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SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/19/2018 06:48AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello all! Well we are heading back to the BWCA this June and looking to capture the great memories this time! I have Gopro, a DSLR and a Sony Handycam and I am trying to decide which to bring! They all have their pros and cons and I know the gopro can film and video so I am leaning towards that but wanted you guys opinion first!!
 
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04/19/2018 07:41AM  
A DSLR is always with, Oly M10 with 2 zooms, that is capable of good video. Often also take a GoPro 3, and spare batteries, a dedicated Galaxy 3 old cellphone just as monitor remote control. My canoe has a few gunnel mounts installed. All packed into a Pelican 1300.

butthead
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14413)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
04/19/2018 08:24AM  
Nikon point and shoot with extra batteries, and a GoPro hero camera for video. Both can be slid in my pocket for fast shots. I’m not worried about if it gets wet. The GoPro is waterproof but the Nikon is not. I would rather get the shot than worrying about it getting wet. Too much hassle to get it in and out of a case for me.
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/19/2018 08:42AM  
awesome thanks for the info. How much do you think your film gear weighs?
 
04/19/2018 10:27AM  
This year I am taking a DSLR, a GoPro, a waterproof point and shoot with a fish eye lens and a lightweight tripod for time lapses. That should cover about anything I want to do. That will be a good 10 pounds and I keep it in a dry bag. I also have a portable charger and two DSLR batteries. The GoPro battery does not last long and the time lapse on the point and shoot will kill that battery pretty quickly. The charger also works on the MP3 player which has music and five books. Also I take a radio so I can get the NPR and CBC news and most importantly the weather.
 
kennk
distinguished member (416)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/19/2018 11:03AM  
I've been very impressed with my (now) older model WATERPROOF Panasonic Lumix TS3 camera. It is very easy to use and in my view takes very high quality pictures and videos.

The huge positive is that it is WATERPROOF, so I don't have to worry about getting it wet - though I've never purposefully submerged it (I'm supposed to be able to). It can sit ready to use very quickly in any pocket or bag.

Mine is orange, and I stow it in a small orange neoprene Roocase, so if I leave it on a log or rock it's easier to find than one that is silver or black.

It is light enough that I can use it with my Tamrac ZipShot ultra lightweight tripod (uses shock corded aluminum legs - like tent poles).

The only negative is its limited zoom capability.
 
04/19/2018 01:09PM  
SPOTPRES1: "awesome thanks for the info. How much do you think your film gear weighs?
"


6lb 4oz



Additional options of more batteries or solar charging, whichever works best.

butthead
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/19/2018 06:51PM  
great kit awesome
 
mc2mens
distinguished member(3311)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/19/2018 08:51PM  
I have been using a Canon Powershot G16 for the past 4-5 years. It takes very good pictures but comes in a small package. I take care to keep it dry and protected with a Pelican 1120 case. I'd like to get myself a GoPro some day.
 
mschi772
distinguished member(806)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 06:31AM  
I've been dreaming lately of getting a better camera both for my camping trips and arguably more importantly for photographing my work (I recently launched my own mobile car detailing business). Cameras are dauntingly expensive unfortunately. Right now the only camera that's any better than a paper weight is a Panasonic FZ70 that my girlfriend got for photographing birds, and that camera is disappointing in so many ways.
 
missmolly
distinguished member(7681)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
04/20/2018 08:15AM  
I suck at these equipment question threads because I don't know the names, but I do have a waterproof Olympus and a Sony SLR. Both are pretty worn.
 
04/20/2018 08:59AM  
Want to point out I do not use or buy new camera equipment. I've had very good results with used or refurbished gear.

Good and great cameras are available at low cost, from many sources. Buyers need to define their comfort range and knowledge. Then start looking at types and brands.

butthead
 
04/20/2018 10:30AM  
If you really want to improve your photos edit them. Editing is at least half the game in my estimation. Published photos are all heavily edited and the difference between an unedited shot and the finished product is incredible. Photoshop elements is $90 or something like that and has a ton of editing tools. You will have to put some time in on learning to use it but hobbies are all about spending time on something you enjoy.

