This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Thrifty Thursdays feature photographs taken with equipment costing less than $500.
[Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 - $295]
10 pounds of camera gear is my typical burden when I go out photographing. That's small compared to what the big wildlife guys with their telephoto lenses lug around, but still a bit much when I'm on vacation.
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If I'm not planning to sell images, I often just grab a pocket-sized digicam. My Panasonic Lumix worked just fine for a pleasant evening walk around Bright, Australia. The sunset was lovely- it brought light levels within the limited dynamic range of the camera- and I was able to get a perfectly facebookable* image without turning a casual stroll into a full expedition.
*Yes, this is a real word.