sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I always divide my trips into "vacation" and "photo trip". On vacation - with family, etc., I often just take a small point-and-shoot. That way I do not have to hassle with a larger camera, worry about it being stolen, etc. I learned this in "the old days of film" when my wife and I went to Paris - I took along a small Olympus that would fit in my front pants pocket. Along with a 6-inch flexible tripod. It gave fantastic results! If you really want to take the DSLR, just have a 24-105 lens or similar, and set it on automatic, and it should not take much longer than using your cellphone.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Hey, I use my IPAD to take photos...only kidding!!!!
I bring my DSLR, have never had a problem on tours. I am pretty good at taHking images from the bus. I got an honorable mention at a large exhibit for one of my images from Cuba, taken from the bus!!
Here are 2 images I took in Iceland, from the bus!
ps...Great images John!!

george19

I shared some of my photos with my fellow travelers when I returned home, and one of them commented 'now I know why you take so long to compose your shots'.

Remember, it's your vacation too.

banjoboy Loc: Austin, TX

I travel with both my mirrorless SLR and a small camera for those group days. Currently the small camera is a Canon G5X carried in a belt case. It provides much better results than trying to use my iPhone.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I only use a travel company whose groups do not exceed 16. I use them to countries where I cannot use the languages I have some knowledge of; other trips like to France, Italy, and Germany, I go only with my wife. Last Fall I traveled to Japan with the small group. I had a Fuji X-T2 in my hand with a wrist strap and a versatile 18-135 lens set to shutter priority and auto ISO so I could get candid street photos of moving people. At other times, if we were free to independently wander around a garden or a temple complex I shot on manual. All I had to do was to momentarily stop walking, immediately take the shot, and catch up with the group. I had explained to the guide that my primary interest was photography so when she had the group gather round for a lengthy talk about the history of a place, I stayed on the outskirts assessing the environment for possible shots. I only used my iPhone inside restaurants.

My behavior might strike some of you as philistine, but if I really want to know which Shogun waged which war in what year, that is what the internet is for. I go on these trips to see fantastic buildings and landscapes, to eat the local food (like a fried tarantula in Laos), and to get a sense of the people and the culture. AND TO PRACTICE PHOTOGRAPHY!

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

At 83 with bum leg I've been able to use my DSLR constantly when traveling with a group. But, as my wife says, we're all different.

cthahn

Do not travel in a group if you are a photographer.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Not everyone has the wherewithal to travel independently. Fearlessness, resourcefulness, facility with foreign languages (Chinese? Arabic? Russian? Turkish? Etc.), lots of money OR a willingness to endure privation, top notch physical condition, superb interpersonal skills, and more. If you have these qualities more power to you. I don't and I'm still a photographer.

Bob Boner

I took a group trip to Iceland. We saw some gorgeous scenery. But we traveled by bus, and passed up MANY things I wanted to photograph. The most disappointing was the images of horses that we drove right by--foals nursing, etc. The horses there are wonderful. The have 5 gaits instead of the 4 our horses have. If I go back, I will travel by car so I can choose when to stop.

Bobgood1 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

I can understand your problem. People on Tour are very impatient. Some amataur photographers take way too much time composing shots. That has been my experience..

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

First, I don't travel with a group, if I want to take photographs. You outlined my reason why in your post. The only photographic related thing for which I use my iPhone is determining exposure and development times for photographs I take. Otherwise, it's for making phone calls.
--Bob

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Sometimes we just have to set priorities, am I'm there to take pictures,or am I there to visit with people? If both, may be split the time.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

You use a phone to determine exposure?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Sure do. The primary reason for taking it with me when I go out to photograph.
--Bob

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I have to agree with Architect. I would not travel with too many people unless they are fellow photographers. I went to the desert recently with 3 fellow photographers. When one person wanted to stop and take a picture, we all understood and didn't roll our eyes. Of course, most of use could use a camera and get the settings right in just a few seconds. I don't mind traveling alone either. So if I really want to take in the sights, I'll take a road trip by myself and I'll stop at every lookout, every historical site, every famous photo opportunity, and state and local parks.