Vacation with prosumer camera?

F

firehawk

Veteran
Flying with some family to around Boston and Maine to see foilage, lighthouses, etc.
Am wanting to take my Nex ea50 to shoot some pretty scenery. I never took a pro looking camera on vacation so I'm wondering if I should expect problems with places not allowing me to shoot, etc due to the camera not looking like a consumer handycam. It is my personal camera, but they won't know that.

I want to use it because of the image quality and it also takes stills. My DSLR doesn't do video.
My hmc150 is smaller, but not as sharp, nor does it take stills plus it doesn't look like a consumer camera either.
 
Walked around NYC with an HVX200A. Took it on the subway, atop the Empire State Building, inside the Rockefeller Center, etc. Different places have different rules. Here in CA, the Santa Monica Pier has everyone sign a waiver that the footage won't be used commercially. Museums that have a photography policy may not allow professional video cameras at all because of their size, or may allow video/photos to be taken in the permanent exhibits but not the temporary ones. Brought the camera inside the San Diego Zoo with no question, though I asked the box office beforehand.

The size of the camera will draw more attention, regardless of the rules that apply. The downside is because of it's size, means longer setup times if you're trying to get really nice shots, and carrying it in general can become a pain. I put my HVX inside of a regular backpack (with padding of course) and didn't bring a tripod or even a monopod so I could keep moving through NYC. I got a lot of nice footage that I could use as stock footage later or just have as nice vacation footage. I could take the camera out, shoot what I wanted, and put it away and still enjoy the trip. You may not want the burden of carrying it around and not being able to put it conveniently away and just enjoy your vacation without being glued to your camera. If there's other people with you, they'll be waiting for you to get your shots, and you'll have that pressure too.
 
Put on a tight fitting Hawaiian shirt, high water pants, cut your hair into a mullet then walk slow, look dumb and act stupid.... You will be fine.

Just kidding of course, but if you are with you family just tell the truth that you are on vacation and taking home movies. You should be fine. If you are taking a camera like that into a big city I would suggest putting a shoulder strap on it and wearing it across your body. This is to keep snatch and run types from trying to steal it.
 
David G. Smith said:
Put on a tight fitting Hawaiian shirt, high water pants, cut your hair into a mullet then walk slow, look dumb and act stupid.... You will be fine.

Just kidding of course, but if you are with you family just tell the truth that you are on vacation and taking home movies. You should be fine. If you are taking a camera like that into a big city I would suggest putting a shoulder strap on it and wearing it across your body. This is to keep snatch and run types from trying to steal it.
Click to expand...

Agreed. That was a lot of quote to just say agreed... but yes. :beer:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top