Needing a new camera

[JimFromTN]

I Have decided to invest in a good quality camera to take on hunting trips out west and I am trying to decide what to get. The camera needs to be weatherproof but at the same time take very good quality pictures. I figure if I can't take pictures in the rain, I won't be taking many pictures and there is no sense in even bothering with a camera. I have been looking at some of the more rugged waterproof/ dust proof/shockproof cameras but the picture quality is not all that great. I came across the Pentax K-50 weatherproof dslr camera which looks like what I am looking for. Does anyone have any experience with this camera or any other weather resistant cameras?

 

[AT Hiker]

A dslr will be a bit bulky if you plan on packing it in.

When i get a chance to pull my backpacking camera out I will give you the model number. Its a sony, rugged and waterproof. Takes good pics, has a self timer, panoramic mode and is small and lightweight.

Im not familiar with the Pentax.


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[AT Hiker]

My Sony is a Cyber Shot DSC-TX5, 10.2mpxl 4 optical zoom. Its about 6-7 years old and still performa great.


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[JimFromTN]

The bulkiness is a definite consideration and I have thought about it. With the lens removed it seems like it would be acceptable but I may change my mind once I tried to stow it in a pack. How does your camera do with distances? Lets say you are out west hunting and you spot a big horn sheep at 350 yds out on a cliff face. Could your camera get a good picture of it or would it be a speck where you would have to tell people what they are looking at?

 

[UPSman]

Canon G16

$399 on Amazon

 

[AT Hiker]

No, my camera would not capture a quality image at that distance. In order to capture something worth framing you would need a camera that is likely beyond your price range, actually the camera you could afford it would be the lense that would give you a heart attack at check out time. You would also need a tri pod and be able to quickly calobrate your camera settings to capture the image quality needed. If you just want a "picture" of a sheep or whatever at a distance to show on here and share with your social media friends, etc. Then your DSLR will serve the purpose.

The digi scoping is an option, they can produce images of objects in the distance but still not frame worthy.

Most of your quality images are going to be either landscape, action shots, or framed shots (i.e. hunter posing with a kill). A good quality (>$500) digital camera properly used will suffice. A small gorilla tripod or something similar will greatly help with your picture quality, especially with taking self pics and macro type shots.

I have a DSLR Canon Rebel, I use it on some hikes and the only hunting pics I get with it are when Im close to the truck and weather is good. Its fun learning and playing around with the ISO and other features to capture a really cool image but for all around memory collection my little Nikon does a great job.

 

[TNReb]

I wouldn't even think about carrying my dSLR. Too heavy. And to carry a lens capable of taking pictures of deer farther away... the lens would be too heavy/bulky.

JimFromTN... I'm not trying to discourage you, but a dSLR lens that is fairly small is going to be somewhere in the 50-80mm range. That isn't much zoom. You're going to want something at least 300mm for taking pictures of anything further than 50 yards, and lenses start to get big and expensive when they get that size - especially if you want a good quality one.

 

[Top Pin]

Jim,

I've been researching the same topic and about to pull the trigger on a mirrorless camera. Most likely a Sony Nex 5. Smaller than a DSLR, but great picture quality. Good luck on your search!

 

[AT Hiker]

Those mirrorless cameras seem cool. Good quality and interchangeable lenses. I just dont know how "tough" or outdoor friendly they are.

 

[Top Pin]

AT,

That is my concern as well! I hope it lasts, but I'm sure it has to be close to the DSLR as far as durability. No where close to what you have though.


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[JimFromTN]

I bought the pentax k-50 which worked out very well. Unfortunately, the hunting sucked because the whole time in AK the average temp was about 65 degrees. Driving thru Fairbanks, people were wearing shorts and t-shirts. The reason it was unfortunate is that the moose don't go into rut until the first frost. The bulls stay high up in the mountains until the rut. I saw lots of cows and calves but no bulls. I saw a total 4 bulls in the back of people's trucks the entire time I was there. Fortunately, this was not a paid guided trip so I am not out tens of thousands of dollars and I can keep going back every year if I want and when I do go back it will be for the last 2 weeks of the season and not the first 2 weeks. I found that I don't go into photographer mode at a moments notice. What I mean is that I missed allot of opportunities because I was not thinking about getting the camera out and taking pics when the opportunity arose. One instance was when we hit a sand bar going down the tanana river at about 32 mph and lodged the boat up on the sandbar. It took us several hours to get it off and going again and I did not think to capture the moment. Also, people around you tend to get irritated when you have a camera in your hand when they think you should have a rifle in it.

I don't think I could have gotten nearly as good of pics had I gone with a lesser camera

https://www.flickr.com/gp/42152314@N03/m49D73

Even though the hunting sucked, it was a great trip. Definately going back. I feel sorry for the guys who did pay for a guide. I saw lots of them at the airport when I landed in Anchorage.

 

[AT Hiker]

Nice pics! I need to check that camera out.


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[TNReb]

Nice pictures. I'm jealous of the trip!

 

[JimFromTN]

Its a good camera. I am a complete novice at photography and I was impressed with how some of them turned out. I need to learn how to use it better. One night, the northern lights were amazing and I could not get a good picture of it because I did not know what I was doing. If you are cutting the tags off your clothes and cutting the handle off your toothbrush to save weight on your next hunting trip then its probably going to be too heavy. It worked fine for me because all I ever had to carry was a day back and it did not bother me at all.

Me friend texted me the other day. He killed a spike fork moose on the land behind his house a week after I left. I get a consolation prize in January when he comes to Nashville. He is bringing me an ice chest full of moose and caribou.