I recently picked up a Sony HX 300 used (very lightly) from a local camera shop for $330. New (and updated) model would be under $500, with very long optical zoom. That said, your budget, especially used or refurbished, will include very small point and shoot, Bridge (which is between point/shoot and DSLR but with sensor sizes generally in the point/shoot range) and maybe some entry level DSLR. Some consideration of what size you will carry, what features are really important (sensor size or big optical zoom or other features) and what you interests are (landscape, sports, macro etc). Also, once you pick a category I strongly recommend handling a few examples. When I bought the Sony, I went in shopping for a DSLR, moved on to mirrorless for size and convenience, looked instead at Nikon bridge for features and price, and left with the Sony because it made sense to me in physical layout and menu access (these are not 'better' 'worse' considerations but very individual).

I'm the guy that started the "Tripod Options" thread a couple days ago with a $100 budget. I am rethinking both the budget and the amount of use I should be giving a tripod. If you haven't yet (I haven't been through all of the thread here) you will be advised to read Serious Support http://bythom.com/support.htm. Good advice, I admit but still more tripod than I will need for my camera (long zoom bridge) or particular needs. Some interesting advice can be found here http://improvephotography.com/34494/best-professional-tripods-under-200-head-to-head-review/ AND here https://photographylife.com/how-to-choose-and-buy-a-tripod-for-a-dslr-camera/. B&H has an article here https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Tripods-Support/ci/8310/N/4075788771 that offers some specifics and the company also has used and sometimes discounted equipment.

My bottom line at this point is that $100 (new) is not likely to cut it, though I have a few on the list of considerations that some on this listserve have found to be suitable around that price. And furthermore, my infrequent use of a tripod is almost certainly problematic, thus the reconsideration of both price and use. I will still not be getting into the Gitzo range but Vanguard has some worthy of consideration and my list includes models from Manfrotto, Slik and Oben. Staying with good brand names seems prudent, watching what kind of head you will be comfortable with (ball or pan for example), whether quick release is important to you (Arca-Swiss is the good one, cheaper tripods have their own proprietary system that may or may not be particularly good) etc.

As usual, there is more to consider than what you first thought...

Thanks...this will go on my growing list of those to consider. I assume the quick release on this one is proprietary, and not the Arca Swiss one that I am leaning toward...do you use the quick release and if so, do you find it 'good enough?' I have a couple cameras, but only one that is likely to find itself mounted on a tripod (pretty light weight 'bridge' camera).

I know...I have been here just long enough to expect a certain amount of...perhaps disdain is too strong... but have actually started to get some advice I can use, and some direction. The Vanguard Alta Pro is on a short list, and I have a much better idea now what to look for and ask when I get to the local camera shop, and especially if I go with something used. And I have looked at an increased budget as well as re-thinking how much I should be using a tripod. While Thom Hogan's Serious Support http://bythom.com/support.htm advice is great for the pro and more serious practitioner, I found an interesting review for the rest of us here http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-tripod/ and here https://photographylife.com/how-to-choose-and-buy-a-tripod-for-a-dslr-camera/

Must admit, what I am looking for is something "decent" without breaking the bank.

Are there opinions (of course there are) on the relative advantages and drawbacks of pan and ball heads? Some tripod 'kits' offer either and I am assuming that the ball head, to achieve "decent" quality and durability adds price, yes or no? I am more comfortable with pan, but that is only because of a so equipped cheap tripod I used for some years.

OK, so part of what I may have to do is re-think how often I should be getting a tripod out, especially since I have this recently purchased bridge camera with the really long zoom. So I am starting to reconsider the budget but still...

Will start to watch craigs list and maybe jump over to ebay.

