Victoria the Land Rover

Digital photography

Practical freedoms

My father gifted me this 1979 CANON FTb as I was a teenager, so forgive me if I still stick with CANONs. I still have it and (like so many old things of that time) it still works like a charm !
The Canon FTb was a carefully designed mechanical camera. It had a smooth shutter action, a generous viewfinder and a clear exposure meter that measured a defined area in the centre of the frame. Film loading was straightforward, thanks to Canon’s QL system, which removed the hassle to thread the film onto a spool.
Its cleverest feature was the depth-of-field preview lever: as a kid, I was in love with it. A press closes the aperture so you can judge the zone of sharpness. Releasing it immediately restores the bright view. It can also be locked in place, while a separate mirror lock-up adds control for deliberate shooting. Canon never reproduced this combination with the same convenience on later bodies, even its professional cameras.

Now... Analog is nice and cute but digital cameras were not just a trend. They did bring concrete advantages: it does make sense (for once) to embrace the change.

With digital, you can validate/delete/reshoot a picture immediately. Photograph action in bursts. Experiment without paying for every (limited) frame.
There is no film to protect from heat or find somewhere someone to develop, at considerable cost per (viable) image.
Most importantly, you can safely store your photographs along the way.

Actually, I don't think the brand matters. Grab the camera that makes you believe you are an artist, that you feel comfy holding it (and that you can afford).

Spend on the lens

Lense shapes; body records

If only one message can be conveyed here: choose your lens more wisely than your camera.

When I purchased my first reflex camera (CANON EOS 450D: entry level body), I was fairly disapointed. For years, I did not get any satisfaction with it. The lens sold with it by default was the EFS 18-55mm IS. How was it possible to not get any fancy picture with such a serious-looking package ?

After 10 years of getting poor results with it, discussing with friends,I attached to this entry level body another lens.. And my world changed !

A capable body cannot compensate for a lens that is poorly suited to the scene. But the contrary does work up to a certain extent: a poor body with the proper lens delivers. The lens really shapes the image; the body just records it... The photographer still has to find the light and the moment !

Spend on the lens (bis)

Fixed focal or zoom

A prime lens is a camera lens with a fixed focal length, meaning it cannot zoom.

Compared with zoom lenses, primes generally offer:

- Better optical quality: often sharper, as fewer optical compromises are made.
- Larger maximum aperture: better low-light performance and background blur.
- Smaller size and weight: true for compact primes. Some fixed focal lenses are huge and weigh a ton.
- Simpler composition: as you physically move closer or farther away instead of zooming.
These comments are valid for the average hobbyist: a premium zoom outperforms by far an inexpensive prime.

The fundamental trade-off is optical specialization vs versatility. A prime lens is optimized for one focal length, while a zoom must perform across a range.

Well, because of that, I must travel with two or three small "prime lenses".

Which one to pack ?

No compromise !

We can't deny that smartphones' cameras are excellent complement in many situations... it is not "them" against "us".

But they have their limits. Simulated background blur in "portraits modes" look artificial and photographing faces exaggerates their proportions, a consequence of perspective that software cannot disguise.
This is where DSLR with a 50mm or 35mm lens give you more control over distance.

For landscape photography, a modern smartphone can produce surprisingly good results, sometimes even more visually appealing straight out of the camera than a DSLR. With a good prime lens, like the popular Canon EF-S 24mm, you preserve natural textures in nature and distant architecture without aggressive computational sharpening. If the main objective is photographing expansive scenery, the Canon EF-S 24mm may actually be too narrow. A 15mm or 18mm lens on the EOS 70D would provide a field of view much closer to a smartphone's main camera.

That is why photographers still bother to carry the extra load: heavier, delicate and expensive, but worth the effort for the faithful memories they want to bring back.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2015)

For portraits and details

Most people default to a 35mm or a wide angle out of habit. Issue is that these can make distant mountains and architecture appear smaller and less imposing. A 50mm lens, when used from farther away to maintain the same subject framing, creates a more compressed perspective, making the background appear closer and more prominent. The 50mm also offers stronger subject separation at the same aperture and framing, producing greater background blur and a more layered, cinematic appearance—particularly attractive for portraits.

