It’s vacation time! For most of us, few things are more important to a vacation than taking pictures. After all’s been said and done, you’d want to have something to remind you of that great day at the lake when Junior fell in with his first catch or how Uncle Ted wore his shorts inside out at the beach.

The key to nice vacation photos is, of course, being at the right place at the right time. And that timing is greatly helped by having a camera reliably on hand to capture those moments and everything in between.

For the vacationer who just wants to capture those memorable scenes, a small, compact handy camera is your best choice. A Nikon Coolpix camera is a very good choice. It’s compact to be handy, yet powerful enough to capture those on-the-fly moments, even if you’re a good few meters away.

Whether you choose to get a new model or opt for a used Nikon camera, you’re still going to get great photos. You just need a few tips to consider so that you can get the most out of your vacation.

Tip # 1: Invest in long life batteries.
Nothing’s worse than running out of juice at the most crucial times. So purchase high-capacity batteries that fits your camera. Buy lithium ion batteries as these now are the type with the highest capacity. To help you save, invest a little more on rechargeable batteries, still lithium ion if your funds allows it. And when we say invest, we’re not just talking about money. Take the time to re-charge your batteries in between events. t’s also a great idea to keep an unopened pack of batteries in your camera bag as an emergency set, when your rechargeables run out. Remember to replace these with a new pack when you use them.

Tip # 2: Invest on the lenses.
Features like megapixels and zoom are great, but as it is with all things: garbage in-garbage out. When it comes to cameras, lenses are where everything starts. If you can, buy Nikon camera lenses to complement your existing camera. You will have greater options for taking really good pictures if you get an extra set of lenses, like a telephoto lens.

Tip # 3: Always invest in security.
Another potential vacation downer is when you lose your pictures – either because the camera got stolen, or because it got knocked over damaging the camera. Prevent these by investing in good, secure camera bags when you purchase a Nikon digital camera. Several manufacturers offer bags that can be customized to fit not just the camera, but other peripherals as well like extra lenses, flash sets and batteries.

In addition to that, find a strong, sturdy lanyard that can be attached to your camera and can be worn around your neck or slung around your shoulders. Having the camera secure to your body not only prevents the camera from, say, falling into the water, it also helps prevent the camera from being snatched from you.

If you’re in the market to buy Nikon cameras, a good place to start is at http://www.nikoncameras4less.com. You’re sure to find a model that not only fits your budget, but also becomes an invaluable tool to preserve those vacation memories.