Help!!! Trapped On An Island For 4 Months- What Camera!?!

[xpandebt@9%]

I am going to be on Tern Island (http://www.hawaiianatolls.org/video/nowramp020911.php - click on the picture for a quicktime video) for FOUR MONTHS! I am going as a volunteer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the managment agency for the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Tern Island, on the French Frigate Shoals, is a 30 some-odd acre island artificially built as a plane refueling station about 400 miles northwest of the main islands for WWII.

I leave mid-May!

To the questions:

😕 If you were stuck on a TINY island in the middle of the Pacific for 4 months (possibly longer), what camera(s) would you bring, and why? Digital or film? Bring a tripod? Filters? Tell me of what I have not thought!

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Weight is a consideration. I am only allowed to bring 40 pounds of stuff (that's it!)- which may include my laptop (~5lbs), various clothes, and who knows what else I can fit. Food and toiletries are already at the island. Would you even bother with a tripod?

Expense is a consideration. I did mention they're NOT paying me- no income! I don't have much money, but I don't want to sacrifice noticeable quality in the images I shoot.

I would like to take my new (used) Hasselblad XPan II and one, two, or all three lenses (haven't confronted that horrible decision yet, but I have all three), and my underwater point and shoot Cannon Sure Shot A1 camera, which has macro capability. Both of which are film, obviously. I believe they have refrigeration for the food, so it's theoretically possible to preserve my film there before and after exposure.

Would you ditch these for something else, and if so, what and why? Would you go for a dSLR, stick with the rangefinder genre... HELP! PLEASE!

Photography subjects that I can pre-congnize are seabirds (thousands), turtles, monk seals, underwater coral reefs, sunsets, people (summer population: 12), and whatever else I find on the island.

High humidity, heat, wind, rain, ever-present and random bird poop from the sky, and exposure to corrosive salt and gadget-jamming sand are all considerations as well. How do you propose preserving the equipment? Is it even necessary for a four month stint?

I am a beginner photographer, and have posted a few pictures that I have been able to scan-in and post to this website's galleries. I have been teaching myself photography from books and gallery critiques from this and other websites for a few months now. I don't know if you need to know that for this challenging question, but there it is anyway.

The gravity of the consequences of being limited to 40 lbs of stuff is settling in like a scorpion sting. HELP!!!

 

[ChrisN]

I assume the main purpose of the trip is work and not photography? One camera - a Nikonos V.

Edited to add my reasoning. I would like to take a good rangefinder kit for B&W, a DSLR and several lenses for colour, and something waterproof as well. With all of that I would be jumping from one kit to the other, confused and always sure I wanted the other outfit on any particular day. I'm sure I'd get better photographs if I limited myself to one camera, and concentrated on learning to use it to get the best photos that camera can possibly produce.

 

[clarence]

I must say that if this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you, you might want to bring your favourite camera setup. If this is the X-pan, so be it. The great thing is that you're on an island, so you won't be doing too much travelling, and there won't be too many chances to worry about losing or damaging your equipment. You can easily keep at your camp / accomodation whatever lenses you don't feel like using, whenever you want to carry a lighter kit.

If you're into landscapes, go for the tripod. If not, forget it.

Also, I would learn how to strip and repair my camera before I leave, and to bring whatever spare parts I might need, but this might be a little too extreme for some people.

Digital will be much lighter, unfortunately, because you won't have to carry 4 months of film (>30 rolls, for me). Sometimes debates are resolved here.

Have fun!

Clarence

 

[xpandebt@9%]

I assume the main purpose of the trip is work and not photography? One camera - a Nikonos V.

Thanks for the quick response! Yes, the main purpose, for me, is to gain valuable experience with their work projects. However, the work is limited to 6 shifts of 8 hours during the week. This allows me for ample time to explore the island with my probing eye. I plan to gain valuable experience with my newfound hobby as well.

One thing about suggesting cameras- IT'S A NEW LANGUAGE TO ME, so please have pity on me and explain why you choose a particular make/model that I do not currently own, and how expensive you think it is. This will cut down my research incredibly!

Thanks again!!!

 

[sf]

Something waterproof. Nikonos is a good idea, ChrisN.

Of course, something 100% mechanical would be a good idea.

 

[clarence]

Here's another idea that just popped in my head:

How about bringing 2 cameras: 1 for 'serious' photography, and one for snapshots to document your time there?

