Digital Cameras - Key Features For Hikers' PocketsDigital cameras can save weight in your backpack, and produce excellent photographs and short videos. David used to carry a Nikon SLR and a 100 - 300 zoom lens attachment. They weighed about 3lbs. This compares to his later digital camera weighing 8 oz including the carry case and a spare rechargeable longer life battery! Weight saving was a fantastic 2.5lbs in other words over one kilogram of weight saving as well as having more available space in the rucksack for more essential hiking equipment.
Choosing the model you wantThere is a huge choice of cameras on the market and the features are constantly being improved by the manufacturers.Cannon and Nikon produce excellent quality cameras but your choice may come down to whether you want a larger screen and/or a traditional view finder or rechargeable longer life batteries. If you want to get closer to wild life you will prefer a 10x zoom. David uses a Kodak V610 which was the first pocket sized camera to feature a 10 x zoom. Most of the photographs on this web site were taken with the Kodak V610. More recently you can consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-T23k with 10x optical zoom or the Sony H50 with 15x zoom - but the Sony is twice as heavy.
Other advantages of digitalMost digital cameras also have a short movie programme so you can video wildlife, or landscapes or your companions reaching the summit of the mountain.You can snap hundreds of photos on a 1GB card and 2+ GB cards are getting cheaper allowing mass storage. However, another huge advantage of digital is that you can download your photos and videos on to your computer (take a back up copy on DVD in case your computer blows!) and view them on screen or on your television. Special photos may be worth printing out onto large size photographic paper and framing or giving away to friends and family etc.
Keep it dry and warm!Whichever camera you buy make sure you keep it dry when out hiking. We always protect ours in a plastic food bag even when it is in the dry bag inside the rucksack.Finally very cold weather can reduce your battery power so keep a spare fully charged battery with you. Preferably in a pocket close to your body to keep it warm so you do not miss out on that once in a lifetime shot of a stag, moose or a grizzly!
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