| Photographing Paradise |
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For our upcoming trip I have purchased a Nikon N60 with two lenses, a Nikkor 28-80 mm lens and a Quantaray 100-300 mm lens.
The advantage of this higher end, and more expensive, camera is that I will have a choice of either using auto focus or manual focus as well as auto, aperture-priority auto, or manual exposure modes. I will also have the ability to use different filters on the camera.
The advantages of this type of camera in Hawaii cannot be underestimated. The sun in Hawaii is very bright and the ability to use a polarizing filter will make for much better pictures. When filming near a beach, wind-blown sand is a problem which can damage an unprotected lens. You should also have a filter on your camera lens for protection of the optics. A basic UV filter will do the trick.
Orchids in the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens
Photo by John Fischer
In many places in Hawaii, an auto focus lens cannot focus precisely on the object that you really wish to emphasize. Distant shots of Hawaii's breathtaking beauty, as well as close-ups of flowers and plants, are much easier when you have full control of the camera's focus.
There are many places in Hawaii where you will see the advantages of a 100-300 mm zoom lens. You will appreciate the ability to zoom in close from a great distance, whether on a whale breaching in the ocean, the lava flowing from Kilauea into the Pacific Ocean, or even just someone walking on a beach.
Hawaii is the perfect place to take panoramic photos. Pictures of a long white sand beach, a high waterfall, a beautiful valley, or the Kilauea Caldera on the Big Island are excellent examples.
Waipio Valley - Big Island of Hawaii
Panoramic Photo by John Fischer
Long past are the days when the only panoramic cameras available cost $20 in a store, and were disposed off when you were done.
Today you can but a camera that is exclusively a panoramic camera, or purchase of the new Advantix cameras that offer you the ability to shoot both standard and panoramic photos.
I own a Ricoh R1 which is a 24mm wide panoramic camera that offers both a standard panoramic setting as well as a super wide panoramic setting.
Panoramic photos are best taken of very special places. Prints remain somewhat expensive to develop and there are very few inexpensive photo albums available to display your photos. These cameras also do a much better job when there is plenty of light. They do not tend to do well in dark or cloudy settings. They do not handle moving subjects well.
On an average trip I may shoot 25-30 rolls of standard photos and about 4-5 rolls of panoramic photos.
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