bj67

Hi, I'm John. My family is traveling to China in 2 weeks and they just have apple phones. To simplify their trip, my job is to buy a cheapish camera and 2 flip hones. On the camera side, and recommendations for cameras that will be better than an iPhone but simple to use and not cost more than $500? tnx,

All I own is an old Pentax film SLR camera. John
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Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

I would be interested to hear why your family are not taking you iPhones. My sister has traveled all over Asia, China included, and she only brings her iPhone. I would check with your carrier to see what their policy (cost) is if you message & call from China.
Point & shoot: Pick one from any of the majors, Sony, Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Olympus with at least a 16 MP sensor and a decent zoom. $300 or less should be just fine. I have a 10 year old Fuji with a 9 MP sensor that still takes nice photos. Many of todays point & shoots are very versatile and capable, but since your leaving in 2 weeks and if you do get one, just put it on auto and shoot. If you have a Best Buy near your go there and check out the models they carry. You can physically put them in your hands. Do not forget extra SD Cards! I would take at least 3 to 5 cards depending how long your trip is.

bj67

Thanks Dave327! I ordered a Nikon B500 online. It uses ‘double A’ rechargeabl bats, so that might be easier for them.
The main reason re: IPhones is 1) because they want to ‘disconnect’ from texts, etc, and 2) because IPhone cameras become very slow as the phones ‘age’ with respect to OS and processor power. It can take 5 secs for ‘shutter’ activity. They’ll buy an unlocked flip phone to make phone calls as needed instead. Being connected has costs.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

Very Cool! Your going to have a lot fun with that choice. Actually I am impressed it uses AA Batteries. You will never get hung up - you can always just get some regular AA and keep going. I’ve had very good life with Energizer Ulitmate Lithium, but they are pricey. The Nikon B500 is a “bridge camera”, actually a DSLR with a built in lens. HAVE A GREAT TRIP !!!! Check the charger, it should be good in China, I think their voltage is higher, but the charger should say on the back it is good for 110V to 240V. Also, you will probably need an adapter plug for outlet styles in China. Amazon has adopters.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Make sure you set up your phones to use and accept calls from and to the US before you leave.

Satman Loc: Indy

In China they use we Chat and Face time,

My wife is from China, have been there many times and all have Apple we talk with them every night, as they are just getting up,

They are upside down 12 hours different.

We Chat and Face Time will do the job..

Everyone of them has Apple Phones and iPads, we took them over to them, they do use different SIM cards.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

if you take the iPhone and put them on airplane mode you can use the camera and not have to worry about any roaming charges...when at McDonalds or other places with free WiFi you can check email etc with no problems...i think you can even make some free facetime calls

davidb1879

Re: bj67 china trip. You should consider panasonic lumix FZ300. It weighs 11/2 pounds. Has a built in lens with a steady f2.8 aperture throughout the length of the lens. It has an excellent viewfinder. The lens reaches from 24mm to the 35mm equivalent of 600mm. Has raw as well as Jpeg. Has automatic modes so you can just point and shoot if that is your preference. The lens costs $400 at B&H. Good image quality but keep the ISO low. Davidb1879.

hammond

I live in China.

A few helpful notes:

- You can buy really good Android phones here for under $200 with great cameras (Oppo has some pretty cool ones).

- You can also pick up a SIM Card with Data at any China Mobile - just bring your Passport.

- China blocks sites/apps such as Facebook, Instagram, all Google services (YouTube, GMail, etc). Sometimes VPNs like ExpressVPN work, but at the current moment, ExpressVPN is having trouble getting around "the Great Firewall"

- Chinese airports will confiscate any lithium ion batteries placed in your luggage - make sure you carry on any lith-ion batteries in your carry-on (they don't always find them, but I had two brand new Nikon EN-EL 15 batteries confiscated out of my check-in luggage, and opened my suitcase upon arrival with an official letter informing me that they had been taken.

- The best app to use for communication in China is WeChat. They use it for EVERYTHING, including payments (for everything), facetime, and of couse, chatting. I recommend you install it before you go, and if there is anyone you know you're going to want to be able to chat with at home while you're in China, have them install it as well (and add each other as contacts).

- Don't bother buying cheap SD cards in China. The great prices are because they're fake.

- In fact, don't buy camera equipment in general here, except for cheap accessories like bags, tripods, and other non-technical items. (Although, if you go to an authorized Nikon store, you'll be fine, but then again, prices will be the same as in the States - I bought my D500 in Beijing and the serial numbers and everything checked out).

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

If you use ATT AS A CARRIER you can make and receive wifi telephone calls from the US at no charge from any hotspot on your Iphone, and every Hotel has free WiFi.

George II Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

John, tell me where your departing from. Where will you land to enter China? Fotget buying phones to use in China. At the airport in China you can get a SIM card and the type of plan you want....I’m assuming your iPhones are unlocked.
When ever I make my annual journey to China to visit my in-laws I just sim my iPhone and carry my Canon 70D and two lens. Good luck and try all the food and by all means do not ask what it is also pack Imodium AD and probiotics.
The “G”

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Hammond gave good advice. Was just there last year - carry ALL batteries in carry on, you will have to show them. I bought a cheap, clear plastic make-up case ($3) for easy access. Also, as mentioned Facebook, Google (Gmail), AOL, etc all blocked but I had an old Yahoo email I could use, so free on hotel's WiFi. Maybe time for them to update their phones if that slow vs flip-phones that are obsolete and usually cheap cameras?

Satman Loc: Indy

If you decide that you want to regularly forward Gmail messages to the Yahoo account, it's not necessary to forward them one by one – you can have Gmail transfer your mail automatically. Click the "Gear" icon in the upper right corner of the browser window. ... Gmail sends an email to the Yahoo account.

david vt Loc: Vermont

Great advise here. I travel several times a year to China.

Definitely get WeChat installed. Very helpful in china. They use it MUCH more than texting.

Satman Loc: Indy

We use it in the states, lot of group chats up there..