Cameras for the backcountry

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Posted by Bill S on May 30, 2008 at 12:45:35 pm EDT

Having yet again succumbed to the Fundamental Law of Electronic Widgets and purchased a new camera (body, actually, since I already have the lenses from the old camera), I am starting a thread on what camera do you take on various types of outings and why. Oh, you don't remember the FLEW (serendipitous acronym that describes what happens to the money for any electronic widget you buy)?

Quote:

Fundamental Law of Electronic Widgets - By the time you select the particular item of electronics (TV, computer, camera, cell/smart phone, MP3 player, ...), hand your money (paper or plastic) to the cashier, and leave the store (or on-line site), but before you can get the device turned on, there will be a minimum of two revisions or updates. In all cases, the manual and "fast start" instructions will be obsolete and contain factual errors, as well as misleading "information"

In my case, it depends on the outing. I used to use film exclusively (what else was there?), mostly in 35mm SLRs, but occasionally lugging a 4x5 view camera. I did use a small 35mm P&S with a fairly long zoom range on Denali, rock climbs, and elsewhere that weight was an issue.

At present, I mostly use a DSLR, though I carried a digital P&S on some rock climbs and on summit day in Antarctica. The DSLR is because of the versatility of the interchangeable lenses. The digital P&S is for when weight and size are an issue. I also have a tiny digicam with a waterproof housing and various mounts (helmet, headstrap, wriststrap) for very wet conditions (snorkeling, whitewater).

The most important factor in the images is the photographer, not the equipment. And whether the images satisfy you or not depends on your purpose - memory shots, artistic expression, telling the story of your outing or sharing it with friends, or making a living.

So, on your outings, what type of camera do you take and why? I mean *type* of camera, not the specific brand (to avoid the Canon vs Nikon vs Minolta vs Pentax vs ... arguments)

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