Beginner Tips for Traveling with a DSLR

We just got back from Ireland a few days ago, and it was yet another fantastic travel experience in a year of fantastic travel experiences. Gosh, I hope I didn't just jinx us. But, more on that trip later.

This week I want to throw out a handful of tips for those who may be heading out on their first international trip with a brand new interchangeable lens camera.  Some of this I've learned the hard way, so you don't have to.  I've also witnessed a lot of fumbles over the years that can easily be avoided with a little knowledge ahead of time. So, without further ado, here are some tips to make traveling with your camera go a little easier:

1.  Learn how to use your camera before your trip
Ok, so you're heading out on this once-in-a-lifetime trip, and to celebrate you've picked up a shiny new Canon or Nikon DSLR.  The guy at Best Buy or that photography guru friend said this was the best camera to document your trip with.  You believed him.  The shop also talked you into the UV filter, that fancy bag with the rain cover, and maybe a travel tripod and another lens.  Hopefully, you picked up a couple of SD cards and an extra battery.

Now what?

Sit down, chill out, and let the initial excitement of brand new toys wear off.  Ok, now spend some time with the camera.  Do this long before you get on the plane.  Read the manual.  Evaluate what you have there, and really think about the type of pictures you want to take.  If you're just interested in snapshots (which is totally fine, by the way), maybe consider taking everything back.  There are some really great smaller, cheaper, and easier to use compact cameras out there that will take fantastic travel pictures and snapshots.  You don't need a big DSLR for your vacation.  They are capable of doing a lot of things that you may not need, and there's no point in buying things you don't need.

But, if you're really interested going the DSLR route, then you have to spend some time learning about how it works, or you're going to be frustrated and disappointed with taking photographs on your trip and you may end up just using your phone instead.  That would be sad.

There's plenty of information out there online and in books for beginner DSLR users so they can get the best out of their cameras.  You don't need to take a class, but do a little research and get some practice in.

2. Bring extra SD Cards

Buy enough to have one per every two or three of days of your trip.  This will guarantee that you won't lose all your photos if one card goes bad.  It will also make going through them less of a nightmare when you get home (something I've picked up from experience).  Sandisk is the way to go when it comes to brands.  You can stick with 32GB or even 16, since you'll have several.  Ultra or Ultra Plus are good for stills, Extreme Plus and Extreme Pro are good for burst shooting and video.  If you want to be extra careful about saving your photos while you're traveling, buy a small sized, but large capacity external hard drive and card reader.

3. Use that lens hood

By Geni - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25176998

If your lens came with a hood, use it.  Lens hoods serve two purposes.  Firstly, they help with glare and lens flare, which may not be something you're really interested in.  Secondly, they do a great job of protecting your lens, which you should be interested in.  Your camera will get knocked around on your trip, especially if you're wearing it around your neck all day.  Cameras can take some gentle knocks, but you want to protect the glass of the lens from getting scratched or cracked.  Hoods do that.  If you leave the hood extended, you don't have to use a lens cap.  Lens caps are really mostly for storing lenses.  I only use a cap if there's a lot of stuff flying through the air like sand or water.  Caps block the lens making it impossible to take pictures.  Removing and replacing your cap takes time away from taking pictures and you'll probably miss shots.  The hood will protect your lens just fine while leaving it ready to shoot when you need to.  Also, if you have a hood on your lens, don't leave it in storage position (which hinders operation and serves no purpose), flip it around!  If your lens didn't come with a hood, seriously consider picking one up.

4.  Invest in a comfy strap or bag

When most people travel with a large camera, they prefer to keep it hanging from their necks.  If this is the route you want to go, that's ok, but do yourself a favor and invest in a comfortable strap.  Camera manufacturers make great cameras, they do not make great straps.  If you're going to carry a sizable camera from your neck all day, it's going to get uncomfortable using the manufacturer's strap.  BlackRapid is probably the most popular aftermarket strap company out there and they have a lot of options for comfortable neck or shoulder straps.  You can find these at your shop, and, of course, there's always plenty of other options online.  My favorite brand is Holdfast Gear, BlackRapid is more affordable.  Get yourself a comfy strap.

Think Tank Photo's Retrospective 5 Bag.
Photo via Think Tank

Or, better yet, get a nice bag.  Using a bag instead of a strap is more inconspicuous.  If you prefer to travel a little more under the radar, then you won't want to keep the camera around your neck for everyone to see.  Bags are the solution.  I prefer shoulder bags so I can get at my stuff faster, but whatever you prefer get a bag with a comfortable strap system, easy access, and good protection.  Think Tank is my favorite brand.  Several Lowepros have fallen apart on me.  If you just have one camera and up to one extra lens, you can just get a padded insert to stick inside a bag you already own.  If you really don't want people to know you have a camera on you, then this is your best solution.  Or you can get a more expensive designer camera bag.




5.  For the love, clean your camera and change lenses properly!!

The other day, we were standing on a hill overlooking the coast of Ireland.  It was very exposed and very windy.  I watched in horror as someone nearby removed their lens from the body, faced into the wind, and started blowing inside the body and lens with their mouth.  I actually shouted at them, which surprised both of us.  Sorry, whoever you are, but it was kinda like watching someone deliberately keying their own car.  Here's the thing, cameras have some delicate bits inside of them, and they can be easily damaged.  You don't want to damage these bits because your camera won't be able to do its job anymore, and it will be really expensive to get the bits replaced.  What are these bits?  When you look inside a DSLR (no matter the brand) when the lens is off, you're looking at this, the inner chamber:

By Kārlis Dambrāns  - Canon EOS 70D, CC BY 2.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29711357

