Digital Cameras

[pixelfrog]

Hi All,

I'm finally gonna get a digital camera, but not quite sure what kind yet. Can anyone recommend a good hiking/backpacking digital camera that can take the trail and is 3 megapixels? Also I will want to boost the memory up quite a bit.

Thanks in Advance!

Paul

[azbackpackr]

OK, I'm going to jump in here without reading anything and ask if anyone is selling a used camera, cheap, because my Sony Cybershot just died in a Moab sandstorm last weekend. I need something, anything, but it has to be digital and very cheap, used, etc.

[jdsteele]

If I wanted to buy a camera that's a point and shoot but still could take those soft water effect shots I think are so awesome, what it the spec I'm looking for...the abililty to take 5-10 second exposures?? Is there a name for it?

As you might expect, "soft" water and other time-exposure effects (star trails, light painting, etc) are the result of many different factors...

As Joe mentioned it frequently requires being able to stop-down the aperture to something small like f/18 or f/22, but there are always exceptions/rules. For example, it also depends on the "film speed" (ISO/ASA), some digital cameras allow ISOs as low as 50 (but usually 100 or 200), the lower the ISO, the longer the required exposure (all other factors being equal). Also, I'd imagine that some P&S have threaded lens attachments, such that you could pop on a "Neutral Density" filter and reduce the amount of light coming in (mimic low ISO, etc). You might be able to slow the shutter enough by using an ND filter and/or low ISO so that even at f/8 you'll get the soft water effect.

Depending on how fast the water is moving, and of course how bright the scene is, 15 to 20 seconds is likely WAY overkill. You can probably get great soft water at shutter speeds as "fast" as 1/30.

And I think the biggest key to shooting time exposures is to use a tripod and a remote/cable release (or a self-timer). You certainly don't need to lug a big tripod around, but one of those small "Gorilla Pods" or a beanbag on a rock to prop up the camera can make a huge difference. Most P&S don't have a remote trigger option, but they all have self-timers.

So, in short... to make "soft water" look for:

1) Lowest ISO (50=awesome, 100=great, 200=ok)
2) Threaded lens or some other way of mounting a filter
3) manual shutter speed (1/15 or slower=awesome)
4) self-timer or remote trigger option
5) tripod mountable

~jonathan

[Grasshopper]

So, in short... to make "soft water" look for:

1) Lowest ISO (50=awesome, 100=great, 200=ok)
2) Threaded lens or some other way of mounting a filter
3) manual shutter speed (1/15 or slower=awesome)
4) self-timer or remote trigger option
5) tripod mountable

JD this is the kind-of "idiot proof" advise someone like me who knows nothing about digital cameras, but who may soon decide to buy a new one, could research the web or take into a good photo retailer and just say "show me one that does all this" and that might be the right one to own IF of course I could afford it! ;)

Thanks to you and everyone for the ongoing good advise on this digital camera forum topic.. hope everyone will keep it going!

[JoelHazelton]

Get a digital camera with "shutter priority." You don't need an slr with interchangeable lenses or something where you can screw on filters, in my opinion. As long as you have shutter priority and a tripod you can make good shots. Shutter priority means you set the shutter speed (something 1/30 or slower as jdsteele said) and the camera sets everything else for you.

Or, if you really want to learn how to properly expose, buy my nikon FE and 24mm nikkor lens from me for 100 bucks. You can take some great shots with it! You just have to shoot with film and deal with a lens that won't communicate with the spot meter in the camera.

[Grasshopper]

I am an unofficial tester for a friend of mine who buys, sells and reviews some of the newer digital cameras for several ebay storefronts. She knows I am mainly a point and shooter, don't read the manuals, and just take off with it. She was interested in what I could get out of some of the cameras. So I've tried Olympus, Panasonic, Fujifilm, other Canons etal. I have two cameras right now I would recommend as walk about cameras--alternative's to a DSLR.

RedRoxx44, I am interested in knowing if your 10/18 Sierra Ancha trip-photo set http://hikearizona.com/photocodeZOOM.php?ID=6490 was taken with your Canon XSi or the Sony DSC-H50 or the Panasonic DMC-LX3? Thank you!

[te_wa]

or a beanbag on a rock to prop up the camera

and for us ultralighters, only need bring a cuben stuff sack. you can then collect beans in the field from a mesquite tree. ;)
good advice, something I havent discovered until now.

[joebartels]

In response to Grasshopper:
Looks like the majority are Sony & 31-33 Panasonic, of course that's 20% camera and 80% Letty!

[Grasshopper]

Do you think there is any positive correlation between being able to pick-out a good photo when one sees it and being able to take one?? :GB:

[te_wa]

sure, but even if i had a $2,000 camera and lens my pics wouldnt do very well. id have to learn to use the camera, even if i had an eye for photos. Just look at some of Joe's early photos and especially read his write up for White Canyon, where he admittedly sucks at photography. Now look at him!

[Grasshopper]

have to learn to use the camera

Yep, makes sense.. guess $money$ doesn't buy everything does it!

