Should I Bring my Camera to Camp?

[Tel]

I'm debating whether or not to bring my Camera to Camp. While it is a Christian Camp (Surprise! I'm not Christian!), I have heard about things going "missing".

It is a beautiful place, (been there 4 years before) and I've never "lost" anything there, but again, heard stories.

I am going to mark it with my name, and tape a tag on it, but still. I really don't wanna lose my camera, as I've put about 400 $ into it.

So, should I take my Camera to camp?

If this is in the wrong section, please move it.

[mjs1973]

Take it! Be sure to keep an eye on it, or keep it with you at all times and you shouldn't have a problem. You will regret not having it!

I went to Jamaica for a week and decided to leave all my digital gear at home because I had heard stories. I still regret that I didn't take it. I shot a lot of film that trip, but really wish I would have had my digital gear, and some lenses I left home.

[freygr]

I'm debating whether or not to bring my Camera to Camp. While it is a Christian Camp (Surprise! I'm not Christian!), I have heard about things going "missing".

It is a beautiful place, (been there 4 years before) and I've never "lost" anything there, but again, heard stories.

I am going to mark it with my name, and tape a tag on it, but still. I really don't wanna lose my camera, as I've put about 400 $ into it.

So, should I take my Camera to camp?

If this is in the wrong section, please move it.

If I'm worrying about it, take some disposable cameras, or find a cheap digital camera. But no mater what you take you can't leave it unattended in plain site as it will be too much of a temptation for some.

[poker]

You should take it but protect it. Bring to it with you everywhere even if you are not going to use it. You don't have to worry about something if it is always on you.

Be one with the gear

[walterick]

Take a cheap camera, not an expensive one, and especially not one that LOOKS expensive. Kids will be kids...

[livin4lax09]

don't take it. I worked at a summer camp last year. trust me, you don't want it there. Just get a cheap/disposable one.

the other suggestions are good but not very realistic. you won't take your camera with you everywhere, as much as you like it/make it a point to do it. It just won't happen. Don't risk it. I brought my 35mm SLR to camp last year and even as a counselor I still was worried about it. And mind you, these kids were from VERY rich families. again, don't risk it.

if you really want a camera there, buy a cheap 35mm SLR. films better for landscapes anyways, so why not? Yes it will be a little bit more of a hassle, but it will also give you an opportunity to play around with 35mm.

[MonkeyWrench]

I would not take my main camera. I would invest as others have suggested in a cheap point and shoot digitial. You want to enjoy the camp and not have to worry about your gear all the time.

[schrackman]

Church camp is a blast! I used to teach in church camp for many years, and my favoite group was the 10-11 year olds.

You might also want to ask the camp operators or church staff if there is a locker at camp in which you can put your camera when you're not using it. Bring a combo lock or something and that way it'll be safe all the time.

Personally, I would not want be without my best camera if I wanted some good pictures from camp. But if you just want snapshots, the suggestion about a disposable camera is the way to go.

[poker]

Hard decision after all this yes/no advice for our young photog. I lost a camera back in highschol but I blame myself for that. Otherwise, I've brought my camera to all types of situations (including youth camps) but since I consider it as important as a body part, I'm pretty mindful of it.

Tel, maybe it is best to be on the safe side. We want you to keep taking pictures and you can't do that if something happens to your camera. You can do a nature shoot someother time in the future, you're still young Try 'gulp' disposable.

[livin4lax09]

there's digital disposables now! a ton of kids had them at camp last year. Though they're pretty crappy. Wasn't there a pro photographer who did all his work with disposables?

[another view]

I'd go with an inexpensive digital (last year's model, low resolution, etc - $100 should give you several options). Like walterick said, the Drebel looks expensive - not to say that $400 isn't a lot of money but a lot of people won't know the difference between it something that costs thousands.

Personally I'd probably take my Olympus 720SW. Waterproof to 10', shock resistant (can handle being dropped) and it's the size of a deck of cards so it'll fit in a pocket. They were fairly expensive when they came out but since there's a new version of it out you might find a deal on one.

[Tel]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I appreciate it.

I do have a Backup Camera, But it eats Batteries as fast as Kobiyashi eats Hot Dogs (Hot Dog Eating Champion). Its an Olympus C-4000Z with 128MB of Smart Media (which is slow.)

And I don't honestly think my Drebel looks expensive. Honestly from the front, it looks like it'd be a Film Camera.

But I have No money, and I'm leaving on Monday. So should I take my Drebel, or The Battery Eating Machine (Oly C-4000Z)?

[Mr Yuck]

get some NIMH batteries for the battery eater, they last longer than the disposable batteries (AA I assume)

When you're in an active setting, a DSLR is gonna be a pain to lug around. A compact digital will be a great back pocket camera. (I'd suggest picking up a Canon Powershot in the future, I take one of mine pretty much everywhere I go)

[Tel]

Hmm, I should do that.

Sure, I won't be taking Pro pictures, but still.

I'll probably be doing that.

[Mr Yuck]

Hmm, I should do that.

Sure, I won't be taking Pro pictures, but still.

I'll probably be doing that.

I'd recommend picking up a 1hr charger, maybe one that will plug directly into a wall outlet

something like this one

It only comes with 2 batteries, I complained and they gave me a $5 off coupon for my next order

You can get something like that at a physical store too, but I have the sunpak one and it's great. Charges the batteries fully, no problems.

[livin4lax09]

drebels look expensive. If it's silver, and big, non-photographers usually think it's worth quite a bit. The reality is, it's the black bodies that are the true value ;)

[mikeb380]

Hmm, I should do that.

Sure, I won't be taking Pro pictures, but still.

I'll probably be doing that.

Tel, having a camera you don't use is rediculous. I've carried all kinds of cameras from a speed graphic to a pair of Canon F1s all over the world, including in high school. I still do that, including my Drebel and F1 as well as others.

If you are living with parents, get them to add a floater policy on your camera to their home owners insurance. I got an apartment dwellers policy with coverage on my cameras ( I have about 40 of them) Best thing is to get a policy with replacement value.It's a bit more costly but not near as costly as only getting a half or quarter of replacement.

I had an incident years ago when I was hired to shoot sail boat races from another boat on the water. It decided to be very inclement, raining, overcast, etc, but I had committed myself, so I went, F1 in hand and several lenses. I did put the camera in plastic bags to help keep it dry but still had spray off the bow. One of the guys on the boat told me I'm crazy to bring an expensive camera out there. My response was that the camera is useless if I can't use it. Go for it tel. If you don't you'll be kicking yourself all during camp.

Good Luck
Michael