My advice is learn to use the functions on your point and shoot especially the exposure compensation and then edit your photos. After that worry about upgrading your equipment.

I work at it a fair amount and my skills are still way behind the capabilities of my equipment and editing software.
 
sylvesterii
distinguished member (164)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 10:44AM  
I moved to a Fuji X e2s mirrorless after my last trip because my Nikon and lenses were just too heavy. I supplement with my iPhone 7 Plus which is surprisingly good in many situations.
 
GearJunkie
distinguished member (159)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 12:55PM  
I’m focusing mostly on video this year. Have a GoPro Session that I’ll wear on my head when fishing. Anything on the move I will be buying a GoPro 6 due to the image stabilization upgrade. It’s seriously that good.

For audio I’m using a Zoom H1N and will likely make a small parabolic dish for pin pointing sounds like Loons or Wolves (hopefully).
 
MReid
distinguished member (443)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 03:28PM  
I go heavy, but I used to make some $$ with photos. One or two Canon DSLRs the whole way, with multiple lenses, in a Pelican case, and a tripod. Last year's trip was 25 pounds, this year was only 18. I keep my regular camping stuff pretty light (backpacking light)--no frills except camera gear. I'll be lighter with my upcoming 6 week trip--lighter DSLR, lighter lenses, no tripod, smaller Pelican.
 
Abbey
distinguished member (278)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 06:26PM  
I previously brought a point and shoot in a small pelican case. I was always nervous getting it out of the case in the canoe for photos. Last year we took a trip to the Galapagos, and I did a lot of research on underwater cameras for snorkeling as that is one of the highlights of the Galapagos. Ended up settling on the Olympus “Tough” point and shoot. Had it in the ocean with us for many hours, which is about as good of a waterproof endorsement as possible. Even decent underwater video. Won’t give the zoom of a DSLR, but that’s not what it is. Much more convenient in the canoe as there is no pelican case to mess with to get a quick shot. Also got a $5 floating wrist strap that does actually float the camera.

My wife is our photographer, and I understand the other posts that include a lot of gear. I “retired” her older base model DSLR several years ago with an upgrade to the Canon SL1. Partly so she could realistically carry a DSLR in her purse / travel, but also to fit the camera and some lenses into a pelican case not larger than my tackle bag. She went on one BWCA trip and hasn’t been back the past several years....I don’t take the DSLR without her.
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/21/2018 05:47AM  
I also have a portable charger...


do you mind sharing the model and specs? I may get one as well!
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/21/2018 05:53AM  
Johnh: "If you really want to improve your photos edit them. Editing is at least half the game in my estimation. Published photos are all heavily edited and the difference between an unedited shot and the finished product is incredible. Photoshop elements is $90 or something like that and has a ton of editing tools. You will have to put some time in on learning to use it but hobbies are all about spending time on something you enjoy.


My advice is learn to use the functions on your point and shoot especially the exposure compensation and then edit your photos. After that worry about upgrading your equipment.


I work at it a fair amount and my skills are still way behind the capabilities of my equipment and editing software."


John, you are correct my friend! One big step toward that is shooting in raw with my dslr. It does take quite a bit more memory but I am told it is well worth it when doing post editing. I am just struggling with the thought of 10lbs of camera gear when I was planning on taking 20lbs total weight before lol.
 
04/21/2018 08:55AM  
" I was always nervous getting it out of the case in the canoe for photos."

Sorry but this caused a chuckle, no worries about using a $400-$1000 smartphone in such circumstances. Anyhow if it bothers you insurance riders on the gear are cheap. I replaced a used Olympus OMD EM5 that went to the bottom of Kenny lake last year (hell of a coincidence), recovered the full Ebay price paid for it without a hassle.

butthead
 
04/21/2018 11:08AM  
Spot -

I have been holding off on going to raw but I am now ready to make the jump. I am taking a photography class and the instructor has convinced me I need to do it. He said raw captures at least one extra f-stop of light. I did some raw edits this week and the results I think look better.

