TheOldBear

Hey folks,

 

We just got back from a cruise and i think its time to upgrade our "vacation" camera. Previously we would take our Canon T1i and few lens when we go on holidays or cruise, well over time that got annoying lugging it around. So past few years we ended up just taking our waterproof Panasonic Lumix dmc-ts3 12.1mp. It was good for portability but picture quality was ok. Not the best not the worst.

 

So now wanting to upgrade our camera. Can anyone suggest a good point and shoot. Waterproof or not. Just looking for something that takes good low light shots nice to carry around for travels. Or should i got mirrorless like sony a6000?

 

Thanks in advance

Waterproof cameras have many compromises to make a waterproof package [slow lens, slow focus, tiny sensor].

There are cameras that are in between the waterproof / travel zoom cameras and the interchangeable lens camera. Two examples of this are the Fuji X100, and the Ricoh GR. Both have large sensors [similar in size to a SLR camera], fast fixed lenses, and can produce high quality images. The Fuji has an interesting hybrid viewfinder between an optical peep viewfinder and electronic, and handles like a classic rangefinder camera.

Other examples are the Canon 'G' series, and Fuji X30 - these use larger sensors than most, brighter lenses and have a zoom range optimized for taking pictures of people [from wide angle to a good 'portrait' length].

Still a third example would be a smaller interchangeable lens camera - like the 'micro four thirds' from Olympus or Panasonic.

And for comparison - I have a Panasonic FZ-50 'bridge' camera, a Fuji F505 'travel zoom' camera, a Panasonic LX7 large sensor compact, and just purchased an Olympus OMD M10 mk2 & a couple of 'kit' lenses.

I bring my old sailing binoculars - Nikon 7x50 waterproof. They are a bit bulky, but we do not have to worry about air transport.

There's another thread on tis forum about selling a Panasonic FZ-200 camera. Perhaps that is worth investigating :)

I'm looking for a new camera for my cruise, saw this one at Costco. I want to take pictures but don't need fancy. Anyone have any advice about this camera?

It's not quite my ideal bridge camera - I will want a viewfinder in addition to the back of the camera. [One reason I keep my old FZ-50 as my walk around camera].

It does have a nice wide angle range for the zoom, and optical stabilization for the tele end [holds the image steady, does nothing for the moving subject].

Now on my second Canon power shot camera and they have been great, easy to use cameras that have served me well. But-- I am an expert of taking pictures of poles and signs. While on bus tours, I click to take a picture and by the time my camera focuses I get the pole in the middle of my picture.

 

Would like recommendation for easy to use Canon camera ( not pricey or complicated one) that I can use to take pictures while I am on bus tours, taking action pics of kids soccer games or even of moving animals on an Africa safari.

Sticking with Canon cameras - you my want to look at a so-called 'bridge' camera. These have a good zoom range [wide to tele], brighter lenses [focus a touch faster] and mostly have electronic viewfinders [fine aiming].

I did a camera feature search over on dpreview and there were several possibilities from Canon's 'S' and 'G' series cameras [the 'G' series are the fancier ones]

Can anyone tell me how much it cost for the different packages for wi-if on the ship? Also can you buy it before the ship sets sail? Thanks so much!

Like most cruise related topics, that will vary with the cruise line. I would suggest looking in two places [assuming you have picked a cruise line]:

• The cruse line forum here on Cruise Critic [listed alphabetically by cruise line name]
  
• The cruise line's web site. This may be a searchable topic under their FAQ section or a 'life on board' section.
  

Booked for 2017 - not even looking at 2018

In fact, a year from today we'll be mid Atlantic heading back to NY :-)

You may want to look at the thread for the Panasonic FZ200 - I have the much older FZ50 model and I've been quite happy with it.

 

These days P&S or 'fixed lens' cameras are mostly

• Long zoom range 'bridge' cameras similar to to the FZ200 [or other models by Canon, Olympus, Sony, Fuji....]
  
