Which camera should I take for a hike?

jcrutcher

jcrutcher

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I'm going on a 9 mile hike this Friday to Mount Humphreys in Arizona. It is the highest peak in Arizona at 12,400 feet. Once on top the view is breathtaking. Here are my choices for Camera's, I only want to take one. I'll have a daypack with water so I don't want a lot of weight however I want clean sharp shots from the top.

M-240 MP with 50mm and 28mm Cron's 1250 grams with both lenses

Leica Q 640 grams

Leica X 486 grams

Leica D-109 405 grams


I'm not certain a 28mm is the right length or should it be 35mm?

Here is the mountain. No snow of course but high wind.
Thank you for your help.

Jim


90666.jpg
 
You will only be there once. I would take 240 with 28/50 and a small 90 if you have one. Second choice would be the Q. In fact I would take the Q to the trailhead, in case last minute the 240 just seemed too hard to carry.
 
If one of them has image stabilization I'd be packing it because I know I'd be huffing and puffing after reaching the top and would want all the help I could get holding the camera steady.
But that's just me.
Which do you enjoy shooting with the most?
That makes a big difference too, at least in my book.
 
jcrutcher said:
I'm going on a 9 mile hike this Friday to Mount Humphreys in Arizona. It is the highest peak in Arizona at 12,400 feet. Once on top the view is breathtaking. Here are my choices for Camera's, I only want to take one. I'll have a daypack with water so I don't want a lot of weight however I want clean sharp shots from the top. ...
Click to expand...

Any of the cameras you listed will make "clean, sharp shots from the top." They'd all do MUCH better at that if you brought along a sturdy tripod, as any landscape photographer could tell you. Between 28, 35, and 50 mm FoV at a mountain peak viewpoint is mostly a toss up.

Let's think about your expectations and what you shouldn't expect. None of those cameras hand-held is going to rival a technical camera's results, no matter what you do. Atmospheric conditions will have a bigger influence on what you capture than which lens or FoV. If this is your first time working large scale, distance landscape shots from high altitude, expect some thing of a learning curve.

So ... Personally, I'd grab the X or the Q (toss up), a couple of storage cards and at least a spare battery, and go have a good time. Concentrate on taking photos of the event, rather than specializing on the big vista. Photos of the meet up point, the troupe getting ready to storm the trail, the fun you have along the way, having lunch, rest stops, etc. Tell the story of the hike in other words. When you get to the top and see the big vista, take several photos, trying different points of view, and capture a sequence or two for stitching into a panorama ... Don't sweat it too much, just work methodically and get the best you can. Record the trip down the mountain too, and get everyone together at the end for a group shot at least.

To get a good story and a decent shot or two of the view ... that will make a memorable set for the future. Enjoy the event AND the photography, the latter by not trying to put too many expectations into it, and by not lugging more gear around than you need to enjoy the day.

For me, I'd grab the X, a spare battery, and have a great day. I'd carry the M and a couple of lenses the SECOND time I did the trip as then I'd know much more what to expect and how to tailor my equipment carry to reach a photographic goal.

G
 
Wow! Its almost like Godfrey has a psychic connection to my mind. I was about to say almost the exact same thing. Eerie. Anyway, yes to the X and a spare battery. Having climbed a few mountains in my time, I can tell you now that you want a small, simple camera along (with emphasis on small and light). You will probably be sweaty, hot, drinking water as appropriate, and possibly stumbling/clamoring around a bit (on rocks) so the camera shouldn't be too delicate. I also don't think you want too wide of a lens either. People seem to think that you want to bring a really wide lens on such a trip, when actually, a moderate wide or normal will provide many more interesting images. And as Godfrey said, you can stitch together that panorama later.

Don't forget to tell that story, too. Photos of the mundane, your companions struggling with altitude, smiling team at the top (bring the plastic lawn flamingo, its tradition), images of the trail itself (if there is a trail), interesting plants in an interesting location (can often exaggerate the expansiveness of your location with foreground effect and a moderate wide). So much fun. The X should do well.

