When you have a scene like this in front of you, you don’t want to look down and wish you had a different camera in your hands.
In part one of this series I discussed simple, easy-to-use, point-and-shoot cameras. They are a great choice due to their small size, light weight, ease of carrying, and terrific photos they can produce–particularly if you are going to view your photos primarily on a computer screen.
Last week was all about the advantages of carrying a camera with a larger image sensor. I hope I convinced you that it is possible to carry such a camera, without adding significant amounts of weight, due to the vast array of what is known as mirrorless-interchangeable-lens-cameras (MILCs). Nikon, Canon, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and Olympus are just a few of the manufacturers with MILCs in their product line.
For some of us, however, neither of these options are going to do the trick. I can think of two types of photographers who might fall into this category.
First, is anyone who truly wants to use nothing but the finest glass available (“glass” is camera-buff jargon for “lenses”). The lenses for MILCs are getting good, but they are not yet up to the standard of the best DSLR lenses. There are specialty lenses that are not available for MILCs, like tilt/shift lenses, and it’s tough to find good prime (i.e., non-zoom) lenses, which produce the sharpest images. Some lenses produced by Canon and Nikon could rightly be described as works of art in and of themselves. MILC lenses aren’t there, yet.
The second group of photographers who may consider hauling a large DSLR up and down the John Muir Trail are people like me, who have already invested a lot of money into DSLR gear, and aren’t particularly interested in starting over with a new format, even if it means less than half the weight.
If you are in either of these categories, you are probably doomed to lug some pounds of camera gear on your back. The question then becomes, what should you take?
The first dilemma many of us will face is full-frame or cropped sensor? (A full-frame camera has an image sensor roughly the size of old 35mm film. They have come down in price in the last couple of years, and many enthusiasts now own one. Cropped sensors are about the same size as the larger MILCs.)
This is a tough question, mainly because of the opposing nature of what we will have the opportunity to shoot: wildlife, which calls for long lenses, or landscapes, which calls for wide ones. Wildlife shooters may want the extra reach of a cropped sensor (a 200mm lens on a cropped sensor will have the effective focal length of 300mm or more). Landscape photographers will want the full-frame body and the coverage of a good, 24mm prime (or the bottom end of a 24-70 zoom).
If you find yourself in this situation, here’s what I would recommend: take the full-frame. Remember, you can still crop the full-frame shots and, in many cases, end up with almost the same resolution (particularly if you are shooting with a Nikon D800, which weighs in at 36MP).
Next, just how many lenses, and which lenses, are you going to carry? I’ve been struggling with this as I prepare for my August thru-hike. I keep vacillating between four options.
- At the heavy end is two zooms: either a 24-70 and a 70-200, or a 16-28 and a 24-70 (all are 2.8s). I suppose I could carry THREE, but now we’re talking close to ten pounds, just for lenses!
- Next is just the 24-70.
- The third option would be to rent a super-zoom for a full-frame Nikon, possibly the Nikkor 28-300, which is relatively light (28 ounces) and comes with pretty good vibration reduction (for handheld shooting).
- Last–and this would be a photographic challenge–is to just carry a fast 50mm.
Right now I am leaning towards renting the 28-300. I’ll probably change my mind, tomorrow. Why not, I did yesterday!
If you are going to carry a DSLR a camera body and lens (or two), you’re probably going to carry some more stuff, too. That includes a tripod (carbon fiber if you’re lucky), a ball head, L-bracket, a filter or two, extra batteries, a way to recharge the batteries when there is electricity available, some additional CF or SD cards, and possibly a way to back up images while on the trail. It’s a shame you can’t hire a porter or two!
Yes. It’s a lot of gear, but here’s how I look at it: one of the highlights of my photographic life was to train for several days under the great National Geographic photographer, Joe McNally. He said something that I will always remember, although he attributed it another great photographer, Jim Richardson.
If you want your pictures to be better, stand in front of more interesting stuff.
If you have committed to hike the John Muir Trail, and you are serious enough about your photography to have invested in a premium DSLR, wouldn’t it be a shame to stand in front of really interesting stuff, day after day, without your best camera?
Good hiking, Ray
Ray,
When in August are you planning you JMT hike and why then?
Good day, Jim,
My first day on the trail will be August 23rd. I like late August/early September because the stream crossings are benign (although they may be pretty low in July, this year), the crowds have dissipated a bit, and mosquitoes are dead, dead, dead.
I’m going to arrive in Mammoth, to start my acclimatization, on the 19th, and then take YARTS to the valley on the 22nd. I’ll spend the last night before the hike in Curry Village.
How about you?
