down the best P&S ever.

[dmagick]

I take mine everywhere even if it's in the boot (trunk) of the car. Depending on what I'm doing with my family we'll usually end up at a park or playground somewhere for my daughter to play, it's handy to keep close by.

[JohnnyRay]

I'll take my camera to work with me, but I usually will find something to shot either on the way to work, or the way home. I live in a more rural/small town area so I may take the longer way home to find some shots.

[fluver]

I do take my camera everywhere i go and specially to places of tourist interest
I like to take my camera with me everywhere bcoz I want all the memories for all time store with me

Lisa

www.fluver.com

[Lovin]

I have a feeling that camera starts taking me everywhere :)

[jjeling]

well, as most of you might have seen, I take my camera EVERYWHERE, the bathroom isnt even off limits....

[Mad Aussie]

well, as most of you might have seen, I take my camera EVERYWHERE, the bathroom isnt even off limits....
Well for you it bloody well should be!!! http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/hihi.gif


Hey ... welcome to PH.ca up there Lisa in India ;)

[BlueX]

When I had P&S cameras, they went with me everywhere. But I don't take my d40 everywhere. I use to when I first got it. I kept it in a packed camera bag and would grab it whenever I left the house. I use to come home late at night after work because I'd stop somewhere along the way and spend a hour taking pics. But I stopped that when the really hot or really cold weather comes because I'm afraid of what might happen from leaving my gear in the car. I don't carry the camera around doing errands either because it attracts too much unwanted attention to me. This is why I want to get a decent p&s again. There have been times when I don't have my camera and really wished I did.

[mindforge]

Getting a G10 next week probably for my carry at all times camera.

Anyone have any other competitors in the P&S market for a camera to carry always?