Camera advice for ultralight hike...

[kidchill]

I'm gonns be attempting a thru hike of the Appalachian trail this year. I currently have a D300 with various lenses. I'm trying to keep my pak weight as low as possible. Any suggestions for super point n shoot cameras or possibly m4/3's? I'm slightly leaning towards the m4/3 'cause I feel like its a better compromise between weight and pic quality. I'm not saying that point n shoots can't produce decent pics, but the sensor is so much larger on the m4/3s. Thanks for any insight.

 

[The_Traveler]

Oly ep-3 & 20 mm lens

 

[Overread19 7]

Olympus OM-D E-M5 would be my suggestion if you went m4/3rds can could stretch your budget that far. Solid build and some of the best m4/3rds features. You could then use one single lens or a combination of two or three depending on how serious you got and on the kind of shots you want to take. Don't forget that you can also use zooms as well to cover a range of focal lengths.
Bonus here is that its small, but has a built in viewfinder (electronic).
I also think (from light reading and not much research I admit) that this one has the most rugged build of the Olympus series of m4/3rd series bodies.

If you've not the budget the EP series would be next - the 3rd (as The Traveller suggests) has very good AF whilst the 2 and 1 are cheaper and yet still decently featured cameras. Note that there is no electronic viewfinder so you are in point and shoot LCD focusing mode - unless you purchase the hotshoe accessory electronic viewfinder (and if you're doing that the OMD edition would be preferable).

If you don't want more than one lens and a camera I'd look to the bridge camera market - single bodies with good zooms - maybe not quite as good sensor wise as the m4/3rds, but compact with space and simple to use.

 

[kidchill]

If I'm going lightweight should I consider the EPL series? Would really only lose the flash and sum external controls...

 

[Overread19 7]

I'd see the cameras and lenses in person before I made a final choice on the matter (hard to know how big is too big). Though the EP(l) series is designed to be very compact all round.

I'd just (personally) try to go for the highest spec I could get whilst retaining small size

 

[SHaller]

I can't speak for the camera, but i would seriously consider taking a look at this tripod. Gitzo GT0531 Mountaineer 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs - GT0531. It is unbelievably tiny still very sturdy. One of my professors has one, and it is pretty mind blowing.

 

[spacefuzz]

If you check out Alexandre Buisse's website and book he has lots of advice on mountaineering / lightweight hiking camera equipment.

I guess it comes down to if your goal is to hike it fast....or end every day you can trying to scout for photo locations and come back with high quality pics. For fast perhaps the 4/3's and a gorilla tripod? For quality perhaps a D90 and one lens, with an ultralight tripod.

Look forward to seeing your photos.

 

[kidchill]

I won't be bringing a tripod unless it's a gorilla-pod! I'm already slightly over my weight limit as is ;( The EP vs EPL is a wash! It only saves 2oz, so I might as well keep the EP3 with the manual controls and flash. Any comments on Panasonic's m 4/3's system? Also, WTF is up with the way olympus names their gear? I'm not a system snob, but damn, it took me a good 15mins just to figure out what was what!!

 

[Overread19 7]

I've not strongly looked at Panasonics, but they keep to a more bridge camera appearance with built in viewfinder (electronic) as opposed to Oly who've gone more after the handbag/wallet shape. I think Oly has the edge with AF performance, but other than that I'm not sure how they class up against each other.

 

[jaomul]

If your taking mostly day shots there are some well recommended bridge cameras around now, the Panasonic Fz150 being one example

 

[Big Mike]

How about something like a Canon G series? Pretty compact, good quality, shoots RAW etc.

 

[kidchill]

That still carries a smaller sensor then the m4/3 (1/1.7") and doesn't save much weight...i think of the 4/3 cams are gonna best the compromise b/n size, weight, and pic quality...decisions, decisions...

 

[usayit]

My suggestions:

0) Panasonic Lumix superzoom P&S. I have the old TZ5 and amazed by what it can do IN GOOD LIGHT. I have to admit, I haven't bought a replacement for it in several years now... so I am assuming that panasonic has continued the quality (ZS8 I believe is the latest). Cheapest of the bunch.
1) Canon S100 - high end point and shoot. Pocketable. As small as most P&S but better quality. Limited zoom
2) Panasonic GF2 w/ 20mm f/1.7 - Huge price drop recently. Micro 4 3 quality. Future addition of other lenses (Olympus, Panasonic). Near DSLR quality. 20mm is a pancake lens.
3) Olympus E-PM1 w/ 20mm f/1.7 - Even smaller and lighter than the GF2. This is the smallest of the micro 4 3 cameras. Some say its too small but in this case may be an advantage to you. Just like the previous suggestion: interchangeable lenses, near DSLR quality, 20mm is a pancake lens.

If you choose the micro 4 3 option there are a boat load of primes and zooms to choose from. Research according to you style. In particular, the

Olympus 12mm f/2
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5
Panasonic 20mm f/1.7
Olympus 45mm f/1.8


I personally would pair up the choice with either the Gitzo Traveler 5 section monopod (among the lightest monopods in the market) or the Gitzo combination walking stick/monopod (I need walking stick during long hikes). Bring along some bongo straps or large rubber bands. If you need something more stable than a monopod, take the monopod and two sticks then strap them together and "make" your tripod. You can also strap the monopod to various things like fences, bushes, trees.. etc. You save yourself the trouble of the bulk and weight of a tripod. I recall a more a dvid hiker friend of mine.. "think dual purpose".


A runner up would be the G-series canon. I was a big fan of that series a long time ago but it has long since been overshadowed by the micro 4 3 system. Its actually bigger in size than most micro 4 3 cameras.

 

[usayit]

Any comments on Panasonic's m 4/3's system? Also, WTF is up with the way olympus names their gear? I'm not a system snob, but damn, it took me a good 15mins just to figure out what was what!!

Oympus line up

OM-D E-M5 - shipping next month. High end prosumer that is highly anticipated. Modeled after a traditional SLR look and feel but smaller. Weather sealed and improved on all points; AF, IS, sensor, etc...

E-P3 - Current high end camera. Modeled after the vintage PEN half frames. Most comfortable to use with dials and such. Intended for the more serious shooter.

E-PL3 - Middle line camera. Smaller than the E-P3 and a lot of value for $$$. Display tilts downward

E-PM1 - Miniaturized micro 4 3 offering. Target market was/is the consumer who would have normally gone for the high end P&S. This is the smallest of the micro 4 3 camera bodies (including Panasonic)

* All Olympus cameras have In body image stabilization.


Panasonic lineup (is actually a bit more confusing)

GH2 - High end still and designed for video. Built in Elect. viewer.

GX1 - The "rangefinder styled" cameras. Lacks in electronic viewfinder.

GF3 - This was the competitor of the E-PM1... their market is the P&S consumer looking for better quality. Pretty small. Elect viewfinder is not option.

G3 - Their most popular still camera. Improved sensor over the previous years. Built in Electronic viewfinder.

* All Panasonic camera have NO image stabilization in camera body. They design their lenses with optical stabilization.

* All lenses (maybe 1exception) are interchangeable. I have an older E-PL1 and use a combination of Olympus and Panasonic lenses.



I am pretty sold on the E-M5 that's coming. If I were to choose a Panny, it would be the GH2. I stick with Olympus because I like having in body image stabilization as I adapt lenses .


http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/body.html



Appalachian trail! WOW... good luck and have fun..

 

[tirediron]

Sony Nex-5N/7 or Canon G12/Gx1