Good hiking, Ray
Obviously the solution is to NOT try to do great photography while thru-hiking the Muir. If you want, for example, great shots of Kings Canyon, then backpack in from the nearest trail head with the right equipment, make a photo camp and shoot Kings Canyon giving it your full attention and energy. Morning, mid day, evening shadows, night shots, moonlight on water, etc. etc. See the great morning shot one day, go back and get it the next. Wide angle, telephoto scenics, etc. You won’t have time or energy to properly prospect and work really great images if you are in a hurry to break camp and put in a full day on the trail to keep your schedule on the Muir. I believe my friend Mike solved the Muir hiker’s photo dilemma with the Canon G1X.
Thanks for the comment, James! While I certainly agree that what you describe would be the best way to get the shots, I don’t think thru-hiking the trail and great photography (with a DSLR) is necessarily mutually exclusive. There are lots of examples out there, but the one that occurs to me immediately is Jen Serena’s work at The Muir Project. She lugged her Canon every step of the way and did terrific work. Your point regarding the G1X is a good one. Good sized image sensor, shoots RAW, wide to moderate telephoto zoom–there is a lot to like about that camera. No one, however, would suggest that it will match a 5D Mark III with an L series lens. Thanks again for the comment!
Bravo! Bravo!
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Ray!
However, with our point of view, it is never a “doomed” thing to carry what I believe to be the right tools, no matter their weight because I may never be there again to get those pictures!
Thanks, Ned. I certainly agree with you now (having not walked a step). Let’s hope I have the same attitude when I leave the trail, and I haven’t traded my precious D800 for a pack of beef jerky! Hike your own hike!
Excellent series of articles Ray. I can’t quite get my head round carrying a full-frame DSLR and a kit of lenses though. I am thinking of bringing a Fuji X100S though. It is fairly heavy, but not DSLR-heavy. What I like about it is that if you just use the optical viewfinder you can take about 3,000 shots on one battery (yes, I really tried that). You can compose the shot, set the aperture and set the shutter speed, all without even turning the camera on. The fixed lens gives a nice wide view. I think it would be a good reliable camera to bring, in that I could count on it to last the trip without having to worry about batteries. Maybe one spare just in case. Batteries weigh 1.5oz and the camera is 15.5oz.
Do you think a fixed lens is too much of a compromise?
Thanks for the comment, Richard. I think your X100S is an excellent choice, particularly if you can rig it up so that it is constantly within reach (i.e., it doesn’t require taking off your pack to get to). The sharpness will be terrific, and low light performance (especially if you post process in the latest Lightroom) will be more than adequate. True, the fixed, wide-angle lens will limit your shots (filling the frame with a shot of that bear might be a bit dicey), but, except for wildlife, most of what you are going to shoot will be fine with a wide-angle. Also, at 16+ megapixels, you have some ability to crop, especially for shots to be posted on the web. Ultimately, anything is going to be a compromise.
One update: I recently took my D800 with a Nikkor 28-300 VR2 to Ireland for a couple of weeks. I rented the lens. That experience convinced me to carry the same kit during my upcoming hike. It performed marvelously!
Hey Ray,
Enjoyed your articles. You are right about there not being a lot of good info for backpackers regarding cameras. Many times I carry my D5100 and a couple of lenses/filters. Getting ready for the JMT this coming summer, and the need to add a bear canister and potentially 10 day’s food, I felt I needed to forego some of the photo weight.
I decided on the Ricoh GR: APSc sensor size (same as the D5100), very sharp 28mm equivalent fixed lens f2.8, and a great user interface – virtually all the controls of a DSLR. Shoots RAW. Down side is the lack of any telephoto, relatively short battery life, and no viewfinder. I have found some solutions, however, all be it compromises. External 28mm viewfinder is in the mail to me as I type this. Small and only .6 oz for the viewfinder. Multiple batteries and a charger will be going along. Could get by with just a charge cable, since the batteries will charge in the camera, but then the camera is useless during charging. As you point out, extra batteries are very tiny and light.
I’ve been on a two backpacking trips in the past when I had a catastrophic camera failure. First time was with a film SLR (Nikon FM2) when I dropped it on a rock and the film rewind/door lock mechanism popped off in a bunch of tiny pieces, disabling the camera. This was later fixed by Nikon, free of charge (they deemed it “uneconomical to repair” put it back together and returned it to me, didn’t even charge me for shipping). Had that camera for many more years – worked great – before it was stolen. The incident was with an Olympus P&S that just flat out died on the first day of a two week trip. Carried that paperweight the whole trip, then exchanged it for a new one later.
Because of these experiences, and the fantastic opportunity that the JMT presents, I want some back-up. I will also be carrying a Lumix LF1. Smaller sensor than the GR, but larger than most Point and Shoots. Offers GREAT video, and telephoto to 200mm equivalent. Also shoots RAW. Figure this will be an “acceptable” back-up.
