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Post by kwpapke on Apr 17, 2016 15:17:14 GMT -8
Bottom line, as is the case with all hiking/camping gear: know what you have and how to maximize it's use. If that doesn't fulfill your needs, get the equipment that does. Seems no different than cooking gear or anything else. A modern smart phone is a pretty powerful and useful device for sure. I prefer a slightly larger solar panel battery pack for the easy recharging. I'm curious which solar panel you are using and what your experience has been with it. As I said in the video, I've never known or met anyone that had success with a solar panel - too heavy and very slow charging. The decent one's all come with a hefty battery, at which point you might as well just carry a battery for charging. The only case I can make for solar is on a through-hike where you'd have to go for very long periods of time without recharging a battery.
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Post by Lonewolf on Apr 17, 2016 16:07:09 GMT -8
The decent one's all come with a hefty battery, Not so. Goal Zero has portable panels that don't have a battery and will directly charge many things. They just added an 8.8oz power supply, the Venture 30. They do have units that weigh more and have heavy power storage devices but those are for car camping, backup at home, etc.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Apr 17, 2016 18:02:22 GMT -8
No.
I refuse.
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Post by fajitas on Apr 18, 2016 6:01:21 GMT -8
A friend of mine mentioned once this same notion, and I'll agree that the iPhone is a good camera, especially for landscapes. However, my response was simply, that my purpose of going out there is to explore and take photos, so the weight of my 3.5lb DSLR + 2 lenses are non-negotiable, since it was 1 of the 2 reasons I even venture out. It really does matter why you're going out there. To continue that thought, the two lenses I take are prime lenses, as a personal challenge to myself. In addition, if you're familiar with camera equipment, capturing an incredible scene with a prime lens on a full frame sensor in RAW is pretty much my great white whale, so I'll keep lugging the big guy around If no DSLR, would I use an iPhone and be pleased with the results vs a point-and-shoot? Probably so, it's a respectable camera.
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amaruq
Trail Wise!
Call me Little Spoon
Posts: 1,264
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Post by amaruq on Apr 18, 2016 6:22:58 GMT -8
I wouldn't ever bring an iPhone in the backcountry.
I'm an Android kind of guy. ;-)
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Post by dirthurts on Apr 18, 2016 8:12:45 GMT -8
While I certainly respect the opinion of the OP, I cannot disagree more. If anyone is even remotely serious, or even playful, with or about photography, an iPhone or an Android (my personal choice) is simply not flexible enough nor of high enough quality to produce desired effects. Night shots, high definition images, high contrast shots, macro photos, all of these are simply not doable (with any real results) with a phone. And a GPS? Well, I'm not a big fan of using a GPS as once the battery dies you're out of luck. Furthermore, depleting your phones battery (especially one iPhones which have a ridiculous non-replaceable battery) is simply asking for trouble if an emergency comes up. A map and a compass is not only more reliable, but it will never fail or stop working, at least in the hands of a capable backpacker.
An iPhone is simply a cheap cop out for those who are serious about either...
Dedicated hardware is always the way to go.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2016 12:25:01 GMT -8
Each to his own, but I've used both and much prefer my Garmin.
That said, I've given up on point and shoot cameras....and just use my Iphone...
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 18, 2016 16:30:54 GMT -8
"Serious?
Hell I go out there to enjoy myself, screw "serious".
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Post by dirthurts on Apr 18, 2016 17:02:47 GMT -8
I said or playful. And you can be serious and have fun at the same time.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 18, 2016 18:01:27 GMT -8
I said or playful. And you can be serious and have fun at the same time. So you mean like when I carry my Nikon d800 and Gitzo 1348 with the Kirk ballhead AND my iPhone 6s Plus? Geotagging for fun and HDR (plus Facebook!) while 40 mb images for serious! Got that right.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,684
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 18, 2016 19:48:50 GMT -8
I've been pretty underwhelmed with the performance of the camera on my iPhone 5s, even compared to my dinky Lumix (which I would like to see have a larger sensor). I leave the phone at home and carry a camera, a map, and a Nook for reading (no way on earth am I reading novels on a 4" screen). But there again--HYOH. Not everyone is as addicted to reading as I am. I hear some people don't even carry a book backpacking!
I will agree about learning to maximize what my phone can do, because when cycling, etc., it's what I have for photos.
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Post by dayhiker on Apr 18, 2016 20:04:27 GMT -8
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Post by kwpapke on Apr 19, 2016 7:10:27 GMT -8
A friend of mine mentioned once this same notion, and I'll agree that the iPhone is a good camera, especially for landscapes. However, my response was simply, that my purpose of going out there is to explore and take photos, so the weight of my 3.5lb DSLR + 2 lenses are non-negotiable, since it was 1 of the 2 reasons I even venture out. It really does matter why you're going out there. To continue that thought, the two lenses I take are prime lenses, as a personal challenge to myself. In addition, if you're familiar with camera equipment, capturing an incredible scene with a prime lens on a full frame sensor in RAW is pretty much my great white whale, so I'll keep lugging the big guy around If no DSLR, would I use an iPhone and be pleased with the results vs a point-and-shoot? Probably so, it's a respectable camera. Spot on. The video was targeted at the vast majority of backpackers who are casual photographers. They want a few scenics and maybe a selfie of themselves on the trail. You sound like a serious photographer, and it makes sense to carry around the tools of your craft. Note (landscapes): I think it's important to not underestimate the quality of the iPhone Panorama shots. They have terrific resolution. I am a pretty serious Grand Canyon hiker, and I've shot some great (IMHO) panos there.
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Post by kwpapke on Apr 19, 2016 7:14:43 GMT -8
I've been pretty underwhelmed with the performance of the camera on my iPhone 5s, even compared to my dinky Lumix (which I would like to see have a larger sensor). I leave the phone at home and carry a camera, a map, and a Nook for reading (no way on earth am I reading novels on a 4" screen). But there again--HYOH. Not everyone is as addicted to reading as I am. I hear some people don't even carry a book backpacking! I will agree about learning to maximize what my phone can do, because when cycling, etc., it's what I have for photos. The iPhone 6's are pretty darn good. Reading: what I recommended in the video was to bring books on your smartphone that you want to refer to, such as trail guides. If you're going to spend significant time reading by all means the Nook or Kindle makes sense.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,995
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Post by driftwoody on Apr 19, 2016 9:31:03 GMT -8
Can a smart phone really capture and hold satellite signals as well as a $400+ dedicated GPS for hiking, especially in heavy forest cover or canyons?
Also, which smart phones are the best for this -- Android vs I-phone, for instance?
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