I am in the market for a "medium quality" tripod. I am not a pro. Since I rather rarely work with a tripod, I am reluctant to follow the (no doubt) good advice that I should save up for a really high quality product, which dominate previous tripod commentaries on this site. My needs are relatively simple:

1. The camera most used would be a Sony HX 300 Bridge camera weighing less than 2 pounds.
2. Prefer something at least 65" in height, though I will not be using a tripod for long spans of time so bending down a bit is OK.
3. Prefer to spend under $100 and happier at less.
4. Weight of the tripod is not much of an issue since I have a little travel pod and this one would not need to fit into travel plans.
5. Will want a pan head, level optional.

There are lots of cheap ones ($30 and under) out there, and I would like to bump up enough to gain a bit of added stability and higher quality materials/durability.

The best camera for travel is the one you are likely to have on hand whenever you want or need it. For some that may be a DSLR and a few lenses and accessories, for others it will have to fit into a shirt pocket. Obviously you will be getting more quality and options with the SLR. I picked up a Sony HX 300 "bridge" camera that has little use so far but I think it is a very nice piece of equipment, relatively small and very 'zoomy' at 50x. But for me the camera that will always be along with me is the little Sony WX 350, about the size of a flip phone. I will sacrifice lots of sensor size and features to have it handy any time.

Also, make sure to handle a few cameras in a few categories. I got the Sony at a local camera shop, used, after going in convinced I would get a DSLR, moving on to mirrorless for size, shifting to Nikon 'bridge' for features/price and leaving with Sony for the way it fit me both physically and intuitively for menu options. Those last are very personal and each camera is different (and not necessarily better or worse).

If a big zoom is not an issue there are some very nice small cameras from Fugi, Canon and others that compromise smaller zooms for larger sensors. My older Fugi X20 takes a very nice image but the smaller (4x) zoom sometimes cramps my style.

Make the search for the right camera part of the travel adventure and have fun!

I have the HX 300 (last year's model) and though I have only had it a short time (purchased used) I am finding it to be a very nice camera with a 'fast' lens and focus and menu features that work for me. That said, other cameras (from Nikon, Panasonic, Canon and others) have similar features laid out differently. The best way to choose, once you have settled on a 'category' is to handle a few different models.

My brother has a smaller camera without the regular viewfinder, which he found problematic. He is now happy with the camera after picking up the inexpensive Clear View add-on http://www.clearviewer.com/

I recently picked up a used Sony HX300 (new model is HX400). New price is in the $500 range, 50x zoom. What sold me on this instead of a similar Nikon was the ease and (for me) intuitive adjustment of ISO and f or speed depending on setting, as well as an interesting zoom and focus setup on the lens. But to a large extent these are individual preferences and surely vary between users. There are quite a few models in this category and I suggest handling at least a few to experience the differences and see how they fit.

You can also buy Elements, and upgrade when needed (not free...) but you don't get the monthly fee, and you also don't get the automatic latest version. I bought 14 as an upgrade to 11, and it has a pretty impressive set of tools. I suggest some kind of how-to book if you get any of the Adobe products to get you over some of the tricky parts. You can also try the Adobe Photoshop Express as a free download with only a few simple tools.

I think you are right about the built in driver.

Not so much enhanced capabilities as ease of operation. The layer system on Exposure X2, for example, looked more intuitive from the short video I saw (having, as I said before, squandered my trial). But unless there is some clear advantage it is most likely in my interests to simply tinker with what I have until it becomes simple.

PC on Windows 10. I get a "Open GL3.3 is required..." error message which suggests a driver problem. I seem to have an Intel(R) HD Graphics card with up-to-date driver (listed under Display in Device Mgr) with no other graphics card shown. This graphics card may be the issue, and I will contact the support folks to see if that is true and what options I have if so.

It appears that my computer is not compatible with ON1 Raw. I get an error message when I try to open the downloaded file, and after a review of the minimum requirements (which I seem to meet, though barely) I have not found exactly how to upgrade the graphics driver, which seems to be the issue. I would call myself a 'moderately capable' non-techie for computer stuff.

thanks for the tip...I have the program downloading and will report back my impressions.