• Enthusiast large sensor cameras like Fuji X100 and X30 series, Panasonic LX100
  

Oops - too late to edit - I meant to say cameras with viewfinders. Most are electronic, some interesting versions [the Fuji] have hybrid optical / electronic viewfinders.

Hello: Any recommendations for a point and shoot with a viewfinder? Thanks

You may want to look at the thread for the Panasonic FZ200 - I have the much older FZ50 model and I've been quite happy with it.

These days P&S or 'fixed lens' cameras are mostly

• Long zoom range 'bridge' cameras similar to to the FZ200 [or other models by Canon, Olympus, Sony, Fuji....]
  
• Enthusiast large sensor cameras like Fuji X100 and X30 series, Panasonic LX100
  

Will this storm delay QM-2's arrival in Red Hook, NY on Thursday 8th September or affect passengers flying into NYC to board the ship? If so suspect Halifax will be cancelled so that QM-2 will arrive in Southampton on time on 16th.

 

Any thoughts?

So far this storm has resisted prediction. It seems to be the Zeno's Paradox of storms [approaching but never actually arriving].

Here on Long Island, 'Tropical Storm Conditions' were forecast for yesterday and today - but so far nothing of notice [dry and a bit breezy]. There was an emergency notification misfire calling for the evacuation of Suffolk County. There actually was a 'voluntary evacuation' order for Fire Island, but that was rescinded. Last night's ferry ride was a little cool, but not rough sailing.

The current weather guess from the national hurricane center is at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?5-daynl#contents

I did a quick map search - and there are branches of 'enterprise' and 'dollar' car rentals fairly close to the terminal. [The dollar office shows as much closer]

Enterprise advertises that they will 'pick you up', in practice, that means returning the rental to their office, and then an employee will drive you to a nearby destination. [service included with the rental price].

I would suggest contacting the companies directly, and if possible contacting their Brooklyn affiliates to confirm policies, and the drop off arrangements.

Its a bit of a walk from the brooklyn cruise terminal - but there is a water taxi between Ikea Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan

See https://www.nywatertaxi.com/ikea

There is no early service - but it _might_ be useful to get back to the ship.

I will definitely look into finding a travel agent. Quick question: What's the difference between obstructed and sheltered balcony and would one be better than the other for a winter cruise? From the pics, it looks like a sheltered balcony is like a tiny covered porch with a window... would this better in the colder months?

The 'obstructed' balconies are all on deck 8 - your view is mostly a bright orange tender or lifeboat.

The sheltered balconies on decks 4, 5 & 6 have their balcony inside the ship's main hull, with a large opening from railing height to the overhead. Since is inside the hull, most of the time there is less wind on the balcony - and lower down, so there is less motion.

We've had balcony rooms on both deck 4 and deck 8 - both were quite nice :)

A few years back, on QM2, there were some special activities

• Jack O Lantern display [carved by the chefs], passengers voting on their favorite.
   
  
• The children's program had a costume parade [looks like the costumes were created on board]
   
  
• The last dance session in the Queen's Room had a combined [big] band, and a Halloween theme [some cajun music, light show] some band members were in costume.
  

We just inherited an elderly Akita, after a friend's unexpected death. [Look for 'Sneaky' on Facebook for pictures of her fuzzyness]

As a result, we canceled our planned transatlantic round trip [18 days] for this summer, and will not be planning any prolonged trips for the foreseeable future. For this breed of dog, kennels are entirely out of the question, and even overnight house/puppy sitters are only suitable for long weekend trips.

There is more to stability and seaworthiness than just draft.

Wikipedia has a summary on one of the crucial terms Metacentric Height

A stable design has a righting moment that pushes an inclined [tilted] ship back upright. This is predicted during design, and confirmed in calm conditions by conducting an inclining experiment. [A few years back, after a tour boat on Lake George NY capsized, an inclining experiment on a sister vessel had to be abandoned as too dangerous to complete. All similar vessels were condemned and removed from service].