The mirror you're looking at is the reflex mirror that allows you to frame the scene when you're looking through the viewfinder or rear screen.  It flips up when you hit the shutter button to expose the sensor (more on that in a second).  This is a delicate little mirror, you don't want to touch it or get anything on it.  Even though the mirror is in front of the sensor, it doesn't really protect it in any way.  If you decided to buy a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera- Sony Alpha, Olympus OM-D or Pen, Fujifilm X Series, etc. that sensor is totally exposed when you remove the lens. The sensor is a very delicate component to the camera.  If the sensor is damaged, your camera won't work the way it's supposed to.  In fact, serious damage, which is what a scratch, water, and skin oil is, will make the camera useless.  It is very easy to get dust in this chamber, in fact it's inevitable.  Small little bits of dust aren't that big of deal, but big bits like grains of sand, plant debris, and hairs are and can scratch and destroy your sensor. You don't want anything visible with the naked eye getting near your sensor.  So, if you remove your lens when you're in a windy place stuff will get in that chamber.  And, if you continue doing that you will damage your camera.  Guaranteed.  This is how to avoid ruining your mirror and sensor:

Change lenses when you're indoors and out of the wind as much as possible.  Do not remove the lens when it is very windy, just make do with your set up. If the conditions are ok and you can't get indoors, then here's how you can change lenses quickly and safely.  Make sure, make absolutely sure that the camera is off.  If it isn't, the sensor acts like a magnet for dust.  Position the other lens in an orientation that makes it easy to click it into place quickly (make sure the little orienting dot or square is already in the right spot) and loosen its rear element cap ahead of time.  Then, with the front of the camera body facing downwards, remove the first lens.  Set it down with the hood extended or cap in place front downwards on a flat and stable surface or in the hand of your assistant ;-), then switch the rear cap onto it from the second lens.  Then, click the second lens into the camera body.  This is one of the things you should practice before your trip.  You should be able to do this quickly, kinda like a gunslinger practicing their draw.

Giotto's Ind. Inc.

Now, if you do notice some dust or a hair towards the front the body chamber, you can get it out if you're careful.  Do not, do not, do not, use your mouth to blow it out.  Doing so will just blow saliva in there which will make things worse.  You're also likely to blow the offending material further into the chamber.  Use one of the blowers shown on the left.  The one here is probably the most popular out there, but you can find an effective model at most camera shops.  They're designed to blow away dust and hairs without blowing new things onto the surface.  Remember, keep whatever you're cleaning facing downwards so what is being blown off doesn't just fall back into place again.  If you're blowing things out of the camera chamber, the best way is to hook it up to a tripod so you don't risk handshake.  Remember, you don't want anything visible with the naked eye touching the mirror or the sensor, and that means the tip of the blower.  Be very, very careful while cleaning the chamber.  Never clean the interior of your camera while you're outdoors.

Overtime the sensor may get enough dust on it to become an issue, ie. you spend a lot of time removing spots from all your photos with your software.  The best way to get it cleaned is to pack the camera up and ship it to the manufacturer.  A lot of professionals don't trust themselves to clean sensors, so letting Canon or Nikon (or whatever manufacturer made your camera) handle it is totally respectable.  Visit the manufacture's website or consult your manual for more information.  Several camera stores also offer this service, and if they screw it up they will replace the camera for you.  This is expensive, so you can decide to clean the sensor yourself.  I'm not going to go into the steps on this, but you can find information online easily or get some instruction at your camera shop.  Keep in mind, however, that if you screw it up you will have to replace your camera.  There's no going back.

When you need to clean your lens or filters (and you will), this is a far less intimidating venture.  Once again, don't blow on them with your mouth.  Also, don't use your t-shirt or even that lens cloth sewn into the camera bag (because it's probably dirty).  Use a lens pen brush to swipe away dust on filters or front elements and the pen element to remove finger prints or other marks.  Once again, you don't have to go with the LENSPEN brand, there are comparable tools available at most shops.  Use a blower to clean the rear element of your lens.  Also, make sure to clean off caps and hoods regularly.

Treating your camera properly means that you and your camera can keep traveling together and you won't miss out on capturing memories!

6.  Keep your camera safe

Besides protecting your new camera from physical damage through proper handling and good storage, also remember to protect it from theft.  Don't leave your camera sitting outside on sidewalk cafe tables or other surfaces where they can be easily snatched.  Keep your camera bag on you.  Don't leave it visible in the car, heck, don't leave your camera in the car period.  If you're in a crowded area, be mindful of your surroundings and keep your bag or strap crossways on your body or the strap around your neck.  Don't casually walk with the camera strap over your shoulder.  If you're going somewhere and you don't want to take the camera with you, use your hotel safe.  If your room doesn't have a safe, then you'll have to take the camera with you.  Your camera is expensive, but it is also the way to document your trip.  It is pretty irreplaceable.

7.  Put your camera away from time to time

Eat your dinners, don't photograph them.  Study the wonders of the museums with your eyes, don't worry about taking a picture of them.  Spend time with your travel companions, don't be obsessed with getting selfies at every landmark you come across.  Photograph the things that matter to you, not all the minutia.  If you're too focused on your camera, you're missing the full experience of your trip.  I've had trouble with this one quite a bit, and I'm still learning to step back and put the camera away without always worrying about a lost shot.  If you can manage a little photographic self control on your journey, you will have a more enjoyable experience and probably better pictures too.  Oh, and here's a little bonus tip: buy postcards of famous museum pieces.  Those photographs are much better than anything you will get in a dark room with glass in the way.  Take in that object as it is before you, leave the camera in the bag.


Hopefully, these tips will help you on your first or next trip.  We've all made mistakes.  I quickly discovered how important it is to have a good camera strap, for example.  Whether this is your first DSLR or not, it's important that it improves your travel experience and doesn't take away from it.  Enjoy your camera, enjoy your journey!