- BLUE GEAR
AS TRAVElERS, WE SEE THE PLANET FROM MANY DIFfERENT PERSPECTIVES AND WE NEED THE RIGHT TOOLS TO EXPRESS OUR VISIONS. WE NEED CAMERAS THAT CAN MATCH US, STEP BY STEP, AlONG THE WAY.
Challenging travel situations demand specific types of cameras. Maybe you want a cam- era that can handle it all. Maybe you want a camera that you can take snowboarding as well as into a crowded marketplace in Yemen. Or you're looking for something that can fit into your vest pocket for your next rock climbing expedition. Luckily, the range of photog- raphy equipment out there today can meet everyone of your active needs. I took the following cameras traveling through Africa, Asia, Europe, the US and
the Caribbean to see what they could do. I tested zoom lenses in Africa and tiny point-and- -.-==~=:::=::::~~ shoots on the mountain bike trails of Vermont. On the back roads of India I wanted the most versatile camera possible. And when diving the Caribbean Sea, I needed the most manageable underwater camera. I put these cameras to the test on real adventures and here is what I found.
1_ UNDERWATER CAMERAs
nne'SUi~,nafTa~;crVsfc]I:Clear above-waler shols and adds a kind of dreamy quality 10 Its underwater shots. A user-friendly tum dial allows you to easily adjust settings and it also floats. Canon, 800-0 KCanon, www.uso.canon.com $250
camera very good pictures both in
and out of the water. Whafs best about this camera? It has under- water autofocus, a zoom lens and can also take underwater panoramic shots. And if you accidentally let go of it in the water, it floats! Minolta, 201-825-4000, www.minoltauso.com $473
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