Best Backpacking Camera

**Rick** · 04-18-2008, 07:55 PM

If you are like me, you like to take pictures when you are out. I have some really cool pics that I've taken over time and they sure do bring back some memories. The question is, which digital camera is best? And how much do you have to pay for it? And is it water (moisture) proof?

Pentax has a nice camera. the Optio W30 is waterproof to 10 feet for 2 hours so you can take some snappy pictures as you're dragged along the bottom of that class IV rapids. It's a bit pricey though at around $230.

I just bought a Canon A570 IS for about $135 along with a 4 Gb card for another $34.00. It's a great little camera but it isn't waterproof. Canon does make a waterproof case for it but it's another $160 bucks. I figured it was cheap enough that if I do something really stupid I won't be out a ton of money. It takes some really great pictures.

The Olympus Stylus 770 SW is another nice camera that is waterproof, shockproof and crushproof (all within limits). But it comes in at $350.

The Canon Powershot A460, the Kodak Easy Share C653 and the Nikon Coolpix L10 all come in around $150 but none are waterproof. All are rated as good cameras by Consumer Reports (Nov. 07 P.36).

**Tahyo** · 04-18-2008, 08:01 PM

I have 2 digital cameras. One is a bit large for backpacking, the other one is pretty good but older.

Rick, do a search over at this site. Seems to me like I ran across a few threads on it. These people are pretty weight conscious.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/index.php

**Tahyo** · 04-18-2008, 08:04 PM

Oh... my cameras.

Olympus Camedia C-3000 Zoom 3.3 megapixel (old but gets used a lot)
Canon Rebel SLR (almost too heavy for backpacking unless you are backpacking specifically for quality photos)

**Rick** · 04-18-2008, 08:14 PM

I did a search and found a couple of threads. One was from early last year which pretty much negates the advice because it's too old and the other talks about cameras in the $1000 range.

One thing I failed to mention in my first post is that I use rechargable AA batteries in my camera. I have six that I carry with me so I always have fresh batteries. In this last trip a set lasted about 175 pictures or so before I had to change. I took 552 pictures plus a 30 second video and went through two sets of batteries. I'm still on my third set that I installed during the trip. The Canon A570 also takes video.

**Rick** · 04-18-2008, 08:18 PM

I had an ancient Nikon Coolpix 950. It took great pics but the battery door kept breaking and they wanted 180 to fix the thing. Soooo, I ditched it and went with the Canon for less money. I won't buy Nikon any more.

**Tahyo** · 04-18-2008, 08:21 PM

Both my cameras use rechargables. My Canon, I can take about 600+ photos if I don't use the flash and I shoot at pretty high resolution so I can clean up the photos in Photoshop. Sometimes I shoot in raw format if they are other than just snap shots. I have been thinking about getting a smaller camera, but there's about 10 other things on my want list before that.

**crashdive123** · 04-18-2008, 08:24 PM

My smaller - take anywhere is a Nikon Coolpix 4600. My larger is the Panasonic DMC-FZ750.

**Rick** · 04-18-2008, 08:25 PM

I hear ya! If I kept of list of the things I want I'd spend all day writing stuff down. I used the flash quite a bit while I was on the trip so I burned the batteries doing it and it was cold as h**l one day and I know that didn't help them either. And it has a USB port so transferring pics is a snap.

**Tahyo** · 04-18-2008, 08:31 PM

I got a USB card reader a few years ago and man.... I'm spoiled with that. No software to install and it's treated like another drive.

**BraggSurvivor** · 04-18-2008, 08:40 PM

I carry a camera like you guys down in the States carry your cell phones. I snap 200-500 pics a week easily.

Anyways, I have at least two camera's near me all the time. I have a Pentax Optio S6 thats always in my front pocket and a Sony HDR-SR7 with a 100GB hard drive that follows me from the house to my truck and vis/versa.

I also have a Light & Motion BlueFin HC7 & Sony HDR-HC7 underwater video camera for diving.

**Tahyo** · 04-18-2008, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by BraggSurvivor

I carry a camera like you guys down in the States carry your cell phones. I snap 200-500 pics a week easily.

Anyways, I have at least two camera's near me all the time. I have a Pentax Optio S6 thats always in my front pocket and a Sony HDR-SR7 with a 100GB hard drive that follows me from the house to my truck and vis/versa.

I also have a Light & Motion BlueFin HC7 & Sony HDR-HC7 underwater video camera for diving.

I thought I was snap happy. haha.. you have me beat.

**klkak** · 04-18-2008, 09:31 PM

Rick, I use a Kodak easy share c813. I used it all winter here in Alaska while trapping in Prince William Sound by boat. I had no problems with it. By the way it uses 2 AA batteries instead of a rechargable. Which I prefer. This is a pic I took with it this winter.

**Rick** · 04-19-2008, 07:29 AM

Klkak - That's what I'm talkin' about! What a pic! You just can't conjure that up in your mind after the event. And that leads to, "Yeah, and there were these blueberry bushes about 40 yards away that..."

Tahyo - I had a card reader with the Coolpix and two 256K cards. I gave them to my son when I bought this Canon. I'm not certain what he has but he uses the same card. Agree on the ease. It's nice and simple.

My camera will use AA batteries but I prefer the NiCads over tossing the AA's into the trash. I've had my original NiCads for about three years and they are still going strong (knock on wood). They are more expensive to purchase but pay for themselves in no time. I had four NiCad AAs with my Coolpix and use them now in my Canon plus I picked up four more so I guess I have 8 all together (I said 6 above).

Bragg - We have to figure out some way to get you some more toys. You're deprived. I have an older Sony Nightshot VHS that I love. (Hear that Sony?) Love it! I'll take that HC7, though. And that's a wicked wicked underwater case.

**GVan** · 04-20-2008, 01:46 AM

Nice cameras one and all, but when you're are 2500 feet with a jumpmaster yelling, "NO CAMERAS!!," you still can't beat a cheap little old Kodak Instamatic with its built in flash and 126 film rolls. The thing fits ints any pocket and is always at the ready.

**Rick** · 04-20-2008, 06:57 AM

Hey, they have their place. I've used them before. I just don't like the film hassle. I'm just too darned modern and sophicate.........sophistooc......spophisticat.... ..I have a lot of fetchin' up.

**nell67** · 04-20-2008, 07:04 AM

LOL,Rick,I still have rolls of film from when my kids were little,I keep telling myself,one of these days,I'll get them developed......still witing for one of these days to come along

**Rick** · 04-20-2008, 07:08 AM

They are handy and they do take decent pictures. I have really nice 35mm with telephoto that I just stopped using because digital is just so handy and it gets cheaper all the time. After I converted to digital there was a while there that I'd find a film canister here and there of undeveloped film. "Hmm. Wonder what this is from?" Sort of like Christmas when you get the pics back.

**nell67** · 04-20-2008, 07:13 AM

Yea,well when I develop all this film,its gonna feel like a BIG Christmas.....

Christmas depresses me now,maybe I wont develop them at all....

**crashdive123** · 04-20-2008, 07:14 AM

My old Cannon AE-1 metal body is a good camera, but with the cost, quality, and ease of digital you can't beat it. I used to have my own dark room. Bought my film in bulk rolls, so it wasn't too expensive. I would always take waaaay too many pictures, but since I was developing and printing, I just printed the ones that I wanted. Once I no longer had my own dark room, it started to get kind of pricey. Digital has changed all of that - memory cards sure can hold alot of pictures.