Travel Photography: What to Pack

In my opinion, skip the 200 speed films as there really isn't any need for them. ISO 100 speed film with a flash will cover anything the 200 speed film can and you will just end up with less quality and no benefits. Also skip the ISO 1000 speed if you are not used to dealing with high-speed films. Many of the simpler cameras won't handle this type of film and a lot of the one-hour photo processing places won't develop it.

Confused by all the film choices? Here are a few simple ideas. If you are using a simple point and shoot zoom camera, try a couple rolls of the new ISO800 films for prints to put into an album and share with friends. A standard multipurpose film to use is a 400 speed film. If you are going to a sunny destination, pack mainly ISO 100 speed films with a couple of rolls of 400 speed for sunsets, indoors and nighttime shots.

Here is a great online resource to help you pick just the right film for your vacation. Kodak Film Finder

Batteries

Be sure to pack extra batteries for each piece of equipment you plan to bring. This seems like a no brainer, but it can be a pain if your battery starts to run low while on vacation. Many of the specialized photo batteries are extremely hard to find and can cost a fortune in a tourist destination. Even if the batteries in the camera are new, still bring along some extras. Using the flash burns up a lot of battery power and it is always better to have a couple of extra batteries on hand.

Back-up Camera:

If possible, you should always pack a small lightweight back-up camera just in case. A simple point and shoot, APS, or digital camera can come in handy if your main unit fails for any reason. Keep it light and keep it simple. No need to lug tons of photo equipment with you.

How to pack:

Pack your film like the professionals. Remove all the plastic canisters from the boxes. If you are traveling on a commercial airline, remove the film canisters from the plastic cases as well. Place a small white label on the actual film canister, being careful not to cover over the bar code area. The film should be numbered from 1 to whatever. Why is this important? Because each time you load or unload

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