Baja camera thoughts…

I promised to make a recommendation about cameras for our upcoming Baja adventure, so here we go. I guess I should start by saying the best camera to use is the one you feel comfortable with. Some folks are seriously into photography (I’m one of them). Photo geeks like me go all out with our digital cameras, extra lenses, flash gear, and more. I’ve got all the bells and whistles and photography doo-dads, but I don’t bring all that stuff with me on these trips. As I said in an earlier blog, the trick is to travel light.

The assumption here is that you’re going to want to capture some of Baja’s incredible scenery and good times. A cell phone camera might be good enough for that. If you want more, you might want a point-and-shoot camera (the kind that slips into your pocket). I’m not an expert on those, so I won’t give any guidance other to say you should make sure you know how to operate your camera before the Baja trip.

If you want more from a camera, you might consider a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. I use a Nikon D3300, Nikon’s entry-level DSLR (they are up to the D3400 now). Don’t let that entry-level descriptor fool you, though. These cameras have impressive capabilities. You can pick them up at Costco for under $500, which is an exceptional deal. I’m familiar with Nikon equipment, but any of the modern DSLRs are equally as good (Canon, Pentax, etc.). I have a 64 GB card in my camera and I’ve never been able to fill it (I download the day’s photos to my laptop every night). Although I own several lenses, the 18-55 lens that comes with the Nikon may be the only one I’m bringing. I carry a battery charger and an extra battery with me, and I keep it all in a small Tamrac camera case.

My camera bag, which fits nicely in the RX3’s top case. I took this photo with my cell phone, which delivers just so-so image quality.

A spare battery, the D3300 Nikon with its 18-55 lens, and the battery charger (it all fits into the Tamrac case). This is a great DSLR camera with more capability than most folks will ever need.

Regarding video, your cell phone may be good enough (good buddy Joe Gresh does amazing things with a cell phone video camera). My D3300 Nikon has video capability and I use it when I’m not on the bike. When I’m on the bike, I use my Go Pro and a helmet mount. I operate the Go Pro remotely with my phone because it’s impossible to tell if the camera is on or off when it’s on my helmet. Using my cell phone mandates a Ram mount and that’s one more thing you’ll need to add to your bike. We sell the Ram mounts, so give us a call if you need one.

Folks, that’s about it. Shoot me an email if you have specific photo questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. We’re going to see amazing sights in Baja and you’ll regret not having a camera if you don’t bring one. Hey, you may even want to write a book about this trip!