Hiking PCT and want to carry out a few photography projects out there but having trouble making choice for best camera. I dont mind it being a little heavier if Im getting a great quality shot. Worry about an SLR but hear they make great compact ones these days. I have a canon powershot SX100IS now which takes nice shots but weighs nearly a pound. Any recommendations and maybe some photos to look at that hikers took with their choice of camera.
mysticNNH
Two of my top of desired features is weatherproof and drop proof. That way I carry my camera out of my pack (in a case fastened to my Mariposa or in a hipbelt pocket on my Circuit) ready to go all the time.
My point-and-shoot 10.1 megapixel Olympus takes photos good enough to blow up and frame 24" size or use for our REI PCT “slideshow” presentations
Marcia
I agree with Marcia. My old water resistant Olympus Stylus survived two 5 mth thru hikes among other trips and has had a few nasty drops and a few submerges in water. We just bought an Olympus Stylus 1050W, it doesnt have the zoom of a canon or nikon but it is more durable and still takes very decent shots once you learn how to use it. Like most compact digital cameras it comes in around 6oz.
Mat / LaundroMat
Mat
Olympus now makes the Tough 8000 (about $380) and 6000 (about $280). The 6000 is cheaper, but the 8000 has ccd shift image stabilization - which for me is important. You can still pick up the older 1030SW and 1050SW, probably pretty cheap since there’re being replaced. Also, Canon is coming out with the D10 (about $330) early May. It has lens shift image stabilization and, I think, a little better quality lens. All of these cameras are about six to eight oz and I think you’ll find the quality of photos to be very acceptable.
Bear Bag Hanger
The camera I selected this year for the AT is a Fuji Film FinePix F50 fd. A 12 megapixel camera armed with a 16GB SDHC card it will take 1600 photos at it’s highest resolution setting. At 6.2 oz’s, do you think you will take more tha 1600 photos. NedtheFed
Ned
1600 photos is less than 1 per mile. I think taking more than that is a distinct possibility.
Another consideration is having all you photos on one card. Flash cards can have problems. I wouldn’t risk it. The pictures are just to valuable.
Buy several 4GB cards and periodically send them home to a friend to unload them onto DVDs. Or find an on trail place to copy the photos onto a DVD. Don’t erase the flash card until you know the photos are safe at home.
Ken
My friend mailed a flash card home and it never arrived. I stoped at walmarts or drugstores and copied them onto CD’s and sent those home.
Sleeveless AT '05
Sleeveless