It's amazing how easy it is to document your group travel adventures these days. Whether it's video or photos, options abound and they've gotten much more affordable in recent years. Add these items to your media gadget collection and you'll never forget any moment of your group tour.
1. Go Pro Video Camera. This camera is popular with the adventure crowd. You can buy attachments for your chest, head, etc. to capture your adventure from a first person perspective. It's also waterproof. So you can use it while skiing, mountain biking, white water rafting, etc. But don't limit the camera to just that! Your student travel group can also document every bit of your trip to a historical site or art museum. This is the investment to make if you want to capture every moment to relive after you are home.
2. Digital Camera. Obviously photos are a great way to document your group travel adventure. While many people have grown accustomed to using their cell phones as cameras, there are some great higher quality digital cameras on the market. Before you start splitting hairs over things like megapixels and zoom, decide which type of camera will work best for you. The most basic and user friendly cameras are point and shoot. They do everything automatically so there's no need to have any photography training. If you want to take a step up, learn some photography skills, and take some more professional photos, consider investing in a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Both of these have lens options and take more in depth learning to use, but they also add flexibility and quality to your photos. One other option to consider is video. Cameras in all of the categories come with this option and it can be a great way to get more use out of your investment.
3. Portable Camera Lens. If you prefer to limit the amount of things you're hauling around, you can also increase the quality and flexibility of your phone's camera with a portable lens. These attach directly to your phone. The most common lenses are macro (for up close & detailed photos), wide angle (for taking in more of the view - perhaps at the Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore), and fish eye. You may think of fish eye as a silly filter for selfies, but when used to take landscape photos, they can take in a panorama of 180 degrees all at once. There are quite a few of these lenses on the market and they aren't as expensive as you might think. While a digital camera lens can cost you hundreds of dollars, you can get a set of all three for your phone for around $20.
4. A Remote Trigger & Miniature Tripod. When traveling with a group, you will definitely want to take group photos in front of your favorite spots. This set of gadgets is a great way to do just that without having to bother a stranger who happens to be walking by. Set up the tripod and then use the remote trigger to click away. The tripod can also help you take blur free photos by reducing camera shake. You can purchase these triggers and tripods in a set for less than $20.
5. Laser Keyboard. A picture is worth a thousand words but as we progress to a more visually driven society, writing is becoming more scarce and consequently, more valuable. Written memories can contain something that picture and video can't. When you write, you can document emotion, connection, and personal epiphanies. Keeping a journal is a great way to document your trip. Combined with your tablet, a laser keyboard can make this easier than ever. If you aren't familiar with the concept, a laser projects a keyboard onto a solid surface so you can use it to type into your tablet. Because it is about the size of a battery, it's a great option for traveling.
Group tours are wonderful experiences that you will want to remember for the rest of your life. Don't risk forgetting anything. Add these gadgets to your collection and keep the memories for a lifetime.
Have you read Part 1? FOUNDATION ITEMS
Have you read Part 2? OPTIMIZING YOUR MOVIE/TV EXPERIENCE