This is one of many tradeoffs that the naval architect will make when optimizing a design. A ship with extreme initial stability might be most unpleasant as a liner or cruise ship [very short period of roll].

Hi all,

I'm going on my first cruise ever on the Disney Cruise Lines. Kids can't wait to meet the characters. I'm a newbie at using my 50mm f/1.8 lens on the manual mode, so I take soo long to adjust the settings to take each pic. I'm going to be annoying a lot of people waiting in line for the character photos.

I do want to come home with awesome pics. Do I need to get an extra flash? If yes, which one? Is the 50mm a good lens to use inside the ship? I don't want to cut off the character's feet or anything (since I can't zoom out and have to step back quite a bit for the full view). I also have a kit lens 18-135mm that doesn't take as brilliant pics as my 50mm. Any suggestions please??

Why restrict yourself to manual mode [the lens is not an autofocus lens]??

This site is sponsored by an online travel agency - discussion/comparison of online agencies is not permitted here.

That disclaimer out of the way, we are currently in 'wave season' one of the popular discount cruise seasons. Take a look at the 'find a cruse' and 'deals' buttons at the top of the page, and also check on the cruise line's own web site.

As far as picking a room, you can use deck plans along with advice from folks with cruise experience to select a particular room - of you often can book a category 'guarantee' where the cruise line pics the room [at least as nice as you have selected]. Sometimes there is a price break for the guarantee, less often the upgrade fairy waves a magic wand and you get a nicer room.

Take a look in the Cruise/Travel Insurance forum for discussions about this.

Also, a frequently recommended shopping/comparison website is called 'insuremytrip'. As part of the shopping/selection process you can look for 'cancel for work reason' and 'cancel for any reason' options.

Thank you both. I hadn't thought about printing two tags for each bag, but I will now.

I you are printing your own - put a copy inside the bag [belt, suspenders and duct tape level of pessimism ;) ]

Now if we could just figure out who decided the difference between statute miles and nautical miles. Especially since they're both such odd numbers.

The nautical mile is easy - it's defined as a minute of latitude, allowing for easy measurement on nautical charts. [Just use dividers on the latitude scale, instead of printing a distance scale on the chart]

Oh, and a minute is 1/60th of a degree when measuring angles - on earth, the equator is at zero degrees and Santa's Workshop is at 90 degrees North.

Waking this thread up - we are looking at making the round trip on QM2 [no air] with three options

• July Basic roundtrip [M612A]
  
• July with layover [M610A & M611B]
  
• Sept with layover [M617 & M619]
  

If you were doing the four day layover, would you prefer July or September?

What are some "don't miss" things to put on a 4 day layover itinerary? [other than not missing the ship for the return crossing ;) ]

[looks like I need to update my sig]

I have done 4 TA, 3 to Europe and 1 to USA. Just a few thoughts...I was not prepared for the cool weather and would suggest a light cover. I bought a jacket on the ship which I still use. The time change to the east is like 7 time changes. It will affect you. But TAs are my favorite cruise. I would do 2 every year, spring and fall, if not for the horror of the air travel.

That's why we are looking into a summer round trip TA - no flying [only an hour's drive to Brooklyn] and port visits in Halifax and Southampton.

I can't remember if butties are something that has been explained in earlier threads? If not, I would appreciate Toad (of Toad Hall) providing a definition and (please) a photograph.

 

If they look good, maybe Redchad should bring them along?

 

(I'm not sure why it is a ship and not a boat, but I accept this is the proper lingo. Ship-ahoy, matie! But, don't rock the boat)

 

Regards, Jimmybean

Among other distinctions, ships carry boats ;)

She Who Must be Obeyed [my wife ;-) ] says that a balcony is preferred - even if the view is mostly Orange.

So we are planning on a balcony.