amaruq
Trail Wise!
Call me Little Spoon
Posts: 1,264
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Post by amaruq on Apr 5, 2016 4:46:24 GMT -8
I bought a refurb (it was 1/2 price) Cotton Carrier Strapshot EV1. That looks like it fulfills a similar function to the Peak Design Capture Camera clip -- something I've considered giving a try -- which is also quite pricey for what it is. When you carry it on your pack's shoulder strap like that, what do you do when it rains? Stuff it away into a proper bag? Amarug, great shots btw! Love the rock colors. Thanks. It looks a lot more inviting once the summer greenery is in place. This is where I do a lot of my physical training. I've also brought a couple geotechnical colleagues there to show them the local rock strata so they can better understand what sort of rock we'd be tunneling through on a nearby project.
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Post by fajitas on Apr 5, 2016 10:58:15 GMT -8
In the even of rain, I'd toss it in my bag or bag it up I suppose. I haven't encountered rain yet fortunately on the two times I've used it.
Also, if it was light rain, just sprinkles, I'd probably leave it in place because it's weather sealed, but not water-proofed. Depends, but likely I'd just garbage bag it. Good question, I need to come up with a quick and efficient answer for that!
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Apr 6, 2016 8:03:43 GMT -8
I'm planning to use a shower cap, the thin Saran Wrap kind with an elastic band in the edge. I'll cut a hole in one end for the lens, and secure with a rubber band. It should work for light showers.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Apr 12, 2016 12:23:04 GMT -8
Yeah my 4x5 Wisner view camera has seen little use the last couple years. IB>>>JJ - I was thinking about the Sony a6000. Is battery life a problem when backpacking? What lens does people use on your camera? On our 9 day backpack last year I brought a dozen spare batteries for my A6000. For day hiking without being power conservative, I've gone through a couple batteries and into a third in just a day so while backpacking, try to minimized power usage. Using the flash in close-up work is the worst drain. Not only is the A6000 LCD always turned off so I only use the electronic viewfinder, but I covered the power draining LCD with black Gorilla duct tape to reduce glare into the EVF while outside in the sun. Bought the A6000 when it was released in February 2014. The SEL1650 developed an electronic failure after a few months so is useless. Also bought the SEL30M35 macro that I don't use and am willing to sell cheap. In perfect condition. New also bought the SEL55210 that I use lightly. My two workhorse lenses are the Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN and 30mm F2.8 DN. Also have the 19mm F2.8 DN but don't use it much except for informational wide angles. When I need wide on a serious subject I stitch. The 60mm with extension tubes is sharper than the SEL30M35. A lot of my landscapes are multi row column stitch blends with focus stacking using a Nodal Ninja 3 MKII panoramic head so my images end up much larger and sharper than what single frame captures deliver even with the priciest DSLR models. And my work is always on a tripod. Without a tripod, a person might just as well buy a high end compact digital hanging around their neck. A recent 2 row by 4 column 50 image 12000 by 8600 pixel focus stack stitch blend that shows why my view camera is collecting dust: www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/PB03157-03206-4x2vsl.jpgDavid www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/2016_Trip-Chronicles-0.html
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Post by ecocentric on Apr 12, 2016 14:23:44 GMT -8
I've used an Olympus E-1 and assortment of 4/Thirds lenses for the last 13 years, and more than 75,000 activations. It is built like a tank, very dust and water resistant. I often shoot in dusty conditions and I'm very pleased with the ultra-sonic sensor cleaning system. I have never had to clean the sensor.
I recently upgraded to the Oly E-M1 which is mirrorless and uses an electronic viewfinder. It is light and compact, but I use the external battery pack/grip with the long lenses, and for general shooting. The 14-54mm 2.8 zoom is a good walking around lens, and the 50mm macro is tack sharp.
For hiking i leave the big glass and external battery/grip at home. I didn't think that I'd like the electronic view finder but it is excellent for low light and previewing exposure and depth of field. What you see is what you get. It doesn't have the battery life that the E-1 had, but it appears to be just as tough and extremely programable and customizable for the type of shooting that you do. The IQ is good. I get 300-400 RAW files on the internal battery. Double that with the external grip. The batteries are small, so I generally carry a spare or two when not carrying the grip. The extra controls on the grip are good for shooting in portrait orientation, I hope to post some photos soon, but I've been having some computer issues and I really need to finish my taxes first.