[RedRoxx44]

The Sierra Ancha pics lastest were almost exclusively the Sony DSC-H50, I took a few with the panasonic with a wide angle conversion kit.
Yep, I agree must learn to compose and use light. Other than that I really am a point and shooter, use ACDsee to correct contrast and size, other than that I don't do much post processing. I take too many pics and I am too lazy.
Whatever camera these days should work pretty well, depending on what you want it to do.

[tibber]

I'm with Letty... if I may call you Letty. I'm pretty much a point and shooter altho I am fiddling a little with the exposure level moving it a notch or two to adjust for light. The other day I stopped at a Ritz as I needed to kill some time. I wanted to check out the new Panasonic LZ that came out and now has 20x optical zoom. It was interesting to see that camera and put it in my hands and work with it a little. The sales person brot out a couple other similar cameras that I worked with a little to use the features like moving the zoom lens button back and forth as well as the location of the different buttons I like to use.
In the end, like Letty, I just want to point and shoot and then do post production (as little as possible) to clean up the photos or adjust the lighting. I don't ever want to spend over $400 as I'm pretty hard on my cameras while hiking and I want my camera to be light and of smaller size but still take good photos.
Last, I think you learn photo compositon over time and through trial and error. Also seeing the photos on this site and reviewing the comments helps to give me a better sense of what makes a photo interesting and good quality.

[fricknaley]

Last, I think you learn photo compositon over time and through trial and error. Also seeing the photos on this site and reviewing the comments helps to give me a better sense of what makes a photo interesting and good quality.

Amen to that..

[te_wa]

OK, I'm going to jump in here without reading anything and ask if anyone is selling a used camera, cheap, because my Sony Cybershot just died in a Moab sandstorm last weekend. I need something, anything, but it has to be digital and very cheap, used, etc.

so did you end up getting that 8mp Panasonic P&S you were looking at?
i settled on the Kodak MD853 which is just a newer version of the one I dunked in W. Fork

[Jeffshadows]

Last, I think you learn photo compositon over time and through trial and error. Also seeing the photos on this site and reviewing the comments helps to give me a better sense of what makes a photo interesting and good quality.

Amen to that..

AZ highways is another great place to learn about composition...

[JoelHazelton]

Last, I think you learn photo compositon over time and through trial and error. Also seeing the photos on this site and reviewing the comments helps to give me a better sense of what makes a photo interesting and good quality.

Amen to that..

AZ highways is another great place to learn about composition...

I have a 2006 AZ Highways engagement calendar that was given to me a couple years ago, and I still flip through it regularly just to study the photos, not to mention my AZ Highways subscription That Jack Dykinga never disappoints.

[writelots]

I tend to be super hard on my cameras (read drop in water, sand, rocks), so my hubby-type ordered a Pentax Optio W30 for me to take on my more water-logged hikes. It's supposed to be bullet proof. Just to let you all know - it will take photos and movies underwater (and they're not half bad), and it will survive the fall from my eye to the granite at my feet (probably about 5'). However, the photo quality is only fair, and the digital shake reduction is useless. About 30% of my photos are out of focus (or focused on some bizare feature) or exhibit considerable motion blur. It's hard to take photos in low light, because the camera has no way to identify low light subjects, and it simply won't shoot. I've tried getting really familiar with the settings and adjusting what I can, but I'm pretty unhappy with the little camera when I'm out of the water. In the water, it's another case - but I'm not a snorkler, I'm a hiker. I think I'm going to donate it to my husband's kayak gear kit and get me a nicer point-and-shoot to carry on backpacks when my XTI plus lenses is just to heavy. I'm looking at a Panasonic Lumix TZ4 - anyone have an opinion of that one?

[Jeffshadows]

I tend to be super hard on my cameras (read drop in water, sand, rocks)

Don't know about the camera, but I can offer a tip I use. I have my camera shock-corded to the cross-chest draw strap on my day pack. Even if I'm leaning over and drop it the cord stops it from impacting on the rock or landing in the water below. The other nice thing about this is that I tend to forget to buckle the top over my camera pouch after putting it back in. This way it doesn't go anywhere after falling out, which happens a lot...

[big_load]

I'm looking at a Panasonic Lumix TZ4 - anyone have an opinion of that one?

My wife and I each have TZ3's. The zoom and wide angle are great for a point-and-shoot. She spends a big chunk of her time supervising photo shoots and editing photography, so she's fairly picky. (The first TZ3 was mine before she stole it to do location scouting, she got me another one when I complained about it always being gone).

[Dschur]

I'm looking at a Panasonic Lumix TZ4 - anyone have an opinion of that one?

I have the Panasonic Lumix FZ30 (I think it is the 30) And take it everywhere even though it is a bigger camera but love the 12X optical it has. I can get out of the car and beat my husband with a picture before he has gotten the lens on his DSLR Canon. I like the sort of point and shot idea but there is tons of settings to play with to. it has an excellent macro on it and you can also over ride the auto focus when you are trying for a bird or flower shot and it keeps picking on the wrong thing to focus on. I have gotten used to hiking with it so the size isn't the thing for me and it is fairly light weight.