Latest advice on cameras?

imported
#1

Just checking on a favorite subject for these forums: what is current experience with digital cameras? Any obvious perfect-for-trail choices?

McIntyre

#2

I bought the olympus stylus for the trail. It’s waterproofing is perfect for wet days.

nearly normal

#3

Cardinal Bird and I carried a Leica D-lux 3 last year. It was an expensive purchase, but it turned out to be our best piece of gear. As far as top end compact digital, it’s awesome. As a bonus, it’s one of the lighter weight cameras we looked at. If you’re really into photography, but not willing to carry a D-SLR(which most thru-hikers aren’t) I’d recommend the Leica. However, if you aren’t a photo-geek and just want something to keep memories, go cheaper.

charlie brown

#4

Unless you know what you are doing (in which case, buy a DSLR), buy the cheapest model from Canon, Nikon, or Olympus. They are all functionally equivalent, they all produce excellent pictures, and they will all be easy to use. Remember, though, to buy the cheapest. Don’t be talked into more expensive models with more megapixels. A $150 camera will produce results that you will be very happy with.

Suge

#5

While most lower-end cameras will be pretty similar, there are important differences with them. For example, what kind of zoom ability does the camera have? Does it have the ability to take pictures without using the rear LCD? (which will help with battery life). What kind of batter life does it have? How much does it weigh?
Suge is right that you pretty much can’t go wrong with those main brands (I’d add Sony to the list too). But, there are also cheap “off brands” that are pretty horrible.
The most important thing you can do to help take good pictures with the camera however is to learn how to use it. Get some books from the library, and practice taking photos in different lighting conditions, using different approaches. Learn what works best, and which approaches produce which kinds of results… Knowledge costs little, and weighs nothing!

jonathan

#6

but, y’know…even NOT knowing all the ‘ins and outs’ of operating my Canon Power Shot A250, i still got some pretty great pictures!..wanna see?..(you can easily compare our '03 pics done with disposable cameras, to our A250 pics taken in '06!..they’re intermingled in the same journal : ‘maw-ee and paw-ee AT 2006’

maw-ee

#7

For comparison, here are the truly awful PCT pictures from 2003, taken with a film P&S camera.

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett/pct/index.html

And now let’s see an P&S loaded with slide film:

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett/GDT/index.html

And now a cheapo digital camera from 2004:

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett/deva/index.html

And now a DSLR:

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett/scud/index.html

Except for the PCT photos, the photos are all about equally good when viewed on a computer screen. Making 4 by 6 prints, the equipment will be about equal. The DSLR (i.e, more expensive camera) really only cranks out better photos when the lighting is not optimal or when making prints at the 8 by 11 size or larger.

Suge