I am planning to climb Mt. Shasta this May. I've carried my D800 up Mt Whitney and a few other mountains, but those were trailed "hikes", not mountaineering. I also carried the D800 over 100 miles on foot through an African game park, so I am not shy about where I take the camera, but Shasta is snow, glaciers and ice with crampons and ice axes and I don't think a large camera on sling.or chest pack is going to be practical. I'm beginning to think a lighter and perhaps cheaper camera would be better. I would be interested in hearing about anyone's experience or suggestions with any of the smaller enthusiast cameras in such potentially harsh conditions. I tend to shoot primarily 20 and 28mm primes and a bit with my 85 if that helps.
Comments
No idea how much weight you'll be packing though.
Denver Shooter
|SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
The Sony A7 might come close, but no 20 or 28mm primes ( the reports of using it with a lens adaptor are not too good)
So far, I've narrowed the field down to:
CoolPix A
Lumix GX7
Fuji XE2
Ricoh GR
But I've read good things about the even smaller options:
Lumix GM1
Fuji XM1
One real problem is that none of the review sites discuss ruggedness - how soon will faux leather wrapping come off in snowy wet conditions? Will they take some banging around?
There's a ton of information to cover to sort out lenses, overall IQ and usability for all of these, so any user experiences with these cameras would be appreciated.
Is this a multiple day trip or a few hours?
My best,
Mike
@hawkdl2
I'd take a long hard look at the new Olympus OM-D E-M1. It has excellent picture quality, small and light (compared to a D800 setup), and has a rugged magnesium alloy body.
The EM-1 is also slash-proof, dust-proof, and freeze-proof.
Otherwise, maybe go with a good P&S, like the Sony RX100 MK2.
I'd also pack a Go Pro.
DX sensor I would go with the XE2 but the X100s and Coolpix A will probably suit your style..
1" sensor I would go with the RX100 .. or AW1.
oh i missed out the 2X sensors.. yeah that Oly is good .. OM-D E-M1
Being a photographer is a lot like being a Christian: Some people look at you funny but do not see the amazing beauty all around them - heartyfisher.
I've spent a long time out in the field on assignment and the more resilient and tougher the equipment is better off you'll be.
That said, while I haven't climbed in snow, I've worked out in damn cold environments and trained the cold regions equipment team (US Army) where it gets below -40 a lot, but they have the luxury of warm up sheds and usually have had vehicle support. Their still photo equipment is typically Canon full frame gear, but they are brand agnostic.
Generations ago, in covering combat I've walked miles in jungles for weeks (with resupply every few weeks). My load was near 80% of my body weight and every ounce seemed to just get heavier and heavier.
Ade's suggestion, the Olympus OM-D E-M1, certainly looks really good. Nightfall will zap your batteries (and you). I would take more batteries that I thought I would ever, ever need and likely a backup camera of some kind, too.
I don't recall seeing the 'purpose' of the images - what you propose doing with them. Remember that snow will go into the same pockets as the gear, regardless of how careful you are, and melt, so remember that when selecting your equipment. While all 'weatherproofing' can take a dowsing, all weatherproofing eventually fails. Probably not new or recently sealed, but sometime.
Good luck and be safe,
And my best,
Mike
The images will be primarily for printing up to 13x19 (my preferred size) for personal use with the possibility of very limited sale - I'm not a pro but I do sell a few prints and have had a few published. Though I do occasionally have pano's printed at up to 60".
I'm very familiar with the "wet" aspects of winter mountaineering, though nearly all of my experience is on 14ers in Colorado, and a few years ago, and without camera gear. I agree it's the snow, along with the ice axe and crampon work, that adds complexity to the camera gear choice and I just don't think full sized DSLR is the best choice.
I could never find a good solution for securing my D800 on my shoulder straps (Cotton Carrier strap shot), waist belt (various) or chest pack (Think Tank Digital Holster 20) that didn't either inhibit mobility or interfere with trail vision, though I can readily keep lenses in Lowepro hip/belt lens bags. Using a sling in the African Bush worked fine, but there were only dense Acacia to machete through (my guide/guard did the work) and steep gullies with leopards to deal with (my guard carried the weapons!), but no technical work and we traveled light each day, so only a day bag. For mountaineering, we tend to backpack ~50-65# to base camps and summit with day bags.
I decided that weatherproofing, size and IQ are my three determining factors. Based on that, if anyone cares, I decided to go with the Oly EM-5. The GX7 would have been my choice had it not been for the lack of weather proofing. Now to wait and see if the EM10 will be a lower model or a replacement for the EM5.
I appreciate everyone's input and suggestion.