I have a lot of photography gear, but it is all pretty heavy (Canon and Oly m4/3). Fine for a photography trip where I am packing my camp and my camera gear. Sub in a rifle and 12 days of gear for a dall sheep hunt and things change a lot. A couple of my lenses weigh more than my rifle.

However, I have standards and tiny sensors don't meet them most of the time. So most point and shoot cameras don't get me what I want. How many times will I be there and have the opportunity to take my own camp photo with the northern lights dancing overhead? I'd rather not miss that.

Lots of options, what do I take?

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
I have a lot of photography gear, but it is all pretty heavy (Canon and Oly m4/3). Fine for a photography trip where I am packing my camp and my camera gear. Sub in a rifle and 12 days of gear for a dall sheep hunt and things change a lot. A couple of my lenses weigh more than my rifle.

However, I have standards and tiny sensors don't meet them most of the time. So most point and shoot cameras don't get me what I want. How many times will I be there and have the opportunity to take my own camp photo with the northern lights dancing overhead? I'd rather not miss that.

Lots of options, what do I take?

Jeremy

That's a difficult situation since you would have to carry two packs if you take with you any of the two cameras you have. That only leaves a couple of options for you: a small point-N-shoot pocket camera, or a cellphone that has a good camera. A friend of mine takes amazing photos with his cellphone, and so my supervisor with an iPhone 7. But out of those two cameras, the Olympus with a 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro (around $899.00 at Amazon), and the non-pro version (very cheap) up to 150mm.

Hopefully some others in here can tell you what pocket camera they prefer and why.
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Northern lights are very common during moose season in Alaska, but I pack a large camera bag with two Canon Cameras and lenses on my UTV

For taking photos of the Auroras you would also need a tripod, or to find a solid support for the camera since it will take several seconds of exposure. For example, I took this photo at a local lake with a Canon FF camera mounted on a tripod. The ISO was around 600 for a 10-second exposure, with a Tokina lens set to manual focus and opened all the way to f/2.8:

I don't know if there are any really good options if you want both a large sensor and light weight/compact size.

Since you have a Canon camera, it might be worth looking at the compact STM lenses. I have the inexpensive EF 40/2.8 "pancake" lens. Even on a 5D3 body it is fairly compact though overall, not light weight.

Possibly an EF-S STM lens or two with a lighter Rebel body might work, or you could look into the mirrorless system. Personally when I'm hunting I find it hard to get into photography mode, and vice versa.

Ray, the northern lights photo is stunning. Very well done indeed!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Anderson:
I don't know if there are any really good options if you want both a large sensor and light weight/compact size.

Since you have a Canon camera, it might be worth looking at the compact STM lenses. I have the inexpensive EF 40/2.8 "pancake" lens. Even on a 5D3 body it is fairly compact though overall, not light weight.

Possibly an EF-S STM lens or two with a lighter Rebel body might work, or you could look into the mirrorless system. Personally when I'm hunting I find it hard to get into photography mode, and vice versa.

Ray, the northern lights photo is stunning. Very well done indeed!

Thank you, Dave Anderson.

I forgot about the Canon pancake lens. It's a very small and lightweight lens of good quality, and relatively cheap.

Thanks for the thoughts. I have a Canon SL1 and an Olympus EM5. The Oly is smaller, weather sealed, and probably the better choice. Weight is about the same. I keep struggling with only having a compact lens with little reach.

Neither would be handy though, so a point N shoot pretty much has to go as well. My bino pack has a sleeve that fits a PNS perfectly.

Any thoughts on the Panasonic LX10 or ZS100? After doing some looking these two and the Sony RX100 look promising. With a spare battery, this may be the best I can do.

I used to focus on the hunt and not take photos. Over the years, that has changed a bit and I like to have a camera. You see so much hunting that you would rarely see otherwise.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
Thanks for the thoughts. I have a Canon SL1 and an Olympus EM5. The Oly is smaller, weather sealed, and probably the better choice. Weight is about the same. I keep struggling with only having a compact lens with little reach.

Neither would be handy though, so a point N shoot pretty much has to go as well. My bino pack has a sleeve that fits a PNS perfectly.

Any thoughts on the Panasonic LX10 or ZS100? After doing some looking these two and the Sony RX100 look promising. With a spare battery, this may be the best I can do.

I used to focus on the hunt and not take photos. Over the years, that has changed a bit and I like to have a camera. You see so much hunting that you would rarely see otherwise.

Jeremy

Keep in mind that you may be able to attach a small padded and weather-resistant camera bag to the backpack, and still carry the Olympus with the lens I mentioned above. The lens is expensive, but it's water/dust resistant, plus it can handle cold weather. The only problem I see is that you would need two or three fully charge batteries.

I bought an Olympus OM-5 Mark II for my wife, and a second hand grip/battery pack plus another battery. She looks at the screen a lot of times, which in turn uses a lot of power. But even so she manages to take around 160 RAW photos before she gets the warning to charge the grip's battery. That leaves the in camera battery, plus another spare fully charged.

Some point and shoot cameras. The problem with a good one is that it will take you back to nearly $1,000 or more, and still won't reach the quality and performance of the Olympus you already have:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401971,00.asp

Good point on the PNS cameras. I can buy a top lens for the price of the best PNS.

When I hike I have a case that attaches to the shoulder strap of my pack. It fits either camera with a shortish lens and doesn't get in the way. At least for hiking. Not sure how it would play with my bino harness.

I can get about 220-240 shots out of my Oly if I am careful to not use the rear LCD. Spare batteries are kind of a given regardless of camera. I was thinking 2 or 3.

Within its limitations the 14-150 isn't a bad lens and it is light. That and the 17mm F1.8 might be a workable combo.

Jeremy

Several manufacturers make pocket cameras with 1 inch sensors.

SONY and Panasonic come to mind.

True. Those are on the radar. May end up with one of those, Panasonic ZS100, and my Oly.

I like to keep a camera in the rangefinder pocket on my pack. One of these would work and be better than the tiny sensor PNS cameras.

Jeremy