The snapshot camera could either be a simple half-frame camera or a digital point-and-shoot or any other similarly sized camera. You can carry this everywhere, even when you're working, and use it for when you want to just take pictures of vaguely interesting things. For the times when you will be able to focus completely on photography, you can take out the Xpan instead. You can save a lot of film this way, and you will find that your exposures on the Xpan will be of a much more consistent quality.

That's how I divide my film and equipment use. I hope this helps!

Clarence

 

[Jocko]

Xpan, the best advice has already been given: take your favourite camera/s.

But in the abstract this situation points to one of the advantages of the RF camera. A Bessa R with 3 or 4 lenses would weigh very little, take up next to no space and produce absolutely excellent results. And - if the camera was damaged - it would not exactly be a financial disaster!

As for beig trapped on an island... some of us have been for years! 😀

Cheers, Ian

 

[trev2401]

Nikon FM2 and tons of rolls of film...

 

[xpandebt@9%]

Here's another idea that just popped in my head:

How about bringing 2 cameras: 1 for 'serious' photography, and one for snapshots to document your time there?

The snapshot camera could either be a simple half-frame camera or a digital point-and-shoot or any other similarly sized camera. You can carry this everywhere, even when you're working, and use it for when you want to just take pictures of vaguely interesting things. For the times when you will be able to focus completely on photography, you can take out the Xpan instead. You can save a lot of film this way, and you will find that your exposures on the Xpan will be of a much more consistent quality.

That's how I divide my film and equipment use. I hope this helps!

Clarence

Clarence,

That is a very good point. Even if I don't bring my laptop, I could still download my shots to computers they have, upload them to an email address or some other system (they have a dedicated NOAA satellite dish that provides internet). If I got a point and shoot, which one would you recommend for size, durability, and megapixels (keeping in mind I'm talking a few hundred dollars at most)?

This does, however, present me with a further problem if I want to be able to take underwater shots. I count three cameras with this system. Anybody know of a point and shoot underwater digital camera that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (I'll need the arm and leg for the work and the pointing and clicking). I am all for multifunctionality, which is one good reason for taking the XPan, since it has standard AND panoramic from which to choose.

 

[zuikologist]

Perhaps a rangefinder outfit for land and a waterproof digital for underwater (Pentax make one I think), which you could also use as a snapshot camera and a back up in case of accidents. Lots memory cards, film and batteries or a charger.

 

[clarence]

Clarence,

That is a very good point. Even if I don't bring my laptop, I could still download my shots to computers they have, upload them to an email address or some other system (they have a dedicated NOAA satellite dish that provides internet). If I got a point and shoot, which one would you recommend for size, durability, and megapixels (keeping in mind I'm talking a few hundred dollars at most)?

This does, however, present me with a further problem if I want to be able to take underwater shots. I count three cameras with this system. Anybody know of a point and shoot underwater digital camera that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (I'll need the arm and leg for the work and the pointing and clicking). I am all for multifunctionality, which is one good reason for taking the XPan, since it has standard AND panoramic from which to choose.

I'm sorry but I'm quite ignorant about digital cameras. I'm sure there are other RFF members who will have much to offer you in terms of advice, though.

As for your underwater needs, if you do intend to take plenty of underwater photos, then I would concur with the suggestion to bring a Nikonos. There's another thread in this sub-forum that might be useful:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22420

Another option is to purchase an underwater case or bag for your digital camera. The last time I checked, they were in the range of about 50USD and above for digital point-and-shoots. These bags fit over your camera and allow you to use them underwater.

If you do have internet access, then you should seriously consider at least bringing one digital camera. If your Xpan breaks, you can take photos of it and send them to the forum to ask for help!

Clarence

 

[maddoc]

I would bring that Xpan II with 45mm lens (and UV filter), the water-proof P&S, lots of film, a table tripod and most important (!!) Zip-lock bags for the films and the XPAN and some microfiber cloth to keep everything clean and wipe the moisture off.

Sounds like a good opportunity to take lots of great photos ! 🙂

Edit: Just realized how old that thread is ... Never mind.

 

[julio1fer]

With that weight limit , a good digital P&S, several extra batteries and memory cards, and your laptop are mandatory gear. I understand you have electricity and can reload your batteries, right?

Besides that, whatever weight allows you. If it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, then you should really bring your favorite equipment along.

In your position I'd bring a mechanical film SLR and a few lenses. You'll want to do macro and RF cameras are no good for that job.

Did I say extra batteries for the laptop?