I'm envious. I never climbed Humphreys. Most of the climbing I've done in Arizona has been of the technical rock climbing type (and bouldering), but no mountaineering. Shame.
 
^^^ what those two guys said.

35mm or longer. The lighter the better.

You'll be happy about any gram you save. I personally would rather save a kg in camera weight and carry up a small bottle of wine instead 🙂

Roland.
 
It's been ages since I hiked up Humphreys and it was a different season, but as you think about what to bring don't fixate on the view from the top. It may well be the most disappointing picture you take on the walk even if it isn't disappointing at all (though it may be -- haze and air currents can be irritating things). The world above the treeline is a beautiful place and a lot of what makes it beautiful and what you'll want to photograph will be right up next to you, not way off on the horizon. As for weight -- how you carry it is really in many ways more important than how much you're carrying. In a well designed pack the weight differences you're talking about will be meaningless. Unfortunately packs well designed for carrying loads are less convenient for someone who wants to pull out his camera every few minutes. So if weight is a problem for you then maybe just pick something that can go wide and focus close.
 
Jim, sounds like great fun!!!

Wish I were there!!!!

The problem IMO with the 28 is all the distant things to see get too small to see detail. I would take the M and the 50. Otoh, have you thought about stitching some 50mm shots for a panorama? Never tried a walking stick/monopod but figuring out how to shoot a pano on a hike is half the fun.

Personally, I could probably be quite happy with the shots from the D.... But you just might want something dramatic that a pano gives.

Have a ton of fun!!!
 
first ask yourself what kind of pictures are you looking to achieve from up top?
from my experience of hiking and shooting up in the mountain, I would go more with a 35mm or 50mm focal length, but my requirement may vary to yours.

Just the Q would be handy if you're fine with 28mm or 35mm
Otherwise I would just go M240 + 50mm
 
Thank you all for your input. The biggest thing I learned here is for me not to get wrapped up in the equipment and focus more on the story of the trip. That's great advice and something I need to learn.
I agree photo's from the top will be hazy especially with the wind we have and I'm not gutsy enough to stand there in a lighting storm.

With the trip in mind not the summit shoot right now I'm leaning towards the X on auto focus, auto ISO F8.0 and just shoot. I'll look later tonight for my Elmar M-50mm on an old M9 i have. to see how heavy and easy to hold it is, but so far the X is in the lead.

Thanks again for taking the time to assist me.

More ideas are welcome.

I will write 100 times today "tell the story"

Very Grateful,
Jim
 
jcrutcher said:
Thank you all for your input. The biggest thing I learned here is for me not to get wrapped up in the equipment and focus more on the story of the trip. That's great advice and something I need to learn.
I agree photo's from the top will be hazy especially with the wind we have and I'm not gutsy enough to stand there in a lighting storm.

With the trip in mind not the summit shoot right now I'm leaning towards the X on auto focus, auto ISO F8.0 and just shoot. I'll look later tonight for my Elmar M-50mm on an old M9 i have. to see how heavy and easy to hold it is, but so far the X is in the lead.

Thanks again for taking the time to assist me.

More ideas are welcome.

I will write 100 times today "tell the story"

Very Grateful,
Jim
Click to expand...


Have a great journey, stay safe, get some great images, don't forget to share them and you really summed it up in your first sentence.
 
I took these on Mt. Humphrey's with a Panasonic M4/3 with a legacy lens of about 35mm (acted like a 70mm). Shooting on a sky island is like shooting anywhere in the woods, or from a plane (on top). All you see from the top is one other ridge, and the horizon. The hike up is where the beauty is, all the trees, the lighting, etc. For that, go wide.

8044875048_5d28993da9_c.jpg


8044880222_4415c62d50_c.jpg


More:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettsphotos/sets/72157631669745045
 
Holy Cow those are some beautiful photo's !!!

I've not spent too much time with Pano shots but this will give me an opportunity. I've already thought of a few ways to tell the story, can't wait until tomorrow.

Thanks Dave!
 
Call Lens Rental and have them send you one of their Pentax 645Z rentals with a 35mm lens. The resulting photographs will be well worth the rental fee.

If not, pack the Q.
 
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