A practical portrait example: imagine photographing someone standing in front of a mountain. With a 35mm lens, you stand closer to your subject, making the mountain appear smaller and more distant. With a 50mm lens, you step farther back to maintain the same portrait framing. The mountain then appears larger and closer behind your subject, creating a more balanced, cinematic composition. The difference comes primarily from the change in camera position, rather than the focal length itself.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is my choice:

- Compact and lightweight: it weighs just 160g and is 40mm long.
- Inexpensive: costs around CHF 100 making it one of the most affordable prime lenses available, yet capable of sharp pictures !
- Beautiful background blur: the 7-blade circular aperture creates a soft background separation (bokeh) for portraits.

On the 70D, its framing resembles an 80mm lens on full frame, making it useful for portraits or details of the journey. The reviews usually highlight its metal mount and more reliable focusing than its predecessor, which are valuable qualities for equipment used daily on the road. Its wide f/1.8 aperture helps when daylight fades, allowing faster shutter speeds without flash.
Canon specifications.

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM (2012)

Carryaround lens

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM offers a useful balance for travelling:

- Street photography: the 35mm is a classic and practical choice for everyday street scenes and cars in their surroundings, with more context than the 50mm allows (see below).
- Documentary use: compact and manageable weight (336g), it is easy to keep mounted on your camera all day without fatigue or drawing unwanted attention.
- Low-light shooting: an f/2 aperture lets in more light than a standard kit zoom lens. It gives extra flexibility as daylight fades. Good for evening drives or portraits without flash.

On my EOS 70D, its framing resembles a 56mm lens on full frame, matching human vision closely. This is my favorite day-to-day lens, the one to bring along if only one must be brought.

Canon specifications.

Canon 24mm f/2.8

Wider prime lens

The Canon 24mm f/2.8 is an excellent compromise between wide scenery and everyday photography. Captures buildings, streets and people within their surroundings.

- Moderately wide field of view: captures context without excessive perspective distortion.
- Sharp optics: excellent image quality for its price.
- Compact pancake design: only 125g, discreet and convenient.

- Close focusing: minimum distance of 16cm, useful for photographing details.

On my EOS 70D, with its 1.6× crop factor, a 24mm lens gives approximately the field of view of a 38mm lens. Read below !

Canon specifications.

Protective Bags for DSLR Cameras

Keep your camera safe wherever you go.

We are used to smartphones which are water/dust/shockproof... Well, specialised cameras and lenses are NOT: treat this kit as expedition gear that requires protection. Store it in a padded, dust-resistant bag, secured against bouncing around the cabin. Change lenses out of the wind, carry a blower and clean cloth. Keep it away from rain and direct heat.

Batteries on reflex cameras are made to last weeks without reloading, of course this depending how intensive you are using them. And you can easily carry a spare one.

I shortened a 230v-plugging cable down to less than 5 centimeters, so I can carry it along with its charger.

Finally, the LOWEPRO OFF TRAIL waist pouch was recommended 25 years ago by a fellow traveler, who tested it in Malia's sand desert. He also wisely advised me to cover the jangling pull-tabs with heat shrink tubing. As simple as brilliant ! The bigger Canon 70D mounted with the 35mm just fits in it.

Talking about protection

Filters as extra layer

It's my choice not to use any lens without a filter, used as a protection. I believe it makes sense for cameras that will be used in the rough, thrown away at the back of a Land Rover. It is convenient to clean on the go a dusty filter with a dry cloth. It happens to involontarily leave a big fingerprint right on the front lens. The filter gives you a more relaxed day to day handling of your camera.

It also guarantees you a fair and honest resale process, in case you part with your material at some point. The buyer has, as you do as a seller, peace of mine that the condition of the glass is as-new condition.

As for product choice, the price difference between a $15 Hama filter and an $80 Hoya filter can be justified technically, but rarely in proportion of the difference in photographic results. A protective filter should be optically invisible, yet protect the lens without creating reflections or affecting sharpness. All in all: spend extra for multicoating, not for hardened glass or premium branding.

Daily backups

Hardware can evaporate

Make backups part of the evening routine. Not only to better check on the quality of the pictures using a sharper and bigger screen, but also as a straithforward backup solution. You can buy for a couple of bucks a card reader that plugs directly on a smartphone. Regularly slide the SD card into that reader, plug it to your phone... and the backup is done in seconds.

If your phone has WIFI or network connectivty, along with some backup function (Icloud or Google-similar) your picture are stored remotly within minutes, whatever happens to the hardware.

Equipment can be replaced. The photograph of your friends beside the Land Rover, at the end of a very good day, cannot. I learned that the hard way with a stolen digital camera in Budapest...