Camera for skiing

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redsky

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Hi there,

I have taken my M8 and my M to ski with me with great success, but I must say I don't feel completely comfortable with my Leicas on the mountain due to the weight, the size, and the overall risk of killing a very expensive camera.

I also took my Ricoh GR, and I feel much more comfotrable with this setup, due to the size and value of the camera, though the camera doesn't offer much versatility with the 18mm lens.

So I decided this is the perfect excuse to buy a new camera. Something small enough to carry comfortably the whole day in the mountain, that takes quality pictures and that can be used to record videos as well ( I want to try to improve my technique and watching myself should help a lot ). Also a zoom lens (or ability to have different focal lengths) is important. Finally, if the thing is weatherproof, all the better.

The best candidate seems to be a Sony RX10. Any contenders I am missing?

Thanks!
 
Good thought the RX10. I use a tiny C-Lux 2 Leica in a pocket over my arm. I worry more about myself than the camera. Hitting firm snow with an M leica and any lens is going to make a dent in me, probably broken ribs, if I go down. In the snow the light and contrast gives good shots on any camera nearly. I set the little point and shoot to the 'Snow' setting and haven't had a dud shot from it. When I've taken the M2 and 50 I am not really skiing, just carrying a camera. That's no good. The latest D-Lux is a very good camera, but still too big for my liking.
 
To skiing I'd pass the RX10, it's too big. I'd go for one of the Olympus, Fuji, or Panasonic tough cameras. Enough zoom, small, video, waterproof and most importantly, shock proof! They are the only type of compact camera worth having IMHO.
 
A borrowed one?

A borrowed one?

Dear redsky,

If you don't opt for a tough digital camera as suggested above I'd suggest you borrow one from a friend?

If you absolutely need to shoot film I would suggest taking a camera and lens that is easily replaceable just in case.

Regards,

Tim Murphy :)
 
I'm using small Lumix with Leica zoom. Keeping camera in neoprene case, but even in case it is very small, much smaller than "proofed" cameras.
 
IQ of sample images of an Olympus Tough I saw kind of sucks. Am I wrong?

Also, some sort of viewfinder is important, it's impossible to frame anything without it.
 
With the demise of the Nikon 1 system, you might get an AW-1 cheap. Waterproof etc. and with a decent sized sensor. A couple of years ago we kayaked regularly and it was perfect (and rugged).
 
redsky said:
IQ of sample images of an Olympus Tough I saw kind of sucks. Am I wrong?

Also, some sort of viewfinder is important, it's impossible to frame anything without it.
Click to expand...

I suppose you just have to weigh up if it's a skiing trip with a camera or a photography trip on skis? The former image quality comes second to skiing quality, inverse for the later. The image quality out of the latest tough cameras isn't bad, it's above acceptable for 8x10 prints, which is fine by me.
 
i just picked up a lumix ts30...snow proof, rain proof, goes to 26 ft. under water...seems well built and tiny size to fit into jacket sleeve pocket or breast pocket.

waiting for the snow to see how it works.
 
michaelwj said:
I suppose you just have to weigh up if it's a skiing trip with a camera or a photography trip on skis? The former image quality comes second to skiing quality, inverse for the later. The image quality out of the latest tough cameras isn't bad, it's above acceptable for 8x10 prints, which is fine by me.
Click to expand...


Well I agree with you, but 200g or so will not make much difference, if that means better images. Though I have to retract what I said, actually the image quality of the Olympus Tough seems to be quite decent in daylight. I may settle for that.
 
redsky said:
Well I agree with you, but 200g or so will not make much difference, if that means better images. Though I have to retract what I said, actually the image quality of the Olympus Tough seems to be quite decent in daylight. I may settle for that.
Click to expand...

I don't think the 200g matters, I'd be more worried about the bulk of a bigger camera.
 
redsky said:
IQ of sample images of an Olympus Tough I saw kind of sucks. Am I wrong?

Also, some sort of viewfinder is important, it's impossible to frame anything without it.
Click to expand...

Few months ago I checked most of "tough" cameras. Asking price doesn't match IQ.

If you an artist wearing velvet berete importance of viewfinder is possible while you are staying inside near fireplace. If you are skiing you wear goggles or you are often kind of sweating , wet face and vf gets foged.
 
redsky said:
IQ of sample images of an Olympus Tough I saw kind of sucks. Am I wrong?

Also, some sort of viewfinder is important, it's impossible to frame anything without it.
Click to expand...

Even at the best possible settings, they have considerable issues with NR and JPEG posterization when blown up to the maximum. But printed at modest resolution that will not matter (and current ones are 16MP - so A4 still is modest).

As far as finders go, they do have a rear screen, the recent ones even an articulated one - given the eyepiece condensation issues I've had with SLRs and rangefinders in cold weather (which often made me pick WLF cameras in winter) a rear screen does not seem quite as finderless for the given purpose as it would on a ambient night portrait camera.
 
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