Who Takes a Separate Camera for Travel Now?  I loved the pictures from my iPhone5 and the ease of posting them everywhere, right from my phone seemed to tip the scales against buying a new camera to carry when traveling.

But after reading Ann Tran’s post on the Galaxy Samsung Camera, I was forced to reconsider.  This was before I was invited to become a Verizon Ambassador so my opinions were not swayed by that relationship.  I looked at Ann’s pictures and comments and thought it was worth a try.  (And worth the extra weight of yet another additional gadget when traveling.)  For my travel writing, social media work and travel consulting, it has become my most essential tool.  Here’s why.

The Samsung Galaxy camera is really a small computer, you can post, email and do everything with your photos that you can do from any phone.  AND it takes exceptional pictures with so many features, I am yet to learn them all.  I can post using 3G and wifi so when I travel abroad there is no need for an additional data plan.  Most importantly, for this never organized traveler, I have it set up to automatically download pictures to my Google Plus account whenever wifi enabled.  These pictures are not posted but are downloaded and dated for my future use for all social media and articles.  Finally, a camera that helps me get my photos organized without me thinking about it.   Allelulia!

But there is one feature that you will not read about in the literature and one that came in very handy during my latest trip.  You can use it as top of the line binoculars.  Really.

I just returned from an unbelievable trip “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” with noted author and historian Alison Weir.  I will be writing much more about this exceptional trip, but for now will try to focus on the photography and my Samsung camera.

Alison Weir and David Starkey at Hever Castle
Alison Weir and David Starkey at Hever Castle

I carried both my iPhone and Samsung Galaxy camera to every site but inevitably I would default to using the Samsung for all photos.

Alison’s tours are about exclusive access to sites and other notable authors.   Many of these sites were in darker castles, cathedrals and places where lighting was low and objects faded.   So iphone photos were often blurred in the low lighting and the zoom pictures often pixalated.   And as you will see below,  the flowers in England were in full bloom.  I love the colors and none of these are filtered!  These are sites and moments I would not trust to anything but the best, and am so glad I made the decision to purchase this camera.   Additionally,  four of my fellow travelers were so impressed with my photos that they are now purchasing a Samsung Galaxy camera too.

And the binoculars thing?  Check out the last photo of the “Imp” or “Devil” of Lincoln Cathedral.  This figure is the iconic image of the Cathedral, the burial place of  Henry’s first wife, Katharine of Aragon.  When we were all trying to find it on the ceiling, I zoomed in on my camera and was able to show everyone the details of the Imp that we could barely see at all with the naked eye.  So maybe now I will no longer travel with binoculars—thereby cutting down on my travel weight and gadgets, but I will now never leave home without my Samsung Galaxy.

Queen Katharine of Aragon's Tomb at Lincoln Cathedral.  First of Henry VIII's Six Wives
Queen Katharine of Aragon’s Tomb at Lincoln Cathedral. First of Henry VIII’s Six Wives
Lavender and Butterfly at Sudeley Castle
Lavender and Butterfly at Sudeley Castle
Gardens of Sudeley Castle
Gardens of Sudeley Castle
Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's childhood home
Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home
Hampton Court Palace Gardens
Hampton Court Palace Gardens
More Gardens at Hampton Court Palace
More Gardens at Hampton Court Palace
The "Imp" or "Devil" in ceiling of Lincoln Cathedral
The “Imp” or “Devil” in ceiling of Lincoln Cathedral

 

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