The Travel Camera
If you don't want to stroll the Champs Elysées with a heavy single-lens-reflex camera hanging around your neck like a digital-age albatross, choose a camera that's lightweight but doesn't skimp on features. These two models offer travelers the flexibility they need to accurately capture a variety of settings. The big LCD doesn't hurt, either.
Fujifilm FinePix F10
Price: $370
Photograph: Robert CardinWeighing just 5.5 ounces, Fujifilm's FinePix F10 is tiny and easy to carry on the road. Despite its diminutive size, you get a 3X optical zoom and a large, 2.5-inch LCD. Regrettably, there's no optical viewfinder, which would come in handy when bright sunlight obscures the LCD.
The F10 is particularly well suited for shooting in dimly lit cathedrals and museums--venues where flash photography is often frowned upon: The 6.3-megapixel sensor has an unusually high sensitivity range (topping out at ISO 1600); I was able to capture some nice-looking shots at a concert using a high ISO and no flash. For snorkeling or diving, Fujifilm sells an optional waterproof housing ($179) that promises to protect the camera at depths as great as 130 feet.
To charge the lithium ion battery, you plug the AC power adapter into the F10's mini-USB port. This simple design makes for easy packing in your bag. The F10 is also straightforward to operate, though having only five scene modes may displease some beginners. Images looked sharp and attractive in our lab tests, scoring higher than the SLRs reviewed here.
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Canon PowerShot G6
Price: $600
Photograph: Robert CardinSerious photographers relish travel for its opportunities to create works of art. Though the Canon PowerShot G6's silver body doesn't look like hard-core camera gear, it has all the features you need for photo artistry. Thanks partly to the unit's 7.1-megapixel sensor, shots will have enough detail for framing and enlarging. The 4X optical zoom gives you the flexibility to switch to wide-angle mode for big monuments and scenery, and to telephoto mode for more intimate shots of people and architectural highlights. Auto-exposure bracketing helps you make the most of the available lighting. The G6 is best suited to photographers who are familiar with single-lens reflex cameras: Its shooting modes mimic those of an SLR, and the only scene
modes you get are for portraits, landscapes, and night shots.
Like many advanced cameras, the G6 offers a good range of accessories, though that can translate into more equipment to haul on your travels. The hot shoe can accept a flash gun when you need a more powerful light source than the built-in flash. Among recently tested cameras, the G6 earned one of the highest scores for its photos taken with a built-in flash.
An optional lens adapter tube (about $45) lets you fit converters that can capture a much wider angle ($150), increase the telephoto range to 6X ($100), or reduce the focusing distance for close-ups of small flowers or insects ($90). The camera comes with a wireless remote, so you can put yourself in pictures of exotic locales.
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