Which Camera For Your Italian Vacation?

Photographs are mandatory on your vacation in Italy. Nothing will capture the memories of what may become a once-in-a-lifetime trip better than photos of all the places you visit and people you meet.

For Amateur Photographer

If you don't ever plan to take up photography as a hobby and are more interested in capturing the moment just for it's memory, then one of the best cameras to consider is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1. This is a rugged little camera that is both waterproof and shockproof. You can afford to be far less careful with how you treat this camera and concentrate more on simply getting your snapshots.

Buy it in this bright orange color, and you'll be less likely to forget it at a cafe, restaurant, or in a bathroom.

For The Hobbyist Photographer

If you like to take attractive, well-constructed photos that will become more than just memories and a pleasure to show to others but still don't want to become obsessed with photography, one of most enjoyable point-and-shoot cameras to work with is the new Olympus SP-800UZ. With 14 megapixels and a 30x optical zoom lens, this camera has nearly as much photgraphic power as a digital SLR at a fraction of the price.

This camera will give you years of service. In fact, the only time you will need to upgrade is if you become a professional photographer.

For Professional Photographers

As a professional photographer, you already have photographic equipment that makes you the pro that you are. So no suggestions are needed, but a couple of tips might be in order. Italy is full of photo opportunities, but try to limit the amount of equipment you bring on your first trip to Italy. You don't want to spend all your time composing "perfect" shots and forget that you are on vacation in Italy. In fact, unless you plan to use your photos in a travel article or submit them to travel magazines, you may be better off using a point-and-shoot camera like the Olympus SO-800UZ mentioned above.