Context is really important!

Pam — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:10:47 -0500

I took my SLR on a trail bike ride and I worried about it the WHOLE time. And whenever I've taken it skiing - which is often - I think, sheesh, I wish I had a pocket camera. Though I'd want to be sure it works in extreme cold, ANOTHER issue, can you believe it?

I'm waiting for someone to come out with the "Sport SLR." You know, hefty plastic case in Tonka yellow, grippy rubber bumpers, knobs you can turn with gloves on...Hello? Canon? Nikon? Are you listening? I was only SORT of joking when I sent my friend the link to the underwater cam.

I'm eyeing the Canon PowerShot line...
Nerd's Eye View

Dang, Pam..

debra roby — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:06:32 -0500

I've been lusting over 2 cameras... an SLR to get back to really taking photographs and a "credit card" sized one to carry all the time (though I may opt for a camera phone).

Now you've got me thinking beyond size and weight to durability!!

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Enough!

JennaHatfield — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 03:34:11 -0500

You make me want to buy a new camera. Hush. :)

Family Living; Hatfield Style
Jenna

Digital Cameras for Adventure Travelers

Pam — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 03:30:01 -0500

A good friend and fellow traveler has gone all smooshy over my Canon SLR. There's no denying, it's a sweet piece of gear and takes some mighty fine photos. But said friend is planning some rather rugged bike touring and wants to pack an SLR. I'm saying it's not a good idea. There's too much dust and rattling, it's a bulky piece of gear, and it's heavy. I went looking for information to pass on about what camera IS the right gear for rough travel.

Outside has two columns on good gear for the outdoor photographer. First, Gear Guy answers the question What digital camera is light enough for backpacking? Outside also ran a full rundown on a number of digital cameras that might make the grade.

DIGITAL CAMERAS are often so fragile that they should carry a warning label: for INDOOR USE ONLY. That's changing. Most major manufacturersâ€”including Canon, Pentax, Olympus, and Minoltaâ€”now offer rugged, hard-plastic waterproof housings specifically designed to give their digi- cams a beefy outer shell.

National Geographic Traveler runs a similar spread, reviewing a number of cameras and putting them in context - Snorkel, Ski, Kayak and The Travel Junkie to name two.

As far as rugged goes, what's more rugged than a war zone? Photo.net runs a thread started by a soldier looking for a camera to hold up in the dust and heat of military deployment.

I've looked at a few cameras that are water resistant (my logic being that if it can keep out water it may keep out dust) and "rugged".

And just for grins, I told my pal to get one of these.

A few other things to keep in mind... Where are you going to recharge your batteries? Are you going to need a solar recharger? How about unloading the memory - how often can that happen? Are you for real about traveling with a tripod? (Oh my god, I want one of these.) What kind of conditions are you going to be subjecting your camera to? And finally, what about the sheer economic value of the thing? Are you willing to drop it out of a kayak or have it dragged across the campground when critters crack your stash?

I'd be the last person to talk anyone out of taking a camera - I rarely leave the house without mine. But I'm a car camper and day tripper, not a backcountry babe or dust devil. (Okay, I lie about the dust. I've eaten more than my share and I'd pack the camera in a dry bag for extreme dust.) How much weight or space are you willing to trade for camera extras? Think about where you're taking your gear, what it has to get through, and how you're going to transport it. The camera should be an accessory to your trip, not a burden.

For a glimpse of what's possible when your photo gear is your friend, try the Adventure Alternative Photo Pool.

Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View. Her Flickr stream is here.

BlogHer - Digital Cameras for Adventure Travelers - Comments

Context is really important!

Dang, Pam..

Enough!

Digital Cameras for Adventure Travelers