cameras/photos

what kind of camera do you carry with you in the mountains for getting great shots?
anyone carry a lightweight digital SLR they'd recommend?

I recently got a Canon XSi, great camera, takes amazing pictures. I haven't had it out to the crag yet. They are coming down in price also.

I would recommend it too, you won't be disappointed.

i love my DSLR but i bring my sony point and shoot when im on adventures due to the bulky nature of SLRs... the newer point and shoots are pretty sick for there size... some of the higher end ($500ish) point and shoots have a pretty nice wide angle and zoom along with durable and water proof body and great picture quality might want to check em out...

good luck finding what you are looking for...

I have the full DSLR rig but I never take it climbing. Too big and too bulky. My little Canon SD880 is an awesome P&S with enough control that I'm able to get the shots I want most of the time. It fits in my shirt pocket. The SD800 has been discontinued but you may be able to still find some old stock somewhere. If I was buying today...? I'd look at some of the Panasonic Lumix cameras ( panasonic.net/avc/lumix/lin…). They offer a good selection of wide angle P&S cameras with good glass and descent control over the image.

The other camera I'd take a look at is the Canon S90. I'm hearing great things about it and it looks like there is easy manual control if you want it. ( usa.canon.com/consumer/cont…;fcategoryid=144&modelid=19210#ModelDetailAct). It's not quite as wide as the Panasonic (28mm vs 23mm) but everything else is looking good.

Post up when you start getting shots.

Mal

Is there such a thing as a "lightweight DSLR"? I don't think so.
That was one of the benefits of film camera BITD (wow I sound like an old curmudgeon). I used to be able to carry a Rebel w/ a short zoom lens for a couple pounds. Not so anymore. Fortunately the point and shoots are pretty good, but you still need to know photography to get great shots. I second the SD 800 with image stabilization. I'm sure you could get one on Ebay.

For a good-sized camera for climbing, but one that is versatile and able to deliver quality beyond basic point and shoot, take a look at the Ricoh GX 200. Pretty darn good for a camera most of us wouldn't hesitate to carry.

I often lug my DSLR (Nikon D60) up climbs if they are on the easy side. As a result the body is nice and scratched up but otherwise it has held up very well. I love that camera and got a good package deal with 2 lenses last year.

I guess it would depend on what I'm doing. For just personal shots while I'm climbing I take a point and shoot (Canon Powershot). If I'm just hanging around or on a mountaineering route I take both the point and shoot and our Fuji S2 Pro (older DSLR). I would suggest you ask yourself what you're willing to lose because chances are decent that the camera you take on a rock route will be damaged, maybe destroyed. I'm on my 3 point and shoot because of damage on climbs, mostly broken LCD screens. I can handle replacing a $100 - $150 camera every few years but replacing a DSLR might make me pucker more than being 60 feet out on an old star drive bolt!

I carry two cameras. A Sigma SA-9 film camera and a Sigma SD-14 DSLR. I usually have a 15-30 and a 28-70 lense with me. My pack is usually too heavy. For some reason, I can't let go of film.

I like the smaller point and shoots because I can carry the camera with me on a climb in a small case that is very accessible for quick shooting. My last camera was a smaller Canon SD400 that I would carry on my chalkbag belt. I could swing the camera around my body like you do with your chalkbag if I was going to be in a chimney or hip scumming on a climb. You can see the small black case I used to carry the camera in here:

This system works pretty well for me, I can even take photos on lead if I get into a good stance. I took this vertical panorama on Longs this year with the little Canon while I was on lead. This never would have happened if I had a SLR or larger camera.

I recently lost my Canon and while shopping for a replacement I started checking out the Compact Super-Zoom class of cameras. DPReview has a comparison of 4 different cameras in this class on their website. I ended up picking up a Samsung HZ15W based upon the specs of the camera and what I wanted to do with it. It is a bit larger than the Canon SD line, but it has a 24-240mm lens (wide angle to 10x zoom) that will work great for climbing photos where you are taking shots in cramped, close-up spaces. The Lumix and the Canon in that review also look nice.

