Tips for Travelling with Your Camera
If you have an expensive digital camera the last thing you want to do is see it damaged or broken. If you are going on holiday the chances of this happening increase exponentially as you are always carrying your camera or throwing into overhead compartments. So how can you protect both your camera and the holiday snaps you will be taking with it?
Here are the most important things to consider when travelling with your camera:
- Packing your camera correctly
- Using a protective case for your camera
- Awareness of your surroundings
- Keeping an eye on your camera
If you do all of these things properly you will reduce the chances of your camera being damaged, broken or (heaven forbid!) stolen.
Packing Your Camera Correctly
Just throwing your camera into your backpack or suitcase really isn’t the best way to transport an expensive Sony, Canon or Olympus digital camera. Treat your camera as if it is a fine china plate, after all, it is an expensive electronic item with many delicate parts. If you do need to store your camera in your luggage make sure it has lots of padding around it. You can even use your clothes to keep your camera safer and more secure.
Using Protective Cases
An even better way of making sure your camera is safer when it is in your luggage or out on a jungle safari is to have a good, solid case. While soft cases are great and a lot lighter than metal ones they are still liable to see your camera unprotected in the case of a very harsh impact. You might consider putting some cardboard in the sides of your soft case when it is travelling in your luggage to give it extra protection.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Most damage to cameras occurs due to a lapse in concentration. If you are in, for example, a busy market place the chances of being bumped are very high. You need to be especially careful of your camera when you are near water or it is raining. For this you should have a good, strong camera strap and buy a camera bag that has a wet weather cover for when it rains. Water and technology never play well together!
Never Leave Your Camera Unattended
In many countries you might travel in (your home country included) cameras are a great target for thieves. Think about if you were a thief and you saw an expensive camera just sitting on a table. It would be like an invitation wouldn’t it? If you have your camera with you hang it around your neck, at least then it won’t be quite as easy to steal.
Also be careful when your camera is in your luggage as many thieves will go through bags to find goodies. Buy a good padlock for your luggage when travelling and avoid cheap ‘travel locks’. If you can, have a lock on your camera bag so that it is at least a deterrent to potential thieves. Always keep your camera safe on holidays as you want to have some pictures to take back and show your friends and family!