I have a portable charger called pocket juice. It holds 8000 mAh which is about four phone batteries and cost $40 or $50. I used to have a solar charger but I set it out to charge one day and someone stole it so I switched to the portable.
 
andym
distinguished member(5337)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
04/21/2018 01:58PM  
My wife uses a Panasonic lumix with that has a long zoom, great image, and both an fake optical viewfinder that you hold up to your eye (it is really a small screen). These features make it excellent for both scenery and wildlife photos and it is much lighter than a dslr. However, it isn’t as good in very low light due to a smaller sensor. I carry a pocket sized lumix that is waterproof. There is just a screen and no viewfinder but have a camera with me and borrow hers when I want something fancier.
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
04/22/2018 06:47AM  
JohnH, I have been seeing portable power banks on groupon and amazon for dirt cheap lately. The one I have now is 10,000mAH and can charge my phone 3 times so I am looking at one that 30,000-40,000 and I am thinking that should be sufficient for my phone and go pro.
 
proepro
senior member (65)senior membersenior member
  
05/06/2018 01:20PM  
I use a waterproof Samsung phone. Decent pictures and video. I take several pamormics with it. Battery will last two days if everything but camera is turned off. I also like the big display. Large SD card so I take too many pictures and find some good ones.

Pictures will never be as good as a camera but it is what I have.
 
jeroldharter
distinguished member(1531)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/06/2018 03:28PM  
If your camera is capable of taking RAW images, then odds are it has another mode: RAW + JPG in which it records two files for each shot, one RAW and one JPG.

If you are not ready to edit photos now, you can still take RAW images so you can go back later to edit some images once you know how. It takes a bit of memory, but SD cards are cheap.

Re: the Olympus Tough cameras: they are great in principle and I bought one. Very durable. However, image quality with lens wider than f8 was rather poor, especially in the corners. Defeats the purpose of an f2.8 lens. A great point and shoot camera for higher quality images, RAW + JPG, is the Sony RX100V. Not waterproof but quality is far superior to the Olympus Tough P&S (at a price).
 
NotLight
distinguished member(1262)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/07/2018 09:52AM  
Like OP said, different cameras work better for different things. So what I do is just bring only one camera per trip, but switch off to something different every trip. Each trip produces different types of pictures, depending on what gear I brought.

You can certainly bring camera gear to cover every possible scenario; and, fishing gear for every possible type of fish; etc, etc. It’s just a lot to carry.

I rotate through a canon mirrorless camera with a rokinon wide angle “astro” lens, a Sony RX100, and an old Canon 20d with a 55-250mm lens that I got for cheap that I’m not really worried about getting destroyed. Only bring one at a time. Yes, I miss some good pictures sometimes because I have the “wrong” camera.

 
BuckFlicks
distinguished member(628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/07/2018 04:42PM  
Johnh: "If you really want to improve your photos edit them. Editing is at least half the game in my estimation. Published photos are all heavily edited and the difference between an unedited shot and the finished product is incredible. Photoshop elements is $90 or something like that and has a ton of editing tools. You will have to put some time in on learning to use it but hobbies are all about spending time on something you enjoy.


My advice is learn to use the functions on your point and shoot especially the exposure compensation and then edit your photos. After that worry about upgrading your equipment.


I work at it a fair amount and my skills are still way behind the capabilities of my equipment and editing software."


This is great advice.

I use a Nikon Coolpix waterproof for both stills and video. It stays in my cargo pocket on my pants or my shirt pocket. it takes really good pictures but video is ... less than ideal. It's an older camera and it says it records 720p but the quality isn't as good as my old Sony Webbie, which I do take on river trips for video. Stays in a ziploc baggie inside my small roll-down dry bag. Drawback to the Sony is that it only uses Sony proprietary SD cards. Nikon will use the generic MicroSD. I don't think I'd want to hassle with a DSLR on a paddle trip, but they take such great pictures, if that's really important to you, it's worth the hassle.
 
SPOTPRES1
member (27)member
  
05/07/2018 05:21PM  
buck, I am kinda of leaning towards just the gopro... As much as I want it photos I dont want the weight and risk of trashing my $600 camera and lens. For a backcountry trip like this the gopro is truly worth its weight in gold.
 
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