Not an SLR but now I use a Canon g10. High quality pics, shoots in raw and jpg. I used to carry my big bulky SLR but the g10 is so much better for taking up long climbs. I carry my g10 in a little pelican case that I can hang off my harness. I also like having the view screen on the back. Its much easier to look at while belaying (in autolock mode of course) than squinting through the viewfinder on the SLR.

The Canon S90 looks like all of the goodness of the G series in a smaller package. I'm pretty sure that's what I'll be carrying in 2010.

I also reccomend the Canon Powershot G10. Lots of manual features and the 15 mp resolution is great.

It depends on the situation, but I often have my Canon 40D (w/ vertical grip) and the 17-55 f/2.8 IS attached. I'll generally have a 70-200 in the bag as well. An EX430 flash is always attached.

Sometimes I'll go overboard if we're out bouldering and take my White Lightning 1600 and Vagabond battery pack; they, along with a lightstand, umbrella, and softbox, fit in a medium/large backpack. It's not a huge hassle unless there's a lot of hiking involved, since the Vagabond weighs almost as much as a car battery. It's totally worth it though when a lot of juice is required for an off-camera flash shot.

tobe945 wrote:what kind of camera do you carry with you in the mountains for getting great shots? anyone carry a lightweight digital SLR they'd recommend?

After a rappelling fatality of my previous camera, I purchased this one:

usa.canon.com/consumer/cont…;fcategoryid=2590&modelid=18332

I have been very happy with the quality of pictures. It is a little "fat" because the zoom lens telescopes outward from the body of the camera. Sometimes I carry it on my harness or the front loop of my trad rack in a ZIPPER pouch in order to avoid another accident. I also have a neck lanyard I made so I can just stuff it in my shirt too.

The one thing about the ultra thin cameras, is they use a mirror and reflect the light where the lens moves up and down in the body of the camera. With this, you loose some picture quality. Will those cameras still take good pictures, absolutely. It's just something to keep in mind. However, those will fit in a pocket better than the D10.

Here is something that talks about this:

cambridgeincolour.com/tutor…

I like the Powershot D10 because it is water proof (sweat proof when inside my shirt) and semi shock proof. Granted, a 40' fall would do that one in too. It also has image stabilization, which really does work pretty well.

Mark Cushman wrote:I like the smaller point and shoots because I can carry the camera with me on a climb in a small case that is very accessible for quick shooting. My last camera was a smaller Canon SD400 that I would carry on my chalkbag belt. I could swing the camera around my body like you do with your chalkbag if I was going to be in a chimney or hip scumming on a climb. You can see the small black case I used to carry the camera in here: [[]] flickr.com/photos/jcheifitz… This system works pretty well for me, I can even take photos on lead if I get into a good stance. I took this vertical panorama on Longs this year with the little Canon while I was on lead. This never would have happened if I had a SLR or larger camera. I recently lost my Canon and while shopping for a replacement I started checking out the Compact Super-Zoom class of cameras. DPReview has a comparison of 4 different cameras in this class on their website. I ended up picking up a Samsung HZ15W based upon the specs of the camera and what I wanted to do with it. It is a bit larger than the Canon SD line, but it has a 24-240mm lens (wide angle to 10x zoom) that will work great for climbing photos where you are taking shots in cramped, close-up spaces. The Lumix and the Canon in that review also look nice.

Where is that traverse?

Adam Block wrote: Where is that traverse?

Casual Route

Like many here I will occasionally lug my Cannon 20D up something that I think will be worth the effort. If I do I take the 50mm f1.8, it has no zoom but the pictures are great and it is small enough to wrap in a shirt and stuff in a camel back. The other lens option is to get something like an 18-135. Most times you are within 100' of the other party so this is plenty of zoom (especially on a 1.6x crop body) and the wide angle end is enough to get the person next to you on a belay and the pretty background.

If you do go with a DSLR you will most likely want a small point and shoot as well. The best tip for getting shots is to girth it or clip it to your helmet straps. It tends to dangle on your shoulder and it is easy to grab with one hand, snap a quick shot and just drop it when your done (or if you need to suddenly).

Happy hunting,
JD