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Post by ecocentric on Apr 12, 2016 19:51:34 GMT -8
What do camera carriers on their front while walking do to keep sweat from dripping onto the camera? You might find this useful, it looks handy to me for clipping the camera to any strap, but it also serves as a quick release system for mounting your camera to a tripod. They also make some covers that may serve your purpose, as well as bags and other gear. It all looks sturdy and innovative to me. CapturePro Clip for Carrying Camera
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Post by dayhiker on Apr 13, 2016 21:37:10 GMT -8
I saw a neat system a guy was using for 2 cameras on the rim of the Grand Canyon. I thought he could easily secure each to one side or the other, release the strap to swing it up or detach the camera altogether. I thought it was just a bunch of straps but it might have been a harness. If It was that great I would have found it by now or a knock off? Anyway here are some similar ideas: www.shutterbug.com/content/wear-your-d-slr-stress-free-custom-straps-and-harnesses#Zl0jcr5ER1M4jbuQ.97I did see something for one camera that connects a strap to your packs straps and had quick disconnect, but it is no longer made. I don't let my camera get wet or drops on the lens, but many in the Mountaineers camera group did . . . not sure how they got away with it, light rain/ snow. I figured out how to connect my camera to an umbrella and the umbrella to a tripod (if not too windy) , but rarely use it.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 13,420
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Post by BigLoad on Apr 16, 2016 22:10:24 GMT -8
I've been using cameras from that line since it started. Mrs. big_load has a ZS40, which seems worlds beyond my old TZ8. I found out today that Mrs. big_load got a magazine cover shot with her Panasonic DMC-ZS40. They tried twice with pros to get a better shot, but they decided to go instead with what she provided as an example. It won't be out for a while yet.
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Apr 16, 2016 22:57:46 GMT -8
Post a link when you can. On the Sony a6000, I think there is more battery drain using the viewfinder than the lcd screen. I've kept it charged for 1500 shots using a solar panel.
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Post by dayhiker on Apr 17, 2016 2:38:41 GMT -8
I have read that for some cameras on DPR, odd since the screen is smaller. EDIT (found it): "Battery Life Sony's E-mount cameras have never offered particularly great battery life, since they rely on the relatively small NP-FW50. These are stated as offering around 7.7Wh, which translates as around 360 shots per charge, according to CIPA standard testing. This figure drops to 310 if you use the electronic viewfinder. These are competitive figures for the a6000's class, but it's worth bearing in mind that use of the power zoom, shooting movies and using the camera's Wi-Fi will significantly reduce the battery life." www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-alpha-a6000/7EDIT 2 what solar panel & battery charger are you using?
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Apr 17, 2016 22:57:32 GMT -8
The battery for the a6000 is tiny, no doubt. The solar panel I used was a prototype made by a local startup, and I have been unable to raise them for weeks, so I don't know what their status is. It's described in the electronics category of my blog, at backpackingtechnology.com. I'll take it on the jmt in July.
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Post by bradmacmt on Apr 19, 2016 11:30:28 GMT -8
Sony RX100
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panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 503
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Post by panatomicx on Apr 20, 2016 14:49:29 GMT -8
Sony A6000 - It fits in my left hip-belt pocket, with a bit of bubble wrap for cushioning, so it's pretty accessible. I looked at the CapturePro Clip. But I am worried about the camera getting banged on a rock while scrambling, it being kind of protruding out from the shoulder strap.
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Post by fajitas on Apr 21, 2016 7:11:58 GMT -8
Great shot panatomicx, the A6000 is the camera I was debating on buying for my wife (and for my less bulky trips). She wants better pictures but doesn't want to use a DSLR. The A6000 with a 50mm prime or a 35mm prime would be all you need for 99% of what I'm going for in landscapes, while keeping size minimal and providing an APS-C sensor for image quality.
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Post by Backpackers Nation on Apr 22, 2016 2:51:15 GMT -8
I have to say I am not a very good photographer, a real amateur, I would say, but I am really happy with the choice of Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-HX60V.
My girlfriend and I are going to travel the world for a year or so soon. We are really into nature and wildlife, we love birdwatching, spotting some animals, landscapers etc. That's why we really wanted to have a camera which could do good quality pictures, have a good zoom for the animals and not be a big and heavy thing in our backpacks. Also not too big for bad people to see on you as they might want to steal it. So basically, something really good but what would fit in my pocket.
Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-HX60V is really a good choice for us. Tried it out in backpacking in Czech republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Quality is very good for us, zoom (did not believe that it works that good) is amazing for a camera this size. It's got 30x OPTICAL zoom. Yeah, it does. Although you will not get the best quality using max zoom you WILL get the shot of a bird far away in a tree. This was what we wanted.
Battery life is amazing - 2 weeks nature backpacking with 2 batteries. Did not have to charge even once. Went home and still used the camera for a week or so. But I would still recommend having a spare battery, so that's 2 in total at least. Only problem I had was winter - humidity. Need to find waterproof case for it but all of them are either too small or way too big to carry.
SO really guys, if you are not professional photographers, look into this model, or any other pocket-zoom cameras (I think this is how they are called). There are a few out there, but after weeks of research in this category, Sony kind of outplayed other competitors for us.
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