backpacking cameras
backpacking cameras
These are discussed regularly on other forums related to backpacking... I myself specialize in ultralightweight hiking and have considerable experience in the back country. I have not been to Kilimanjaro, but the conditions you describe are not especially extreme (i.e., they are potentially life threatening but within the range of common alpine conditions). You should be able to use your camera if you take common precautions.
The battery problem can be addressed fairly easily by two things: 1) keeping the batteries warm in your pocket until you need to shoot (or alternately keeping a spare set in your pocket to change occasionally); 2) take along lots of spares, which shouldn't be a problem because the ones for the Bessa R2/3/4s are quite small. (If only there were lithium batteries available: lithium is lighter and much more impervious to cold).
A bigger problem ought to be moisture and dust penetration. For that reason, some kind of dry sack would be essential, preferably something that is padded and can be worn separately or on your hip belt so you won't miss the shot. A super light option would be to put your camera and other items in waterproof/odorproof Aloksaks (military grade ziplocs)--probably a good idea inside the dry sack anyway.
Next, I'd argue that a wide lens is going to be much more valuable than a normal lens if your primary goal is landscape.
Since my style of high altitude hiking is ultralight (my base pack weight is around 5 kgs before food and water, even for long alpine trips), as I mentioned, I compromise on the side of lighter weight. Nothing makes a trip more enjoyable and memorable (and safe) than taking the minimum amount of weight possible. Hence, I usually only take a small pocket camera. This has been the Ricoh GRD, which is capable of getting impressive results in daylight and is extremely small and lightweight and runs on AAA batteries if needed. I have supplemented and/or substituted that sometimes with the Fujifilm Natura Black, which sports a 24mm f1.9 lens (but uses film, which poses extra problems of storage space). I've only started to shoot RF this summer. I have two friends with whom I often go hiking who go in the other direction. One always takes a Leica SLR (he likes telephoto, too) with Leica glass; the other takes a mammoth MF or LF setup. The shots they come back with are always breathtaking. Yet I am sure I will never take such a complex and weighty setup with me into the mountains on a self-propelled trip. Life is a series of wise compromises. However, I would be very tempted to take an R4M mounting a Zeiss ZM Biogon 25/2.8 on a trip sometime:angel: . You might also consider small fixed wide lens pocket film cameras like the GR1, GR21 and the new Fuji Klasse W, as well as digicams like the Ricoh GX100.
