View Full Version : The perfect backpacking camera?
Mrs Baggins
05-15-2010, 05:42
http://www.pcworld.com/article/195476/worlds_smallest_chobi_mini_digital_camera.html
There is no "perfect" gear. Gear selection is the art of compromise.
This camera is small & light, but has poor optics. Bet the chip has a high s/n ratio too.
I'd rather carry a Canon S90
I can see where a runner or UL packer might be interested in this cam. $150 US.
Most of those items aren't available in the US...........
Feral Bill
05-15-2010, 12:05
Even if it was an adequate camera, I would surely lose it.
Mrs Baggins, I too thought this camera was interesting. The evolution of elctronic gear is amazing to me.
I no longer carry a camera on most trips. If I am with other people, everyone else has a camera that is far better than any I ever had and they are better at using it than I ever was. Someone will be willing to send me a few pictures of the people and places I want to remember that are better than I could take myself.
I used to say that taking pictures got in the way of experience and that I would rather see the world with two eyes than one. New cameras make that somewhat obsolete but the philosophy still holds. Now that I do not travel with kids who do so many cute things that require documentation and photo memories, I rarely miss having a camera.
But, I might consider a camera like this someday.
Anumber1
05-15-2010, 15:31
Takes great pictures while literally under water.
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-Tough-6000-Waterproof-Blue/dp/B001P06Q20
Mrs Baggins
05-15-2010, 15:41
My husband is the one who found the article and thinks it would work for backpacking. I like my Panasonic Lumix just fine. I know it's not available here yet but it will be and by that time other companies will have figured out how to make it better.
I was in Fry's Electronics, each month, looking at the video cams with 60X and 70X optical zoom. I zoom, I focus. I check for "purple fringing" in particular.
The reason: those video cams weigh less than my point-and-shoot 10X digital camera.
I especially want the video camera to replace a monocular for hiking: dual purpose, in mind.
There are video cameras less weight than my point-and-shoot digital camera that have high-def for YouTube and log the GPS in the photo data.
Check it out.
Well, for a start 2048x1536 is 3 MP not 5 mp as stated in the various press releases.
I cannot find the full specs , but most likely it will have a built in USB rechargeable battery.
Essentially this is a toy designed to amaze by the size, it is not going to impress anyone with picture quality.
As for 60-70x zoom video cameras.
Don't expect decent still from those either.
The lenses and sensors on those cameras are made by the same people that make the still versions, so there is a very good reason why the still type are proportionally bigger and bulkier .
Franco
kayak karl
05-15-2010, 20:03
i want this one :sun http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_W90_Pistachio_Green/ they say it's practicably indestructible. if anyone can, i can prove them wrong :)
I use this little item, pick it up at Radio ( Rat) shack 6 months ago, shoots great HD video and I can transfer it straight thru my DVD Recorder . Takes nice pictures too, very detailed.
Battery pack only last 60-70mins, depending how good you with the controls. Also I 've only used 4GB cards = 1 hr video at a time.
http://www.advancetec.co.uk/acatalog/Sanyo_VPCCG10_Camcorder.html
Use this to film my last snow trip to Lassen Nat'l park in March
Mike
Wrangler88
06-02-2010, 16:56
i want this one :sun http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_W90_Pistachio_Green/ they say it's practicably indestructible. if anyone can, i can prove them wrong :)
Yeah I saw this in an article a few months back. It looks sweet.
Wrangler88
06-02-2010, 17:04
Also, for anyone thinking about a small HD video camera ... I got a Kodak Zi8 for Xmas and the thing takes AWESOME video. Its really light as well.
The zoom isn't super smooth and the picture quality on regular still pictures isn't going to be as good as a $400 digital camera but for a dual purpose video ... its great.
I was thinking it'd be great for backpacking because it has a built in usb. So when you got to town, if you need to upload some pictures ... plug it in to any computer and upload them. This usb also charges the camera. So no need to carry extra chargers or anything. (Unless you wanted. The wall charger charges faster than a usb.) If you planned on taking a ton of video or were unsure if there was going to be a computer in the next town, extra batteries can be found online for pretty cheap and they only weigh about an ounce and a half.
i've had a really small camera before and it was just too small to steady and nearly all the photos from it came out blurry,
i like the nikon coolpix's since you can record a little audio bit to each picture so you can remember where it was taken, i wouldn't be surprised if other brands have that feature too, but i know for sure the coolpix does
vonfrick
06-02-2010, 18:12
i got this one for warrghy for xmas at wallyworld, along with extra cards and batteries...so far i really like it
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/z/finepix_z33wp/
i want this one :sun http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital...stachio_Green/ (http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_W90_Pistachio_Green/) they say it's practicably indestructible. if anyone can, i can prove them wrong :)
Bought this Pentax last year (last years model) and it sucked in dim light (like on the AT). Sent it back. This years is not suppose to be much better. Now looking at this one (Sony DSC-TX5 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666122654))
I would not expect a much better low light performance from that Sony. With a maximum aperture of F3.6 and a small 1/2.4" sensor it could do better because of the on board processor but not that much.
Look at both a wider lens and a larger sensor than you had in the Pentax. Something like the Canon S90 (F2 and 1/17" sensor) or the Pana LX 3 (F2 , 1/1.6" sensor)
BTW F2 lets 4x more light in than F4 (F2.8 twice as much as F4....)
Franco
I would not expect a much better low light performance from that Sony I agree with your aperture analysis. Reviews, so far of the Sony indicate that it is images have a lot less grain in low light conditions (compared to other similar featured camera). Better CMOS sensor perhaps? It is also not cheap. I'm waiting for a better set of reviews. Since I don't like carrying my SLR when packing, I'm sticking with my Nikon S210 in a baggie for now.
Yes that type of CMOS sensor (BSI , backside illuminated) did deliver a better low light performance on another Sony model (can't remember which...) than a previous similarly specked model. If it is good enough for you I don't know...
Note that it takes SD cards , so maybe going to a shop that has them in stock and taking some shots inside with the above mentioned models will solve the problem. That is if there is the intention to buy from that shop.. (I was a retailer)
Franco
Chaos_Being
06-14-2010, 12:53
My husband is the one who found the article and thinks it would work for backpacking. I like my Panasonic Lumix just fine. I know it's not available here yet but it will be and by that time other companies will have figured out how to make it better.
I have a Panasonic Lumix too, that I bought for carrying while camping. I like to too, although I haven't tested the shockproof and waterproof features yet ;)