All combined, these options will be MUCH less bulky and lighter than my D5100 kit. Add an ultrapod, a CP filter and possibly the 21mm accessory lens for the GR and I think I’ll be happy.
Sounds like a great plan, Lyle. I think you’ll be pleased with what you got. FYI…I hauled around a D800 on the trail last year and have concluded that it wasn’t worth the effort. Next time I’m going back to the P6000.
For those committed to a DSLR for the trail, check out the “keyhole” available from Backcountry Solutions. Its a plate with a keyhole shaped hole which connects to your backpack shoulder straps using 4 small buckles. I have been using the keyhole for several hikes over the last year and it works a treat and keeps the weight off of your neck. I will using it on the JMT in a couple of weeks. Here is the description below, the website is http://www.backcountrysolutions.com :
The KEYHOLE® is a hands-free restraining and protection device for neck strap-suspended camera equipment used in the field, by securing the camera to your body by means of a harness and pointing the lens down rather than outward. The KEYHOLE® provides the following features:
Accessibility – quickly and easily converts from “hands-free” position to “ready to shoot” position. No complicated hardware.
Protection – securely and safely fastens the camera to your body/harness when not in use.
Comfort – lightweight, versatile, adjustable, and reduces the camera weight off your neck.
Simplicity – easily attaches to any backpack or chest harness that is equipped with typical 1” wide webbing on the shoulder straps. Quick disconnect buckles allow for easy backpack on/off.
Plus! The KEYHOLE® can be used with most length lenses, eliminates the need for a sternum strap, and comes with a lens cap keeper as part of the hands-free system.
The KEYHOLE® can also be used with camcorders and compact cameras.
Never leave your camera behind to hike, bike, cross-country ski, snowshoe or enjoy the outdoors! Never miss another photo while digging your camera from your bag.
Thanks, David. I’m going to have to check this out for my D800!
Dear Ray
Thanks for your articles on cameras for the trail. I have a slightly different slant on this issue. I will be starting the JMT on the 26th August 2013 with my brother and a couple of friends. I still love film and in particular landscape photography using Fuji Velvia film so I will be taking my film camera with me. It is a medium format Fuji 645zi camera along with about 30 rolls of 120 film. My brother will be taking a Fuji x100 for digital photos. OK this will add about 5lbs to my load but will bring me so much joy it is worth it. I love using this camera with it’s fantastic Hasselblad quality lens and ease of use. The transparencies I get back from the developers are just stunning and I cannot describe the thrill of getting the transparencies back and then putting them out on my lightbox and looking at them for the first time. It is just magical.
I will be putting my the pictures I take on my website (http://bigwalksclub.co.uk/) as well as my photoalbum site (http://davidgalsworthy.jalbum.net/) for all to enjoy.
Give film a go again – it is still fantastic !!!!
Regards
David
Good day, David,
I am starting three days before you; perhaps you’ll pass me? (I’m taking 21 days to get to Whitney.)
I think your plan is a great one. I shot some medium format years ago and you are so right; the results are amazing. Plus–no batteries!
Good luck and good hiking, Ray
Ray
Looks like I will definitely see you on the trail somewhere. We are planning to the do the trail in about 16 days so maybe sometime just after Vermillion. Look out for the Fuji 645zi and the X100 cameras.
Regards
David
Hi Ray!
Thanks for the great tips. I’m slowly reading through your entire blog for preparation for my hike this year.
Would you mind giving a post trip report about how this camera set up worked for you on your actual JMT hike? How did it perform for you, was the battery life sufficient and did everything work more or less as you expected? I always feel like hiking with a DSLR is so fragile, that I’m going to fall on it or turn and bash it into a wall or something, and keeping it in the case always feels so cumbersome when I want to take a picture.
Thanks for the comment, Esther. I am going to do a follow-up blog on this, but to quickly answer your question I’ll say this: I hauled a D800 and a superzoom along the entire trail and I do not think it was worth the trouble. The shots I got the first time, with my Nikon P6000 (high-end point-and-shoot that shoots RAW), were in some cases just as good and in other cases almost as good. I’m hiking again this year, and I will probably take a point-and-shoot. I’m thinking about renting a top-of-the-line point and shoot, once again, that shoots RAW.
Interesting, I actually traveled for a year with only an iPhone 5 camera and as a multi-use device, I think I got the most bang for my buck out of it. It was more than sufficient for landscapes and everyday snapshots. I did take along an old point and shoot, but the iPhone camera was better, so I stopped using the point and shoot altogether. The only time I wished for a nicer camera was for wildlife photography in Africa and a GoPro while scuba diving, but even in those rare cases, I concluded there is already so much incredible wildlife photography that that wasn’t the focus of the memories I was most interested in capturing. Looking forward to your follow-up.